Clifton High School Highlights
Clifton Highlights Issue 8
November 2014
Issue 8, November 2014
Marquee and more... So far the Autumn Term has been truly action-packed with exciting activities for our pupils to enjoy. There have been trips and visits to enhance classroom-based learning, charity events such as the Médecins Sans Frontières Clothes and Toys Swap, fundraising activities linked to World Challenge, and extra-curricular successes in sport. In October we welcomed the return of the Marquee to the lawn for a week. Marquee Week gave our girls and boys the chance to perform, to explore, and to experience the talents of other pupils across the School. The Marquee is about enrichment and aims to build our pupils’ confidence and to bring the Clifton High School community together to celebrate what it is that is so different and in particular, special, about our School and our young people. The Open Morning which took place as part of the week of celebrations brought many people into the School to experience CHS at this vibrant time. The Open Morning was incredibly busy, and attendance was even greater than last year. The children, staff and parents have had a truly outstanding term, and we are looking forward to all the Christmas celebrations that are coming soon.
Inside this issue:
Shakespeare Performances
Sporting Achievements
Trips, Visits And Activities
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Life Skills
Sixth Form Open Evening
Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
Shakespeare Performances Senior School ‘The Comedy of Errors’ Mrs Gill Malpass, Head of Drama and Director.
Year 6 ‘Macbeth’ Mrs Sarah Barker, Assistant to Deputy Head, Years 3—6.
The Senior School production of Shakespeare's “The Comedy of Errors” made such an impact that the lead pupils involved continue to receive superb feedback from pupils, staff and parents alike. The pupils performed Shakespeare with fluency and everyone loved the setting of a Greek port with the audience in the round. Once through passport control, the audience was treated to a great atmosphere of waiters coming and going, and townspeople chatting to them whilst they leant against the working fountain! What was particularly good to see was they way in which the cast became an ensemble. As one audience member put it ”even the smaller characters had their moment and played their part in making this the most successful production yet at Clifton High School”.
Outstanding! A word which was used during the appraisal of the Year 6 Macbeth play performed in the Arnolfini. The abridged version of this Shakespeare classic was performed as part of the National Shakespeare Festival and Year 6 children certainly stepped up to the mark, performing as if their lives depended on it, with enthusiasm, real passion and a sound knowledge of the meaning of the words. They shone and really showed off their individual brilliance to an audience of hundreds. Many congratulations to you all and thank you to our directors Mrs Tabb and Mrs Bagnall. Year 6 also performed a short version of their Macbeth production in the Marquee and in assembly. Well done to everyone concerned! Next stop the Royal Shakespeare Company!
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Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
Sporting Achievements Boys and girls have excelled in their sporting commitments both in and out of School over this half term.
...Hockey
In hockey news, the Year 3 girls were involved in their first ever hockey fixture away against Badminton School on Wednesday 1st October. Despite only having had four practices, the girls demonstrated some excellent skills and sheer determination. Jessica bravely volunteered herself to go in goal and easily cleared some direct shots from the Badminton team. There were some exceptional runs with the ball from Alice, Lucy and Ines. The fantastic effort from all of the girls secured a thrilling 3-1 victory to CHS! Since this fixture the girls have also played Clifton College, Redmaid’s and Badminton School. They are bonding as a team and their skills are improving match-on-match.
Netball...
Briony from Year 11 is one of about twenty athletes who have been selected for the South West Regional Academy in netball. This is a step-up from the Avon County Academy, where she trained last year, and involves training with other athletes from all around the region. There are nine Regional Academies in the country and they are part of the England Netball performance pathway. For the lucky few, when they are older and better developed as athletes, this culminates in selection for the National Academy/England squad. It is early days for Briony but she is looking forward to the challenge of training at Regional level and developing her skills.
Year 7’s Eleanor completed the Bath Schools Biathlon time trial at Monkton Combe School, finishing fifth out of 43 with a points tally of 2111. The biathlon consisted of a 50 metre swim in which she achieved a personal best, followed by an 800 metre run. Her aim is to qualify as one the top 160 athletes in the country and compete in the British Schools' Modern Biathlon Championships next year at Olympic Park.
...Biathlon
Running...
Oliver from Year 7 has had great success with his running. Having taken part in the Midland Counties Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield with his team— North Somerset AC under 13 Boys —finishing fourth, he went on to compete in the English National Road Relay Championships on Sunday 5th October. Oliver’s team finished sixth overall from forty six teams with Oliver completing his 2.4 mile leg in fifteen minutes and one second. Eleanor with Mhairi Spence, (British Modern Pentathlete, competitor in the 2012 Olympics)
Swimming...
Last but definitely not least, Year 9’s Isabelle competed in the Multi Regional Synchronised Swimming Age Group Championships. She managed achieve a fantastic result within the 13-14 year age group, she was second in the first individual event, swam her routine and managed to jump into first place, she also achieved first place in the duet and team events. She won the South West Regional title in solo, duet and team and also the overall Southern Champion in all three events. Isabelle flew to Scotland for the Scottish Nationals at the end of term.
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Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
Pupils’ Studies Come Alive! Nursery to Year 2 Music On Wednesday 5th November, children in Nursery School to Year 2 were visited by Celso Paco, a musician and storyteller from Mozambique. We have established a successful link with a school in Beira, Mozambique since 2007. Celso’s visit helped give our children a greater understanding of the Mozambican culture and of beat and dance. Celso involved the children in his music and stories. They loved participating in the rhythms and sounds of Africa.
Year 2 History Year 2 enjoyed a visit from King Arthur (a.k.a. Mr Arthur), who taught the children more about knights, supporting their History work. He told the children about the long training involved to become a knight, explained knights’ main roles and their code of conduct. The children had the chance to ask him questions after. Also, four new Year 2 pupils were knighted by King Arthur.
Year 2 Topic Year 2 travelled to Berkeley Castle on September 22nd to explore the castle as part of their Topic learning. They looked up at the ‘murder hole’, avoided the trip steps, performed a medieval dance in the Great Hall and dressed up as knights and ladies. Finally they finished off their adventure with a stroll through the amazingly colourful butterfly house. Year 2 English At the end of their poetry unit ‘Patterns on a page’ 2S were treated to a poetry recital by Susanna’s mother—who is a poet by profession! As well as reading us several of her own poems including one about Susanna’s guinea pig, Ms Cato had written a poem especially for 2S called ‘Sixes and Sevens’. Here are the first two lines.. It’s hard to be grown up when your belly’s in a knot. It’s hard to grown up when Mrs Sutcliffe says you’re a clot!’
Year 4 Topic Year 4 were lucky enough to visit the City Museum to support their work on the Egyptians. Walking down to the museum, the children were thinking about their recent Egyptian Topic and were excited at the prospect of seeing actual objects and artefacts from that period in time. They were not disappointed! They were amazed at the array of coffins and sarcophagus; a child’s death mask; mummified cats; marble friezes. This was such an exciting way of rounding off their Egyptian Topic in class by consolidating their learning in an active and hands-on way!
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Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
Year 2 Topic Year 2 finished off their Castles Topic studies with a Medieval Feast! Everyone got dressed up in Medieval outfits and enjoyed themed activities and food.
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Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
Year 3 Science On Tuesday 18th November, Year 3 went to visit Dr Camacho’s Science lab in the Senior School. This was exciting enough for many of the Year 3’s but then they enjoyed fun, interactive experiments too! The children looked at different types of magnets, where magnets occur, magnetic fields and creating electricity.
Year 9 Religious Studies On Thursday 6th November, Year 9 that there was peace in this house. The people were nice, visited Bristol’s Amitabha Buddhist centre. Here are the pupils’ inviting and willing to give us an insight into the life of a experiences of the trip in their own words. Buddhist monk/nun. These people were pleasant to be around and they showed us their way of living and what they worship. We all learnt lots of new things from the experience and it From this trip, I now know how a huge percentage of people really helped us realise that what we are learning in class is reality. We learnt that there is no god that Buddhists worship in the world live; in peace, serenity, and in acceptance. Though I will probably never become a Buddhist, I can take away the but instead they respect Buddha, who is a real person. lessons I learnt there and apply it to my life. Django Everyone enjoyed it greatly, and meeting Buddhists was very interesting seeing how they live and transferring our knowledge from the classroom into reality. It was really great also because we could learn from them and understand more their way of life and what Buddhism is about. We really appreciated the trip, and so thanks to all the teachers who took us and helped organise this trip. Laura and Charlotte
I appreciated it when the nuns taught us to meditate. I experienced a peaceful mind. Leah I really enjoyed seeing the different statues of the male and female Buddhas. I also liked meditating and learning more about Buddhism. Rachel I really enjoyed this trip. The women who were at the Centre were very devoted to their religion, which made the trip factual and fun. Anon
Our trip to the Bristol Buddhist Centre was a very enlightening trip. I say enlightening because we got to see how some people lived, in silence, (in several ways) solitude, and in a community. Though in some ways this may seem boring, I saw
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Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
I really enjoyed doing meditation. It was an experience I would love to continue with. I loved learning about Buddhism in general and I learned that there can be more than one Buddha. Rosie
kinesiology and alternative medicines, study techniques and how to best prepare for exams, communication for business, and international relations. In the second half of the Autumn Term students embark on options that they have chosen. These units will again be taught by It was fun and informative. The women had a certain style that experts in that field and include photography, Duke of Edinburgh preparation, Chinese, journalism, first aid, Italian, we all loved. Barney, Charlotte and Jemima ceramics, communication skills and food hygiene, amongst Thank you so much for arranging and taking us on the trip to others. For most of these courses pupils will be able to achieve the Buddhist Centre. Before I went I had very little idea about a qualification which can then be added to their national how Buddhists live, but now I have a much better insight into curriculum. how they live their life. Not only did I learn about meditating myself, I found this very benefiting and feel the trip taught me a lot and has inspired me. Anon Year 9 Spanish On Tuesday 30th September the Year 9s had a surprise dance class for their Spanish lesson! The class was taught by Se単orita Roman and Se単orita Sobey and students were instructed solely in Spanish. They managed to learn a choreographed dance then finished with a limbo competition. Both the boys and girls really enjoyed this lesson, being active and learning about Latin American dance.
Year 12 Spanish The Year 12 Spanish class had a very special lesson on Tuesday 21st of October as Se単orita Sobey took the group to the Tomatina restaurant on Park Street to try out a number of Spanish tapas and practise their Spanish with the waiting staff. A great opportunity to use their Spanish in an authentic situation here in Bristol.
Year 10 and 11 Life Skills This year both Year 10 and 11 are following the new Life Skills programme which has been introduced by Mr Goldsmith and Miss Sobey. The students have enjoyed learning a wide range of skills which have been taught by specialists in areas such as money and finance,
Year 12 and 13 Spanish A fantastic evening was had on Monday 10th of November at Clifton College where our Sixth Form Spanish students took part in debates against Clifton College and Badminton School. The debates where closely contested and the students came away feeling confident in their speaking ability and a great time was had by all.
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Clifton High School Highlights
Issue 8
November 2014
Sixth Form Open Evening The Sixth Form Open Evening took place on the 11th November and was a great success. The Rose Theatre was filled with interested students and their families. We hope that all of Year 11s enjoyed their Taster Day and the Open Evening and are now looking forward to choosing their A levels and the challenges and excitement the CHS Sixth Form has to offer.
Don’t forget‌. Friday 28th November Christmas Fair Mufti Day Wednesday 3rd December Reception-Year 2 sing at Christ Church Senior Lunch Club Thursday 4th December Reception-Year 2 Christmas Performance Saturday 6th December Christmas Fair Wednesday 10th December Nursery School Christmas Performance Please be aware that this is a change of date. Thursday 11th December Year 3-6 Christmas Performance Friday 12th-Wednesday 17th December Year 6-11 Ski Trip to Les Deux Alps Monday 15th December Carol Service Thursday 16th December Term Ends
Contact us: Tel: 0117 973 0201 Email: enquiries@cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk To report an absence: absence@cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk
www.cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk 8
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