Croydon highlights spring 2014 pages

Croydon Highlights

Spring 2014 CROYDON HIGH SCHOOL Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8YB Tel: 020 8260 7500 Fax: 020 8260 7461 E-mail: info2@cry.gdst.net

Croydon High welcome back Ivy Link Alumnae to Careers Convention

Welcome to the 2014 Spring edition of Croydon Highlights

We were obviously delighted when Croydon High came out top of a recent table of Croydon schools in relation to pupil achievement in the Summer 2013 A Levels. This is the result of a lot of hard work and dedication from both girls and staff and we are extremely proud of them. It is our firm intention to build upon this success over the coming years and ensure that Croydon High continues to provide the very best educational experience and opportunity for all our girls.

Judging by the number of ear piercing shrieks we hear, the Sixth Form common room has been a particularly exciting place to be in the last few weeks! Our Year 13 girls have been receiving offers from many excellent universities and this includes our Oxbridge candidates, Katie and Leila-Mei, who are both aiming for Oxford. We look forward to reporting back on all the girls progress and wish them well as they prepare to take this next big step into life after Croydon High.

It is also a pleasure to report that Eleanor from Year 12 was successful in her application to the “First Step� programme sponsored by Nomura, an international investment bank, with offices in London, New York and Tokyo. The highly sought after three day programme includes workshops, seminars on job application techniques, CV writing skills and interview performance, as well as an introduction to a corporate environment and the potential that could await in an investment banking career. This programme attracts many high quality applicants and Eleanor has done brilliantly to secure a place.

Many of the 6th Form girls made their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) presentations towards the end of February. The EPQ is proving to be an increasingly popular qualification as the benefits of developing independent research, analysis and presentation skills has become clear to more students across the country. The quality of the presentations made by our girls this year have been excellent. They have all worked very hard and have gained an insight into a specialist topic of study and research that would not have been accessible via their A Level studies. Some have already reaped an obvious reward of the EPQ in terms of more generous offers for university places at prestigious institutions.

As we always say, a true education is far more than just demonstrating excellent exam results and in a challenging world, our girls will need to have plenty of self-belief, aspiration and determination to enable them to really get to wherever they want to go.

Improved Space for Learning Refurbishment work continues at the school with several projects completed and the re-roofing and concrete repairs on-going. We are very excited by the way in which the school site and buildings are being developed to enable Croydon High girls to enjoy an even better educational experience in an inspiring environment.

Room 26 which, until recently, was a Geography classroom has been totally gutted and then refurbished and now comprises of two rooms; a new Careers Room as well as a student conference area.

This is another exciting development in our rolling programme of upgrading teaching and learning spaces and is the same high standard as the fabulous space inside and around rooms 50 and 51, completed over the summer last year. This provides light and airy classrooms and a “break-out space� for Year 10 to relax and chat during breaktimes. The girls seem to love it!

Junior School Sing at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Junior School Chamber Choir was once again invited to sing at the Royal Marsden Hospital’s Carol Service ‘Celebrate a Life’.

Accompanied by Epsom and Ewell Silver band, they gave a beautiful performance of Away in a Manger as well as leading the singing of traditional carols.

Caitlin from Year 6 was chosen to turn on the lights, on what was a cold but very Christmassy evening. The girls not only sang beautifully but also represented the school in the best Croydon High tradition.

We have already been asked to perform again next year!

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Ivy’s!

Little Ivy’s, our popular toddler group celebrated its second birthday in February, in the traditional manner with cake, balloons, music and dancing.

Thanks to the great efforts of the wonderful Jackie Sanders, who runs the sessions, Little Ivy’s has really blossomed and we had 27 children enjoying the birthday party.

Little Ivy’s is for children aged 0-4 with their parents or carers and they meet every Thursday in term time between 10 and 11.30am. The group is fortunate to be able to use the bright and spacious premises in the Ivy Club and enjoy lots of activities including music and movement, baby massage, stories and craft which keep everyone happy and busy. They also have visits from junior staff and specially invited outside speakers who can pass on ideas and share experiences (as well as delicious refreshments.) Best of all, it’s a chance to meet new friends and have fun - for everyone!

Sessions cost £3 per child – all welcome. For more details visit the website at http://www.croydonhigh.gdst.net/Little-Ivys-Stay-and-Play or call 020 8260 7508

Sporting Success

Congratulations to...

on the w o h nice w Girls’ Y8 Ca olf Surrey erit M G f r o o i r e Jun ur Ord o T e i Rook

Adahna d n a a r o for Y8 Fl Hockey y a l p o t selected 13 team U y t n u o Kent C

Y8 GĂź n Silver ben who w m o Schoo edal at the n the ls' Jud B o Com ritish petitio n

Y11 Lauren first place and Alexandra third place in the U19 Trampoline Elite

Y9 Erin - selec for Lond ted to play Rugb y on & So uth East

Y7 & Y8 team who won the Croydon Schools' Swimming Gala

Gym & Dance Showcase At the beginning of February, girls from Years 5-12 performed in the Gym and Dance Showcase 2014. The performance included work from all Year 5-9 classes, plus audition work from students in a number of year groups. The range of dance audition pieces was extremely varied; demonstrating Ballet to Bollywood styles of dance, alongside some more modern and contemporary items.

It was pleasing to see our gym audition items including work not only from our very own gym squad gymnasts, but also from students not currently involved in gym squads but yet still able to demonstrate such well-choreographed and polished routines. The gym squads dazzled the audience, with spectacular tumbles and towering balances in some very complex and lengthy routines.

Much hard work went into this showcase and the girls did themselves proud in their commitment to one another and in producing such a successful show.

Netball and Hockey Tour to South Africa

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Year 8-9 Ski Trip to Flachau

Year 8 Trip to Besan con

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FASHION SHOW In November, sixth form pupils at Croydon High School hosted a fashion show also featuring Whitgift Boys School. Over two spectacular nights, we raised money by showcasing a wide variety of catwalks and dances in aid of the Sophie Hayes Foundation fund, supporting victims of human trafficking. Performances ranged from a ‘Heroes and Villains’ inspired catwalk to a traditional African dance. With over 140 pupils taking part including ‘tech’ and backstage, we managed to all work together to raise a staggering amount of money for the foundation.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the Fashion Show Committee and Frau Mester, selling tickets, wristbands, creating posters and programmes and keeping the boys organised!

With planning and rehearsals starting as early as September the sixth form as a whole are pleased to say that all our hard work paid off to give a flawless, outstanding show. In December we proudly presented a cheques for £4164.51 to Emily Chalke of the Sophie Hayes Foundation.

Olivia Y13

Croydon High welcome back Ivy Link Alumnae to Careers Convention On a Wednesday evening in February, both dining rooms, the Music Room and the Main Hall were taken over by the largest Careers Convention ever held at CHS. In total there were 90 delegates, representing a magnificent array of careers, many attending this event for the first time. 21 delegates were old girls who thoroughly enjoyed catching up with each other too! Prestigious companies such as Deloitte, Mott MacDonald and Coutts and Co. brought their expertise, information and free pens!

The career areas included Engineering, Healthcare and Science, the Armed Forces and Police, Law, Journalism and Acting, to name just a few.

High profile universities such as Oxford and King’s College London, and Gap Year Providers provided a colourful backdrop to the stage.

An impressive number of girls and parents attended the event, and the Oxbridge presentation that took place in the Lecture Theatre was extremely popular. Many visited a number of tables, allowing them to research areas that they may never have considered.

The commitment and enthusiasm of the delegates was clear. Some had lengthy queues of prospective employees, throughout the evening.

Many were still imparting their advice well after the event had ended. It was not surprising to hear that the delegates were extremely impressed by the girls. All commented on how charming and polite they were. One delegate said he would have offered a job to one of our girls on the spot!

We are very grateful to all those who volunteered their resources to make this such a successful event.

Daisy Pulls it Off! Being at Croydon High School since I was four years old, I’ve always enjoyed being part of the school plays and productions.

Growing up throughout the school and watching the ‘older girls’ in the school plays it felt like a rite of passage to take part in every production possible! And now finally reaching sixth form, it feels like my school acting career is complete!

I was so happy gaining a main part in the play, Trixie Martin, as it has really boosted my confidence when it comes to acting!

Although with the stress of A-Levels at the same time as learning words, I think I managed to pull off a good performance.

Mrs Webb had told us to make our performance as real as possible staying in character for the whole time.

When I forgot my line, I asked for a prompt in character: “Oh dash it! I’ve completely forgotten my line, can I have a prompt please?!” which made the audience laugh greatly! From the costumes to the set design, lighting and backstage, the whole production came together perfectly and made the performance easier. Looking to the future, drama and acting is something that I want to pursue and have done for many, many years and maybe one day I’ll be able to direct this jolly, fantastic play! Thank you Mrs Webb!

Jennifer Y12

Year 11 Prom!

Friday 31st January was a very special and eagerly anticipated occasion for Year 11, as the end of our mock exams was marked with a celebratory Prom.

The evening saw the year group arriving at school in their glamorous dresses to be greeted by a red carpet and welcome cocktails. The hall had been completely transformed. Swathes of red and silver were draped from the ceiling and fairy lights twinkled on the tables, framing the dance floor. The music set the tone perfectly as we danced beneath the glitter ball, overlooked by a plentiful finger buffet and drinks bar. The evening flew by but the professional photographer captured our memories beautifully. We all had a fantastic evening and would like to thank Mrs. Beck for all her hard work in making the evening so special! and such a success!

Shakira Y11

The ARTiculation Prize

The ARTiculation Prize is an annual event designed to promote the appreciation and discussion of art. The competition seeks to engage students with art and to develop confidence and ability to express their opinions, thoughts and conclusions. Y13 Rhea delivered an amazing 10 minute presentation at the Saatchi Gallery in January.

She was confident, articulate and extremely passionate. Rhea had to wait until last to present her understanding of the painting 'Ski Jacket' by Peter Doig. She really captivated her audience and, as judge Dr Robin Price commented, ‘Rhea unpicked the image well; she analysed close up images and discussed precisely the application of the paint on canvas, and she made me begin to look at the painting with fresh eyes and see the luminosity’. Congratulations to Rhea who gained a very well deserved second place prize. The presentation was filmed by the BBC for The Culture Show and this will be aired on 12th March 2014. The Art & 3D Design Department are extremely proud.

GDST Young Musician of the Year Congratulations to Y12 Ellie who represented CHS in the very first GDST Young Musician of the Year held at the Birkenhead Academy. Ellie’s performance of Scarlatti’s Sonata in G major was sparkling followed by a spellbinding Liszt’s Liebestraume No 3. Although Ellie did not make it to the finals she had a lovely surprise during the competition when she discovered that she had passed her LTCL Diploma, which is almost unheard of for someone still at school!

A Special Visitor

Just before Christmas we were delighted to meet Colin Sandison-Smith, greatnephew of former Head, Margaret Adams and his family. Colin had contacted the school having seen a copy of our latest Ivy Link Alumnae magazine, where we marked the 30th anniversary of the death of this indomitable woman who was Head of Croydon High from 1939 to 1960. She is someone who is very fondly remembered by alumnae of a certain vintage and her name is regularly mentioned as someone who provided inspiration to a whole generation of Croydon High girls.

Colin had particularly wanted to visit the school to see the portrait of Miss Adams that hangs at the entrance to the Sixth Form, along with photographs of other Heads since Miss Nelligan in 1874.

The family were fascinated to hear from our Head of History, Mr Divall, about the very large part Miss Adams plays in his bespoke Year 7 History curriculum and they were very impressed to see how History is really living in the school.

Miss Adams was clearly a remarkable woman with energy and vision ahead of her time and it was a privilege to learn more about her and the important role she has played in our history.

Yuletide Cheer for the Class of 2013 At Christmas we were delighted to welcome back girls from our ‘Class of 2013’ to enjoy hot chocolate, cupcakes and a good catch up following their first term out in the world. All the girls seem happy and settled, and it was lovely to see them in such a familiar environment and obviously happy to be back at school and with each other.

There was lots to say and hear about, and plenty of the customary shrieks that are such a big part of the Sixth Form! We hope that they will stay in touch and continue to let us know how they are getting on. Once a Croydon High girl…always a Croydon High girl!

New Year’s Honour for CHS 1979 Alumna

Dr Barbara Knowles FSB, senior science policy adviser at the Society of Biology, was awarded an MBE in the 2014 New Year Honours list ‘For services to Science Communication and the Environment’. Barbara said: “I’m delighted with this honour. It is especially welcome that the award recognises both my professional work in science policy and communications and also my voluntary work to protect and learn about the outstanding but threatened environment in the eastern Carpathians of Transylvania. I’m really lucky to be able to do both jobs with fantastic colleagues in London and Romania, despite being increasingly disabled with motor neurone disease. A combination of computer technology, an off-road wheelchair and supportive friends and carers makes it possible to enjoy life, by doing interesting work which I believe to be important and valuable.”

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The Ivy Link is a way of bringing together the alumnae, parents and other friends of our school. Whether you join to make new friends, to reconnect with old friends or just to keep in touch with what is happening, we hope that The Ivy Link will help you stay involved in the life of Croydon High School.