Issue Number 26 w/c 15th September 2014 - w/c 22nd September 2014 A day without power On Thursday 18th September 2014 the school was without power for the day due to the building works taking place on the new STEM building. Whilst the Lower School went on a cross-curricular trip to Kew at Wakehurst to look at botany for the day, the Upper School continued lessons as normal and science was taught by candle light. The Lower School thoroughly enjoyed their trip and took part in a number of activities which included making detailed botanical drawings at different levels of scale: using the naked eye, using a hand lens and using a variety of good quality microscopes. Participants were encouraged to make careful observations and to focus on increasing levels of detail. Next pupils embarked on a photographic trail which required orienteering skills as well as careful camera work. We enjoyed the grounds and good weather as we ate our picnics during the lunchtime break. Further activities followed in the afternoon. There was the “save or not to save” activity which looked at the ethics of limited plant preservation. Pupils were asked to visit 6 beneficial plants found in the grounds and to read the associated fact sheets. Pupils then returned to the classroom and had to discuss the relative merits of each plant followed by a vote to decide which to save. The morning group selected the tea plant, (a good choice!) and the afternoon group selected the ginkgo tree which can be used to make medications which improve blood circulation. Our final activity looked at the work of the Millennium Seed Bank which aims to preserve the seeds from important and endangered plants for up to 200 years. They use complex drying and cold storage techniques to achieve this longevity. All in all it was a full and interesting trip. The grounds are beautiful and I would recommend that anyone takes the time to visit them. Mr S Moore, Teacher in Charge of Physics
Theatre Visit to The curious incident of the dog in the night-time at the Gielgud Theatre, London This equally curiously named play is an adaptation of the highly acclaimed novel by Mark Haddon which tells the story of 15 year Christopher Boone, who when the play opens is crouching over the dead body of Mrs Shear’s dog. It has been speared with a garden fork. It is nearly midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. Christopher has Asperger Syndrome (AS) and although he has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he decides to turn detective and sets out on a journey that will turn his world upside-down. Ms O’Connor and Mr Pithers set off to London with 40 Drama and Theatre Studies GCSE and A Level students to watch a performance of the National Theatre’s production, which has recently transferred to the West End. Ms O’Connor had already seen the production when it first came out and thought that it would be an exciting and challenging piece for the girls to see, as it would give them plenty to write about in the ‘Responding to live theatre’ units in their examinations. Having lulled them all into a false sense of security with a wonderful supper at Bella Italia they all headed to Shaftesbury Avenue to take their seats in the stalls at The Gielgud. Although there had been a couple of cast changes the play did not disappoint. It is a highly technical production not just in terms of the set, which is deceptively simplistic and reminiscent of a giant circuit board, but also in regard to the performances as the ten-strong cast multi-roll their way through a list of 45 characters! It is an innovative, challenging, lively, funny and at times deeply moving story, which manages to stay close to the novel and at the same time bring a fresh perspective. It was a highly successful trip and made all the more enjoyable by the enthusiastic response from the girls who in turn were immaculately behaved, a credit to the school and a real delight to take out! Ms S O’Connor, Director of Drama