Q News
Q News | Issue 13 | Spring 2022
Issue 13
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Spring 2022
Les Quennevais School Learning to be your best through excellence and enjoyment CONTENTS
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Q News | Issue 13 | Spring 2022
HEADTEACHER’S REVIEW Dear Reader, As I looked through this latest edition of Q News, I was struck by how much we have achieved over this term that may at first have seemed unlikely or impossible due to the ongoing challenges we still face due to COVID-19. Although we have been decimated as a school at times by the absence of staff and students still testing positive, we have shown great resilience, ambition and drive as a community to ‘normalise’ life in school as much as we possibly can and overcome the many barriers to life in school for young people during these challenging times. This edition of Q News is a resounding endorsement that we have achieved this and so much more! The special and formidable culture of our school and the “Spirit of Quennevais “ is very much alive and thriving! It has been fantastic to see popular key events on our school calendar that mean so much to so many of us, return after a lengthy absence. In doing so we have given ourselves hope, that life is slowly returning to normal and with a sense of relief and accomplishment and how well we have kept going . Indeed, it is clear that we have begun to thrive once again.
HEADTEACHER’S REVIEW
According to the author Brene Brown in her book, “Atlas of the Heart” - “Hope is something vital to our well-being, we need hope like we need air to breathe.” This statement resonates very strongly with me and as we begin our Easter holidays there is a feeling of spring and change in the air that mirrors the feelings we are experiencing in school presently. There is much to be proud of when I look back over this term and much to be hopeful for and for what is to come.
There has been a tangible energy and buzz in school throughout this term and it began with our extraordinary Year 11 students and their outstanding examination results in their iGCSE English Language exam. This cohort broke school and Island records with 94% at Grades 9 - 4. Unsurprisingly they repeated this success again in March securing record Maths iGCSE results at 84% Grades 9 - 4. These results are a stunning indication that their hard work and the quality of teaching they have received will be rewarded in their other subjects as formal GCSE exams return from a two year absence this summer. We are all very proud of the way the students have approached the last two years of school life. When we talk of resilience and ambition it is most keenly felt in Year 11 and these values that our students demonstrate day in day out inspire us all.
We all know that there’s nothing like a school production to create a buzz and a feeling of unrivalled excitement and joy. “School of Rock” was a triumph of what can be achieved against the odds if you continue to believe and just keep going. Our talented students turned in flawless performances that even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber would have been proud of. The energy, the joy, the pride was off the scale. Thank you to everyone who came along to support our cast and crew. It was an incredible team effort and our first production in a new school. A two-year absence from performing has been hard to bear for us all but especially hard for students who thrive and love performing arts, so for us to be able to pull off such an extraordinary show was extremely special and so rewarding. For the sell-out four night run, Rock really did “set us free!”
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Another welcome return and huge success was our Sports Dinner at the Jersey Rugby Club. Following a three-year absence for this event it was a pleasure to take time to acknowledge the achievements and commitment to sport for our students . We were very proud to welcome back former Les Quennevais School students who spoke with such fondness of the time at our school and with great passion about their continued love and involvement in sport and what it has done for each of them. What terrific ambassadors they are for our school. Having taught each of them over the years, it was particularly lovely to see them again. I am so proud of the successful and happy young people they have become. We are very fortunate to have the support of a new Corporate Partner, Grant Thornton whose generous sponsorship of the event and interest in our school is a much welcomed addition. You will hear more from Adam Budworth Managing Director of Grant Thornton in this issue as well as a current employee and former Les Quennevais Student Kimberly as the featured Alumni interview. We look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years ahead.
These are however , just two examples of how we are returning to normality in our school community. Many more are contained in this edition and each of them has had a significant impact on the lives of our young people. Hope is what we need and hope is what we now have. What we have achieved as a community up to this point can be described as “Big Fish Moments”. We have gone through a sustained period of time when we have all been brave and fearless. We have done it all from testing, contact tracing, remote learning, schooling children at home, CAGs & TAGs all without complaint. There has been great success and great power by working together so magnificently. It has been intense and relentless and it has required a big response from us all. We have all come together as shoals of little fish do to fight off a threat or a predator and act as one ‘Big Fish’ to show strength, support and unity. Everyone has played their part in school and at home to get us to this point. We are a team, we are a ‘Big Fish’!
But...working at this intensity and living with constant threats to how we do things is exhausting and not sustainable. We now need to find moments when we are not living on the edge and do what we would normally do, a meal out with friends, a family holiday, pursuing things that we have missed and enjoy. We need time away from managing a crisis and living with worries and threats, time out of ‘Big Fish’ formation and we need to swim free in our own company for a couple of weeks. There may be more to come and more challenges ahead, more time for ‘Big Fish’ formation but we will only be able to face it if we embrace the precious time we have to ourselves, so whatever comes next we can face with renewed energy. So here’s to swimming free and making the most of ‘normal life’ while we can. The traditional Easter message is one of hope, new life and new beginnings. Let us all hope this is something that we can all feel in the months ahead. I wish you all a very Happy Easter. Yours sincerely Sarah Hague Headteacher
HEADTEACHER’S REVIEW
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WELCOME Mrs Davimes Mrs Davimes
Who is Mrs Davimes? After attending Les Quennevais as a student and leaving in 1997, I studied at Bird College in London, obtaining a national diploma and dance teachers’ qualification. My professional debut took me to Las Vegas as part of SPIRIT OF THE DANCE. I later went on to tour with the company to America, Spain, Taiwan, and New Zealand before moving to the South of France, to perform in LA CABARET at the Monte Carlo Casino. Looking for a new challenge I ventured to South Africa and performed in musicals such as OLIVER, THE KING & I and CABARET and was dance captain for numerous pantomimes. My performing highlight was being part of the cast of CHICAGO alongside the great AmraFaye Wright. I then went on to choreograph for a variety of shows, taught dance and theatre performance and appeared in one of South Africa’s TV soap operas.
STAFF INTERVIEW
After many years in the performing world, I wanted to explore other challenges and began working as a PA and events coordinator for South African celebrities, Des and Dawn Lindberg, organising the Naledi Theatre Awards and ensuring the smooth running of their business. After starting a family, I set up my own company, and became the South African distributor for an exclusive baby brand. Managing Dudu Baba for many years, was an intense but wonderful learning experience and a proud achievement of mine. Covid hit and although it was a shock, the lockdown gave my family and I the opportunity to re-evaluate our lives and decide how we wanted to spend it going forward. We decided to say goodbye to everything in South Africa and move back home to Jersey.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Adventurous, optimistic, clumsy!
How have you enjoyed with students so far in your role as exams officer and choreographer of School of Rock? It has been such an honour. As the Exams Officer, most of my interactions have been with Year 11, who have shown themselves to be a mature, conscientious, hard-working group of students.
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School of Rock allowed me to work with other students, in a different capacity and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and watching their confidence and abilities grow over the rehearsal period. My eyes were filled with tears of pride and joy when I watched their final performance and I felt so grateful to have been part of it all. Why did you want to join Les Quennevais? Les Quennevais School has always held a special place in my heart and even though it’s been many years, and a new building to boot, it still has such a great ethos and spirit. My sister, the wonderful Mrs Goodchild, has been working here for many years now and she cannot say enough amazing things about the school, and I am in complete agreement with her.
What are your dislikes? A negative disposition, parktown prawns, (a valid reason alone for leaving Johannesburg. Google them!) and olives! What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
And finally, what excites you about Les Quennevais? The energy! The minute you walk through the doors, you’re greeted by uplifting staff, eager faces, and a lively atmosphere. There’s a “can do” attitude here that trickles down through every department and it’s so rewarding to be part of it every day.
Embrace your mistakes. If you’re not making any mistakes, then you’re not challenging yourself enough and you’ll never grow. Skills, knowledge, and qualifications give you options. You may not think you need a certain skill right now but 5, 10 years down the line you might find that it comes in useful and affords you chances you would have otherwise lost out on. Work as hard as you can at every opportunity.
What are your likes? Sun, sea, and sand. Theatre and my crazy family!
Stop press! From September Mrs Davimes takes up a new post within the school as the Administration Manager & PA to the Headteacher and member of the Senior Leadership Team.
STAFF INTERVIEW
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Q News | Issue 13 | Spring 2022
THE SCHOOL
Earlier this term, students returned to the stage in spectacular style. ‘The School of Rock’ was nothing short of a West End production with Sir Andrew Lloyd–Webber personally sending his approval and wellwishes to the whole cast and crew – an outstanding testament and accreditation for all the hard work that has taken place in the background to ensure this show made it to the stage. This is the first show we have performed away from the Jersey Opera House, but our state-ofthe-art school more than lived up to the expectation. From the spectacular light show on arrival, to the visual masterpiece created on stage, the students electrified audiences from the very first note.
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THAT ROCKED !
Year 11 student Nic, as the lead protagonist, Dewey Finn, gave an exceptional and energetic display throughout, stunning audiences with his vocal range, whilst Year 11 Jasmine exquisitely played the uptight Principal of Horace Green High School, notably capturing the audience with her perfect rendition of ‘Where Did the Rock Go?’ Other notable performances included Year 9 Oliver’s interpretation of Ned Schneebly, whose comic timing as a satanic sex god left the audience in stitches.
It was arguably Year 9 Charlee, playing one of the principle students, Tomika, who stole the show as the audience was brought to tears by her solo of ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘If you Would Only Listen.’ The talent just kept coming in abundance and it was a sight to behold as the students played live instruments on stage whilst performing! It’s just impossible not to be completely wowed by the enthusiasm, the camaraderie and the purity of what can only be described as an outstanding Rock spectacle! The whole cast executed every number, every step, every note to perfection leading to a standing ovation every night.
Directed by Head of Drama, Miss Milman, choreographed by Mrs Davimes and music by Mr Arnett, Head of Music, the trio blew this musical out of the water and raised the bar yet again. Their inspiration is contagious and it’s no wonder that these notorious Les Quennevais shows seem to be the hottest ticket in town. Best put your orders in now for next year to avoid disappointment. Les Quennevais School – you rock!! Mr P Harris Assistant Headteacher
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“Last night I saw the most magnificent performance of School of Rock. Bravo Les Quennevais School - you must be so proud of everyone involved in what was a truly spectacular show at such a challenging time with Covid. It was wonderful.” - Rob Sainsbury, Director General of CYPES “I’ve just watched one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen by the students of Les Quennevais School. It was such a good show and I’m proud of my friends who starred in it. And I’m so proud to go to this school.” - Student
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“Absolutely outstanding! Best show I’ve ever seen in Jersey by far! You should all be so incredibly proud. I couldn’t be happier that my son is starting LQ in September 2022. Everything about the school is pure excellence.” - Future Parent
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Sports Awards Dinner returns with the support of our new Corporate Partner Grant Thornton After a three year hiatus caused by Covid, staff and students came together to celebrate the sporting success of Les Quennevais School and its students. Once again, the event was hosted by the Jersey Rugby Club and we packed it out with over 180 attendees. For the first time, the event received corporate sponsorship and we were very grateful for the support from Grant Thornton whose presence really enhanced the atmosphere and ambience of the evening for our students. We were joined by special guest Adam Budworth, Managing Director of Grant Thornton who presented the three main awards and also sponsored a new award The Grant Thornton Unsung Hero Award.
Also presenting awards and talking to students were exLes Quennevais students Harry Doolan, James Queree, Lauren Mills and Maddy FitzgeraldWilkins, all of whom have gone on to achieve great sporting success since leaving Les Quennevais. What they had to say to the students was truly inspirational and they all said the foundations for their success and determination was all formed at Les Quennevais through the core values that are instilled here. We were also joined by five Jersey Reds professionals who sat and chatted with students. Mrs Le Riche and Mr Harris did a fantastic job presenting as a dynamic double-act in the unfortunate absence of our usual compere Mr Le Feuvre. Over 80 individual prizes were awarded for Coach’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year across a wide range of sports. The students carried on their impeccable behaviour throughout their 3-course dinner before the final awards of the evening were presented.
Chairs of Governors, Julian Bernstein presented three new awards for those students that best represent our core values in sport. Year 11 students Lottie and Daniel won the Ambition and Resilience awards whilst Year 8 student Samuel won the Respect Award. Also new this year were the House Awards presented by the Heads of Houses for commitment to sport for their respective Houses. Maddy Fitzgerald-Wilkins presented the Girls Team of the Year to the Year 10 Netball Team who also picked up the award at the previous Sports Dinner in 2019 when they were in Year 7! James Queree presented the Boys Team of the Year to the Year 11 Rugby Players. The final awards of the evening were presented by guest of honour Adam Budworth starting with another new award The Grant Thornton Unsung Hero Award which went to Year 10 student Ronan for his unrecognised commitment and effort during Covid.
Year 7 student and all-round sportsman Luke, picked up the Rising Star Award who was also nominated for Sports Person of the Year, an impressive feat! The main award which is voted for on the evening by all those present - the Sports Person of the Year was won by Year 11 student Ethan fighting off close competition from Year 10 student Tyler and Year 11 student Lottie. A huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees and thank you to all who attended for making it such a magnificent evening. Mr Richardson Business and Facilities Manager
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Adam Budworth Managing Director, Grant Thornton Where did you go to school? Princethorpe College in Warwickshire, England
Which aspects of school helped you become the person you are today? Independence and confidence. I had to catch two buses every morning to get to school and similar to get home in the evening. The first was a local bus into Coventry City Centre and then a school bus to Princethorpe. I am the youngest of 4 siblings and school taught me to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. Embracing the culture of the school and taking an active part in all aspects of school life has served me well, and into adulthood.
What was your biggest challenge at school?
What path did you take to get to where you are now?
Making the most of the opportunities I had, created a number of challenges to face at school and I worked hard to excel on the games field and in the classroom. I was determined to repay the support and faith shown in me by my parents.
I always wanted to be an accountant from a very early age. I had good GCSE results but under performed in my A Levels and nearly lost out on a University place – I got in by the skin of my teeth…. After this wake up call I focused my attention back to the goal. I graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Dundee (with an exchange year in Oklahoma USA), started work in Southampton until I moved to Jersey in 1998. I had first time passes with the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales) and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2000, becoming a fellow (FCA) in 2010. I joined Grant Thornton in 2014 and felt honoured when I took over the leadership role, as Managing Director, in 2016.
I also had to make sure I didn’t miss the bus! Both my parents worked full time so there would be no way for me to get to school. What was your greatest achievement at school? At the school prize giving after I had completed my A Levels, I was awarded the Princethorpe Shield, this is awarded annually to the student who is seen to embody the spirit and ethos of the College in many facets of their school life – I am so proud of this achievement. Leaving the school with skills, knowledge and a determination to continue to learn and succeed are also achievements that have helped me.
INTRODUCING ADAM BUDWORTH
Why would you recommend a career in finance? I would recommend a career in what you enjoy. Living on an island which happens to be an international finance centre, finance would seem a natural choice. I would say if you are considering a career in finance, choose one which is transportable so you have the choice to potentially work off island during your career. What advice would you give to students looking at their career options? Try it first and as many options as you can, until you find the one you think you will enjoy. Take the opportunity to explore if there is work experience, summer work, weekend work. Talk to as many people as you can about your options, your careers teachers, parents, family and if you are fortunate to undertake work experience talk to the people you are working with or people already working in the industry you are considering.
Favourite aspect of your job? I get out of bed every morning looking forward to going to work. My role covers both Jersey and Guernsey so I regularly spend time in both islands. We currently have 18 different nationalities working at Grant Thornton so I am constantly learning about cultural differences and I always look at how both I and Grant Thornton can continually improve both the experiences of our clients and our people.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
What excites you about Grant Thornton becoming a Corporate Partner of Les Quennevais? The values of Les Quennevais resonate with me and are very much aligned to the values of Grant Thornton. Additionally, your head teacher is so passionate about the school and its students, which mirrors my passion for Grant Thornton and the staff who work here. Becoming a Corporate Partner also helps us put something back into the community and help develop the future of Jersey. It is a perfect partnership!
Mental health and wellbeing is an important part of my life so as an early riser I ensure I exercise regularly either running or going to a class at BoxinBusiness. At the weekends you will find me scooting or running around the track as Les Quennevais with my two young children.
Sponsors of Les Quennevais School Sports Awards
INTRODUCING ADAM BUDWORTH`
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Alumni Interview Kimberley Godinho
I left Les Quennevais School in 2006 to go onto Hautlieu to study for my A-Levels. I soon decided that I wasn’t going to university, my A-levels were fast approaching and I had a mild panic that I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself! I attended the Skills Show and visited the stand of a local accountancy firm to ask for some work experience. Following completion of my A-Levels, I was lucky to secure a role as a trainee accountant. I then worked at this firm for around 6 years. Whilst there I was given some great opportunities including being seconded to work for the Government on the Falkland Islands. It has to be the most unique place I have ever visited! To get there I had to board two military flights where I was the only civilian on board. I then did not start at Grant Thornton in the most conventional way. I was struggling to see any future at the firm I was working at, so I started looking for jobs elsewhere. I had an interview at Grant Thornton and unbeknown to me, Grant Thornton was in the process of acquiring my firm’s book of business (included within that acquisition would have been me moving over).
ALUMNI INTERVIEW
So, it came as a happy surprise that the acquisition was happening, as I was ‘being acquired’ by a firm that I would have moved to whether the acquisition happened or not. When I first started with Grant Thornton, I carried on my studies towards my ACCA and worked for the Business Advisory team. Shortly after joining I was given the opportunity to work in the tax team. I was very interested in developing skills in other areas and tax is always something that intrigued me so I jumped at the chance. Having only worked at my previous firm since leaving school, and the subsequent acquisition, I had only ever known working for / with one director. I had thought that in order for me to progress and unlock my full potential maybe I should be looking to broaden my experience and work elsewhere. So, some years ago I made a decision to leave Grant Thornton and move to another firm. Needless to say, it took me all of 3 weeks to realise that I had made a big mistake and within 6 weeks of leaving I was back at my desk in GT.
Since returning, I have chosen to stay at Grant Thornton (I have currently been here over 8 years now) and from a social standpoint everyone in the firm is so easygoing and there is a brilliant working atmosphere (which can’t be underestimated). From a professional stand point, I enjoy being constantly challenged, and with the guidance from my directors this has enabled me to continue to drive my own career path from trainee accountant to my current role as Tax Senior Manager. Which years were you at Les Quennevais? I started in 2001 in Year 7 and left in the summer of 2006 when I was in Year 11. What was your biggest challenge at school? Learning to accept that I can make mistakes! I am a bit of a perfectionist and don’t like getting things wrong – but making mistakes and learning from them is a highly important skill to master. For anyone, making mistakes of any form can be disheartening and make you question your own judgement. My teachers instilled in me that we are all human and we all make mistakes.
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If it weren’t for this, I would have always viewed mistakes in a negative light, however this allowed me to use my mistakes as tools to develop and turn any negative experience into a positive growth tool.
What was your greatest achievement at school? Not necessarily any achievement, but the most valuable skill I took away from Les Quennevais were my social skills. I always enjoyed going to school and mixing with lots of different people. In an age where we spend increasingly more and more time in front of our computers, phones and TVs I think it is easy to forget the value of good social skills and school is the best opportunity you get to develop these. I don’t think I would be where I am today if I hadn’t developed these skills at school. Song/band/album that defined your school years? This is the toughest question of them all!! I listened to such a broad range of music at school it’s hard to pin point just one! I guess Beyonce’s and Jay-Z’s Crazy in Love was pretty iconic.
Which aspects of life at Les Quennevais helped you become the person you are today?
So the opportunity to work (and get paid) whilst still gaining a professional qualification was a no brainer.
I think Les Quennevais was where I really learnt the value of hard work. Going into my GCSEs there were a few subjects where I got too complacent and thought I could just cram a couple of days before and that would be enough, but a few of my grades reflected otherwise! Now I know if I want something, I need to work for it.
I can’t say one particular person has inspired me along the way, but since leaving school I have always strived (and still do) to continue to learn, grow and develop as a person, I guess I am always in competition with myself to do and be better, and that’s what motivates me the most.
Favourite lesson or activity?
Favourite aspect of your job?
I can be quite competitive so sport was always one of my favourite lessons – plus my PE teachers were amazing! Given the career path I chose, it may be no surprise that Maths was also a close 2nd favourite.
That no two days are the same, my workload can vary from hour to hour, which definitely keeps me on my toes. The work I ultimately do differs depending on the time of year and what the next deadline is. There is always tax advisory pieces to do, as these come in all year round.
Favourite memory of Les Quennevais? My favourite memory from Les Quennevais has to be my last Sports Day. Sports Days were always a firm favourite with the school as a whole, but my last Sports Day has to be the best I had – and it helped that my house (Tranter) won! What path did you take and who inspired you along the way to get you where you are today? When I left Les Quennevais I chose to do all my further education on island. Not long into my A-levels I realised that university wasn’t for me and by that point I was fed up of being a broke student!
What advice would you give to students looking at their career options? Be inquisitive. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Speak to as many people in the profession as you can. Try and gain work experience as it really helps you get an understanding of the sector you are looking to work in. In all honesty, before undertaking work experience I didn’t even know what an accountant did!
If you would like to be a Q News featured alumni, please contact our Business Manager Mr Richardson. We’d love to hear your story!
ALUMNI INTERVIEW
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Excellence personified through our Creative Arts students Art at Les Quennevais School has always embodied our school motto; learning to be your best through excellence and enjoyment. Students love our curriculum. It is challenging but it is also filled with opportunities for our students to be successful no matter their starting point. It is this feeling of success, through rigorous planning and thoughtful, precise teaching which inspires so many of our students to achieve and be their very best. Enjoyment often comes through that feeling of success. That feeling of ‘I made that.’ I always love to see the sense of deep pride and quite often shock our parents convey when work is shared at parent’s evenings. It’s also a joy to hear the gasps of disbelief when visitors to the school see the quality of work within our Creative Arts Department. I have been teaching Art for a very long time now, over 20 years at Les Quennevais and it is still such a privilege to share my passion for Art and to give our students the skills and knowledge to excel in this wonderful creative medium.
As we have grown into our wonderful surroundings in the new school, the work of our students has started to grace the perfect white walls like some glamorous London gallery. The GCSE photography has taken centre stage on the downstairs street, with complex handmade abstract and landscape pieces being hung alongside some incredible contemporary portrait work. It looks awesome and is making a big impression on students, teachers and visitors alike. There really isn’t another school like us for exhibiting opportunities. Every time I walk through the busy street, there are students staring at the work in admiration. Upstairs is also starting to come alive with beautiful work. Giant 6ft canvases take a while longer to create than the immediacy of photography, but it is starting to look wonderful. Like our very own Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Calm, serene landscapes and imposing portraits are lit up by the wonderful natural lighting provided by the glass roofline.
As we receive more sunlight as the summer months approach, the work keeps looking more vibrant. The lovely thing about hanging such impressive work is that our younger students get to see the time it takes to create such work. Before the finished work is hung, it is on display in our classrooms and as teachers we will often refer to the challenges faced by our GCSE students and relate it to their own work. Seeing complex portraits and landscape paintings evolve over several months reminds our younger students that Art is a struggle, that great work doesn’t just happen, but it requires great tenacity, courage and resilience to work on something for such a long time. In the years ahead, I look forward to see our walls continue to fill with the awe and wonder of our students hard work and burgeoning talent. Mr Jones Assistant Headteacher
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Watts triumph in the ‘Golden Hour’ House Photography Competition This year’s house photography competition focused on ‘The Golden Hour’. This is the period around an hour before sunset and after sunrise where the light cast by the setting or rising sun gives us a magical glow, richer colours and dramatic shadows.
I was absolutely blown away by not just the quality of entries, but also the quantity this year with over 500 entries! This year’s judge was professional photographer Ollie Jones, who between various shoots in London and Jersey managed to fit in the time to judge this year’s extraordinary collection of sunfilled shots. Here are the winning entries, alongside his comments. Teacher Commendation Robyn, 10S McKeon House This is such a unique take on such an iconic Jersey view. I love the complex depth of field. The highly blurred foreground creates an almost abstract effect, but we all still know exactly where it is. Great experimentation, well done!
Bronze - Cassie, 7S McKeon House Copper - Fearne, 7E Tranter House What an arresting image! The detail within the eye is a one in a million shot which takes great skill to capture so perfectly. The warm hues of the glowing skin reflect back the sun which is so perfectly placed within the pupil of the eye. WOW!
HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
A fantastic photograph, good composition with the wing hitting the horizon. The texture of the clouds give you a sense of speed, the contrast of the two colours brings this image alive and makes me feel like I’m in the image. How nice it is to be in the sky again. Great work!
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Silver - Daisy, 8Q Watts House A great image which caught my attention very quickly, I really like how you have created the sense of freedom by having a subject within the image, for me this bring an element of storytelling to the picture. Technically this image is well exposed which isn’t easy when shooting into the sun, perfect timing of sunset to capture the long shadows of the child which also give you a great depth of field. Well done!
Gold - Isabella, 8E Tranter House This image is fantastic in more ways than one. You really have hit the brief here, a beautiful well known landmark is never easy to capture in new ways but your perspective is fantastic. Each time I look at the image I find new elements, like the people walking on the slip. Again not an easy photograph to take a get correct exposure, the sun beams are incredible and the layers of the foreground brings me into the picture. Fantastic work and great composition.
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OVERALL WINNER Platinum - Jessica, 9Q Watts House Simplicity at its best. This is a very strong image, the composition is great with the leading lines from the roof and lights. It gives a strong cinematic feel with how the sun is illuminating the windows, having all the elements silhouetted is very clever as it brings out the texture of the clouds which also brings a great mood into the picture. It gives a feel of the sky being on fire but a feeling of calm at the same time. It’s very hard to bring lots of elements together within one frame, so well done for a beautiful image of “Golden Hour”. CONTENTS
Q News | Issue 13 | Spring 2022
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Fashion and Textiles - Students win two major awards at Eisteddfod International Textile Designer Tracey Pereira was this year’s judge at the annual Jersey Eisteddfod and this was the first year our students have entered their work. A total of 16 pieces were judged and 3 Platinum, 2 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Bronzes awarded. Huge congratulations go to Erin for winning the Embroiderer Guild Trophy and Zoe for gaining the Premier Award Trophy for Needlework and Textile Art. Both award winning pieces were made from up-cycled denim which the students had purchased from charity shops. Their challenge was to convert the plain denim into an eye catching jacket that included an iconic portrait of their choice which communicated a social message. The denim jackets were eye catching through both their appliqued and stitched portrait and poignant stitched wording. Having studied the work of Victoria Villasana and Maurizio Anzeri, both students had previous experience of stitching into photographic portraits.
Zoe chose Masala Youcef as her icon, with the embroidered Malala’s quote ‘I am stronger than fear’ on the collar of her jacket evoking Malala’s passion for equality for girls’ education . The judge complimented Zoe’s pleated peplum technique on the jacket and it’s aesthetic connection to the box pleating on the additional denim skirt she entered. Erin chose Greta Thunberg with a strong environmental message. Executed in contrasting reds and blues to symbolise rising temperatures, the judge referred to the felted pieces on the collar as ‘screaming the environmental message loud and clear!’. Leaving loose threads in the style of Maurizio Anzeri evoked hope that there is still time for us to look after our planet. Tracey Pereira was particularly impressed with Poppy’s denim jacket, commenting ‘I absolutely loved the printed, stitched and appliqued Geisha, you have made a super job of all of the techniques you have used – your cherry trees are inspired!’
Nic’s column dress also received a special mention from the judge, referring to the fabric he digitally designed himself as ‘a striking kaleidoscope digital manipulation’. Ella’s beautiful digital fabric was ‘a fabulous colour scheme with a well executed digital manipulation for surface design’. Dominika’s minimalist jacket was mentioned for her excellent free machined panels and Lili-Beth’s evocative commentary displaying the whole of the inauguration poem by Amanda Gorman. Lucia’s jacket was commented on as ‘featuring some fine stitching and surface embellishments and the collar looking particularly effective’. Sophia, Kaci, Codie, Jessica and Chelsea were all mentioned for their unique inspired digital designs and Romaynie for her free machine embroidery on top of her digitally designed skirt. It was a fantastic event to show off the hard and dedicated work of our students in a public forum and to win more trophies than any other Textiles department on the island was an outstanding achievement for the students. We continue to develop our focus on being environmentally aware as much as possible and we would love to keep receiving donations of wools, threads, and fabrics. Mrs Croke Head of Textiles
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Erin won the Embroider Guild Trophy and Zoe won the Premier Award Trophy for Needlework and Textile Art
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Maths Department celebrates record exam results It doesn’t require a Mathematician to spot how our GCSE results keep growing from year to year. There is such a buzz around the Mathematics department after recently receiving our outstanding January iGCSE results. Mathematics is no longer seen as just a core subject that the students have to endure, but it is readily acknowledged as a favourite subject with clear building blocks opening doors for our students’ futures. The Year 11 students are busy revising and working towards their Summer session of GCSEs where the students will sit their Mathematics IGCSE with an opportunity for an additional Statistics GCSE. We are in a very privileged and rare position being able to offer two Mathematical qualifications at GCSE level which enables the students more opportunities moving forwards.
During the Summer term, Students in Years 7-10 will take part in a functional skills project. This gives the opportunity for students to learn about the practical applications of Mathematics and the ability to see and use Mathematics in the real world. We piloted this project last Summer which proved a real eye opener to the students involved. Our students were wide eyed when they saw the cost of living for a family of 2 adults and 2 children living in Jersey. Hearing the students’ shock at what their parents had to spend was heartening. Hopefully, this year’s project will have a similar effect! Additionally, coming up in the Summer term will be our annual Maths Challenge for Year 7s. This is a great opportunity for students to flex their problem solving muscles, put their team work skills to the test and build on their resilience. Students will work in teams and participate in various maths based events; who knew maths could be so fun?!
Mathematics is about processes and discovery, with problem solving being at the forefront. As we look forward into the new academic year we cannot wait to reintroduce the UKMT maths challenge and MENSA applications, just a couple of the many events that have been on hold since Covid. The department is ever evolving and looking to improve. Watch this space for bigger and better things. Miss Hyam Head of Mathematics
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McKeon make a splash in the Swimming Gala This term also saw the return of the Inter-House Swimming Gala, which took place at Les Quennevais Sports Centre with over 200 swimmers from across the three Houses competing in 48 races.
There were some nail-bitingly close races as we have some amazing swimming talent with so many of our students being surfers, lifeguards and even Jersey and County Champion swimmers.
Years 7 - 9 had never taken part in the Swimming Gala before due to Covid so it was great to bring the event back and see so many students take part. The atmosphere was electric with Mr Le Feuvre providing full commentary on each race making it feel like a premier sporting event.
It was clear that a lot of that talent lies within McKeon as they secured wins in Year 7, 8, 10 & 11 ensuring they comfortably won overall.
All our core values were on full display with students giving their all for their Houses, cheering on others and being fiercely competitive as school records tumbled.
The students did themselves proud and were a real credit to the school and their Houses. A huge thank you to the PE Dept. and Sports Captains who worked tirelessly on the day to manage the event and the swimmers. We look forward to next year! Mr Richardson Business and Facilities Manager / Head of McKeon House
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Student Leaders go above and beyond for the school What a group of students we have had this year - a team who embody everything about what it means to be a strong role model at Les Quennevais School – respectful, resilient and ambitious. From leading student parliament meetings and meeting the CEO of Caring Cooks to discuss food wastage, our Senior Student Leadership Team have conducted themselves with the highest standards and professionalism. In January, the team were involved with Mrs Moisan’s stall at the school’s production of School of Rock. They were all keen to dress up in the uniform of Horace Green High School and sell refreshments and merchandise to the masses with all proceeds going to our partner school in Burkina Faso. They were outstanding ambassadors who met with our VIP guests and ensured that Mrs Moisan was on her best behaviour at all times!
On top of leading and forming the student panels where they have interviewed staff for potential roles at Les Quennevais, they were also keen to ensure that we were doing our part as a school and community to support those who have had to flee the Ukraine. They set up a clothing bank for members of the community to donate any items such as blankets, clothing, hats, scarves, toiletries and many other items. This was then bagged and boxed up and given to the Polish Embassy that then delivered over 70 crates of donations from Les Quennevais School to the people of Ukraine seeking refuge in Poland. It is moments and initiatives like these that make them the young inspirational leaders they are today. They don’t just care about what the school can do for them, but what they can do to for the school and the local community. The next half-term will see these young adults preparing for their GCSE examinations before further education. With these caring and bright minds, the world can only be a brighter place. Mr Harris Assistant Headteacher
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Careers - Opening minds to future aspirations as we welcome University speakers to LQS In March students in Year 10 and 11 were given the opportunity to receive talks from both Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Winchester University. Both workshops set out the requirements to meet the demands to attend both institutes, whilst giving the students the chance to experience what life is like for a university student. Following on from the visit to the Higher Education Fair at Fort Regent, both Brighton and Winchester Universities attended Les Quennevais School to give further in-depth discussion about the courses on offer, what life was like for a student and making the transition from Jersey to the UK.
Students were engaged in the images presented to them regarding student accommodation and the facilities on offer at both universities. The talk from Winchester also focused on their sports science programme and the qualifications and pathways needed to succeed, whilst the presenter from Brighton and Sussex Medical School presented various problems and moral dilemmas for students to solve. It certainly was a busy morning and one that got students thinking about the pathways they may need to consider if they are thinking about the longer term goal.
Whilst we understand that university is still a few years away for our students, we have been very pleased with the maturity and discussions that have since taken place with KS4 students as they are now thinking about their next steps and where they may lead them. With so many now highlighting university as an option for their future, we know that days like this will continue to inspire and raise their ambitions to be the very best they can be. Mr Harris Assistant Headteacher / Head of Careers
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House Reports McKeon At the the time of writing, we are level on points with Tranter at the top of the leader board. A position that doesn’t elate me but at least it keeps us on our toes and with fire in our bellies to push on into the crucial Summer Term to ensure we get the job done. It has been an extremely successful term for McKeon starting off with a glorious victory in the Basketball & Football competition. It was the boys’ efforts on the basketball court that got us the win and I was most impressed with the Year 7 boys who experienced their first taste of victory. They put in a real team performance and battled hard to win some very close games. The Year 7 girls are an extremely strong cohort who have already stacked up the wins so it is great that the boys now know that they are also capable of winning!
We were victorious once again in the pancake race. A fantastic event, brought back from the dark ages by Mrs Moisan saw students slalom through a course in the school hall, all whilst carrying a frying pan and flipping pancakes! A true example of learning to be your best through enjoyment! We enjoyed it the most though winning in both Years 7 and 8. The big House event of the Spring term is the Swimming Gala, an event we haven’t held since 2019. Nobody can remember the last time McKeon won it, but just like Sports Day last year, we banished that curse with aplomb with victories in Year 7, 8, 10 & 11! It was total dominance in the water from McKeon. I didn’t know we had such aquatic talent amongst our ranks. We have an abundance of surfers, lifeguards, competitive swimmers and students who just give it their all for McKeon and it is that spirit and drive that got us the historic win.
I was most proud of Year 7 students Nava and Maina, who won their freestyle open race against students from all year groups including Year 11. Talk about ambition! Next term represents the last chance for Year 11 to pull on the red shirt for McKeon and I for one will be very sad to see them go. They have been fantastic and have always got stuck in to every House competition. They will be a hard act to follow and I know the whole House joins me in wishing them the best of luck in their upcoming GCSE examinations. We will not rest on our laurels following the victories of this term; next term is the one that counts. And we will come back after the Easter break refreshed and determined to win the House Competition yet again. I would like to wish students from all Houses a wonderful Easter with a note to McKeon students don’t eat too much chocolate, we need to be match fit for Softball & Rounders! We are McKeon! Mr Richardson Head of McKeon House
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Tranter It continues to be a very competitive year for our interhouse competition. Just when it appears that one House takes advantage, another one comes back! This really has been the story of our journey so far this year – just as we think we are taking control, both McKeon and Watts come back. The points are the closest they have ever been and it is now time for us to dig deep and take it down to the wire.
We come into our final term and there are still so many competitions to play for. My message for Tranter House is simple – we keep going, we keep fighting and we take every point we can get. For our Year 11s, this is your final time to get involved and show the rest of the school the incredible students you are – both Year 11 boys and girls have always been strong on all fronts and I am expecting them to go out with a bang. A huge shout out to our Sports Captains – Callum and Rhiann who have been great ambassadors for the House and have made sure we are always represented in every competition possible. Thank you for everything you have done!
We know we are strong and the fact that we have Sports Personality of the Year – Ethan (Year 11) and Rising Star, Luke (Year 7) both in Tranter House and a number of Year 10 students who will be our future Sports Captains on Sports Day this year.
Watts
I was delighted to nominate two students for awards at the recent Sports Dinner for their commitment to House sport Ralph in Year 9 and Talia in Year 10. Their efforts and dedication to Watts House have been superb as we head into the final push of the Summer Term.
Sporting events are where we shine as a House, and with this and softball and rounders to come, we are in a great position to overtake the other Houses and I know we can do it!
Recent triumphs in the ‘Golden Hour’ House Photography Competition and Easter Egg hunt demonstrate Watts House are still in it to win it and grinding out points and wins where we can. Watts’ spirit was exceptional during the swimming gala. Although we did not win, the pride that I felt was immense as we supported and challenged in every race. Special mention must go to Harry in Year 8 who broke countless long standing records. Well done Harry!
We have all our strongest events and competitions to play for. Sports Day this year promises to be a real knife-edge decider. So we will need every bit of courage, pride and talent on display to secure a win for Watts.
Come on Tranter – one big final push and we can be victorious once again! Mr Harris Head of Tranter House
Thank you for all your commitment to Watts House this term, I wish you all a Happy Easter. Mrs Le Marquand Head of Watts House
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‘C’est fantastique!’ - Students triumph in the French Eisteddfod After a long two years of Covid restrictions, the calendar of school events is slowly getting back to normal. One that has made a comeback is the MFL French Eisteddfod, which took place on Wednesday 9th March at the Town Hall. Students from Year 7 and 8 were asked to perform a French poem for the judges. Under scrutiny were their French accents, their presence on stage and their fluency. The poems were chosen for their difficulty and the students gave up their lunchtimes to work with the MFL Department Madame Samson and Mademoiselle Godel, to ensure their pronunciation was ‘parfait’! Les Quennevais School was well represented with 30 students coming forward to take part. The students were a credit to the school, and it was a real pleasure watching them as they performed. We felt so proud seeing our students on stage showing real passion for languages.
The Year 7 students performed ‘Hamster en Couleur’ and the Year 8 students had a choice between ’La Lessive’ by Jacques Charpentreau and’ L’heure du Crime’ by Maurice Carême. All our competitors showed resilience and ambition as they performed and waited for the results to be announced. Year 7 went first and there was a nailbiting finish, with Barley being asked to perform her poem again against a student from JCG, as the judges couldn’t come to a decision. In the end both girls took home the Cup. The Year 8 competitors had been waiting nervously and at last their time had come. There were some exceptional performances and once again the judges couldn’t come to a decision. They called back two of our students, Nikol and Neve, as well as one other student from another school. It was extremely close, but Neve secured the win.
A special mention goes to Imogen Rud, who despite being sick on the day, showed great determination by recording a video of her performance. As a result, Imogen was awarded a Gold certificate. The event was such a confidence booster and the students left feeling really pleased with what they had achieved. They also really appreciated the feedback from the judges, some even talking about how they could improve next year! We are really grateful to the French Eisteddfod team, and we are already looking forward to next year’s competition, with some returning students as well as some new faces! Miss Godel Teacher of MFL
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THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS We would like to thank our corporate partners for their generous financial support this year. We are proud to have these companies associated as Corporate Partners of Les Quennevais School, working with us to make a difference and invest in our young people. If you’d like to become one of our partners, please get in touch with our Business Manager Mr Richardson.
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Happy Easter! The ‘spirit of Quennevais’ that we talk about so often is something that Mrs Moisan exudes every day in school and if there is something fun happening, it is usually her doing. Mrs Moisan ensured that the last days of term had a sense of occasion and made sure students saw out the Spring term with some competitive fun and Easter celebrations.
EASTER
Years 7 & 9 took part in the annual Easter Egg Hunt, a competitive relay held on the field where students run for their Houses in search of chocolate eggs. Year 8 raced round the school in the Bunny Dash - two laps of the school building with bunny ears on racing for their House! More students took part than ever making it a fantastic event for all.
As always, Mrs Moisan ran a raffle throughout the day, announcing the winners over the tannoy with the Easter bunny going round the school hand delivering the prizes. Only at Les Quennevais are students learning through BOTH excellence and enjoyment! Happy Easter!
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HALF TERM HEROES So many of our students do extraordinary things. It is a privilege to be able to highlight some of the ‘Heroes’ that live among us and go above and beyond for others, or to be the best version of themselves. Each student will receive 5 House Points for their House and an Amazon voucher - a sign that good deeds will be rewarded! - Mrs Hague
THE WINNERS Evan 8V: McKeon House Nominated by Mrs Hague School Value: Ambition “Evan has proven himself to be an outstanding support to our school events team and is now taking a leading role in providing expert technical assistance as his skills and knowledge have developed as part of our in-house ‘Tech Team’. Evan ably supported our whole school production and saved the day for our recent ‘Spring Concert’ due to staff absence. His knowledge about lighting, mixing and sound technology are now invaluable. He is a real hero and an asset to our school - always volunteering to stay behind for events to ensure they are of a high standard. We would be lost without him!” - Mrs Hague
Ethan 8V: McKeon House Nominated by Mrs Davimes School Value: Respect “Ethan volunteered at Jersey Maritime Museum over the February half term and assisted with their Pirate Experience. When we saw Ethan he was entertaining the children by making blow up swords and we spotted him later helping to tidy up the exhibition. Ethan interacted with kindness and generosity. His impeccable manners and willingness to help was a joy to watch. He remained calm and patient when flooded by children needing assistance and helped to ensure our family had a wonderful afternoon. Well done Ethan!” - Mrs Davimes
Jay 7Q: Watts House Nominated by Miss Farnham School Value: Respect “Jay has made an excellent start to Year 7 and I think that he deserves to be recognised for this. There is a lot take on in a new school, including a new timetable to learn and lots of names to remember. In addition to all of these responsibilities, Jay also spends his time looking after other students in the form and helping them find their way around the school. He is always the first to help out and show students the way. I know this makes a huge difference for some of the other students and we are so grateful to Jay for looking always looking out for others.” - Miss Farnham
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Charlie 9N: Tranter House Nominated by Mrs Goodchild School Value: Respect
- Mrs Goodchild
“We have been contacted by organisers of Les Quennevais Park Run to let us know that Charlie has been volunteering for the event as part of Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. He has been commended for his enthusiasm for volunteering. A quote from the organiser - “He is enthusiastic, very quick to learn, totally engaged and takes on any role we ask him to do and has become a firm favourite with all the run directors. He is super confident which will serve him well.”
Neve 8N: Tranter House Nominated by Mrs Morley School Value: Ambition “Neve is a leading light in Year 8. Her Class Charts to date show 131 positives and no negatives. An obvious achievement but for me it is the fact that over 80 of these are for Ambition and Outstanding Effort. These two things are what Neve embodies in her whole approach to things. As well as being an academic all-rounder she is also clearly committed to being part of the community around her. Neve is an Island netballer, represents the school for netball, won a prize at the school’s Sports Awards, takes part in all House events (and yes, I am nominating her even though she is in Tranter!), is a Form Rep and came first in the French Eisteddfod. Neve is one of the friendliest and happiest students I know. I totally admire her outlook; when I asked her what kind of person she is, she told me that she was just generally happy. When I asked her how she manages this, her simple answer was that she just always tries to look for the positive in things. A true Les Quennevais student.” - Mrs Morley
Megan 7E: Tranter House Nominated by Mrs Ferreira School Value: Respect & Resilience
- Mrs Ferreira
“Megan is a true definition of a hero and showed great courage when a fire broke out in her home. Megan woke up to the sound of the alarms and alerted her Mum about the fire so everyone could leave safely. Megan didn’t stop there, and went to help her neighbour get out of her home safely too. We are so proud of Megan’s courage and bravery and how she calmly handled the situation. Well done Megan, you are a real hero!”
HALF TERM HEROES
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