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ARTISTS OF THE WEEK
This term the Art and Design Department have been celebrating pupils’ work on social media with ‘Artist of the Week’.
First to feature was Tiffany, Year 10. As part of her Architecture project she created a highly detailed and colourful watercolour and pen study of Exeter Cathedral which gave the building a dream-like quality. The work is inspired by the Korean artist and graphic designer Sunga Park. Our Year 8 students explored abstraction in reference to Cubism through drawing, collage and low relief ceramic works. Working from still life and influenced by the work of Pablo Picasso, both Archie and Darcy demonstrated a considered use of placement, shape and colour. Felicitas, Year 10, came from Germany to study at Leweston for our Spring Term and found a real passion for Art and Design during her time here. Felicitas was introduced to a range of different techniques and artists in her art classes and after studying Kurt Jackson’s work was inspired to create this beautiful coastal image.
LIFE Spring 2019
LEWESTON NAMED NUMBER ONE PISTOL SHOOTING TEAM IN GREAT BRITAIN!
Leweston took twelve pupils to the National Schools’ Pistol Shooting Finals at Aylesbury this term. With A Teams in each of the age groups Leweston had the most shooters from any other school in the country at the finals. The Junior Competition got off to a great start with the A Team taking Gold and the B team Silver. Darcy, Year 8, finished fifth individually. These results reflect great strength in depth in the Junior Team.
The last event of the day saw the Senior Team in action against tough opposition, but Leweston’s pupils did not disappoint finishing with team Gold. This was a fantastic end to the day. In total Leweston won two out of the three team titles and one Silver. The day’s events resulted in Leweston School ranked number one pistol shooting team in Great Britain, an outstanding achievement that the athletes should be hugely proud of.
LEWESTON TOP OF THE TABLE FOR A LEVEL PERFORMANCE
Government performance tables published earlier this term placed Leweston top of all Dorset schools with a ‘well-above average’ progress score of 0.39. This exceptional result reflects our long history of individualised academic teaching and strong performance in value-added league tables. As well as being top in the county, Leweston is the highest scoring school, independent or maintained, within a 25 mile radius confirming us as one of the top academic schools in the south-west!
You’ll find all the latest news at www.leweston.co.uk
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A FANTASTIC TERM FOR SPORTING SUCCESS Our Intermediate Boys took an impressive team Bronze on their first cross country outing, while our Senior Girls triumphed with an amazing top 4 individual places to take home team Gold! Archie, Year 8, was selected for the South West Cross Country Championships after finishing in brilliant second place at the Dorset Championships in Bournemouth. A fantastic achievement after only one term at Leweston.
PENTATHLON
On 5 January Leweston Pentathlon Academy launched their season with a visit from Jenny Meadows who gave Club members a fascinating insight into her sporting journey from grass roots to Olympic 800m athlete. This was an inspiring opportunity for Leweston athletes to hear from a professional.
INTER-HOUSE NETBALL AND FOOTBALL
Everyone showcased fantastic team work at our Inter-House Netball and Football tournaments. Congratulations to Campion who were the champions!
LEWESTON CROWNED U13 GIRLS NATIONAL PREP SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS
At the National Prep Schools Cross-Country Championships this term the school’s Under 13 team had a fantastic afternoon. Darcy, the current National Prep Schools 1500 metres champion, ran away from the field to win the National title by 20 seconds, closely followed by the remainder of her team. The pupils were crowned not only the Small Schools National Prep Schools Champions but also won the overall National title, beating much larger schools. Not to be outdone, the Under 11 team ran superbly to finish ninth in a field of over 40 schools coming second in the Small Schools Championship. In the Under 13 boys’ race Archie took fifth place and the U13 Boys’ team placed second in the Small School Category. The event was a fitting end to a highly successful season and congratulations to everyone involved.
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We also had fantastic success at Moreton with a winning team in the 1m, an Individual and Team first place, and an Individual second, third and fifth. Congratulations to Maria, Matilda, Issy and Sacha.
NSEA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Leweston had a top day at the NSEA Regional Grass Roots Show Jumping Championships. Reuben and Isla had two super clear rounds in the 40cm and Jessica took fourth place in the 60cm. In the last class of the day Arthur and his pony Easter Surprise had the fastest clear round becoming 70cm Individual Champion. Teammates Sacha took fourth and Jessica sixth resulting in a win for the Team as a whole.
EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONS
In February Leweston came home from the County Dressage Qualifier event as County Team Champions, County Prelim Individual Champion and County Novice Individual Champion. The dressage teams also took third and fourth place. And if that wasn’t enough, the 70/75cm Hickstead Eventers Challenge team were also winners!
GYMNASTICS
Congratulations to the winners of the Leweston Inter-House Gymnastics Competition. Years 7 to 9 all worked hard to choreograph spectacular performances, which made it a very difficult decision for our three judges! Well done to the winning team Charlotte, Nikita and Rosa.
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THE MOST POPULAR WEEKEND ACTIVITY THIS TERM ROCK CLIMBING! For a second year running our Spring Term welcomed snow, with open (and gloved!) arms. Our boarders, and day pupils that could safely make it to school, made snow men and had a snowball fight, or two!
FROM SNOW TO SPRING IN THE ITALIAN GARDEN!
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SIXTH FORM’S ENCHANTED FOREST BALL Leweston Sixth Form enjoyed their annual ball in February. This year’s theme was ‘Enchanted Forest’ and the Manor House and menu were beautifully in line with the chosen theme!
EGGSPERIMENTING
THE BBC VISITS LEWESTON
Leweston welcomed the BBC World Service this term.
The production team are creating a documentary focusing on Chinese students coming to study in the UK. They have been following Jin, Year 9, throughout her journey to Leweston, her experience studying here and the impact it has had. Since joining Leweston in September Jin’s passion for art has grown so they visited her in the Art and Design Centre to look at her sketchbooks. The team were really inspired by the creative opportunities we offer which range from Ceramics, Graphics, Photography, 3D design and Fashion and Textiles.
In their Parenting and Developmental Psychology class, our Sixth Form students were set an ‘Eggsperiment’ as part of the chapter on attachment. For seven days they were made responsible for the care and support of a ‘newborn’ egg. Students adopted a raw egg during class, named him/her and devised a plan for their care and well-being. The eggsperiment saw them providing a loving caring environment and safely carrying their ‘newborn’ everywhere. The students then reflected on their experiences in their Psychology lesson, thinking about what it is like to be a parent and the responsibilities and anxieties that parenthood can bring.
A group of Year 10 and 12 students attended an Oxford Masterclass for Highly Able students at Wellington School this term. Pupils listened to a variety of thought-provoking speeches delivered by University lecturers - including Personal Identity and Life after Death, Historiography, the Psychology of Outstanding Achievement and Guitars and String Theory.
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NEW PUPILS BECAME FORENSIC SCIENTISTS FOR THE DAY!
Our Year 7 Activity and Assessment Day was a fantastic event which put the
pupils’ inquisitiveness to the test! Year 6 pupils from 14 different schools
investigated crime scenes in the school
libraries considering a range of forensic
evidence including fingerprints and DNA. They were then tasked with identifying the criminal from four Sixth Form
suspects, interviewing them in great
depth. It was a brilliant opportunity for
everyone to get to know the school and
their future classmates whilst taking part in fun activities.
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INTER-HOUSE SPEAKING
This term saw our annual Sixth Form Inter-House Public Speaking Competition. Seven speakers took part and spoke with confidence and charm on a diverse range of topics from Emotions, Respect, and Body Image to Generation Z and Newspaper Bias.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEWESTON POETRY BARD COMPETITION WINNER Y BARDD OFN
Students entered their pieces under their pen name, with the winners announced on World Poetry Day! threadbare carpets from the moons that adorn each finger; finest cotton looped around your resolve as you scoop out diamonds nestled against your flesh; we islanders are watching you. we are sorry – we appraise you silently, knowing we were born librarians. [fine.]
dump your tongue in our hands, then, pencil shaving words out a sharp papercut. join us. or else keep it still and silent and sear from the inside; flames flickering across your teeth. better yet,
YEAR 11 RETREAT
The theme of the Year 11 Retreat was 'Be Real' with students looking at what it means to be fully alive, embracing our physical, emotional and spiritual selves. The group finished the day making plasterof-paris masks while considering what is important to each of them.
stay as you are, one foot out the door. make no choices. say like and um and etc. vague is your vogue. no?
we’ll keep ur culture under wraps! hidden between stacks of lifestyle magazines shoved beneath the bed, more or less an enclave of people like u; we are staples! don’t we keep ur secrets!? don’t we hold ur hearts our hostage!? of course!!! you can trust us, kid.
we’ve been through much the same. do us proud, yeah?
YEAR 9 - 11 ROME TRIP
Pupils from Years 9 to 11 travelled to Rome during half term. The group visited the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican among many fascinating sites in the City.
Competition winner Kate, Year 12, and the runners up.
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NEW
MUSIC SCHOOL PLANS UNVEILED
“We are excited to unveil the plans for the new music school, which will be located upstairs in the Manor House. The purpose-built renovation will include two music classrooms, instrumental teaching rooms, a recording studio, a GCSE and A-Level music work space, and a large ensemble room. Works start during the Easter Holiday and we connot wait to move in!”
Dr Rachel Milestone, Director of Music
YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to our Young Musician of the Year, Eliza, Year 12.
Eliza also put together the instrumental composition for our Spring Term production The Penelopiad and performed the accompanying music to our new Music School video which can be seen on our website www.leweston.co.uk/news/55/5/Lewestons-newMusic-School
Congratulations to Cantemus winners of the Senior Choirs Category at The Taunton Festival of the Arts.
This term saw tremendous performances from the Joint Schools’ Sinfonia at their Spring Concert and the Joint School’s Symphony Orchestra at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford.
“
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WELL DONE TO PREP AND SENIOR PUPILS FOR THEIR FANTASTIC WORLD BOOK DAY 2019 OUTFITS!
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GENUINELY AND HAPPILY MOVED Pupils from Years 10 to 13 performed a stunning adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad in March. One parent wrote after the performances “It was amazing. Laughter, joy, fondness, sadness, tears and horror; and I was utterly carried along with it .... genuinely and happily moved”.
BATH UNIVERSITY
Thank you to Bath University for their insightful Spectroscopy Workshop in March for our A Level Chemistry students.
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UPPER SIXTH
RAISE FUNDS FOR THE
ALBERT KENNEDY TRUST
As a Catholic School, Leweston has a long standing tradition of supporting humanitarian charities so this year’s 24 hour alternative triathlon, organised by Year 13, raised funds for The Albert Kennedy Trust, an organisation which supports vulnerable young people.
The students showed both determination and resilience with non-stop group zumba from Thursday lunchtime until 6.30pm when they swapped dancing for cycling
through the night. The last leg saw Sixth Formers playing volleyball with other year groups from early Friday morning until the finish at lunchtime.
The team kept their focus throughout raising awareness for the vital work that The Albert Kennedy Trust does and managing to raise over £1000 for the charity. Congratulations to everyone for organising such a fantastic event and supporting an important cause.
TEDXSHERBORNE’S ‘STELLA’ LINEUP
The inaugural TEDxSherborne’s lineup of speakers was announced this term and Leweston is delighted that Year 10 pupil, Stella M, is the youngest to be chosen to speak. At fourteen years old, to be selected as one of only 14 speakers is a fantastic achievement, especially as more than 100 applied. Stella has travelled extensively with her family, giving her a broad view of the world and a passion for informing and inspiring others. As each of the speakers will address a different aspect of what it means to be, ‘Fit for the Future, People and Place,’ Stella’s will focus on the vital role that community has to play in education. The sell-out event will take place on 9 May.
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LEWESTON PREP
Year 5 pupils were delighted to have their book reviews featured in Country Child Magazine.
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Leweston was awarded Pre-Prep School of the Year 2018 by Independent Schools Parent Magazine in December but we were delighted when the official announcement was made in the Independent School Parent Winners Edition last month. The announcement focused on the Leweston Learner and what makes our Pre-Prep pupils bubble with a zest for learning!
LEWESTON OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED AS PREPREP OF THE YEAR!
THE POWER OF SCIENCE
Prep pupils celebrated the power of science with a 'Wow' day in February. All classes participated in a host of experiments questioning how and why things happen. Colour draining skittles were a particular hit.
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RECEPTION
’ S R E S TA R T Y T R A P d us at our e who joine n o . ry e v e to rters’ Party Thank you ception Sta e R d e m s, e k o ate th g pirate ho popular pir rning makin o m n fu g n ry ti e We had a v i sea and ea s in our min ll e sh h it w playing d! themed foo tasty pirate ou into our elcoming y w to rd a We look forw mber. lass in Septe Reception C
SHAKESPEARE WEEK From Reception - Year 6, all of our Prep pupils embraced the Confidence value from our Leweston Learner at their Shakespeare Workshop run by ‘West End Schools’ as part of their Shakespeare Week. After only one morning workshop, they then performed for family and friends in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
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AFTER LEARNING ABOUT RAINFORESTS IN TOPIC, YEAR 3 CREATED REPRESENTATIONS OF THE RAINFOREST LAYERS!
THE RECEPTION CLASS HAD A ‘ROARSOME’ TIME AT THE DINOSAUR MUSEUM IN DORCHESTER.
A DAY IN THE FOREST!
The Pre-Prep had a fantastic Forest School day this term completing the full day’s lessons in the woods! The Prep pupils also got to experience a day in the forest. Following on from their History lessons studying the Stone Age to the Iron Age, Year 6 created Stone Age paintings using materials they found in the woods and made Iron Age round houses putting to use their weaving and clay moulding techniques!
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AN EASTER SURPRISE
The sun shone in time for our annual House Easter Egg Hunt at the end of term. A big thank you to PALS for providing the scrummy eggs.
ANNIE A DOGS LIFE
The power of dogs in school has been a topic for national discussion recently. Leweston is a dog friendly school and we see the positive effects that they have on pupils on a daily basis.
Year 3 and 4 had a fantastic time seeing Annie at the Bristol Hippodrome, informing part of their current topic work.
Miss Phillips’ blog about how dogs can support pupils in the classroom featured on the Independent Schools Council website.: “A houseparent once brought her dog into my class as her dog-sitter had let her down. As my colleague listened to children read, it was clear the pupils’ focus was much more on reading to the dog than the adult! So, this soon became a weekly event with every child taking their turn to read to the dog, receiving a paw print in their reading record and a paw ‘high five’ if they were lucky.”
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
May
Friday 3 18.00 Music Staff Concert, Lecture Room
Monday 6 10.00 - 12.00 Open Morning, Leweston Manor House 13.00 Leweston Summer Fair, Walled Garden 12.30 Schola Concert, Sherborne Abbey Festival, Sherborne Abbey 16.30 Ensembles Concert, Sherborne Abbey Festival, Castleton Church Wednesday 8 TEDx Art Exhibition, Sherborne Girls 19.00 James and the Giant Peach Year 9 Production, School Theatre Thursday 9 TEDx Event, Sherborne Girls 19.00 James and the Giant Peach Year 9 Production, School Theatre
Thursday 16 17.00 - 18.00 Senior School Concert, Lecture Room Sunday 19 National Schools Biathle Championships, Leweston Thursday 23 OA Reunion, London
Friday 24 09.00 Pre-Prep and Prep Swimming Gala, School Pool 11.45 Senior School Summer Concert, School Chapel 13.30 Pre-Prep Open Afternoon, Leweston Prep School
Wednesday 12 10.00 - 12.00 Open Morning, Leweston Manor House
Thursday 13 & Friday 14 19.30 Mary Poppins Year 7 & 8 Production, School Theatre
Friday 14 Leweston 70th Anniversary 15.30 St Antony’s Day Mass, School Chapel 16.30 OA High Tea, Leweston Manor House 17.00 - 19.00 Art & Design Exhibition Private View, Art Centre Sunday 16 08.30 Triathle National Championships World Qualifier, Leweston Wednesday 19 09.45 Senior School Sports Day
Thursday 20 & Friday 21 16.30 The Bee Musical and The Twits, Years 3-6 Productions, School Theatre Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 Leweston Summer Fest
Monday 24 09.00 Senior Swimming Gala, School Pool
Tuesday 25 10.00 Nursery and Prep School Sports Day
July
Wednesday 3 10.00 Prep Speech Day, Leweston
Thursday 4 10.00 Senior Speech Day, Leweston
June
Friday 7 08.20-16.20 Year 5 Taster Day, Leweston Prep 19.00 - 20.00 Music Scholars’ Concert, Bishops Caundle Church Sunday 9 Regional Schools’ Laser-Run Championships, Leweston
01963 211015
Friday 26 - Wednesday 31 Pentathlon Training Camp, Leweston
Wednesday 31 09.00 Tetrathlon & Triathlon Competition, Leweston
LEWESTON SCHOOL, SHERBORNE, DORSET DT9 6EN ADMISSIONS@LEWESTON.DORSET.SCH.UK WWW.LEWESTON.CO.UK Leweston is a registered charity number 295175