The Heron January 16

The

Heron The Newsletter of Loughborough Grammar School Edition 14 January 2016

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January 2016

Here...

Senior Prize Giving This year’s chief guest was Mr Neville Ireland, our previous Headmaster: he is seen here awarding the Drama Prize to Hamza Ali of Year 13.

Maths Masterclass Four boys from Years 11, 12 and 13 competed in the regional heat of the Senior Team Mathematics Challenge and were comfortable winners, losing only 3 of the 180 points on offer, beating – amongst others – strong teams from Uppingham and Twycross House. Now it is on to the National Final in London in February.

Fisher Pond Just before the end of the autumn term, Mr Fisher, as one of his last official duties, opened the aptlynamed Fisher Pond.

Located in the eco-area behind the Biology Department and as a surprise for the Headmaster, the pond was constructed by Year 13 boys as part of their Thursday afternoon activities and forms a notable addition to the School’s green credentials.

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...there Renaissance Men Twenty six Year 13 boys visited Florence during the autumn half term as part of the preparation for their A Level Coursework on the Italian Renaissance.

Highlights included climbing to the top of the Dome of Florence Cathedral; visiting the Uffizi Gallery to look at Botticelli’s Venus and Primavera; a visit to the Barghello to see Leonardo’s sculpture of David; and a visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s magnificent, seventeen feet tall David.

January 2016

If it’s Tuesday...

The LGS Senior Debaters made their third visit to the Belgian capital where they visited the International School, Brussels once again.

With a new school at Waterloo, they discussed and debated the morality of giving money to beggars and also took part in a lecture and seminar morning at the European Commission.

The boys, led by Chairman, Ali Mahomed, were honourable ambassadors for our school.

Sunny Yorkshire The participants on the annual Year 12 Geography Field Course to North Yorkshire experienced something rather strange this year – the Sun shone!

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January 2016

, Hi, I m Timothy. I landed in Loughborough last term and as you can see I am what you humans call a humanoid robot, a bit rude really because I am just me.

Out of this World I have a number of senses. I can hear, understand and react to what you are saying. I can talk to you in a number of your languages, I have voice and face recognition, , I can play music and dance. Don t tell the teachers as they might think I want their jobs, but I can also learn all about lots of different subjects.

By the way, we grow rocket seeds already where I come from.

Rocket Rocket Year 6 are preparing to become space biologists and embark on a voyage of discovery by growing seeds that have been into space. In September, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station (ISS) on Soyuz 44S where they will spend several months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March 2016.

We will be one of up to 10,000 schools to receive a packet of 100 seeds from space, which will be grown alongside seeds that haven’t been to space, and any differences will be measured over seven weeks.

Watch this space.

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All the right notes...

January 2016

Keys to Success On Thursday 24th September, Loughborough Endowed Schools became the first in the Midlands to receive All-Steinway School status. We are one of only 13 independent schools in the UK and 175 establishments worldwide to hold the accolade, which will see us working in partnership with Steinway & Sons, makers of the world’s finest pianos. The partnership will now provide pupils and staff with 23 of the highest calibre pianos on which to learn, teach, practise and perform.

...but not necessarily in the right order.

Cracking Codes, Gromit!

Maths lessons took a cryptic twist recently when Dr James Grime, mathematician, lecturer and co-creator of the popular YouTube channel Numberphile, visited to host a Cryptography Day for boys in Year 8.

Dr Grime revealed the history of codes, focusing on the German Enigma code of the Second World War and demonstrated a 79 year old Enigma cipher machine which was discovered in a field in France. Thereafter, the boys became codebreakers as they took part in a hands-on workshop.

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January 2016

Better a w than a fool After last year’s triumph at the Shakespeare for Schools Festival held at Curve in Leicester, the LES Drama Departments staged a modern twist on the Bard’s Twelfth Night. Given about 20 minutes in which to perform, the cast worked energetically and produced a truly witty, innovative, inspired performance. No fools here.

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a witty fool, foolish wit

January 2016

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January 2016

Vive ut vivas Led by the Corps of Drums 280 Combined Cadet Force cadets marched through Loughborough in fine style on Sunday 8th November as part of the town’s Annual Remembrance Day Parade and Service.

After a brief period of rain early in the morning, the parade and service took place in good weather and by the time the contingent had marched back from the centre of the town to the school campus, the sun had come out and the full spectacle of the parade was enjoyed by the many parents and supporters who were assembled in the coach park to welcome the cadets back.

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January 2016

LGS Remembers At the appointed hour on November 11, the School gathered in the Quad to honour those who have given their lives in conflict. The address was delivered by Mr Roger Willson and wreathes were laid at our two war memorials by Ben Crookes, Head of School, in the Hodson Hall, and Sean Bence, the youngest boy in the School, in the Orangery.

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January 2016

Christmas Cheer

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January 2016

Jacks and the Beanstalk.

This year’s Year 7 pantomime was Jack and the Beanstalk or – to be more accurate – Jacks and the Beanstalk as during the evening five different Jacks appeared, one from each tutor group, along with five dames, five villains, five beans, in fact, five of everything – but only one cow! All very confusing, as always, but hugely entertaining as always.

The Spirit of Christmas The annual Year 7 Christmas Shoebox appeal was a huge success this year with the boys filling a total of 207 boxes – significantly more than last year – which were distributed to very poor children in Swaziland and Macedonia. Obviously the destination is not important: what mattered was that they brought a little happiness to children who have so little joy in their lives.

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January 2016

...and finally.

Paul Fisher MA

Headmaster 1998 to 2015 Black and white: formal photograph taken by David Evans on the retirement of Mr. Paul Fisher which will join those of other former Headmasters in The Orangery Inset: official portrait by Hester Finch BFA, Oxon and former LHS

Loughborough Grammar School admin@lesgrammar.org Tel: 01509 233233 www.lesgrammar.org Š2016 No unauthorised use or duplication of images or editorial content. Loughborough Endowed Schools is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Number 4038033 and is Registered in England & Wales. It is a Registered Charity, number 1081765.

The Registered Office is 3 Burton Walks, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 2DU.

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