Never Second Best - Easter Edition

From the Editor: Hello and welcome to our second edition of Never Second Best – the Newspaper run almost entirely by students. The last few months have flown by and it’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through the school year! This term especially has been challenging, but exciting, with helpful advice given and difficult choices made. Talking about choices, now that you’ve chosen your GSCEs, please remember to trust yourself to have made the right decisions. Also, spend your free time in the Easter Holidays relaxing and doing the things you love – and that goes to everyone, not only the students. Anyway, this term has been a term full of brilliant achievements and one of the reasons why we put in all the effort to make this newspaper is to share everyone’s brilliant successes. Whether it’s in sport, music, drama, maths or something else, I hope that everybody hass achieved something that they’re proud of, or maybe something that they can look back to and just smile.

I hope you notice all the hard work, responsibility, organisation, weekly meetings and determination we’ve put in to make this for you. I also hope that you, students, parents or teachers, notice how exceptionally hard you’ve worked as well, and remember all of those tiny achievements that you are proud of. That’s what matters.

Also, can you spot Charlie the chick hidden in the newspaper?

By Emma T 2

The Team:

Editor:

Emma T

Editing Team:

Elenor A-W , EsmĂŠ F and Aurelia N

Design Editor:

Matthew H

Design Team:

Krish P and Tom S

Austin B Lauren B Simeon D-S Jake H Lukas K Gus L Mehak N

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Sheara M Grace P Charlie P-J Nihal S Zac S Anush U

Contents: Eco Committee House Events Charity Second Form Sport - Boys Second Form Sport - Girls Book Reviews U13 Girls’ Hockey National Finals Onatti theatre Food Old Skool Rules! Life as a Reigatian in 1978 Guess the Teacher Drama Music Art Opportunities Puzzles and Fun! Puzzle Answers Upcoming Events

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Eco Committee: Zero-Waste Lunch House Challenge On Thursday the 14th of March, the Eco Committee held the Zero-Waste Lunch House Challenge which we found was a brilliant way to spread awareness of the damage we are doing to our world. Each house was nominated a bin and the students and staff had to put any leftover waste into the bin of their house. The bins were weighed before and after and the aim is to produce the least waste possible.

This was the first time we had done an event like this and I think that it was very successful. We’d love to hear from you as well, though. What worked well? What could we change if we were to do it again in the future? Please use the contact on page 35 or email me at 17TansEmm@reigategrammar.org.

And the results!

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By Emma T

House Events: House Chess Tension was built up between houses as players battled it out to crown their house the 2019 House Chess Champions.

Congratulations to Bjorn M who was the only 2nd Form involved.

The scores are as followed...

1st - Cranston

2nd - Williamson

3rd - Hodgson

4th - Bird

House Debating Bird and Cranston argued it out on Thursday lunchtime with the motion being ‘This House believes the time has come for the British Monarchy to be abolished’. Bird (Anna P, Krish P & Austin B) was against the motion and Cranston (Elizabeth S, Emma T & Arun L) was for the motion. Some very strong arguments from Bird including “In 1649 the English did abolish the monarchy and look what happened, It was not a success and the monarchy was brought back within a short space of time” and “The monarchy brings in £1.8 million per year thanks to tourism.” However Cranston Fought back saying “Did you know the Queen receives £400 million every year! We could give that money to the NHS or the Emergency services” and “With the money the monarchy gets we could make our country a more eco-friendly country by installing wind turbines and purchasing electric cars”.

In conclusion, Bird stated “It’s what makes British, Britain” and “It’s what makes us, us on our little Island Home”. Cranston argued “It causes division and can lead to another civil war and we don’t want that do we?”

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House Events: Overall the Judges said that it was very close, with good humour from Anna and Elizabeth and the arguments were fantastic! On the whole the winning house was Bird as they had more evidence with the Speaker of the Debate being Austin B. Debating club starts again next September.

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By Matthew H and Aurelia N

Charity: Tadworth Court The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury. The 2nd form this term has been gathering any items that the Children’s Trust could sell at one of their shops to raise money for Tadworth Court and the amazing work they do there with children.

A video explaining the amazing work they These services include: do!  Residential rehabilitation https://www.youtube.com/watch?  Therapy  Profound education  Brain injury experts  Transitional care  Palliative care

Last month, the Charity committee packed up all of your fantastic donations and delivered them to the Tadworth Court Charity shop in Reigate. Everyone there was very grateful, and I enjoyed the trip thoroughly. Thank you so much to everyone who made a donation – they have the power to change lives completely! Let’s all hope the Children’s Trust continue to be funded so they can keep up the astonishing work they do.

From 1927 to 1983 Tadworth Court was used as a branch of Great Ormond Street Hospital. In 1984 it was used for the newly created charity The Children’s Trust,

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By Tom S and Emma T

Charity Mind Pancake Day On 5th March RGS had a very popular Shrove Tuesday in the PMH, more commonly known as Pancake Day. This year the money raised from selling pancakes went to an amazing charity called Mind.

Mind: For 70 years Mind has been determined to help anyone with mental health problems and has made a huge impact on so many people’s lives.

Mind has achieved many awards and has given and provided outstanding support and advice.

History: Mind started in 1946 when 3 mental health organisations merged together which were the National Council for Mental Hygiene, the Central Association for Mental Welfare and the Child Guidance Council. Since then they have grown and helped people through public campaigns, influencing decision makers and the services our local Minds deliver to communities across England and Wales. Mind has touched millions of lives.

From Never Second Best, we hope you had a good Pancake Day.

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By Tom S

Second Form Sport Boys: Hockey The 2nd Form boys’ hockey team has performed amazingly with some impressive wins at home and away. Last month Hartswood saw 5 teams battling it out against King’s College School Wimbledon. Everyone played very well leading to victory.

The A team did very well on 1st March where they travelled to Reed’s school to take part in the U13 Surrey In2 Hockey cup and finished in 4th place.

A

B

Lingfield College School Trinity School Eltham College

1-10 Loss

Kingston Grammar School RGS Guildford

0-7 Loss

1-3 Loss 3-8 Loss

5-4 Win

Trinity School 1-4 loss Croydon U13 Surrey In2 Hockey Cup Trinity School 0-3 loss Croydon Kings College Canc School Wimbledon

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Lingfield College School Eltham College Kingston Grammar School RGS Guildford

2-2 Draw

Trinity School Croydon Trinity School Croydon

1-6 loss

1-2 Loss 1-5 Loss 1-3 Loss

canc

Second Form Sport Boys: Swimming RGS has had a very successful term. The A’s have competed in the majority of school galas. We have won most of them and have achieved lots of personal bests. Students have had a variety of goals for the end of term, like improving their times. There have been many successful students especially Ali N, who competed in the Surrey Championships and achieved a personal best in his 50m butterfly with a time of under 29 seconds! Overall, the RGS swimming team has been very successful and we are looking forward to another successful swimming term.

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By Lukas K and Gus L

Second Form Sport Girls: Individual Successes: Huge congratulations to Amelie H and Antonia H who have been selected for Surrey in Netball. Well done girls!

Your hard work has paid off!

This term’s upcoming player is Ini A who has successfully moved up from the U12C netball team into the U13Bs. Well done Ini! Hugely deserved and definitely more to come!

Girls’ Netball: A new term, a new sport. This term the U13 girls have been training hard in preparation for their netball matches. Well done to all girls for participating in all their matches this term as well as consistently working hard in training sessions.

Not Just Netball…

In addition to the RGS excellent U13 netball teams, the U13A hockey team participated in the Surrey Cup in which they secured a first place win. Congratulations girls! A day later, the U13B team competed in the Surrey Plate of which they came home with a silver medal. Well done to all girls who participated!

On Tuesday 12th March, RGS U13A Girls’ Hockey team travelled to Woking Hockey Club; where they came home with a bronze medal. An unfortunate last minute goal in the semifinal led to the squad competing for 3rd Place in the cup competition.

The girls were also crowned national champions! Well done; this shows a great season’s work and good luck next season!

We hope everyone enjoyed this term’s matches and competitions.

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Second Form Sport -

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By Lauren B and EsmĂŠ F

Book Reviews: ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny Joelson ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny Joelson follows the life of a fourteen-year-old girl, called Jemma. She has cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs and her speech/ communication. In addition to being unable to speak, her hands are very seriously affected by her condition, and therefore she is unable to use sign language as a method of communication. So, sadly, she exists incommunicado (being unable to communicate).

The concept of the book gave me a real interest into the life of a disabled teenage girl. Whilst it is fiction, there are many teenagers in today’s society, who face daily issues and perhaps unfortunately, criticism, purely just because they are who they are.

Jemma is a fulltime wheelchair user, although the condition of her arms makes it impossible for Jemma to move the chair herself, so she has to have someone pushing her all the time. She has lived with her foster parents since the age of two, along with Finn (aged six and autistic) and nine-year-old Olivia, who displays extremely challenging behaviour, and is currently in her sixth foster home because of her behaviour.

I think this part of the book caused me to feel ‘sorry’ for Jemma due to it being evident that she is sick and tired of being permanently in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. It also seemed that she became frustrated with her younger foster siblings. In addition, she is unable to tell them how she feels.

Completely unaware, and then told later in the book, Jemma finds out that she has a twin sister (who is not disabled) and then becomes extremely eager to meet her. They then start corresponding with one-another, before meeting each-other several times in the second half of the book.

Jemma also has a fulltime resident carer named Sarah, whom she adores. Sarah treats Jemma in ways that suit her age. Sarah has a boyfriend named Dan; everyone likes Dan – everyone except Jemma, who suspects something very dubious about him. Just before the story begins, a boy from the neighbourhood 14

named Ryan Blake has been murdered. The killer has not been caught and his parents especially, are extremely eager to find his killer; interestingly, so is Jemma.

I think when Jemma is aware of this event it is the part of the book where she really ‘comes to life’. We see an insight into her persistent personality which we have so far not seen in the story. It becomes evident that she wants to be the person who finds Ryan’s murderer, in order to show herself, her foster family and everyone else what a disabled girl, who is unable to communicate can do.

However, I think, whilst trying not to be too ‘literal’, there are some issues with the storyline: Jemma’s foster parents of course know that Jemma cannot speak or use hand signals. Yet, their complete inability to understand anything about her baffles me. Body language can be powerfully expressive. To make a more practical point, Jemma’s solitary carer, Sarah seems to cope with all Jemma’s needs without much support from Jemma’s foster parents or others in general and still takes a few days off.

There was one point of the book that caused me to really ‘think’ about what was happening. Dan (Sarah’s boyfriend) murmurs to Jemma that in her situation he would take his own life. He volunteers to help arrange her suicide. It is a courageous narrative stroke. However, it caused me to think that it might give young readers the dangerous concept that disabled people’s lives are seen as valueless, which should not be the case.

I do really like Penny Joelson’s style of writing and her inventive plots. The main point being that Joelson is still interested in disabled children’s lives, hence why this book is based around a girl who is unable to communicate or move. Joelson also creates many plot twists as well as describing the emotion and feelings of the characters extremely well and so therefore creates a well, all-rounded contemporary thriller novel.

I would rate this book 8/10 and recommend reading it if you have not already.

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By Aurelia N

U13 Girls’ Hockey National Finals: This is what it had come down to – one day, two hockey matches, one national championship. Simple as that. Were we ready? Absolutely. Had we put the disappointment of finishing third in the regionals on Tuesday behind us? We hoped so. Did we have what it takes to become a national champion? Yes. Let’s do this #TeamReigate!

I think the main thing that came to my attention when the day came was: it is going to be over so quickly. However, that being said, I think I could probably write pages and pages about what happened that day. However, this is exactly what happened: It was 7:30am. I was due at school in an hour. The WhatsApp chat was going crazy; everyone was so pumped and ready. Mrs Wickham had organised a pre-match breakfast for us in the PMH and we had an email from the night before, so we all knew what to do and where to go when we arrived at school.

We finished breakfast at around 8:55, before taking a photo to thank Harrisons for the breakfast. After that, it was serious.

At 9:20, we boarded the coach with Mr Bowen and Mrs Wickham. I think what stayed in my mind for the whole day was Mr Bowen saying: ‘You are all going to remember this day for the rest of your lives. It is all going to be over so quickly; so, embrace everything – the nerves, the joy, and most importantly, enjoy it!’

The coach left school. Now it was all beginning to feel real. This was it. We were on our way to play two of the biggest hockey games of our lives. The music was booming throughout the bus. It was great. You could feel the excitement between us. About one and a half hours in to the journey, we stopped off at a service station to stretch our legs so that it would not be such a shock when we started playing. We bought some food as well as just exploring around.

It was about another 30-40 minutes until we arrived at the venue (Redbridge Sports Centre). We found a changing room and began to prepare. Music was booming from all the different teams’ changing rooms. We then put the speaker on as loud as we possibly could and sung extremely enthusiastically! About ten

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minutes later, we had our ‘team talk’ before heading out to the pitches to warm up in preparation for the semi-final. Let me just say we were a little bit… flat; I think is the word. Anyway, we went into the huddle, and begun cheering and preparing for the game. This was it. Were we going to qualify for the last two, or were we going to need to battle it out to win 3rd? Bring it on Bedford!

The whistle blew sharply. However, we started softly and it looked like we were not bothered about winning. We needed to change something, we just didn’t know how.

Then the situation suddenly went from bad to worse. Emily took a shot from the top of the D which was going goal-bound, however it whacked Sophia C’s knee.

She fell to the floor. She is such an experienced and skilful player who can tear the opposition apart so easily and she is a crucial part of the team. Lucy and I looked at each other as if to say; ‘we’re doomed’. The team looked fractured. We needed to carry on and somehow pretend this had not happened.

Then, if the situation could not get any worse, Bedford intercepted a pass in midfield and passed it to their striker (who I thought A terrific goal from Emily (centre) was the team’s best player), and she struck it gave us a lifeline in the semi-final into the far corner, completely out of Vicky’s reach. I was completely bamboozled. match against Bedford I thought it had gone wide. Evidently not.

Bedford were firing. Literally about two minutes later, a loose pass out of defence caused Bedford to gain possession and a penalty stroke to be awarded. Now 2-0 down, we needed to focus more than ever before.

This time, we did respond quickly, a pass forward from Amelie from defence found Emily and she drove it into the D and executed a lethal Sophia C. (centre) played consistently backhand shot, going into the far well in the midfield side of the net. Oh, my word, I do not think I have felt so relieved in my entire life. It gave us a lifeline.

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At half time, it was a 3-3 draw, after another brilliant goal from Emily and a great deflection from Ellie. It was all to play for now…

We wanted to start the second half much sharper than we did the first. Two wonderful further goals made 5-3, however Bedford came back in the last few minutes making it 5-4. A penalty corner was awarded to Bedford right at the end of the game. If they managed to score this, we would go to extra time. Although, if we managed to keep this out, we would be in the final. I said to Lucy, ‘I am going to be sick’. I felt so nervous and could not bear to watch. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the ball being played in and received at the top of the D. Vicky just got her kicker to it. The ball went wide.

I sprinted onto the pitch. We all started jumping around. It was real; we were in the final. We had come back from two goals down and an injury, but still managed to win 5-4. We were all ecstatic.

There was 40 minutes until the final. After food, water and a warm up, we were ready to go.

The final was against Redmaids, who were victorious in their semi-final. The match started quickly and so did we.

A penalty corner was given to us in the first five minutes of play. Tabbie stopped it at the edge of the D, slapped it in and scored! We were 1-0 up – well, not exactly. Apparently, it was not stopped outside the D, before entering (a rule in penalty corners). I thought it had. Anyway, we moved on and properly scored a few minutes later. Hurrah! We were on track!

At half-time, we were told we had to play faster – much faster, in fact. Despite the fact we were 1-0 up, we needed to play better – simple. We went into our huddle after the first half debrief and said that this was the last twenty minutes we were going to play as a 7-a-side squad and to make everything count. Within the first few minutes of play, we were 2-0, then 3-0 up and finished the final in an emphatic way by beating Redmaids 5-0.

We had done it.

We were presented with our awards, before heading home. The adrenaline was pumping and the music was booming. The happiness levels were flying high.

We were national champions – it felt great.

The day consisted of blood, sweat, tears (of pain and relief), happiness, relief, joy.

It went so quickly but was without a doubt, the best day of my life; simply because all of us embraced every single moment and it will be forever etched in my memory.Lastly, I would like to thank the parents and supporters for their awesome sideline support throughout the day and throughout the season, Mrs

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Wickham and Mr Bowen for helping us, and for being wonderful coaches and finally the girls – they are wonderful friends whom I have learnt so much from on and off the pitch.

(Left-Right): Amelie, Emily, Vicky, Tabbie and Leila consistently defended well during penalty corners

Sophia V. (right) scored a brilliant deflection in the final

It’s official!

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Thank you, parents, for your wonderful support throughout the season

There was a change of tactics at half time in the final which led to four further goals

CHAMPIONS! 20

By Aurelia Nadal

Onatti theatre: So eine Nervensäge

As some of you may know, on 24th of January 2019, 1st & 2nd Form students studying German watched a play in the concert hall in German, by Onatti Productions Ltd. This play was performed by two native German actors. All in all, it was very enjoyable for the students watching, and quite rewarding too. It revolved around a girl named Lydia, who was preparing for a date with her boyfriend, but her annoying little sister, Hannah, is determined to make life as hard as possible for her older sibling! Every class was informed about the event with about a week’s notice, and each student was handed a booklet containing a brief summary of the story, as well as a snippet of some of the lines and a small glossary of German words at the back of the booklet.

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By Simeon D-S

Food:

Results from the form I sent you...

Main lunches: Most responses I received, said that their favourite meals were sandwiches, noodles and pasta, followed by packed lunch, and hot meals.

Snacks: Some of the more popular snacks are popcorn, pain au chocolat and rice cakes.

The bread is also popular. Trust me, I’ve tried all of them.

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By Elenor AW

Old Skool Rules! Life as a Reigatian in 1978 I was lucky enough to interview a previous RGS pupil and Reigate resident, Tim Cantrell, recently! NSB thought it would be interesting to compare now and then. He studied from 3rd to lower 6th form from 1978-82.

What would be the punishment for forgetting homework?

‘I usually handed it in. I think you had to stay late in the classroom, like a detention or missing lunch break. You got away with it once, but if you kept doing it they would keep you in at lunch. If you didn’t do Physics, the teacher used to make you come back after school and you had to get in your PE kit, and clean the physics lab.’ It hasn’t really changed too much from then, apart from the new GP system. Teachers are (usually) more forgiving than this nowadays!

You’ve been back to RGS since you went there, were there any buildings that aren’t here today?

‘Yes, they’ve built a lot on the school. One particular classroom was burnt down during one of my years there. There was a metalwork room that was in the playground. If you stand on the graveyard side and look across the playground, now on the left there’s a big building (Geography) – that used to be space and just a little hut that was the metalwork room. There was just more space there.

The swimming pool was outdoor in the same place – it was smaller but was an outdoor swimming pool. Where the canteen is, that area, that was just really small. The PMH was not there. The canteen was in the same area but MUCH smaller. Next to it were the biology labs.’ The school has also got some large new buildings now, including the Harrison Centre and the Ballance building.

Who was the head, and what was he/she like?

‘Mr Ballance - he was a good lad actually, nice, he was very fair. (He) had an air of authority, everyone was a bit scared of him. You hardly ever saw him. Mr Ballance was very old school, and would just stay in his office a lot. Your headmaster now is very different.’

You will recognise his name, as the current Science and Computing building is named after him.

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So, what was this shooting range on top of the school?

A friend of Tim’s, who remembers the range:

‘It was above the (old) library, with access from a vertical metal ladder in the room next to the library. You accessed it by going through the main doors, then left past the art room, then, turn right at the end of the corridor, up the stairs, along the top corridor to the end room on the right directly above the front door. I remember that as we had Fourth Year Economics in that room, and we used to wind the teacher up by all climbing up the ladder halfway through class.’

This is quite a little-known fact at RGS, and if you look at the ceiling in RM18, you can see the hatch in which people climbed to access the shooting range.

Were you big into music when you were at RGS? (Tim is now a professional musician.)

‘I didn’t play any instruments, no, my family was musical and I was fascinated by it. The music (program) wasn’t as good then, it was just basic – choir. Rodney Marsh was the head of music, and another teacher whose name escapes me.

It was a very select few who did music, it wasn’t very important at the time.

If not music, what were your other interests?

‘The best thing about the school for me, that I really enjoyed was the sport.

They didn’t do football so I played hockey. So I think they only started to play football in the sixth form. They encouraged you to join the Old Reigatians Football Club, so that was my release. They didn’t have all the clubs (at RGS) then, or very few, so every lunchtime it was just football in the playground, that was it. It was a very different school then. It was a very old school. They didn’t have Hartswood; just as I was leaving they were fundraising for it. It was just the gym, next to the concert hall, and the swimming pool, and they used a place called Wallfield, down near Reigatians. There was an old building that was called “Wallfield” that had the changing rooms, it used to be freezing cold. We used a few rooms, and the art college owned the other half of it. We used to traipse up there and do rugby and cross country from there. We would walk or bike there.

We would also walk or bike to St Alban’s Road – behind Micklefield. We used to play hockey on there.’

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What other things were very different?

‘I went to the Grammar School from boarding school, so I found the Grammar School timetable much easier. You’d finish at ten to four, whereas at boarding school you finished at 9-10pm. The other thing that is interesting is that it is now much more secure. Before the school was just open – to the graveyard side there was no fence, so it was just open.’

Did they have school assemblies, and events, like they do now? When were your assemblies?

‘Yes (we had them), starting at ten to nine. You couldn’t take outside assembly when the clock was chiming, because it was too loud, but you’d get every pupil humming every chime, so it’d go DONG and everyone would go “HMMMMMMM” and it used to wind the teachers up a treat! Really funny, and they can’t see you do it, so teachers would say “Who did that? Who did that?”

Of course, no one ever plays pranks on RGS’ teachers now...

What other pranks and tricks did you get up to? ‘(On school picture days) when all the photos were done in the playground, where you’d all stand in a massive semicircle with lots of tiers, and the camera pans from one side to another – we did the classic thing where boys on the end as it went past and took a photo, they’d then run ‘round and get to the other end so it would take their picture twice!’

What about the food?

‘I had packed lunch then because the food was really diabolical, really cheap. (The canteen was in the drama studio) and they used to serve the slop there. It really was (slop)– there was no choice. If they did pasta then they’d cook it at 9:00 and serve it at lunchtime so it lost all shape.’

Ugh! We feel so lucky to have great food on offer at RGS now!

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And what else do you think is much better now?

‘It’s amazing, I mean, the music that’s there now, you’ve got a whole music block. That was my cousin that opened that – Susan Griffin. So yes it’s a much better school – the facilities are amazing, aren’t they?’

It sounds like RGS really was a different school in the late 70s – early 80s, with very different facilities and standards. However, it sounds like pupils at RGS have always had a good sense of humour. Maybe it’s just an essential part of Reigatian life!

A link to the November 1913 Pilgrim magazine: http://www.worldwar1schoolarchives.org/wp-content/ uploads/2013/12/pilgrim-41-november-1913.pdf 26

By Jake H

Guess the Teacher 1: If he won a million pounds he would stay a part time teacher and invest the money and live off the interest.

He is getting married this year.

His girlfriend’s name is Claire.

He always wanted to be a teacher.

He doesn’t have kids.

He took Graphic Design, German, Art and History for GCSE. He owns a PlayStation 4.

He plays destiny, call of duty and modern warfare.

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By Grace P and Anush U

Guess the Teacher 2: Which do you prefer, Nutella or Peanut butter?

Nutella Favourite colour?

Red

Favourite place you’ve ever been?

Venice Sweets or chocolate?

Chocolate Favourite teacher?

Mr Buzzacott What subject would you teach if you didn’t teach your subject?

Economics What is your favourite sport?

Rugby What was your favourite subject as a student?

Sport How long have you been teaching at the school?

6 years Favourite job?

PR Which do you prefer, rain or wind?

Wind What is your favourite year to teach?

I only really teach 6th form 28

Guess the Teacher 3: What do you prefer, Nutella or Peanut butter?

Peanut butter Favourite colour?

Green

Favourite place that you’ve ever been?

Sri Lanka Sweets or chocolate?

100% Sweets Favourite Department?

Science What subject would you teach if you didn’t teach your subject?

Maths What is your favourite sport?

Running What was your favourite subject as a student?

Music How long have you been teaching at the school?

2 years

Favourite job?

Teacher Which do you prefer, rain or wind?

Wind What is your favourite year to teach?

Depends on the class 29

By Esmé F, Matthew H and Emma T

Drama: This term has been a quieter term in drama for the 2nd Form.

However, there have been auditions for the summer musical Honk. Well done to everyone who auditioned, and congratulations to all the 2nd Form students who got in.

Honk is an adaptation of the classical story, the Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen. Ugly (the duckling) isn’t able to fit in as he is mistaken to be an ugly duckling. Ugly becomes friends with a tomcat and other farm animals, but the tomcat only agrees to be Ugly’s friend so that he can eat him. During the course of the musical, Ugly learns that being different isn’t actually bad.

Good luck to all the cast and I’m sure that it will be a cracking show.

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By Sheara M-N

Music: After a very busy Christmas Term, Music has been once again a success this term.

We would like to mention the 2nd Formers who took part in the annual RGS Music Quiz in January. There was a great turnout and it was a very enjoyable evening.

The Choral Recital was a lovely evening involving all of RGS’ choirs.

After a busy term for 2nd Form Choral singers, the Junior Girls Voices (JGV) and Boys Choir dazzled audience members in a full St Marys Church. Boys Choir sung two contrasting pieces. Tell my Father by John Barrowman with accompaniment by Zac S on Flute and Somebody that I used to know by Gotye with Taylor S on Cajon. Thank you to Mr Evans for arranging the pieces for us. JGV sung two movements; the spell of Safekeeping and the spell to bring lost creatures' home by Jorden Bok and they sang Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley.

They sung accompanied by the school’s guitar ensemble.

Zac S and Josie W have had a busy term. Zac performed a solo at the refurbished Purcell Room on London’s Southbank as part of a National Music Celebration Concert. Zac has also accepted a place as a Flautist in The National Youth Concert Band of Great Britain. Josie has accepted a place into National Children’s U13 orchestra on oboe. She has been busy on Saturdays with Guildhall Wind Orchestra and recently got to the final of the British Flute Society’s School Performers Competition where she got a medal. Special mention also goes to Henry F for accompanying lots of Singers at this year’s “Plugged” event in the Old Library and representing RGS in lots of open mornings and Community events.

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By Jake H and Zac S

Art: Students in Art have been creating wonderful pieces throughout the year! They ranged from Van Gogh’s Starry Night to sculptures in Natural Form!

The 2nd Form have been learning many interesting skills! These range from pottery, watercolour and photography. The students have been using these techniques in their art classes or in school clubs.

Some of the skills vary from making photos from coloured to black and white to focusing photos on specific details. We took pictures of natural form as part of our project: this includes leaves, twigs and the small yet intriguing patterns of bark!

In the 2nd Form Textiles club, we have been creating Easter/ Valentine’s Day decorations.

In Art Club, we have been focusing on using watercolour, as well as clay modelling and experimenting with different styles of Art. Textiles Club – Thursday Lunchtimes.

Art Club – Friday Lunchtimes.

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By Mehak N and Nihal S

Opportunities : Opportunities (for Students) Never Second Best (NSB) is a club for 2nd Form students only. It gives us the chance to discuss what we have been doing as a year group and raise awareness of what the year group has been doing for the whole school. We produce a detailed newsletter every term, describing events such as house competitions, book reviews and music concerts. It will help you develop the necessary life skills of leadership, teamwork, IT, design, reporting and writing. NSB is a great club that combines a range of talents as well as the opportunity to get to know more people in the year group. If you are thinking of joining or have anything at all to say, please come along to one of our meetings, which are held every week on a Wednesday from 1:30 PM in HC21 or email the editorial team using the rather long address: nsbstudentleaders@ReigateGrammarSchool.onmicrosoft.com The Eco Committee works alongside the school to develop ecological ideas into reality. Often, meetings are held to discuss how we’ve been getting along with our assigned tasks and to prepare for upcoming events related to the environment. Since September, we’ve got a lot done (we’ve talked to the headmaster with all of our ideas; we’ve had loads of meetings) but we’ve still got many things to do and we’re looking forward to our trip to Grundon Recycling Plant. It would be great if we could get more students involved, because at the moment there is only one person representing the whole of 2nd Form, so if you have any ideas or just want to have a listen, please contact Mr Collins or Mrs Cooper.

Charity Committee is an amazing opportunity that this school offers which allows students from all years to get together, discuss ideas and help the community. Our school charities, this year, Loveworks and Mind are supported by students from Charity Committee and the inspiring thoughts that they have. If you are interested in helping out or have any other relevant brainwaves, please make your ideas heard by emailing us at:

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charitycommittee247@ReigateGrammarSchool.onmicrosoft.com.

By Emma T with help from Ella S and the Charity Committee.

Spring Wordsearch Spring March April May Flowers Daffodil Green Grass Sunshine Melt Showers Rain Umbrella

Easter Birds Cuckoo Swallow Tulips Buds Bulbs Leaves Bird Song Growth Seeds Planting Garden

Spring Crossword Complete the Crossword below using the following clues to help

Across 6. Spring starts in this month.

8. Rain gathers in one spot on the ground and makes a ___.

9. Fly a ___ on a windy day.

10. A caterpillar turns into a ___.

11. Temperature that is not too hot but not too cold.

14. Hold this to stay dry when it rains.

16. A place to plant flowers or plants.

18. Open the ___ and let fresh air into the house.

Down 1. A person whose job is to plant crops.

2. Plant a ___ and wait for a flower to grow.

3. Children go to the ___ and play.

4. April showers bring May ___.

5. A yellow flower that faces the sun.

7. Ice and snow ___.

13. Colourful arc in the sky after the rain.

15. Grass grows and turns the colour ___.

17. Water falling from the sky.

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Crazy Maze!

Can you find your way through the maze below?

Sudoku Puzzle

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By Matthew H

Puzzle answers:

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Guess the teacher answers: 1 . Mr Evans (Maths) 2. Mr Jones (History) 3. Mrs Starr (Physics)

Upcoming Events: The upcoming adventures for the 2nd year include....

Shakespeare Slam

23rd April

House Swimming

15th May

Choreoslam

16th May

History Trip to Ypres

17th May

Jersey Cricket Tour

24-27th May

Exam Week

10-13th June

Feedback Week

17-21st June

Drama Production - Honk

26-28th June

Sports Day

28th June

Junior House Quiz

2nd July

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By Tom S

Happy Easter!

From Never Second Best

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