Senior School Newsletter - January 11 2019

SENIOR SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER Friday 11th January 2019

Three pupils from Years 8 and 9 have been selected to have their poems have been chosen for a Young Writers publication after entering a competition in December. The three pupils, Henry (Year 8), Margot and Maia (Year 9) entered the Young Writers poetry competition ‘Poetry Escape’ in December after attending the creating writing club. The poems had to take a particular form or be based upon a specific theme. The competition received over 8,000 entries and so it is a mark of the talent of these pupils and the creativity of their work that their submissions have been selected. The judges of the competition will select their five favourite poems and announce these next term. Well done and good luck to Henry, Margot and Maia. (Sally Anne Ward, Head of English)

News from PSFA

All parents are automatically members of PSFA. Our committee meetings are held twice a term and provide an opportunity to plan future events, talk about possible fund-raising ideas and consider applications from the school for financial support. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 January in the school library starting at 6.30pm and we hope that as many parents and guardians as possible will be able to join us. Then on Friday 18 January we will be holding a Coffee & Catch Up immediately after drop off in the small dining room. This will be an opportunity to enjoy a hot drink and some tasty snacks, catch up with events happening in 2019 and to chat with other parents. We look forward to seeing you at one or both of the events.

Support for Learning Parent conversation afternoons In the spring term the SFL department are launching parent conversation afternoons.

These will take place on alternate Friday afternoons and will be an opportunity for parents/carers to make an appointment to see your child’s SFL teacher(s) for a 15 minute discussion about your child’s progress and any concerns you may have.

The forthcoming dates for 2019 18th January

1st February

15th February

1st March

15th March

29th March

Please contact Frances Claydon on 01295 781200 or francesclaydon@sibfordschool.co.uk to book an appointment.

We look forward to seeing you!

Horticulture Members of the Year 10 Horticulture group enjoyed planting heritage variety apple saplings in the new orchard this week replacing two of the original trees which didn't survive from when the orchard was first planted. (Harry Wragg, Horticulture Department)

Well done to Louis and Tilly who competed in the County Cross Country Championships last weekend at Shotover Park. They both ran brilliantly in a large competitive field and finished an impressive 2nd and 4th respectively in their age groups. This guarantees Tilly a place in the Oxfordshire team at the inter-counties cross country meeting to be held in March at Loughborough. We also look forward to seeing them both compete in the ESAA Country Cross Country Championships at Radley College later this month.

Toby Spence read the following section of Quaker Faith and Practice in Meeting for Worship: The Quaker emphasis in education probably lies in non-violence, in participation, and in caring. Not only to run the school without violence, but to produce young people who will feel a concern to reduce the level of violence in the world. Not to impose the aims of the school on the pupils, but to lead them to their own acceptance of these aims, to a share (however small) in its running, and a pleasure in its successes. To find that of God in every pupil.

‘This is the true ground of love and unity,’ wrote Isaac Penington in 1659, ‘not that such a man walks and does just as I do, but because I feel the same Spirit and life in him, and that he walks in his rank, in his own order, in his proper way.’ This marvellous statement by an early Friend of the value of individualism surely commands our assent today. The school which respects every pupil as an individual will try to teach each one what he (or she) needs to learn, to draw out his unique talents, to understand his proper way, whether he is studying or misbehaving. ‘This is far more pleasing to me,’ Penington continues, ‘than if he walked just in that track wherein I walk.’

Music Department Congratulations to Ralph (Year 9) for achieving his Grade 4 examination in Trinity Rock School Drums.

The drum pupils of Belinda Webb and Matthew Dibbens will be performing in a short concert on Thursday 17th January to celebrate their musical achievements and demonstrate the skills that they have learnt in their lessons.

This is an informal event for our young drummers to share their studies with a friendly audience.

Please join us at 5.45pm in the Ensemble Room to enjoy some lovely music, all accompanied with a cup of tea and cake.

If you would like your child to stay at school for prep ahead of the concert, please let us know. (Fiona Hudson, Head of Music, fhudson@sibfordschool.co.uk )