Senior School Newsletter - June 14 2019

SENIOR SCHOOL

 NEWSLETTER Friday 14th June 2019

NSEA National Eventer Challenge Champions 2019

Sibford Equestrian team competed at the NSEA National Eventer Challenge Finals at Hickstead during the first weekend of half term. Both the 80cm and 90cm teams qualified and were really excited to be competing at such a prestigious and high level event.

Saturday saw our 80cm team go out first with Emma and Jack having strong clear rounds, this put them into a very strong position placing them an impressive 9th nationally. The 90cm team of Emma, Hannah, Emily and Rosie competed on a challenging 90cm course on the Sunday and had three strong clear rounds early on in the day. They then had the nervous wait to see how well they had done during the remainder of the competition, whilst over 30 other teams from around the country competed. I am delighted that the 90cm team had the best combined score, closest to the optimum time and were crowned the NSEA National Eventer Challenge Champions 2019. An outstanding achievement Well done! (Claire Ferley, Director of Sport)

Duke of Edinburgh

Last weekend saw 22 Year 9 pupils completing their qualifying expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. The weather began badly on the Saturday but this did not dampen the spirits of our pupils who set about the challenge of navigating from Oxhill to Horley, lugging their heavy rucksacks in the heavy rain, with remarkable good cheer and without complaint. Indeed, throughout a difficult first day, our pupils retained this spirited approach for which, it transpired, the weather gods rewarded them: hard though it is to imagine in our present climes, the sun came out and the weather turned warm. Each of the four groups arrived at the campsite, pitched their tents and cooked their evening meals. Where the Year 9s then found the energy to run around the campsite playing games is a matter of wonder!

We woke to fine weather on the Sunday and, although, it rained briefly, the weather retained its munificent character. This did not make it easy for our pupils as a Duke of Edinburgh expedition is never easy: navigation, campcraft, teamwork and trekking all bring different challenges which are designed to test an individual's resilience and selfreliance. Moreover, Sunday is always a much harder day, as feet and shoulders are sore and the fatigue of the previous day's efforts are carried over. Mistakes are generally more common when pupils are tired and last Sunday was no exception. What was incredible, though, was that pupils who found themselves lost and, unsurprisingly, a little dispirited as a result, were clear that they would finish whatever additional effort it took them.

We are probably biased judges of our pupils, but the supervising staff were all struck by how well these pupils did over the weekend, what great ambassadors of the school they were and how privileged we were to share in the sense of personal triumph which they take home with them after the expedition. (Jez Ross, Coordinator Duke of Edinburgh Award)

Support for Learning - Learners of the Week Will (Year 7) was last weeks SFL learner of the week. Will has improved continuously this year and recognises that hard work gets him results. Really well done Will, fabulous work!

Congratulations to Emma (Year 8) who is this weeks SFL learner of the week! Emma has shown great determination, resilience and perseverance and must be commended for her ever-positive attitude to her learning. Well done Emma!

Year 9 visit to Westminster

Before half term Year 9 experienced a memorable trip to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. After an early start the day began with a tour of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords; everyone was fascinated to be in those well-known chambers. This was followed by a “Making Laws” workshop where pupils proposed, debated and voted on a “new” law of their choosing.

This was followed by an interesting visit to Westminster Abbey. Not only did pupils learn about the history the abbey but they were taken on a tour of this fascinating building. The highlights for many were the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the recent memorial to Stephen Hawking.

Year 9 have been following up this visit in their history lessons including presentations, discussion and voting for who they see as the most important people to be buried or commemorated in the abbey.

(Frances King, Sibford School Librarian)

Not to be missed!

Rain or Shine Theatre company presents ‘As You Like It!’ in Holly House Garden, Sibford School, 19th June 2019

Join one of The Bard’s most famous heroines, Rosalind, as she makes her way in a world full of power, jealousy and tyranny. In fear for her life and in search of true love, she flees her heritage with her cousin Celia and fool Touchstone.

Will disguising herself as a country lad lead her to a new life full of hope, laughter, and her banished father?

With songs galore, hand-to-hand wrestling, idiotic shepherds and the infamous melancholic Jaques, this comedy is sure to delight family audiences from 6 to 96.

So pack your picnic, rugs and chairs, pop open some beer or bubbly and sit back and relax in the summer sunshine, while we whisk you off to the Forest of Arden where anything can happen!

The performance at Holly House Garden, Sibford School is on Wednesday 19th June at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from both Junior School and Senior School Reception, pop in or call 01295781200 Rain or Shine 0330 660 0541 or ticketweb via www.rainorshine.co.uk. Tickets are limited so book without delay.

Wildlife and Ornithology Club I joined W.O.C (Wildlife and Ornithology Club) at the start of term. Since then I have seen the amazing things that they have done such as, the bird boxes that they made. Also, how they put them up around the school and watched nests being built in them by birds in the surrounding area. Since I have joined, these birds have laid eggs, had the eggs hatch and fed the chicks to a point where their legs are big enough to ring and that is what we have done. We have ringed 18 blue tits and 10 great tits. All the birds that I have seen be ringed have had it on their left leg because it has been ringed as a pullus (still in the nest/bird box). So far I have really enjoyed W.O.C and it is a good opportunity to have fun and be taught about the birds all around your garden. (Jamie, Year 7)

Our ‘Adventurers’ from Year 10 and 11 will begin fundraising and raising awareness for their expedition to Ladakh, India and the Snow Leopard Trust on Friday during Senior School Sports Day. A range of treats will be on offer throughout the afternoon and some fun activities are also planned. Please do come and support them with some spare change. (V. Macaulay, Head of Key Stage Three)

Congratulations to Miles (Year 8) who came first in his homemade soapbox kart in the Standard Category at the annual Brackley Soapbox Derby recently.

Puzzle Day

Year 7 spent much of Thursday challenging themselves to solve a variety of practical problems. Each team had to work out which way they should build a roller coaster so their track would keep the marble in motion for the longest time. Could they fit a variety of different pieces into a rectangular frame, some found that easier than others. How do you remove a ball from a pot without touching either the ball or the pot? Little did they know they were using their knowledge of forces, kinematics or spatial awareness but they had a productive, creative and enjoyable (if a little noisy) time. Our Year 9 Maths Leaders were brilliant at motivating and questioning the students approaches and decision and there were many lightbulb moments. It was great to have Year 6 included in the teams for part of the day and see them engaging both with the senior school pupils and the task.

Our final task was bridge building. The goal was to design and build a bridge to have a height and width clearance of 45 cm that could support the weight of a fresh egg! We had a variety of designs and dimensions and all managed to support the egg. Our overall winning team was Team Peach – Joe H, Tabby P, Will D and Harley W.