Highlights Summer 11

Issue 41 Summer 2011

Highlights News Hounds

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ST ALBANS SCHOOL

News Day Tasters

Thursday 24 March was an exciting day as Third formers joined pupils from other schools across the country to make the news as part of the BBC School Report project. Three boys visited the England football team’s training before the international against Wales and were able to attend the press conference, featured on live TV. One of them asked John Terry a tricky question about his status as a role model for young people, which was featured not only on the BBC’s News Report website but also on the BBC1 6pm News.

Over the course of the day itself, the boys covered events in Libya and considered the safety of nuclear power in the wake of the disaster in Japan. Following developments nationally, young reporters explored the implications of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget, while on a local level, the plans for a local primary school and the challenge to Tesco’s plans in Welwyn Garden City were examined. The School featured too, with an in-depth feature on the Sports Centre development and its impact on the School and local community.

As well as the England football team, sport was covered with ar ticles on Dalglish’s Liverpool team, the new Formula 1 season, the Cricket Wor ld Cup and the 2012 Olympics.

T h e 2 1 b oy s we r e busy throughout the day, writing, editing and shooting video, carefully assisted by six Sixth form mentors.

One of the young reporters sifts through the day’s news

Budget Response There was an unexpected decrease in fuel prices as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, submitted his most recent budget plans for the UK. Policies included the scrapping of the fuel escalator until 2015, schemes to help first time buyers to purchase properties, and the funding of 100,000 new work experience placements.

Olympic Tickets 6.6 million Olympic tickets have gone on sale to the public. However, a reluctant Lord Coe has confessed that only half the tickets for the opening ceremony and big events (the 100m final) will be available to the general public. 2.2 million tickets – roughly 25% – will be issued to the National Olympic Committees of each country, guests, sponsors and hospitality partners.

Tesco Challenged The historic landmark, the Shredded Wheat factor y in Welwyn Garden City, has been purchased by Tesco in the hope of building a new store. The planned Tesco, at Broadwater Road, has been brought to a halt by the citizens of Welwyn Garden City.

More on these and further stories can be found on the School’s BBC Report website: www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk/ bbcreportcms

Design Challenge Two of the School’s teams triumphed at the annual Rotary Design and Technology tournament held at Marlborough School. Three teams in all, two from the Third form and one from the Fourth form, competed against teams from other local schools.

The basic task set was to build a crane that could lift a cylinder of ‘Toxic Waste’ from a container and place it back behind a line, one

The Fourth form team secured an impressive victory in the competition

metre away from the container. The Intermediate team was required to extend this task by manoeuvring the crane under a bridge about 25cm high, while the Exper t challenge included having to unhook the cylinder at the completion of the task.

The whole job had to be completed within 40 seconds.

This task was highly complex, but the boys made excellent progress throughout the day, and even worked through the lunch break to get their products finished in time.The judges continuously checked the teamwork and planning.When the time came to demonstrate the cranes, though, not many groups managed to succeed.

However, one of the groups from the Third form managed to romp home to victory with a spectacular design and design folder. The real victory came for the Fourth formers, who managed to secure a victory though competing against boys from the year above.

Inspiring Words As has become customar y, the School was invaded by a motley collection of costumed figures on the last day before half term. The Cat in the Hat and Sherlock Holmes, as well as the odd pirate and a number of Alex Riders, were in evidence as First Year pupils gathered for the Creative Writing Day. They were treated to an inspiring day of explorative writing, hosted by some of the most imaginative writers. Jonathan Stroud, Naomi Woddis and John Mole entertained and guided the brilliantly costumed year group. Each of the writers encouraged the students to explore poetry, characterisation and their senses. This was followed by the authors reading some of their own work.There was a general buzz around the library, and John Mole noted that the pupils ‘inspired each other’; he was very impressed by the standard of work. What’s more, it certainly helped many of the pupils

gain confidence in reading out their work and taking pride in it. The day was an enormous success, inspiring the pupils. Their thanks go to the visiting writers, Mr Jolly and the library staff for putting the whole day on.

A young writer inspired by the creative writing day

In Concert Audiences in School and in the city had oppor tunities to appreciate pupils’ music making during the term. A lunchtime concer t at St Peters Church in aid of Grove House Hospice at the end of January, impressed the listeners with the range of performances. The snowdelayed Christmas Concert was able to take place a the beginning of the spring term, when the soloists and ensembles were in good form, with a number of striking performances.

The School Orchestra performed an excellent rendition of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance, a difficult piece to carry off successfully, and the Wind Band, under Mr Craig’s direction, included some spectacular trumpeting from Peter Martin, Jack Hampson, Nick Perry and Joe Zacaroli.The première of a percussion composition written and performed by Jonny Bennett, Luke Bevis and Joe Zacaroli was stunning in its complexity and the style of the performance.The soloists on the evening gave exceptional performances, with David McConnell and Alex Shavick playing piano, Chris Springthorpe the cello and Olivia Goldsmith the flute. Daniel Angel, Peter Martin, Charlye Simpson and Rob Brooks also gave highly accomplished vocal performances.

Adding

up the

The number crunchers of the School have again been recording significant successes. Seven Bronze awards, 27 Silver and 11 Gold certificates were awarded to our students in the Senior Maths Challenge, which is a prestigious national competition.

Three pupils, Matthew Fletcher, Nick Butler and Daniel Heydecker, did so well that they gained automatic qualifications for the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad.

Gold certificates were also awarded Work on the Sports Centre is now well in hand, following to Joe Temple, Zak Armstrong, last term’s turf cutting ceremony (above). Good weather has allowed the construction to progress according to schedule so far.

Build Starts

Medals

Alex Stride, Sabian Chauhan, Josh Huntingford, Alex Shavick, Philip Ruis, and Matthew Morris.

Meanwhile, two Fourth form teams entered a new Maths competition, hosted by Stanborough School. One of the teams performed well, and may be invited back if their score is high enough to merit a place in the final.The other team, of Will Barnes, Will Beynon, Harry Lampert and Jem Bosatta, was victorious and already has a place in the final, to be held in Cambridge in May.

Entrenched in history Innovative Science The Science department stepped out of the laboratory this term with fieldwork, beginning with the whole of the First Form as they visited the headquarters of Renewable Energy Systems and then the Buildings Research Energy Institute Innovation Park. At RES, the students gained valuable knowledge into the principles of energy efficiency in combination with Renewable Energy as well as seeing these techniques being put into practice. At the BRE Innovation Park the students were given an insight into the future construction of energy efficient communities worldwide that allow for a high standard of living to be maintained whilst being able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions with diverse and innovative ideas.

Third Formers visited the annual Big Bang Fair at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London’s Docklands. The Fair provided a showcase for the STEM subjects in order to stimulate and inspire the next generation of technical experts. The highlights of the weird and wonderful innovations included Festo’s ‘Flying Penguin’, an 8 foot robot and a full size mock up of the Bloodhound vehicle which will next year attempt to reach 1000 mph on land.

At half term, teachers and students shook off fatigue as they travelled at the crack of dawn into sunny Belgium. After visiting Lijssenthoek Militar y Cemetery, they moved on to the Sanctuary Wo o d trenches.

Trudging through thick mud and pitch b l a c k tunnels, it was easy to imagine the horror that soldiers in these trenches must have felt, as even over 90 year s later, a sense of helplessness and despair still lingers.

On laying a wreath at the Thiepval memorial, it was plain to see just how much honour has been bestowed upon the people who gave their lives in the First World War. Thiepval was only one memorial out of the many the

students visited on their trip, which ranged from the small and intimate, such as the Delville Wood memorial with adjoining dedication to South African soldiers from both World Wars, to the largest World War One French cemetery, Notre Dame de Lorette, where row upon row of white stone crosses seem to stretch endlessly into the distance.

Between these two extremes lay cemeteries such as Tyne Cot, the resting place of almost 12,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers, the Langemarck German graveyard, and the Menin Gate memorial to those lost in all Battles of Ypres during the five year conflict. After witnessing the sheer magnitude of Lochnagar Crater, where the explosion caused the teacups to rattle in 10 Downing Street, it became more obvious to the boys how so many people came to die here. Yet the most sobering thought of all is that due to the sheer number of soldiers lost, all that is left of some is just their name and initials, engraved into stone.

Sport: Runners Crowned National Champions Cross Country: The St Albans School Intermediate Cross Country Team was at last able to confirm its status as favourites by winning the English Schools Cup on Saturday 26 March.

The runners had been tipped for success as far back as November and the final was due to be run at Alnwick in Northumberland on 4 December. However, deep snow at the beginning of December meant that the race had to be postponed and the boys had to wait until the end of March to claim their crown.

At the 40th King Henry Relay on the 2nd of February, Victoria was the leading runner, finishing as the second fastest girl; however her course record that was set last year still stands. The boys’ team finished fourth, a superb result considering the youth in the team, which bodes well for the future. All teams did remarkably well at the South Eastern championships at Harrow, but Victoria again dominated the girls’ races, winning with a 20 second margin between her and her closest competitor.

The cour se in the grounds of H o c ke y : I n a Alnwick Castle strong season, covered 4.3km there were wins and was designed at almost every to challenge the level against skill and stamina Merchant Taylor’s of the ver y School, followed best r unner s. by a strong M a r k Pe a rc e , performance Joe Redwood, a g a i n s t Jo rd a n B aye r Haberdasher s’ Goldman, Robin A s ke ’s , w i t h O’Connor, Adam Thorpe and The victorious victories in almost every match. The Robbie Lightowler represented the cross country senior sides destroyed Windsor Boys School in this important race. Even squad at Alnwick School 5-1, 2-0 and 9-1 at 1st, 2nd though Joe Redwood pulled a muscle and 3rd level respectively. Progressing during the race, he still managed through the season, the 1st team to finish in 17th place, while Robin triumphed over Dr Challoner’s 6-3 in O’Connor and Robbie Lightowler a one off fixture. Meanwhile, in a block fixture against Aldenham, there were actually moved up the field on wins for the 1st, U15B, U14A and B the final gruelling hill to finish 2nd and U13A teams. In March, the sides and 5th respectively. With Jordan came up against a strong Bedford Bayer Goldman and Mark Pearce in Getting to grips School, with the 1st and 3rd teams 13th and 14th places and the field completed by Adam Thorpe’s 37th, with lacrosse, the drawing, and the 2nd team winning the team won by a handsome margin. latest addition to 3-1. The U16A team posted the the girls’ fixture same score, and the U16B showed St Albans scored 35 points and the list the depth of their squad, winning 8-0. winning margin of 95 points was the After sweeping largest in the competition’s history.The aside Har row result means that this group of young School, the U13 runners will now represent England in team competed the World Schools Championships in in the Regional 2012, scheduled to be held in Malta.

Mini Hockey To u r n a m e n t Aside from this superb result, the where, after squad performed well during the finishing second season, finishing 6th at the Knole, a in their group, solid achievement considering the they were beaten number of injuries. Victoria Walker by a strong St won the girls’ Knole Run, establishing John’s side. a new course record, to supplement a fantastic season.

Lacrosse:This was the first season that St Albans has offered Lacrosse in girls’ games, and for many it was their first experience of the sport. The season began with introductory practices followed by rigorous training sessions.

However, despite their inexperience, they played against and competed with the high standard of lacrosse at St George’s, Princess Helena College and St Albans High School. Despite defeats, all girls enjoyed the season, with special mention going to Olivia Goldsmith as captain, Charlye Simpson as player of the season and Lillie Richardson as most improved player.

Badminton: Against Haberdashers’ Aske’s, the U16 team of Mark Sadler, Vincent Chan, Anish Khiroya and Oliver Gomar put in a commanding performance, coming out 5-0 winners.

The same U16 team, with the addition of Kit Akin-Agunbiade, represented the School in the Regional Finals in Cambridge. The team had four straightforward wins and one close game, but lost to the eventual winners Davenant School from Essex, leading to a very respectable third place finish in the region.

Football:The 1st XI began the term by playing the Corinthian Casuals, gaining a very creditable 4-4 draw against a semi-professional outfit. The 1st XI have had a good run of form, beating Haberdashers’ 2-1 and Bedford School 3-0.The 1st XI faced Roundwood Park School in the District Cup Quarter Final. The score was 2-2 after extra time, but the penalty shoot-out was lost.

Rugby:The U12s had several matches, winning strongly against Haileybury, Hitchin and Beaumont. In a rugby tournament, the boys dispatched Verulam and Hitchin on their way to the final, in which they overcame a strong Bishops Stortford High School side, with a superb try by Oliver Neuston securing victor y in the dying minutes. The team also finished second in the annual tournament at Broxbourne.

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