Sutton Views - December 2013 (56)

Edition 56 December 2013

SUTTON VIEWS The Voice of Sutton Valence School

The Movember 6 The Sixth Form gentlemen are normally well-dressed, well-groomed young men.

But, for four weeks this term, six of our Upper Sixth were less than their normal..freshly-shaven selves.

We Will Rock You

The representatives from each House, Dominic Murray (Clothworkers’), Alex Richardson (St Margaret’s), Robert Sehmi (Westminster), Seb Newman (Lambe’s), Jordan Parker (Founder’s) and Matt Parsons (Holdgate) persuaded the Headmaster that, in the aid of the charity, they should be allowed to not shave. They each pledged to raise £100 or more, with the end results being judged

by Lotte Lijesen, Head of School. Lotte would declare the winners; the one with the best growth and the one who had raised the most money.

Throughout November, the Six were trying to raise money from a variety of sources. Jordan Parker said, “We all used similar ways to get as much as we could. I went round School during tutor time and visited each Founder’s tutor group. I was surprised and delighted that my House was very charitable and gave donations freely.

Orchard Run

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Martinique Exchange

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Information A member of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation Registered Charity No. 309267 Founded in 1576 by William Lambe

Sutton Views December 2013

For information about Sutton Valence School or to request a prospectus, please contact:

• the Admissions Office at Sutton Valence on 01622 845206 or email enquiries@svs.org.uk • Sutton Valence Preparatory School on 01622 842117 or email enquiries@svprep.svs.org.uk

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Continued from front page Unfortunately, during the rugby match against King’s Canterbury, Alex Richardson sustained a nasty chest injury, which necessitated a stay in hospital. However, Michael Adebiyi, his St Margaret’s housemate and friend, offered to continue fundraising in Alex’s absence. Such was his enthusiasm to support his friend, he raised £230 in one week, making Alex the top fundraiser!

Tutors got involved by giving very generous donations, which helped significantly to raise my total. It was not just Sixth Formers that donated money to me, even First and Second Forms gave donations when they could, which was such a big help. I managed to raise £153.53, with almost all of the money I raised coming from the pupils and staff at SV.”

Overall, the Movember 6 raised almost £1,200 for the charity, with Dominic Murray winning the prize for the best growth: a top of the range electric razor!

Headmaster Bruce Grindlay said, “Sutton Valence raises a considerable amount of money for charity each year and we feel it is an important part of our students’ education that they learn community responsibility.

Whilst we would not normally allow facial hair in School, we thought we could make an exception in this case. It caused a great deal

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of fun for the month – and raised a commendable amount of money for the cause!”

Olympic Hopeful is Back at School Hoping to follow in the footsteps of kayaking Olympic Gold winner, Tim Brabants, last year’s Upper Sixth Former, Peter Bannister, has returned to School to take more A levels and help out as a Gap student in the Sports Department.

“Despite getting two As and an A* in Maths, Further Maths and Physics last year”, said Peter, “I have decided that I want to study Medicine, so need Chemistry and Biology. I am very lucky that Nottingham University, where Tim studied, has indicated that they are interested in me studying there and of course it is very convenient for the National Water Sports Centre, where I train.

School has been very helpful in allowing me to return to study my additional A levels and give me time off to train.”

To assist Peter’s push to compete in the 1000 metre kayak for the 2016 Olympics, he has a new competition boat. His old one has been relegated to training duties, but with the help of local sponsors and his first year of funding from the National Lottery, the 2014 season will see Peter in a fabulous new kayak, designed by Sarah Easter, Art teacher.

“Peter was keen for the design to use

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colours that represented Great Britain”, said Sarah. “I came up with about eight designs, and this is the one he liked best (and me too as it happens). I was thinking about the movement of the paddle, how it pulls up and through the water and I used that idea to inspire the design, which is asymmetrical.

Peter was my tutee before I became a Housemistress, so it was a delight and a pleasure to be able to do this for him.”

After finishing fourteenth in the Under 23 European Championships, Peter is getting back to training after an injury, but is well on track for the new season starting in April.

“I am enormously grateful to everyone who has helped me to get this far,” he said, “and am looking forward to putting the new boat through her paces.”

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Year Six pupil is UK’s Young Journalist of the Year Annabelle Majin, in her last year at the Prep School, has beaten entries from across the country to become Britain’s Young Journalist of the Year 2013.

Her award winning article entitled ‘Is Poetry Dead?’ combined interviews with a Kent theatre director and her own analysis and was awarded first prize by a panel of judges.

“I was really excited when I heard that I had won the competition,” said Annabelle.

“I love poetry and this was a subject that genuinely interested me. I wanted to find out whether poetry is dying out or whether it’s coming back into fashion. In my article I wrote about performance poets, who are

helping to bring back poetry and spread it to a wider audience.”

Annabelle’s prize was £1000 worth of stationery from Stabilo, who jointly ran the competition with First News, the childrens’ newspaper.

Her assignment as Young Journalist of the Year was to write two articles for First News, which were published in the Autumn. You may access them through the following links: http://www.firstnews.co.uk/news/doenough-children-learn-music-i9987 http://www.firstnews.co.uk/news/revea ling-the-rip-offs-i10055

Annabelle interviewing Richard Mallett, Education and Community Producer, London Philharmonic Orchestra, for her first article

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Prep School’s new Reception and Early Years play area Since the beginning of term, visitors to the Prep School and parents wanting a quiet place to have a chat with a teacher have been using the new Reception area. Converted from the old ‘Little Suttons’ room, the area is now home to a collection of comfortable, tweed-clad sofas and chairs, with toning blue lamps and cushions. Security of Underhill House has also

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been enhanced with the addition of a beautiful glass screen and door, which prevents access beyond the School Office and Reception area.

Outside, Kindergarten has benefited from a new secure play area, with safety surfaces, slides and a colourful road painted upon the ground to aid the children’s creative play.

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We Will Rock You “The time is the future, in a place that was once called Earth. Globalisation is complete.

Everywhere, the kids watch the same movies, wear the same fashions and think the same thoughts. It’s a safe, happy, Ga Ga world. Unless you’re a rebel. Unless you want to Rock.”

the audience was rocking in the aisles. I am enormously proud of all who took part and very grateful to Miss Fordham, and her team, for what she has achieved.”

For three nights, audiences in the Baughan Theatre were transported to iPlanet, with the walls resounding to the music of Queen.

Said Claire Fordham, Head of Drama, “This is by far the most ambitious musical that I have ever been involved in working on. The commitment and enthusiasm from all the students and staff have been huge; I feel very lucky to be surrounded by such talented people.”

Playing to full houses every night, the cast brought huge energy and presence to their performances, with impressive commitment from the lead players.

“I have never seen such a professional, polished performance from a school production”, said Bruce Grindlay, Headmaster.

“The singing was outstanding and perfectly captured the feeling of Queen in their heyday;

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Prep School Hockey Early in November, our U10A girls travelled to Tunbridge Wells for the annual Holmewood House Hockey Tournament, playing against Ardingly, Dulwich Prep and Holmewood House. For the second year running, the Prep School won it! Many congratulations to the girls who played; what a terrific performance that was. The U9 boys also had a super win there the following day.

Later in November, the U10s were delighted to be invited to play in the East Grinstead Tournament. Historically, the competition attracts teams from much larger prep schools, renowned for their sporting prowess. It was going to be an exciting challenge.

The first match was against Hurst Prep, on a fabulous water-based pitch. As often is the case in the first match, the team was still recovering from the long journey and getting used to the new surface. However, they managed to achieve a 1-1 draw, with some lovely wide balls from Charlotte Farrell. Next over to the 3G pitches, where they discovered that the ball does not travel so easily. Despite this, the team managed a convincing 4 - 0 win against Burgess Hill. The next match against Reigate St Mary’s was a stormer, finishing once again with a 4-0 win, taking the girls into the Cup Competition.

The first Cup match was against Ardingly.

Despite having the ball for the majority of the time, Sutton Valence could not get it in the net.

The defence, Rosie Williamson and Katie Godlington, were solid, thus the match ended in a goalless draw. Vinehall were great opponents, who were twice in the lead! The

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team managed, however, to score a late goal, resulting in a 3-2 win; thanks to the perseverance of forwards, Chloe Alexander, Jessica De Lucy and Holly Clarke. Lingfield Notre Dame, (a huge school) was the next opponent. Again, the girls stepped up to the mark; Charlotte Holmes had some outstanding clearances and so the game ended with a 1-0 win.

The team and coaches waited anxiously to find out if their scores were good enough and, sure enough, their fabulous efforts were rewarded with a place in the final. Meeting Hurst Prep again, they had a tense and exciting match, coming through winners, by 2 goals to their 1. All the girls, including the super subs, (Anna Smith and Charlotte Lang), demonstrated great skills, determination and team work. What a fabulous way to end the season!

The schools involved in the competition were: Sutton Valence Prep, Bedes Prep, Claremont Prep, Handcross Park, Copthorne, Skippers Hill Manor, St Andrew’s, Dulwich College Prep, Farlington, Burgess Hill, Hurst Prep, Reigate St Mary’s, Ardingly Prep, Vinehall and Lingfield Notre Dame Prep.

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Orchard Run The now, very large Orchard Run CrossCountry competition was a great success, back in the middle of November. Once again SVPS took control of the racing, with the highlight being first, second and third finishes for the U10 Boys. The Prep School won the overall competition again, to make it three years in a row.

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SVPS Swim Squad Early morning swim squad is going from strength to strength. Sixteen of the School’s top swimmers, from Years 3-6, are taking advantage of the superb pool at the Senior School by training hard at 7.30am in the morning!

Squad member Charlie Hadley said, “Swim squad is really challenging, but also good fun!

It’s great for improving my strength and swimming stamina!”

The pupils are enjoying pushing themselves and are already seeing their swimming skills develop.

iPads in Prep School lessons At the beginning of term, Years 4 and 5 were introduced to the School’s new iPads in PSHE and Humanities. The pupils are just getting to

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grips with using them in the classroom and have enjoyed the new challenges.

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Remembrance Day

CCF on parade to the War Memorial

Prep School two minutes silence

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HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh, honours Sutton Valence The School has a large and active Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, with over 180 pupils engaged over Bronze, Silver and Gold levels in any one year. In early December the most recent crop of Gold-achieving students from the School received their award.

challenging and rewarding personal development programme, demanding considerable, sustained commitment and determination. It takes in all aspects of cocurricular life at Sutton Valence and is recognised by universities and employers alike.

Richard Nicol, James Aburn, Freddie Hewett, Ed Smith, Tom Brunger, Kieran Broom, Matthew Latham, Megan Gerrard, Joe Fowler, Tom Bateman and Hannah Bateman, accompanied by Mr Millbery (D of E Scheme Co-ordinator) and Mrs Swaine (Governor), visited St James’s Palace to receive their awards, which were given by HRH, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Said Mr Millbery, “It was a great pleasure to be there. I took over this group when they started their Bronze level six years ago and it was with great pride that I saw them rewarded for having achieved the goals they set themselves then.�

The

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Scheme

provides

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enjoyable,

Such were the number of Gold awards given to Sutton Valence, that it was the first time that all students from one school were photographed together.

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Foundation Concert To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great English composer Benjamin Britten, the United Westminster Schools Foundation held a concert in Christ Church, Spitalfields. Friday 22nd November was not only St Cecelia’s Day (the patron saint of Musicians), but was also Britten’s birthday.

The Foundation asked the School to perform two movements from Britten’s Simple Symphony, as well as providing a small choir for the finale.

The concert ended with the combined choir of approximately 200 pupils performing Ceremony of Carols, accompanied by a harpist.

At the reception afterwards, Mr Horley and Mr Holmes, Head of Strings were approached by several members of the public (including the headmistress of Queen Anne’s, Caversham) waxing lyrical about the performances.

As a footnote, Mr Holmes has referred to the performance as the highlight of his teaching career.

As the Strings were the only instrumental group performing, Mr Horley, Director of Music, knew they had to perform well. Once the first chord was struck, all doubts were dispelled as a glorious sound filled the huge space. The pupils performed magnificently and everybody just listened intently to 15 pupils producing such an amazing quality of sound.

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Head of School, Lotte Lijesen When you reach the Upper Sixth, you maybe surprised to learn just how many Head of School speeches you will have listened to. I calculate that most of us in the Upper Sixth have listened to 18 speeches. Now the most obvious things to talk about, and the topics that I’ve been warned by many of you to avoid, are the opportunities presented to us at SV. And, although they are all valid topics, I won’t drone on about them, because I’m sure that we all appreciate how truly lucky we are to be at this School.

What I would like to talk about came to me whilst I was on holiday travelling through Tanzania. I was lucky enough to talk to a man of the Maasai people, an indigenous tribe of East Africa. What intrigued me most was what he told me about the Enkipaata ceremony. This is the ceremony where the Maasai boys face many challenges during their rite of passage in becoming Maasai warriors. To prove their manhood, the boys are put to the test and sent into the bush, with just a spear, to show that they can fend for themselves and their cattle, and survive the harshness of the African wilderness.

This got me thinking about the things we have faced and will face, in our own community. I wanted to highlight to you the courage and the determination to rise to the challenge that these boys have, to prove that they are worthy of their recognition as young warriors: mature men rather than young boys.

Now obviously exams, course work and controlled assessments are not the same and cannot be compared with killing a cow and drinking its warm blood mixed with its milk, as a rite of passage, which is also part of the

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coming of age ceremony. But our own challenges and, more importantly, how we deal with them, will also shape our future and our personality in the years to come. Let me give you an example: for the girls, the hockey season is coming up and will no doubt require some heavy fitness training, which is a challenge that most of us will have to face and conquer. But let’s stay strong girls and let’s look on the bright side: we may lose those kilos that we gained over the summer!

Being at Sutton Valence has taught me how to face up to the challenges life throws at us and to learn from the mistakes that you make.

School is a great place to make mistakes, because it offers us so much scope to try new things and making mistakes is all part of the rich learning process. Better still - the next day you can try again!

It’s not like the workplace, where there’s the pressure of earning a living; or even the Enkipaata ceremony, where danger is literally around every corner. School is where you can make friends and learn about yourself and what you want out of life. Sometimes, it’s where you mess up and do some really stupid things that you may later regret .

Steve Jobs said “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.” School is where you innovate, it’s also where you try new things and attempt to soak up as many life lessons as possible while you can.

As I get older, the daunting reality that very soon I will have to make important decisions affecting the rest of my life and that things are

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becoming my own responsibility is beginning to dawn on me. I reassure myself with the calm words of my mum: "it doesn't get any easier, so you may as well just get on with it." So this year, my advice would be, make sure you stop and appreciate being young, have fun and enjoy yourself, as well as obviously working hard.

For me, delivering this speech today is part of my ceremony marking my rite of passage comparable with the ceremony of the intrepid Maasai Warriors.

It’s involved a lot of preparation, nervous anticipation, mixed with mistakes and courage and more than its fair share of fear!

This brings me onto another thing that SV has taught me: determination. Achieving your goals is even more satisfying when you know you've worked hard for them. No matter how others may judge you.

So, if I have achieved nothing more than this today, I hope I have encouraged you not to be fearful of making mistakes, but to rise to the challenges ahead as I hope you consider I have managed today.

For me, a good role model is my friend Emily Royer, who used to be a pupil here. Emily now plays golf off scratch and is placed in the top five in England for her age group. She has helped me realise that being determined to go out and do what you want, to take the risks and rise to the challenge, and then finally succeeding, is not just something that only comes true in movies.

We can be just as determined, courageous, resilient and accomplished as the Massai warriors of East Africa. We must grasp the many opportunities and life experiences that are offered to us here at SV and remain focused and committed to the dual processes of personal development and growth.

Although, having said that, Walt Disney puts this into words brilliantly: “All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them”.

So claim your rite of passage this year – after all, the only person holding you back is you!

If things seem hard, then they will be even more satisfying when you have finally achieved them. We hear proof of this every Friday in this very Chapel, when we hear Mr Grindlay’s long list of all the achievements of individuals and teams accumulated in just one week, which is very impressive and clearly never ceases to impress those who come to the School. Our achievements, individually or as a whole community, give us the chance to feel proud, and pride in yourself and your school is very important.

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Martinique Exchange During half-term a group of Fourth and Fifth Form pupils completed the exchange to Martinique; the Martinique children having been here in April.

Living with families enabled the pupils to get a real experience of the lifestyle and culture of the island. The pupils combined sight-seeing, along with a number of more physical activities, such as a day kayaking in the mangroves, climbing the volcano of Mount Pelée and seeing the remains of the village Saint Pierre, which the volcano destroyed when it erupted in 1902. They also embraced a once-in-alifetime opportunity to sail a Yole, a traditional boat that requires the crew to balance on long poles in an effort to keep the boat upright.

The visit made news headlines in Martinique, with an article in the newspaper and Daniel Payne (Fifth Form) giving a radio interview.

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They were very honoured to be invited to part of the centenary celebration of Aimé Césaire the poet and attended a local dance show, where the pupils made the staff very proud by enthusiastically joining the dancers on the stage.

The memories of Martinique will stay with the pupils for a long time.

Compiled and edited by Helen Knott, Development Manager

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