Week 22 WSS Newsletter

The

Wetherby Weekly

Week 22

4th March

WETHERBY SENIOR SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Year 7 take a trip to London Zoo

London Zoo

Classroom news

Club news

Weekly notices

Sporting updates

Words from the Headmaster

From the Headmaster Dear Parents,

With news this week that teacher recruitment is at crisis point, Wetherby parents will, I hope, not be fretting that we might have been struggling to recruit staff for next year at both Prep and Senior Schools. On the contrary, we are incredibly excited about the staff we have appointed at the Senior School and, whilst it is true that there are very few brilliant people out there, be assured that the few that exist will be working with your sons in September. At the Prep School, there has not been the need for so much recruitment but, again, we have made some superb appointments and we look forward to introducing you to them in September. Full biographies of new staff (and of course news of staff who are departing) will be included in the final newsletter of this term.

Two ‘new’ members of our team, though not appointed and certainly not on the payroll, have been with us this week and have had a major impact on the running of the Prep School. They have a highly influential role to play in its future development. Franklin and Morrison are our neighbourhood, and neighbourly, traffic wardens and I have asked them to help us in managing the traffic around the Square at 4pm pick up. With their help this week, we have had clear roads, quick pick-ups, efficient drop offs, happy residents and no parking tickets. The ‘Exit Team’ has managed to dismiss all the boys in record time this week and long may that continue. The future development of the Prep School is tremendously exciting and Franklin, Morrison and most of all, you, with your cooperation, are key factors in making hoped-for plans come to fruition. I can say no more than that, at this stage, but please park and pick up sensibly, with due empathy for our residents; be charming when engaging with them and help us to maintain and promote, yet further, the good name of our school. This has never been so important.

Have a good weekend…

ON THE NOTICEBOARD From Mr Hartley For parents of boys in Year 9 iPlayer docudrama: The Life and Death of Breck-Bednar Ahead of the March 17th talk on internet safety I thought I would share a link to a recent docudrama by the BBC detailing a case of internet grooming with a tragic outcome. Whilst the case of Breck Bednar is very much the worst possible outcome of internet grooming it is nevertheless a valuable cautionary tale about the potential danger of teenage internet use. It’s a harrowing story which a recent Guardian article recommended as essential viewing for both parents and teenagers.

The programme will only be available on the BBC iPlayer until

Saturday 5th March.

From Mr Dawson For parents of boys in Year 9: A reminder for any outstanding Year 10 co-curricular options forms to be handed in to reception or via email to tom.dawson@wetherbysenior.co.uk

From Miss Valentine Music Soloists Recital Evening – 15th March 7-8pm, Wetherby Senior School Theatre In assemblies this year we have enjoyed a range of brilliant musical performances by the boys. Now I’d like to share the performances with you!

Please join us for an informal

performance in the theatre on Tuesday 15th March.

It would be wonderful to have a

supportive audience for this and, as is the Wetherby way, drinks and nibbles will of course be provided!

If your son would like to perform in this concert, please send me an email or ask him to come and speak to me as soon as possible.

DIARY Monday 7th Year 9: World Challenge Madagascar 2017 trip launch

Monday Clubs 14:55

Tuesday 8st

Art & Design Basketball Future Writers Videography Ukulele

Tuesday Clubs Chess & Backgammon Fencing Football Quiz Yofit Music Tech

Wednesday 9th Year 7 Rugby – 7s Tournament (Arnold House, Falcon Prep, St Anthony’s and WSS)

Wednesday Clubs 14:30

Thursday 10th Football Year 9 U14 WSS A/B v Westminster A/B (A)

Thursday Clubs 14:30

Friday 11th School Choir

13:30

HM Assembly - Hinde Street Methodist Church

15:00

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th

SlowMo Table Tennis Mandarin Family History

Code Table Tennis Grub Club

CLASSROOM NEWS From the Art & Design Department Mr Meyer writes...

In Art & Design this term the boys

Alex Piggott-Testa

Alan Angert

created

a

have

minimalist

drinking mug. During

Niclas Stick

this process, they were taught three

how to

draw

dimensionally,

add tone and complete using a fine liner. Upon completion

of

this

phase, they used St. Ives

White

Clay

to

sculpt their mugs into their desired minimalist appearance and once

Sean Masri

Harrison Phillips

fired completed using Spectrum Glazes. The work

looks

Lachlan Walker

stunning

and the possibilities of using clay are endless.

Jack Connolly

Mikhail Demichev

Jack Henniker-Gotley

From the Maths Department Mr Bray writes...

closer together - Walbrook and Tyburn are remarkably close - and all of the positions could easily change within one week of the

After six weeks of the Wetherby Maths

competition. A new graph and the solutions

Challenge Cup competition, Fleet have

to this Friday’s questions, will be on the

maintained their lead, as the trend graph of

Maths notice board on Monday (see below).

cumulative scores shows. However, since the second week, the scores have become

Here is a question from this week that requires a systematic approach:

From the Physics Department Mr Hasthorpe writes In physics this week Year 9 have been covering properties of waves as part of their IGCSE studies. 9.3 really got into the swing of things making waves on a slinky spring, modelling the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves. Here is a photo of Lachlan, Marcos and Luke oscillating their springs with true gusto!

Longitudinal waves have oscillations in the same direction as the energy transfer - the most common example is sound waves.

Transverse waves instead have oscillations at right angles to the direction of energy transfer and include light (as well as the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum - X rays etc.). Slinky springs are a great way to model both types of wave in class.

From the History Department Mr Warner writes‌ This week Year 7 were tasked with learning

Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve, Harry, Dick, John, Harry three;

the medieval monarchs of England in order

One, two, three Neds, Richard two

(although some went the extra mile and learnt

Harrys four, five, six... then who?

all of the British monarchs from William the Conqueror all the way through to Elizabeth II)

Edwards four, five, Dick the bad,

and the results of the test will be revealed on

Harrys twain and Ned the Lad;

Monday. In the meantime if you feel this

Mary, Bessie, James the Vain,

knowledge would give you an edge over your rivals when watching University Challenge (a very competitive activity in the Warner

Charlie, Charlie, James again...

William and Mary, Anna Gloria,

household) or in your local pub quiz then here

Four Georges, William and Victoria;

is the rhyme they had to learn and the link to

Edward, George, the same again

another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqHwMloqHY4

And Lizzie two, long may she reign!

William gets in for a close up (two of his pictures opposite)

Robert and B The boys meet a corn snake

Maxime helps demonstrate what animals need

Frejvid inspects his latest snap

Himat’s glad it is only a model

‘aping’ the loc

Billy

cals

Year 7 Trip to London Zoo Year 7 write...

“The first thing that we did when we arrived at the zoo was a workshop about what zoos do. Afterwards, we saw many

Maxime,

Alex

and

animals including silverback gorillas and

Beau chilling with a

Sumatran tigers. Then we went into a

penguin

room to learn about the illegal trade of animals with real bio-artefacts. We saw some lovely penguins and then headed back to school”. Frejvid Gislev “When we arrived at the zoo, we were greeted by the zoo staff and had a workshop explaining what zoos do. We learnt about the history of ZSL and what it stands for (Zoological Society of London). I learnt that the zoo was opened in 1826 by 5 men. Afterwards, we looked at some of the animals including monkeys and reptiles. After, we

Miss Lillington writes…

learnt that many animals are becoming

On Monday Year 7 made a visit to London Zoo.

endangered

They attended workshops on the role zoos play

because

of

poaching.”

Alessandro Guglielmi

in society today and the illegal trade that still

“On our trip to London Zoo, we had a

goes on in rare animals. They encountered all

lecture by one of the zoo keepers about

manner of animals from Giraffes and Tigers to

the role of zoos and I got to pretend to be

butterflies and little spider monkeys.

a lion. Then we saw many different animals including tigers, Asiatic lions and my favourite, the Galapagos tortoise. My favourite moment was when we went into the reptile house and saw the area where ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’ was filmed. I enjoyed our trip to the zoo very much!” Maxime Hashem Alessandro and Misha in the reptile house

SPORTING NEWS From the Games Department

demonstrates

they have changed

Mr Sullivan writes…

Here are the latest updates from the Sports Department at Wetherby Senior...

from

being

Senior

School.

a

competitive,

The

fun

pastime to an ultra-

It has been an exciting World Book Week at centred Wetherby

how

Games that

is

Department have a passion for reading and see children.

adult enterprise

failing

our

He

then

it as an exciting key which unlocks an important teaches parents that world to all the boys, parents and staff.

the secret to raising

high I am reading a wonderful book called ’A lifetime happy, performing children begins by helping them of observations and reflections on

attain a positive mind-set and an enjoyable

and off the court’

youth sports environment. By following seven

by Coach John

actionable principles of high performance,

Wooden

parents can give their children a competitive

with

edge, while at the same time making youth

Steve Jamison.

sports a positive experience for their family,

It’s an honest and

their community and their school.

telling read about

virtually every aspect of life. John shares his Boys: Legacy by James Kerr. The All Blacks personal philosophy on family, achievement, are the world's most successful sporting outfit, success and excellence. Raised on a small undefeated in over 75% of their international farm in south-central Indiana, he offers lessons matches over the last 100 years. What is the and wisdom learned throughout his career at

secret

UCLA, and life as a dedicated husband, father,

success? And what

and teacher.

can

Mr Sullivan’s recommending reading list: Parents: Changing the Game: The Parent's Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back. In "Changing the Game," John O'Sullivan draws upon three decades of high level playing and coaching experience to take us behind the scenes of

competitive

youth

sports, and

of we

individuals

their -

as and

teams - learn from them?

All three books are BRILLIANT and I recommend

them.

Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.

Players of the week: Year 7 - Manu Dixit & Alexander Piggott Testa for their tireless work in defence and attack against St Phillip’s.

What an effort!

Year 9 - Sean Masri, Talal Hangari & Tom Terracciano for their super display against Harrow School. Keep it up boys!

Tenacious

Basketball

and

persistent defence came from

WSS vs. WPS On

dribbling

Oliver Lind, Rahul Thacker,

Monday 29th

February,

Himat-Vir Singh Virdee, Leo

Wetherby Senior played in their

Maydannik and JP Cairaschi.

overdue rematch against a well

By the end of the third quarter

drilled Wetherby Prep. WSS

WPS had caught up due to

shocked the Prep boys by

some

scoring first to take an early

Paul Schell, Marcos Burnett,

lead. In fact, the Prep were all

Pip Evans and Alan Azeaz

over the place in the first and

provided

excellent

second

defensive

energy

quarters

seemingly

incredible

3-pointers.

late whilst

forgetting their positions and

Armand Sharda and Michael

defensive procedures due to

Dimech DeBono stabilised the

nerves and the intensity of the

post.

match.

quarters the game was very

The Prep were soon drawing

close but WSS came out on top

with an excellent come back

with a final score of 24-20.

and then took a narrow lead.

MoM: Oliver Lind for significant

Strong post play also came

improvement during the game

from the Prep boys who has

and reflecting on advice given

been

to use the space in the wide

really

responding

to

advice given by Mr Underwood.

Over

channels.

the

next

two

Year 9 Football WSS vs. Holland Park Mr Betts writes......

On Thursday the 1st XI had a fixture against Holland Park. Having had an extremely close game against them in the rugby, we knew it was going to be another fiercely contested match.

The first half started very well for the opposition, scoring a free kick from the edge of the area into the side netting. We started the game again with our heads now firmly switched on! The intensity was high, the passing was fantastic and we started to dominate the possession. A few minutes later and Luke managed to score a wonderful long ranged goal into the bottom corner to make the score 1-1.

The first half continued to be a fast paced game and Holland Park were able to score one more with a few minutes to go.

Just before half time, JP provided a wonderful cross in from the right hand side and it was finished tidily by Louis.

The end of the first half. 2-2.

The second half was a war of attrition.

Work rates were high by all members of the team. We continued to maintain possession but struggled to get shots off on goal. The midfield battle continued for the rest of the game and the game finished 2-2.

It was an extremely tight game and one we would hope to win on another day!

Year 7 Rugby WSS vs. Burlington Danes Mr Sullivan writes…

Sad to say this game was cancelled due unplayable pitches. This was my decision as there were many large pools of water.

We do hope to rearrange the fixture at a later date. Thank you parents for your support.

And finally…

Mr Savage is still at the top of the table! I have a feeling that Nelson could catch him up! Two more rounds to go and lots to play for! England vs. Wales! Biggest game. Who will win? Come on England.

Sports Quote of the Week ‘If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results’ Follow us for results and updates on Twitter via @WetherbySSports #teamwetherby

Miss Vanstone writes…

the park for the challengers. There is much more

I am excited to announce the launch of World to say about the itinerary, expectations, safety Challenge Madagascar 2017. When I was 16, provision, costs and preparation but I am leaving after a year’s preparation and fundraising, I that in the capable hands of Chris from World jumped on a flight to Bolivia with two teachers Challenge. Chris will be coming in on Monday to and 11 other girls who would become my closest talk to the boys during tutor time. The following friends (one is Maid of Honour at my wedding in week parents are warmly invited with or without May!). I spent time working in an orphanage, their sons to hear from Chris at 18.00 on th undertook two treks in the Andes and slept under Tuesday 15 March. There is absolutely no the stars in the Amazon rainforest. As an adult, obligation to commit at the stage and the evening when I reflect on this expedition I realise that I is purely informative. also developed key life skills such as budgeting, Dates: Monday 7th March tutor time talk leadership,

and

communication

but

most for boys importantly, I stepped out of my comfortable life bubble and ‘saw (a small section of) the world’.

This is no ordinary trip and will not be a walk in

Tuesday

15th

parents’ information talk

Miss Vanstone on World Challenge in Bolivia aged 16

March

18.00

CLUB NEWS comfortably in the lead. Well done to Rory,

Quiz Club

Michael, and Talal.

Mr Hasthorpe writes...

This week saw two teams of four playing against each other, with the Year 7 calling their team "Better than Year 9" and the Year 9s calling their team "Better than Year 7"! The questions

this

week

were

If you fancy yourself a Quiz genius, how about having a go at tonight's bonus question?

The following are the highest mountains in which country?

particularly - Denali? (Also known as Mount McKinley)

challenging, with a lot of history and language - Aconcagua? coming up. Despite difficulty both teams - Zugspitze? scored well, although the final score put Year 9

And the answers: USA, Argentina, Germany

Grub Club Miss Lillington writes...

This

week

in

Grub

Club, the boys made croque-monsieur using traditional including cheese. were Dylan great

fillings ham Star

and bakers

AdhĂŠmar who

and

showed

enthusiasm

in

the session and were very

thoughtful

in

making extra ones to give to their families.

TRIB NEWS 9 Tyburn Mr Dawson writes...

9 Tyburn have been looking at types of power as part of the Democracy unit during tutor periods. To round the unit off we decided the boys researched a form of power that they were most interested in and wrote a factsheet

or

presentation. have delivering

Salem his

a

Here

we

(right) insightful

presentation on how Egypt has been governed over the last few decades and Pip (below) with his thought provoking presentation on dictatorships.�

From the Editor This week’s front cover is Year 7 inspecting the Penguin enclosure at London Zoo. For all comments and feedback please email: henry.warner@wetherbysenior.co.uk

http://www.wetherbysenior.co.uk/