Spring 2019 www.waddesdonschool.com

Speak Your Mind 2 In this issue From the Headteacher

P2 From the Headteacher Welcome to our March edition of P3 Mind Yourself! the Waddesdon Voice. As ever, the magazine showcases the richness P4 From the Chaplain and rewards that come from P5 ¡Visita española! engaging in a range of experiences P6 Gold Standard and from working with others. P7 Gym Report P8 Cooking Up a Storm I am particularly grateful to the students who have contributed P9 Second Nature articles about mental health and P10 School Counsellor well-being. You will see that this is P10 Fitness Division a theme which runs through this P11 Caring in the Community edition. Learning how to develop P12 Hitting the Big Time as rounded individuals who care for each other, as well as caring for Mr Matthew Abbott P14 Out of the Shadows ourselves, is one of the prime purposes of education. Do make P16 Setting New Goals sure that you read Oli’s thought-provoking article at the end of the P17 D & T Round-Up magazine. P18 United Notions P19 Listening Service Mr Abbott P20 Night Vision P20 Tate and Saatchi Visit Homewood Bound P21 Social Exclusion At Easter we say farewell to Val P22 Pitt-Rivers Museum Homewood who has worked at P22 Top Marks! Waddesdon for more than 30 P23 Future Positive years as the school’s Director of Finance and Administration.

About the cover Colleagues past and present are exceptionally grateful to her Our cover image is of Year 10’s Rex for her invaluable service to the addressing the delegates at this school and for her wisdom and year’s MUNGA conference. You can friendship. find out more about what went on in our article on page 18. Our Guest Editor

This edition of The Waddesdon Voice is full of interesting information as usual. For example, on page 7 it includes information on the new gym equipment. I would recommend pages 12-15 as I liked hearing about the success of the Big Gig which is new to Waddesdon this year. This edition includes a lot of information about how the Georgia, Year 13 school community helps support students and raises awareness about Mental Health. 3 Mind Yourself! www.waddesdonschool.com

“If we don’t keep an eye on our Mental Out” is a good way We do this by playing of talking about “Pass the bomb” and Health, our lives can take a turn for the worse. how it is alright recognising our feelings. This is why Mrs Lamb’s CP Sessions on to feel sad some- No one wants the bomb mental well-being are not just exhilarating times, but that it is to explode on them. We also very impor- experience the horrible and enjoyable, but also interesting and tant to speak up symptoms of stress, useful.” Year 8’s Ben, Emma, Emily and Ed if these feelings such as sweaty palms, talk us through what those props are for. continue. brain freeze, and shak- We learn about ing. These are all normal In the first lesson we were all struggling with the fight, flight reaction to stress. By learn about what mental the same life experiences: or freeze which are the learning coping strategies, well-being is and how it one egg smashed, one three reactions to stress. we can release our stress. affects our lives. Some of egg cracked, and one egg By hearing about celeb- The ‘Stress Bucket’ game the ways it can affect us was able to bounce back rities who suffer from illustrates this as the aim is is in our ability to learn because of recognising anxiety disorder or mental to prevent it from over- and our ability to com- and dealing with issues. ill-health, we understand flowing. municate. We also learn In the second lesson we that anyone can suffer At the end of the session about resilience. This was learn about anxiety and from anxiety disorder. we know more about represented as three eggs, how even the most con- In the third and fourth mental health and where which were the minds of fident people can suffer lessons we delve deeper to turn if we need help in three Year 9 students who from it. The film “Inside into stress and its effects. the future. Don’t Forget the Online Content! There’s always so much going on at Waddesdon that we can’t possibly fit it all into the magazine. So look out for the QR codes alongside each article that will take you to extra content online. We have image galleries, videos and more so be sure to have a look. 4 Waddesdon School Chaplain Phil White looks at why we should applaud Princes William and Harry for speaking up about Mental Health. From the Chaplain So, why do we can still remember that treat Mental September Sunday depression and anxiety Health issues morning when I woke to for a short time when I so differently? the news that Princess was teaching (please be When your Diana had been killed kind to your teachers friend starts in a road accident in and staff) is to share to suffer with Paris. The young Princes your problem with a acute anxiety had to hold that stiff trusted friend. They say or begins to upper lip as they walked that a problem shared feel depressed behind their mother’s is a problem halved. Well done to Will and and really needs to coffin in London. They Find that trusted friend Harry! see a doctor, why are were so brave when or use the counselling they so reluctant? Why they broke that silence service you have in the Did you know that just do people try to hide a couple of years ago school or do ask to see over 10% of 5 - 15 year depression, anxiety and - admitting to being me if you’d value talking olds suffer with Mental all the other common depressed and the any issues through. Health problems? mental health issues sense of hopelessness Unfortunately, with the which surround us? they had felt. Well done Will and pressures increasing Harry. this figure is set to rise. After all, Mental Health My advice to you, FOMO, pressure of problems spring from having suffered with Phil White exams, Social Media the fact that the brain pressure, body image … isn’t working quite as Calm Wednesdays the list goes on. well as normal. If our ankle is broken - it’s Mindfulness activities rst break in the library. I find it odd that if just not working as someone breaks well as normal too! their ankle, they are Unfortunately the Join us on Wednesdays in the library for pretty happy to wear a stigma of poor Mental fibreglass cast from their gardening, Health - depression, crafts, textiles and knee to toe. And there’s anxiety, phobias etc other fun mindfulness the additional interest is very real and that’s activities in a quiet space. of getting it signed and why we try to keep our decorated! If you get Mental Health problems See you there! a sore throat you are to ourselves. usually happy to take the antibiotics to bring Princes William and an end to those horrible Harry attempted to symptoms. We are break that stigma when usually only too happy a couple of years ago to tell each other how ill they talked on TV about we feel or how much it their own Mental Health hurts. issues as a result of their mum, Princess Diana, being killed in 1997. I 5 ¡Visita española! www.waddesdonschool.com

It was a busy month for the A Level comparing the and then entered the timings of the day. manor. We asked the Spanish students in December, with For example, they students what they a trip to London and a visit from some have lunch at 2pm, thought and they were Spanish students. whereas we have ours amazed by it. at 11am; in addition they do 10-11 subjects After having lunch, we Ella, Jordan and Eleanor tell us more. whereas we do 3-4. went into groups in order After our ice breaker to complete a treasure Our first trip was to the with their level of fluency. we then proceeded hunt around the manor, British Film Institute We enjoyed being part to go to lessons in searching for the clues in in London. We met at of a large discussion Psychology, Business Spanish and getting to Aylesbury train station about the themes and and Drama where they know the students better. and, hot chocolates topics we had learned watched an emotive We all had a lovely time in hand, travelled to about in class. After drama performance. We with the students, and London Marylebone some free time around then spoke to them and we exchanged our social where we proceeded the Christmas markets were pleasantly surprised medias on the way back onto the underground. for lunch, we finalised at how well they spoke to the school where they Once we arrived at all we had learned by re- English, allowing us to tried mince pies for the Southbank, we got a little watching Volver. learn more about their first time. We would bit lost but eventually culture as a whole and like to thank Ms Coulter found our way to the BFI, The following Friday we them as people. for organising these 2 wishing we had taken had visiting students trips and we are looking umbrellas! At the BFI we from our partner school, We left school after 3rd forward to visiting their took part in a stimulating Instituto Vicente Cañada period to walk down to school in London in June conference about our Blanch in Portobello Waddesdon Manor with (when it’s a bit warmer!) A Level film, Volver. It Road. We began to the Spanish students was motivating to be talk about our different where we first sampled ¡Adiós! able to see other A Level cultures, detailing the the Christmas markets students and engage school system and 6 Gold Standard Former Paralympian Ian Rose visited the school recently to inspire students in the Active in Mind Programme. Year 12’s Yasmin is a mentor in the scheme and she tells us more.

these problems and think of a goal of how how resilience and many squats you can determination put him achieve in one minute, where he is today. Even so we all set ourselves when Ian dislocated his a goal and proceeded knee and was unable to the task. To our to qualify for a place on surprise we had all the national team, he met or exceeded our didn’t give up. Instead, targets. Because of our he decided to pursue a lack of confidence we career in motivational all realised we had to speaking and helping believe in ourselves children express more. themselves through The Active in Mind training. As mentors, sport. In another challenge scheme provides young we learned about Ian’s we had to close our people with someone life growing up, the After all the eyes and count to sixty that they confide problems he faced presentations he and sit down when we in; it helps to build being partially sighted, instructed us to do the thought that the time confidence and self- how he overcame squat challenge and was up. A simple task esteem; and tackles mental health in a positive way.

As students often find it more comfortable talking to a younger person, rather than a teacher or other adult, the scheme is run by Sixth Formers. The aim of the programme is to help younger students to find ways to escape, relax and have fun through sport.

Ian Rose, a former Paralympian worked with us as part of our 7 at first thought but was very hard indeed. It was hard not to become distracted by others giggling and making noises; this activity showed that we are highly influenced by other

people’s actions and www.waddesdonschool.com not to follow the crowd.

After this, Ian repeated this to all of the chosen students the group start again that you must work a positive influence and asked them to then it was all their as a team to be in these youngsters’ complete the same fault and as leaders successful. lives and to encourage tasks that we had it was important to AIM mentors wouldn’t them to be honest earlier in the day. But remind the young have been possible with their feelings and it quickly became people that blaming without the help of Ian their mental health. apparent that if others won’t achieve Rose and Mrs Dolan, someone was to make anything in life and adults who want to be “Active in Mind is a programme in which students can come together and relax and play sport. This programme enables people to chat to mentors from sixth form and play sport with their friends. This is a fun opportunity that people can enjoy with their friends.”

Malayeka and Charlie, Year 7. The Gym/Fitness Room Update With the importance of exercise and its positive resistance bands. impact on mental health, the gym/fitness room is moving through a period of change. This will This is the start of an ongoing project to bring allow students in all years to learn how to use the gym up to date and to encourage students the equipment safely and appropriately for their to exercise individually and to have access the age and purpose. To date, we have managed equipment in order to appreciate the personal to secure external funding to purchase three benefits of exercising. More to come on this… exercise bikes, new dumb bells, yoga mats and watch this space! 8 Year 12’s Will is a talented cook with a passion for life in the kitchen. Mrs Watts caught up with him to give him a grilling about what motivates and inspires him. Cooking Up a Storm How long have you been Who has been your interested in cooking? biggest influence with Seven or eight years. your cooking? Before I came to My mum and my Waddesdon. I remember family have influenced cooking at primary me a great deal. My school. brother is a sous chef in a restaurant in New What is your favourite Zealand. dish to cook and why? I prefer making desserts, Who is your favourite because I prefer to eat celebrity chef? them! I think Gordon Ramsay because he is funny. What do you hope to do when you leave Where do you source Waddesdon? your recipes? When I leave Waddesdon I use the internet I would like to do an and watch YouTube apprenticeship as a clips. pastry chef.

Do you cook at home? Sometimes when mum’s not in.

Have you entered any cooking competitions? Yes, I entered the Rotary Young Chef competition and won when I was in Year 8.

What makes you happy? When Fulham win their matches, but that’s not really happening at the moment! 9 Second Nature Year 9’s Quinn has a passion for the natural wonder around us in Britain and tells us about

two of his favourite www.waddesdonschool.com places to find amazing wildlife right on our doorstep.

Black Hairstreak Finemere Wood the overhead warble of wildlife wonderlands One most familiar with the chiffchaff and the nearby… these Chiltern chalk

occasional roar of the slopes is the Chalk Hill Finemere Wood. An human race soar over Blue, an azure creature area of 46 hectares of as a plane; this is the Ivinghoe that seems angellike as broadleaved woodland, place you want to be if it’s on a trapeze. Dark patches of scrub, historic to witness magic. The Another get-away from Green Fritillaries join meadow, ponds and small and flighty Grizzled the modern world is them with olive-green two streams and also a Skipper pops over the Ivinghoe, a place you armpits and classic haven for butterflies. As woodland floor while the might be familiar with Fritillary tweed blazer, you walk through the affluent looking Purple for walking purposes, are the vintage English- meadow and farmland Emperor, soars through but as we enter into man of the landscape. sided path leading to the rivers of the canopy the season of birth and Popping over the heath the woodland, you will like an eagle from the life; it becomes a lot on small bottle tops, be granted with the tropics. richer in wildlife. The the Dingy Skipper is yet orchestra of skylarks, meadow pipits narrate another polka dotted singing as a speck in the Almost a clone to the your journey up the jewel that spends most deep blue sky and corn Black Hairstreak, the short-turfed climb to the of its time dodging our buntings, rattling from White-letter Hairstreak beacon while hobbits diplodocus-like legs. their hedge perches. You perches on the broad lurk in their little bush The last two renowned may also be treated with bramble leaves, huts like tree sparrows, marbles of Ivinghoe the ‘little bit of bread and perfected with mirror-like smarter looking robins include the flying no cheese’ song of one diamonds (blackberries), (stonechats) and if you’re emerald, the Green of our two gold birds, the as the Purple Hairstreak really lucky, a bird with Hairstreak and Britain’s yellowhammer. competes over awe one of the more peculiar rarest butterfly. The royal with her distant cousin names birds have had in of Britain’s lepidoptera, As you enter the wood hawking above. The last the past, the white-arse, with his grand name and you will embrace the familiar face you may see or wheatear. Though national protection. The fairies in their element will be the brother of the birds aren’t the only Duke of Burgundy makes like Black Hairstreaks naval commander the things you can fix your himself proud for his very and Brown Argus. If Red Admiral, just instead eyes on, because lying in few appearances to the you have the time to of a red lapel, the White the heath are gremlins public. For walkers and venture deeper into the Admiral has white. So of the grass, more wildlife enthusiasts this wood, you will really that is Finemere Wood, butterflies. place is just something feel the isolation, with just one of the local else. 10 What do you do as a here to try and help school school counsellor? as a whole to become The main thing that I do a more emotionally is helping students to healthy environment for Wise Counsel think about their feelings. everyone in it. Whether Is it difficult Particularly any difficult they receive counselling coping ones that might have been or not. A healthy mind with all the otherwise unspeakable and means everything else feels different unthinkable before they manageable. personality came to counselling for the types who Do we all need help with first time. come for our mental health? help? Do you enjoy your job? That sometimes depends I’ve had now Yes, I think if I didn’t enjoy on many different factors, a broad range my job then I should be so yes. Some people have of experiences doing something else awful traumas happen to Our reporter James working with because this is a job which them and they just seem from Year 12 interviews all sorts of is quite different. Whatever okay and they just have people with school counsellor Sara anyone brings we will find a some resilience to get on different way of talking about it and with things and get on with Turner about what she personalities, understanding it. their lives. Whereas other from different does for our students. people need much more walks of life. I help and it affects them s part of your job to help I’m always about anybody, ever. in a way psychologically people to get a healthy learning something new Because people always very differently, so we’re all mind? because every person is bring something new that different as people in how I’d say that is a long term different. I don’t assume I need to learn and think we develop our mental aim. I would say that I’m that I know something about again. health. Fitness Division

This term, Year 11 These gym sessions are the opportunity to do classes going each week, Year 11 girls girls have had the full of energy, music and like spinning and boxercise are able to complete a more opportunity to visit enthusiasm and run by a which we don’t get to do in diverse selection of activities. friendly instructor, Luke. school lessons. We are very lucky to have this the nearby Fitness During these sessions, we get With a fun, supportive group opportunity this term. Division centre. 11 Caring in the Community www.waddesdonschool.com

Every Wednesday, a team of Sixth the Club. Volunteering at providing us with the Form students go down to the village the Club has enabled us chance to give back to to develop many skills our local community and hall in Waddesdon to volunteer at and qualities which will support members of the the Wednesday Club. This is a local prove to be very beneficial older generation. organisation which puts on activities and for us in the future, whilst provides lunch for the older members of the Waddesdon community. Jack and Oli of Year 12 tell us about their work.

As student volunteers, we humbling and very much provide support and an enjoy the company of opportunity for the elderly the members, as well as members to talk to those listening to the stories of the younger generation, which they have to tell. who they may not otherwise get the chance Furthermore, we have to have a conversation recently partaken in with. training to become ‘Dementia Friends’. The The members of the club training took place at range from the ages of school and was delivered around 70 all the way up by Paula, who runs the to 100 years old. They Wednesday Club. The have a wide range of training has allowed experience and abilities us to gain a better from glass artists to war understanding of the heroes, with many of them syndrome which means having interesting stories that we can provide better to tell. We have certainly care and support for those found hearing of their who do unfortunately experiences incredibly suffer with dementia at 12

Last month’s Big Gig showcased the amazing musical talent we have here at Waddesdon. Year 10’s Leon played at the gig, and writes about the excitement on and off the stage.

Hitting the Big Time It was late November, in a hall (which I have to say was music lesson, when I first stunning). found out about Mr Judson’s plan for the Big Gig 2019. We The rehearsal process was all knew that Mr Judson’s incredibly enjoyable. Each incredible excitement and Music lesson was dedicated commitment, that had to achieving perfection by recently been applied to the analysing our mistakes and school show, was also likely to righting them with practice. It be applied to this and would took about two weeks before pay off … which it did! I felt my group felt really confident nothing but anticipation, and and we began to nail every run then after Christmas, as we through. got closer to the event, pure excitement. During the lunchtime on the day of the event (13th This was the first performance February), I and two others of mine (in which I played accidentally walked into the drum kit for two different school hall and were amazed: groups) that seemed to the lights and stage filled have a truly professional us with anticipation and we atmosphere: the dedicated were eager to get up and play. rehearsal process with my Word had spread quite quickly bandmates; the build-up; that the stage was up and Mr Judson’s thorough and by second break there were enjoyable preparation; and crowds of between 10 and 20 the end product in the school students climbing over each 13 other to see what had been and the second band assembled. featured Felix (Year 8) on 4 Page Music Special lead vocals, with Otto After school on the night of (Year 11), Joel (Year 12), the gig was when my nerves Zac (Year 13), Mr Judson began to kick in: seeing the and Mr Dimond playing lights and stage had suddenly the backing. made my mind frantic. What if I mess up? What if I drop The Waddesdon Funk a stick? What if I fall off the Band, a group of the stage? Then I remembered school’s most talented

that my pizza was late - many musicians fronted by www.waddesdonschool.com of the performers had stayed singers Lashayah and behind at the end of the day James, performed twice to prepare and we called in at the end, leaving the dinner. audience with some polished performances The Gig’s main purpose was engraved in their minds. to raise money for a new Lashayah performed recording studio for the school several other songs, Music Department, costing including Superstition by £5000. Mr Judson introduced Stevie Wonder, which was the night and with each act a particular highlight that announced on the big screen, showcased her talent and act followed act, including raised the roof. We left at my own two bands. The first the end of the night with included Khalifa, Christian and the echoes of applause Jack from my Year 10 class, ringing in our ears. Hitting the Big Time 14 Recently Year 12’s Skye, Heidi, Jacques, Ellamay and Will made a video for a song that Skye had written, called “Into The Shadows.” Mr Judson asked the band to what lies behind the song and about the songwriting process. Out of the

Mr Judson: OK Guys, thanks for Skye: I think I had the melody Will: Well I thought I’d do joining us to talk about recording when I was writing the chorus something quite simple because your music video for “Into the and then I fit the melody with the if it was too complicated it would Shadows”. I just want to talk first chords that I just wrote. kind of ruin it a bit, so kind of about how the song came about, simple. how did it even start? Mr Judson: So the song’s melodically driven and the chords Mr Judson: Why did you think it Skye: Well, I wrote the lyrics for the kind of came off the back of that? would ruin it? What was the most chorus on a bus, when I was on my important part of the song for you, way home, it was just a long day Skye: Yeah, yeah. that you didn’t want to take over? really, and then… Mr Judson: Because when we Will: A mood made by the song I Mr Judson: Lots of good songs first heard it, it was already like a guess. come that way. complete song, so how did you react to it when you first heard it? Mr Judson: Yeah, too right. And Skye: Then I got home and then what about you guys, in terms I wrote the chords for the chorus, Heidi: Well, because you did it for of your parts, how did that come then I wrote the chord progressions one of your performances in one together? for the verse and the pre-chorus of your units and I was just like “Oh and the bridge, and I wrote the wow, this girl can actually write Jacques: I listened to Skye lyrics to go with them, and I stayed songs!” It was pretty good, so yeah. perform it on the piano, and then I up until 2am, making the song. thought about what I can do on my Mr Judson: Yeah Nice. And then instrument to boost it, but not take Mr Judson: Nice, nice. And did the I asked you to put a chord sheet away from what the lyrics are, not melody come at the same time as together for it so we could have a take away from what the mood of the lyric, or how did that melody go at playing it as a class and then the song is. come about? Because that’s a really how did you develop your drum kit catchy melody. part out of that? Mr Judson: Sure. And how did you guys find the process of creating 15 the music video, because we Heidi: No we filmed it and recorded it live at weren’t. 4 Page Music Special the same time. Was it easy? Was it stressful? Was it- Mr Judson: But the rhythm so we could actually hear the girls Heidi: It was not easy! section were so we obviously were singing well and hearing all the fine. different parts there. But you guys did an awesome job. Absolutely awesome job and I think it’s come out incredibly well, and everybody

that’s seen it thinks it’s amazing, www.waddesdonschool.com so I hope you’re proud of it. It’s a Shadows fantastic song and the video looks Mr Judson: What was tricky about What were you using headphones amazing so congratulations to it? for? you, and looking forward to doing some more. Well done, thank you Heidi: I think maybe just to keep Will: For timing. It was a very much for your time. having to do it over and over again. metronome because I kept messing up the timing, so I wanted Band: Thank you. Skye: Because we could hear to get it right. ourselves to a certain extent, but I You can see the video know for us vocalists we couldn’t Mr Judson: Getting that timing on our new Waddesdon really hear ourselves singing so we together is really tough, isn’t it? were just trying to hope it sounded Performing Arts YouTube good… Will: I did find it very hard, yeah. Channel by scanning the QR code below. You can Mr Judson: Because you guys Mr Judson: And it took a long time weren’t using headphones. to get the mix in our headphones also watch this interview. 16 With the backing of the enthusiastic PE department and from an initial suggestion from some Year 8 girls, we have launched a new Girls’ Football Club at Waddesdon. Their coach, Mr Scrivener, tells us more. The first training session Emmie, did a very confirmed the popularity good job of managing of this new club. I was the team and planning a session for ensuring everyone got around 15 girls, but an game time, as well as eager 30 turned up, ready doing the best they to get stuck into some can during the match. serious football skills. We The Under 12 team have been running sessions drew 2-2 and the every week since October Under 14 team and I have thoroughly unfortunately lost 2-1, enjoyed working with the despite scoring first girls and coaching them so and playing very well. that they can improve their For their first ever skills and confidence. game, both teams Our first fixture was did themselves proud scheduled for Thursday as they played in 14th February against the great spirit and there Setting New Goals Aylesbury Vale Academy, was some very good a school who have run a football on show too. girls’ football club for a Mr Scrivener while. This was a game for Ruby: Millie: our Under 12 and Under RESULTS: “Girls’ Football is an after “Girls’ Football is not just 14 sides. As it was both Under 12s 2-2 AVA school club for Years a way of improving your teams’ first ever matches, Goals: Emmie, Eavie 7, 8 and 9, which takes football skills, but also a they were extremely excited Player of the Match: place on a Wednesday way to keep fit and healthy, about the prospect. Emmie afternoon. It is a time as well as enjoying the I was needed to referee Under 14s 1-2 AVA where girls develop good company of new people the Under 14s’ game, so I Goals: Amber mental health in addition and socialising with your couldn’t watch the Under Player of the Match: Lizzie to building up physical friends. Even if you are not 12s’ game, but their captain, strength. It helps us to the greatest at football, become more physically you can still come along fit, being part of a Girls’ and join in as it is very Football team can have welcoming. You will be positive benefits for our able to learn and practice outlook on life. When new skills. We not only we are on the pitch, it is do plenty of competitive a chance of building and matches, but also lots of developing skills. The drills and mini games to main part of football is help with individual and having teamwork and close team skills like spacing and relationships with people formations.” you don’t usually bond with.” 17 Design and Technology Round-Up The Rotary Club Design and Technology Challenge The teams were The final judging proved to tasked with the be a fun and slightly nerve ‘The challenge made you challenge of designing wracking experience for all think on your feet and and creating a crane involved, as the teams from suddenly make new plans. that could lift a weight each school trialled their It was really worthwhile positioned at the end final models in front of the because it was a different

of a track. The cranes judges and other schools. and new experience. We www.waddesdonschool.com had to move forwards Both Waddesdon teams had worked quite well as a team and backwards planned ahead having tested considering that in Tech we on wheels and be their models thoroughly prior usually work on our own’. powered by a small to final judging. Both designs Louise motor and a battery at KS3 and 4 were successful pack. in completing the tasks and ‘I enjoyed the day because The Rotary Tournament received certificates for their it inspired me and it was Both teams jumped on hard day’s efforts when the good fun. I felt like I worked proved to be both the task with endless award ceremony took place. well with the team and I a challenging and enthusiasm, organising contributed a lot to the team, enjoyable experience themselves with different ‘I really enjoyed having to the design and the making of for pupils and staff roles within their teams, build a crane in a team, with it. It was quite a difficult task, giving us an excellent based on their strengths. limited materials that were but I think with a little more Various mechanisms were given to you. On the trip we time we could have come opportunity for team sketched before physical were able to learn how to up with a working solution’. building and problem models were produced. do new skills and to work Oliver solving skills. As the pupils would also in a team under pressure. be marked based on Although we didn’t win a their portfolios, everyone prize, it was still a fun and contributed their ideas and interesting day and I would design iterations towards recommend it to anyone up this. for a challenge’. Tabitha

HS2 Design and Technology Workshop possessed e.g. creativity, team working skills, communication skills, Challenge 4 problem solving skills, • Finally, students played investigation skills and a game called ‘Rail respect. Rush’, where each player competes to build the best Challenge 2 rail network. The aim was to • Students were introduced build the most sustainable to railway stations of the service for people and the future and then used their environment. creative and team working skills to develop a blueprint ‘I liked how we were given Recently, 60 Year infrastructure. for a future station. tablets and when we During the day students 8 students had pointed it at a piece of undertook a series of the opportunity to Challenge 3 paper it showed us videos challenges: develop their STEM • Students used their team and it was really fun’. Cruz work, problem solving and (Science, Technology, Challenge 1 investigation skills in an ‘I enjoyed making the • Students used augmented Engineering and Engineering challenge to bridges’ Trent reality to view some of the Maths) skills through develop tunnel structures. STEM careers available in a one-day workshop They were taught about ‘I enjoyed drawing the the transport industry forces and structures before blueprints for the train connected to railways • Identified the STEM skills building and testing their station’ Edward and transport they felt they already tunnels. 18 Prior to the conference day, In January, Year 10 took students were split into 25 groups with 6 students in part in the annual Model each group. Each group was allocated a country and United Nations General became delegates of that Assembly (MUNGA). country. The groups created a two-minute speech to Delegates Kyra and deliver to the conference Alice report on the day’s in which they intended to outline some interesting events. points about their country followed by three key aspects that they would like to change (their resolution). To aid them with this, delegates were United Notions delivered. the 5 general areas they were unaware of and it proved a given five general areas (state All of the speeches were asked to research prior to the very difficult task for delegates security, health epidemics, delivered very formally and day. The delegates were given to decide upon which child exploitation, global included numerous important time to prepare a speech in resolution to pass. economics and environmental points relating to each which they would outline their issues) which provided them country. This clearly showed resolution and the reasons The day would not have been with guidance as to which the impressive amount of why their resolution should a success without the support areas to research. hard work that went into the be the one that should be from Louis Cumberbatch, preparation of each speech supported. The speeches that a Year 11 student. Louis The day began with the by every delegate who I observed were passionately gave up his time during the students being given a speech participated. There were many presented and convincing in MUNGA project to support by the General Secretary of noteworthy examples of this their address. Year 10 students through the the Conference (Mr Jones), in throughout the 25 speeches difficult task of debating and which a special emphasis was delivered. Many delegates The day proved to be agreeing on the resolutions placed on the impact of child delivered shocking statistics extremely beneficial and to be passed. Louis not only labour, child exploitation and that had a hard-hitting impact, highly interesting. The participated in Year 10 MUNGA poverty in our modern world. especially in relation to child students acted in a highly last year but also participated Following this, the Chair of the exploitation. professional manner and were in the County MUNGA project assembly, Mrs Branton, gave enthusiastic throughout the and was therefore very an address following which Following this, the delegates day. There were many facts knowledgeable with the terms she introduced each group were split into 5 classrooms included in the speeches and references of the United and provided a short analysis where they discussed one of that students and staff were Nations. of each speech after it was 19 Listening Service Year 13’s Chloe and Rachel tell us about how they can help students in their role as school www.waddesdonschool.com Mediators.

As Mediators, we offer our time to listen to students’ problems and give them advice. Some students may be referred to us and have a weekly catch up session if they would like. However we also have a drop-in room private. We have all been assemblies on days such understand more about at lunchtimes on Mondays, trained by Bucks Mind so as World Mental Health how to have a healthy mind. Wednesdays and Fridays for that we know how to deal Day, World Aids Day as well Being a mediator has given students to come and talk with, and give advice, for as bringing awareness on us useful skills for when we to us if they need to. We multiple situations. how to have healthy minds. leave Waddesdon later this are usually stationed in the Some of us also recently year. We are always happy Library, although we are able We have also used our roles helped to teach a couple to talk to any students who to go into a separate room if to help promote awareness of year 7 CP lessons on need our help. the issue that the students for multiple issues. We Self Esteem and Conflict want to talk to us about is have done whole school Resolution to help them

Calm Wednesdays Mindfulness activities rst break in the library.

Take a Pew! Join us on Wednesdays Due to Waddesdon Church refurbishment in the library for gardening, crafts, textiles we have some pews to sell. They are 6’, 8’ and other fun mindfulness and 12’ in length. Some buyers cut their activities in a quiet space. pews to fit the space they have. They date from 1865 and show clear signs of wear and tear. We are selling for £100 each. See you there! Please register your interest with Clive on 01296 658786. Funds raised will go towards the new heating system. 20

Night Vision Year 9’s Tom has been painting with light.

In Photography we have been technique at home. When I was the effect. I tried it out the next experimenting with light painting editing my best shots I noticed weekend. It was fun to do, but which is where you use a long some A level work on the wall I had to set it up properly which exposure and torches to create which was light painting using took quite a while. I’m enjoying cool photographs. We did some wire wool to create an abstract Photography and I have learned test shoots at school using shape. I liked the idea so I asked a lot of new things. the studio and then I tried the Mrs Evans how I could create Tate and Saatchi Visit Each year, to get the artists innovative and Tate Britain, as always, gathered on the visit was then fired up with exciting ideas, the exhibits a wide range of stunning integrated into exam sketchbooks Art Department takes the Year artwork. The research the students which fuelled their imagination! 11 students to visit the London galleries. The students receive their exam paper in January so the date of the visit is very important. It’s good to think outside the box as they say, and the visit certainly helped the students consider different creative approaches to the exam themes. It’s such a benefit for the students to view artwork in a primary setting. ‘Black Mirror: Art as Social Satire’ was the exhibition students explored at the Saatchi Gallery. The students received a talk by one of the education team about the meaning behind the artists’ work on show. The sculpture by the artist Wendy Meyer titled ‘After Louise’ (2011) provoked the most reaction! The Saatchi didn’t disappoint as the work is fresh and 21 “Over my summer, I I now use my phone for researched how social playing music, watching media can take over your movies (which has made an impact on how much I’ve life and affect your mental used my phone) and texting. health. I therefore decided My average calculated by the to see what would happen if app fittingly called Moment, I stopped using social media is forty one minutes which is one hundred and sixty one

for the whole six weeks.” minutes less than with social www.waddesdonschool.com Year 11’s Evie on banning media. This is two hours and forty one minutes more social media from her life. each day. Also looking at more statistics I will spend an average of 3.4 years on my phone during my entire Social Exclusion life. I also pick up my phone on an average twenty eight times per day which is just over half the number of the average person who picks up their phone fifty two times. off a few hours before I was we could see each other Looking at these figures I Before would still like to decrease Before I deleted my social planning on going to bed rather than keep in touch and spending no time on my by commenting on a video my phone use further as 3.4 media accounts, the hours years is lot of time on my of endless scrolling seemed phone in the morning. or posting a photo on my own social media. Some phone! to be taking over my life. I I was planning on getting constantly compared my As a result I wasn’t tired friendships flourished during the day, even though and some not so much. back on social media after life to the false reality that my six week break, but I don’t others were portraying online I was getting the same I’ve also spent more time amount of sleep. Another with family without the honestly see why I would. making me feel like I wasn’t The benefits of having no ever good enough. thing I was keen to see was constant distraction of social whether it would impact on media which has improved social media outweigh the negatives and anyway in Year I wasn’t a good enough horse my relationships with other relationships there. people. I still was able to text, 11 it’s good to keep an extra rider or I didn’t have as much forty one minutes free which as others. I went on my social so many people reached to Conclusions me in that way. However, I would normally be on social media until the few minutes Analysing myself and media for. With extra time before I was going to go to Snapchat, Instagram and wondering if deleting social Facebook lets you not just be on my hands I can revise bed and then was on it for media has honestly made and work hard without the ages when I woke up. told what people are doing, a positive difference, I can but see what they are doing distraction of social media. honestly say ‘yes’. I have felt I have tried to encourage I would reach for social through videos and photos much happier in myself with which is one of the only others to do the same. After media when I was bored no way of comparing myself asking a family member to and any achievement things I’ve missed without to false lives. I have felt no social media. I missed being download Moment he was was photographed and pressure to over analyse a astonished by how much he immediately on social media. in the moment with them photo before I post it which as you are when you watch used his phone (an average I spent an average of three makes me realise all of the of five hours twenty one hours twenty eight minutes the video or photos of their negatives. I have lived in the holiday. minutes) so has deleted on my phone each day which moment – my moment, in Facebook. isn’t much compared to the particular – and the break Of course, having a long average a British psychologist has encouraged me to use Overall my summer found out which was five period away from school my spare time more usefully, friends was going to affect challenge was really hours a day; however I was rather than refreshing and beneficial in challenging keen to reduce this. relationships with these rechecking social media. people whether I had myself, testing my self- resilience and cutting social media or not, but However the true test was After without social media it off completely from the Throughout the weeks did it decrease my phone addictive, judgemental and was interesting to see the usage from three hours without social media I had friendships that flourished stressful apps which are a much better quality of twenty eight minutes average taking a hold on so many when we had to go out of per day? sleep, turning my phone our way to organise a day people’s lives. 22 Recently a group of Year 8 students had fun visiting the Pitt-Rivers Museum Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford. Some of them told us how they found the experience.

Felix: “We got to explore some of the world’s greatest artefacts. Incredible how much there was to see.”

Olivia: “Overwhelming (in a good way)!”

Katie: “We got to do some funky sketching in our books which helped our projects.” Catherine: “We got to see different Gracie: “An amazing cultures which was interesting.” opportunity to learn more about the Alice: “We got to see lots of objects world we live in.” which inspired us.” Andy: “I love the different designs of masks.” Top Marks! Before the half term break, Year 12 A Level Business students were visited for a second time by Steve Scarisbrick from the clothing and food brand M&S. Jack and Oliver tell us what they learned. Steve delivered a very informative talk which focused giants and how they operate on a from someone with a wealth of on recruitment and selection daily basis, particularly in terms of experience in his field, as well as within M&S – which linked to what how staff are recruited, trained and allowing us to link our theory to we were studying. Steve showed treated during their time working a real business. This will greatly off his knowledge, answered for M&S. benefit our studies and we are our questions and shared real very grateful to M&S for allowing life experiences relating to The talk was designed to Steve to come and inform us about Recruitment and Selection. His complement our Business course what they do in promotion and in input gave us a valuable insight and did so effectively, adding Recruitment & Selection. into one of the UK’s high street detail to our knowledge directly 23 “The world today is complex and daunting. Soon we will become adults and have to face the world. We will have to forge our own path, find happiness, find jobs and find ourselves.” Year 13’s Oli on the uncertainty of the way ahead and the importance of our mental wellbeing. Future Positive www.waddesdonschool.com There are many people understand. We will find who are sceptical of the it easier to overcome our current conversations problems if we support about mental health, each other. To properly but they can’t voice support each other we their opinions because need to know the best they don’t wish to seem course of action. The best unfeeling. However, their course of action is often opinions must be listened found in reasonable civil Most of us don’t even mental health in their to or we will disengage a discussions between all know what we’re going to own way. Some people large part of society and parties. What we need is to do when we leave school; exaggerate or pretend to our school community. talk about mental health. sure we all have some have mental health issues, Perhaps understanding Not just to share our idea, but the future is possibly to get special that issues such as stress feelings and experiences uncertain. treatment. Some people and anxiety are part of life (which is helpful), but to hide their issues from for all of us will help with find practical solutions. This looming future is others and themselves. the communication about what often causes or Some people cover their this topic. A good point to start the adds to the ever growing issues with bad behaviour. discussion is with the problem of mental And others can retreat What is clear is that we school’s current systems health. We have all heard from school life and end don’t have to deal with our for dealing with mental about it, many of us have up wallowing in their problems on our own, or health. Mediators, CP experienced problems problems. without professional help. lessons and assemblies, or know of someone for example, all contribute who has. Some of us are And just as everyone Mental health issues to the ways in which sceptical of the topic; deals with the problems are a problem but they we are educated and some are sensitive to the in different ways, different shouldn’t dictate a talk about mental issue. Some sufferers treatments are needed. person’s life. We all need health at Waddesdon. have sought help, others Some people need to be to overcome our problems If we continue to give haven’t. What is clear is told to develop greater and deal with the causes. constructive feedback that the issue of mental resilience, but for others For some of us this will about these systems, health needs to be this is the worst thing to be harder than others. sharing what works, and discussed, and not in say. Some people can The everyday problems making suggestions for a one sided discussion deal with their problems of stress are something improvement, we can where the side that speaks with time, others require we must all overcome. be more proactive in loudest wins. We need professional help. But But some of us have supporting this aspect to talk about mental everyone needs the deep rooted trauma of growing up. However health openly and in support of their friends, or disorders. The fact complex and daunting a reasonable way that not only for mental health remains that we must all the world might seem, if recognises that the issue is problems but for the stress live with our minds and we address these issues complex. of daily life. As they say, the problems that come openly and together, we a laugh a day keeps the with them interacting with can do a lot to make life Everyone deals with doctor away. a world they only partially better. Calm Wednesdays

Mindfulness activities rst break in the library.

Join us on Wednesdays in the library for gardening, crafts, textiles and other fun mindfulness activities in a quiet space.

See you there!

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