Queensmead

News December 2018/ January 2019

Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge Jack Petchey

Last November, sixty Year 10 students took part in the Jack Petchey Speakout Challenge.

The day consisted of a workshop delivered by Jane Chambers, a speakout trainer and BBC journalist. She trained the students on the key skill of public speaking and all the students wrote and delivered a speech on a topic that they felt passionately about.

Adam Weber was the overall winner from Queensmead and he went on to represent the school at the Hillingdon regional finals held at Oakwood School on Wednesday 5th December.

During his speech entitled; ‘Soliloquy of Sadness’ Adam spoke with great composure and confidence.

Adam talked about a topic very close and personal to him and he should be proud of how he was able to conduct himself and speak so confidently on a subject that evokes so much emotion.

Although Adam did not win the competition he was praised by the Jack Petchey speakout trainers for his bravery in delivering such a difficult speech.

Mr Clarke Assistant Head Teacher

Visit to The Snow Centre

On Monday 10th December, thirteen lucky Year 11 students had the opportunity to attend The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead. The students were selected due to the hard work and dedication they have shown towards The Strive for Five programme since September.

After arriving at the centre and getting fully kitted out in all the relevant gear, the students enjoyed a forty five minute snowboarding taster session out on the slopes. Although there were a couple of falls, they looked like professionals out there gliding down the snow, with some even showing off their skills and adding in some twists and jumps.

After a short break and a chance to warm up with a nice hot chocolate, students had a go on the Ringo Slide. This was the chance for them to speed down a snowy slide in a rubber ring and race the opponent on the parallel slide. After many screams, twists and bumps, it was time to hand all the gear back and head back to school after a fun filled few hours on the slopes.

A massive well done to all who attended. You have not only worked very hard so far this year, you also showed off your skills on the slopes.

Miss Gillard Maths Department Poppy Appeal

The British Legion Poppy Appeal was very successful again this year. We managed to raise £308.73.

Thank you to everyone who donated and bought a poppy.

A special thank you to Post 16 students who took the poppies around the school at breaktime and lunchtime.

Miss Callaghan Charities Coordinator

Food Bank

This Christmas, it was The donations went to St. decided that Queensmead Gregory’s Church, which is should be doing more to our local food bank. give back to our local community. This is clearly a cause that all of us at Queensmead For this reason, we created feel passionate about and a food bank donation point the Christmas Food Bank in the foyer, in order to collection will hopefully collect food and toiletries continue to happen for for those in need over the years to come. Christmas period. Posters were made and donations Thank you to the Art began the next day. department for the wonderful posters, the The willingness to donate volunteers who helped to by our students, teachers organise the donations and and support staff was everyone who donated. overwhelming. In just eight days we collected Mr Seaman over 1000 donations, Head of Year 12 which meant that around thirty families could have a full weeks worth of food.

Salters’ National Awards for Science Technicians

Queensmead Science technicians attended a prestigious annual ceremony held at Salters’ Hall on Friday 7th December to collect their awards including a £1000 prize.

Over 180 guests attended the Awards Ceremony and lunch reception which celebrates high levels of excellence within the Science education sector and the chemical industry.

Queensmead winners, Chris, Jenny and Michelle won the Salters’ National Award for Science Technicians 2018 in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Science department in supporting and enabling high quality practical work.

The £1000 they have won will go towards Technicians CPD and STEM science club resources.

Mr Taylor Assistant Head Teacher

Cancer Research

Thank you to staff who contributed to Cancer Research instead of sending Christmas cards.

A total of £115 was raised for this worthwhile cause.

Mr Nosworthy Assistant Head Teacher

Brunel University Visit

On Wednesday 9th January, a cons of our PE department We all found the trip very group of Year 8 and Year 9 and also wrote down ideas inspiring and learnt about why girls travelled to Brunel how PE can be improved at some girls may not want to University to take part in an school. We had the take part in PE. We learnt active campaign to encourage opportunity to talk about different ways we could girls to get more active. We these to Mrs Briggs one of our support them, giving them the were also joined by groups PE teachers, who confidence to try. from other schools. accompanied us on the trip. Hopefully we can put some of Thank you to Mrs Briggs for Throughout the day we our ideas forward once back giving us the opportunity to participated in a variety of at school. attend. activities; one task was to create our ideal role model. We were also asked to create Joely and Alanis We all had very similar ideas a slogan for our campaign or Year 8 and created a very unique role club. Our slogan is "Girls model. We included traits like Have a Chance”. We made an kindness, confidence, advert to promote the empathy, seeing things from campaign. Each school others point of view and created a different way to having an open mind. show what their slogan meant by either acting or dancing. We discussed the pros and We chose to compose a song. Table Cricket Tournament

Meadow High School hosted the borough table cricket tournament on Friday 18th January. Table cricket is an adapted version of cricket played on a table tennis table, designed to make the sport accessible to all.

The Queensmead team put in a fantastic performance and won two out of their three games. They were placed second overall.

Congratulations to: Arun, Darius, Isabel, Kvanh, Nishara, Pharel, Thaamira and Shane.

Mr Fernandes Head of Year 9 KS3 Borough Badminton Tournament

On Wednesday 28th who came third. are testament to the hard November, eight students in work all of the students have Year 7 to Year 9 attended the In the boys singles put in and attending KS3 Borough Badminton competition Ho-Pui and Manav badminton club on a regular competition. also achieved third place. basis.

Queensmead School had a In the doubles competition we Well done to all who very successful day with every did particularly well with Nil competed. single student leaving with a and Snagan winning first medal. place. Katrina and Labeena Mrs Briggs represented the girls and in a Head of Year 11 An outstanding performance very close competition, just for the girls was Abesha who missed out on first place to came first in the girls single come second. competition. She was closely followed by Lauren These fantastic achievements

Dates for your diary

February Thurs 7th Year 11 Consultation Evening 5pm — 8pm

Half term Monday 18th - 22nd February

Thurs 28th Year 13 Consultation Evening 5pm — 8pm

March Thurs 7th Year 9 Consultation Evening 5pm — 8pm KS4 Borough Badminton Tournament

On Wednesday 5th December, a squad of eight Year 10 and Year 11 students travelled to to compete in the Key Stage 4 Borough Badminton tournament.

Students competed in either the doubles or the singles tournament, where they each played five matches against students from , Harlington School, , Guru Nanak Sikh and .

The students displayed an excellent understanding of the rules and managed to Back row left to right: Archie, Andre, Kai use tactical placement Front row left to right: Lauren, Marwa, Maya effectively to secure many points throughout the matches.

At the end of the tournament, finals were played and confirmation of positions were announced.

All eight students should be extremely proud of their performances. Queensmead achieved second in the girls doubles, third in the boys doubles, third in the boys singles and third in the girls singles.

This is an excellent achievement. Well done.

Mrs Carter PE Department

Kai and Tobi Year 9 Netball

Left to right : Katrina, Tessa, Sara, Phoebe, Issy, Kymani and Sena

On Monday 14th January, and in the second half the Year 9 Netball Team was in action, at home, to started to make their Northwood College. comeback.

Queensmead won the Queensmead, however, centre pass to start the tightened their defence game and took an early and played a really strong 3-0 lead. The girls played man-to-man tactic. The a new attacking tactic end whistle blew with involving more movement Queensmead winning the from Sena in the circle. match 17-15.

This tactic worked well for Well done to the team. most of the first half and at half time, Queensmead Mrs Carter had the lead. Head of Year 10

No positional changes were made at half time

Queensmead School, Queens Walk, South Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0LS Email: [email protected] Twitter: qm_news