The Williamsonian 2020
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THE WILLIAMSONIAN ○ 2019-20 FROM THE HEADTEACHER FOREWORD he American novelist Stephen Chbosky said, ‘It’s T strange the times that people chose to be generous.’ It is a nice depiction of school life over the last few months. The academic year 2019-20 has been unlike any other and I fervently hope that it will be very different from any others to come. This is my 19th year at the school, my 9th as head and it has certainly been one that I never anticipated and would never wish to repeat. We progressed pretty normally up until February. Some of the usual aspects of school life are reflected in this magazine, with trips, visits, House Events, fixtures and the like. We had great hopes for Year 11 and 13 who were making good progress and we were gradually developing our knowledge of some new technologies, like the Google Classroom. Fast forward on to June 15th as I am writing this and we have the highest number of pupils on site today since March 20th. A whopping 129 of our school role of 1365. We are delivering hundreds of Google Classroom lessons a week with a growing selection of live online lessons too. We would normally be looking forward to the end of public exams in a week or so, followed by year 6 induction and then Founder’s Day, Prize Giving and the end of term. Not this year. However, what will stick with me the most, when I reflect back on this year is the generosity of spirit that has been displayed through the school. From the small, but important things, like pupil politeness - thanking you for your comments on their work, to bigger things such as every member of the school community going out of their way to support each other, get the things done that need to be done and to stay true to the things that we value as a school. I have shared this with the staff, but it is entirely appropriate that I share it with the whole school community. As we have done our best to deal with this crisis, on our own level, I am enormously proud and hugely grateful for the pupils, parents and our staff in all positions who have enabled us to do so in the best possible way. Their collective generosity, with their time and energy has been invaluable. 02 CONTENTS Old Williamsonians 44 06 News from the OWs @The Math Events from around the school 14 Telling Stories World Book Day 18 Promoting reading at the Math Visit to Cambridge 19 To cross the Mathematical Bridge Math School Art and Photography 20 Stunnig GCSE and A level work Character Building 27 A new award comes to the Math House Reports of Honour Lap 28 Reports from all the Houses Sports Reports 46 36 From our curtailed programme Isle of Wight Visit 39 Not for the faint-hearted! Visit to Auschwitz 40 Lessons learnt from history Rochester Remembers D of E 43 Holocaust memorial service Making Drama... 48 52 This year’s productions Hospital Habadashery 54 This season’s must-have gowns 50 Music Notes 55 A chorus of approval Erasmus Project Erasmus The Williamsonian 2019 - 20 Editor Mr C Loizou Contributions by Mr K Kitsell, Mr S Marsden. 038 STAFF NOTES Headteacher: Mr E. Hodges Mr A. Worthy (Physics) Deputy Headteacher: Mr C. Morris Mr M. Barley (Chemistry) Chairman of Governors: Mr S. Brightman Miss A. Wallace (Biology) Spanish: Mrs D. Bowes-Read Assistant Headteachers: Technology: Mr D. Robson Dr I. Karam Mrs H. Dennis Heads of House: Mrs E. Cook Bridge: Mr S. J. Marsden Mr K. J. Bailey Castle: Mr C. Alderman Gordon: Mr C. Arnold Head of Lower School: Pitt: Mr J. C. Townsend Mrs G. Manchaud Green River: Miss C. Hindson Deputy Heads of Lower School: Thetford: Miss J. Miller Mrs R. Breach Tower: Mr S. J. Sharp Miss K. Cook Miss N. Keyes PA to the Headteacher: Pastoral Support Officer: Mrs J. Martin Mrs S. Huxted PA to the Deputy Headtecher: Head of Middle School: Mrs C. Pullies Mr C. Heather Deputy Heads of Middle School: Office Manager: Mr B. Ward & Mr D. Coate Mrs N. O’Boyle Pastoral Support Assistant: Mrs K. Ross Exam Administrator: Mrs N. Parham Head of Sixth Form: Mr K. J. Bailey Deputy Heads of Sixth Form: Mr A. Milne & Mr C. Loizou 6th Form Student Services: Mrs F. Jennings Heads of Department: Art: Mr E. Stewart & Mrs. E. Morton Classics: Miss S. Harrison Drama: Mrs J. Shand Economics: Mrs R. Breach English: Mrs L. Metsaranta French: Mrs A. Gibson Geography: Mrs E. Cullis History: Mr C. Nicholson Computing: Mr C. Loizou Life Skills: Mrs L. Humphries Mathematics: Mr N. Daniels Music: Mrs F. Graham Politics: Dr A. Bidmead Physical Education: Mr S. Downes Psychology: Mrs J. Milliner Science: 04 SCHOOL NOTES School Captain: M. Robinson Deputy School Captains: K. Banks, J. Sheather Senior Prefects: A. Aaditya, D. Johnson, J. Pearson, N. Rebelo, O. Webb, R. Wright General Prefects (Dec ‘19): T. Adayemi, C. Adewumi, F. Adeyemi, H. Ahmad, M. Archer, E. Awaritefe, E. Bacon, P. Bennett, M. Bhat, R. Bryant, S. Burge, B. Carney, H. Clarkson, J. Delyfer, M. Dhillon, M. Fankah, L. Fowle, E. Lakanu, M. Mehta, E. Nye, A. Olayinka, O. Reeves, S. Roarty, J. Saunders, J. Udonwa, R. Viding, B. Webber, F. Wood, A. Yesilmen (Jun ‘20) I. Armstrong, K. Bourner, A. Ellerington, C. Evans, J. Hofford, T. King, G. Koo, F. Phillips, M. Sibichan, V. Vijayamohan The Watts Exhibition: At the start of this academic year, we saw six students begin their journey at Oxford and Cambridge. Pupils who attend Oxbridge receive the Watts Exhibition Prize. Their names are engraved onto the board in the hall. Below is a list of the recipients: John Goh (Thetford) - Oriel College, University of Oxford - English Language and Literature Kiokee Goh (Thetford) - Oriel College, University of Oxford - Classics Adam Lewis (Bridge) - Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge - Economics Vanessa McLoughlin (Castle) - Pembroke College, University of Oxford - Medicine Alexander Orlov-Holmes (Castle) - Wadham College, University of Oxford - Classics Tyler Rodberg (River) - Worcester College, University of Oxford - Engineering 05 OLD WILLIAMSONIANS OW OFFICERS & XI also pushing for Kent League status. COMMITTEE MEMBERS Our sole team, lead for most of the season by David Bage, played in KRCL Championship PRESIDENT................................MR E HODGES East where they finished last. That said, we had CHAIRMAN......................................IAN McLEOD a number of tightly fought matches, four or five VICE-CHAIRMAN...........................JEFF DOUST should have gone in our favour. We used 25 IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN...................... different players during the season which sounds ............................................DAVID ROUTLEDGE a lot for one team but consistent availability was TREASURER............................GEOFFREY LEE yet again an issue. Away from the league we SECRETARY & ASSISTANT TREASURER......... played and won two exciting friendly matches ..................................................JAMES BARNEY against The Mote and Upchurch, where Neil GOVERNORS’ REPRESENTATIVE................... Fanthome-Hodgson proudly played alongside two .......................................................CHRIS HALLS of his sons. ........................................................LIZ TYRRELL Richard Dalton, Luke Butcher, David Bage and SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER............................... Ayodeji Oyesola were the mainstays of the batting .......................................................SAM PEPPER while David Bage, Naveed Bhatti and Chris Apps BAR SECRETARY........................CHRIS HALLS took most wickets. RMSA REP...........................STEVE GODDARD 200 CLUB ADMINISTRATOR...JAMES BARNEY Colts: COMMITTEE MEMBERS.........CALLUM BOWIE For the third year in a row we didn’t field an U17 ..........................STEVE GODDARD, RAY BOAST, side. For the first time since the inception of Colts ....................DANIEL ROUTLEDGE, VIKKI KING, league cricket we had no U13 team. The U15s ..........................KIERAN KITSELL, JAMES FRY finished 8th but could have been higher but for some crucial player absences. They reached OW CRICKET CLUB the Cup Semi-final. Ayodeji Oyesola played just 7 games scoring 273 runs @ 136.50 including 4 SEASON 2019-20 x 50no retirements and a 41no. He was named REPORT OWCC Colt of the Year. Due to the age split and exam pressure, there will SENIORS be no Colts teams at all in 2020. he season was a very enjoyable one but 2019 CELEBRATION EVENING T following on from 2018-19, it was also a very sad one as the Club resigned a team from league For the first time ever, the Club held a joint Colt cricket for the second year in a row. To say that the and Senior Celebration Evening. On an enjoyable past two seasons have been the “perfect storm” evening of multiple awards and a Fish and Chip would be an understatement. A combination of top takeaway, the award winners were as follows: players emigrating, a number of serious and other U15s injuries, players moving away from Kent, changes Player’s Player of the Year - Ayodeji Oyesola to family circumstances and work, university calls, Manager’s Award - Ellis Adams-Freeman defections to competing clubs and a poor take up from our Colts on reaching Year 11 all combined Best Bowling Performance - Daniel Bennett to a fall of status for the Club. To think that a mere Best Batting Performance - Claude Walduck three years ago the 1st XI just missed out on Best Fielding Performance - Noah Saunders promotion to Kent League Division 3 with the 2nd 06 OLD WILLIAMSONIANS Best All-Rounder - Reece Coulbert 2nd XV & Youth The Bob Brooks Trophy for Colt of the Year - Activity in both 2nd XV and the youth section both Ayodeji Oyesola ceased this season due to poor turn out. Plans will Seniors be put in place over the summer to push the 2nd XV for years to come. Chairman’s Award - Chris Halls If you are interested in getting back into Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year - Ayodeji Oyesola please contact Dan Routledge dr.outledge@ Duck Award - Matt Clark me.com 07738 242474 Player of the Year - Dicky Dalton Dan Routledge THE FUTURE OW HOCKEY CLUB For the time being, the Club will take stock and play a number of Sunday friendlies with an emphasis SEASON 2019-20 on highly social but competitive cricket.