5th April 2019 Priory News Educating Students for Success in Life

HAPPY EASTER! Dates for Your Diary Tuesday 23rd April

THE PRIORY SCHOOL DAILY BULLETIN Start of Summer Term Parents and students can now view the Daily Bulletin online Thursday 25th April through Show My Homework: Year 10 Raising Aspirations Trip to Oaklands College, St Albans (16 students) https://theprioryschool.showmyhomework.co.uk/school/home Monday 29th April

Head Boy/Head Girl Presentations HAND-SEND NEWS Year 8 & Year 9 HPV2 Vaccine (Girls only) Tuesday 30th April

Head Boy/Head Girl Presentations Votes for Head Boy/Head Girl 1.30-3.30pm Year 7 & Year 8 Junior UK Maths Challenge, Main Hall 3-5.30pm Primary Tri Golf, TPS Sports’ Leaders, Letchworth Wednesday 1st May

HAND-SEND News is County Council’s free online 3.30-6pm Senior District Athletics Championships, newsletter for parents and carers of children and young people (0-25) Ridlins Athletics Ground with additional needs and disabilities and the professionals who work Thursday 2nd May with them. The newsletter has information and advice for parents and Year 10 Raising Aspirations Trip to Oaklands College, St Albans (16 students) carers, as well as courses, inclusive activities for children, support groups for parents, carers and young people, and much more. Here is a Friday 3rd May link to the latest edition of the newsletter: Non-Uniform Day (Superhero theme for Seraph) Raising Aspirations ReAssure Dragon’s Den Day https://handsendnews.hertfordshire.gov.uk Tuesday 7th May

6.30-7.30pm Parent Information Session: ‘Coping with PAST STUDENTS, STAFF & FUTURE PARENTS OF WHITEHILL JUNIOR Anxiety’, Main Hall SCHOOL Wednesday 8th May th Whitehill Junior School is celebrating its 50 Anniversary in 2019 and is 2-7pm Year 9 and Year 10 Athletics, Ridlins Athletics launching the celebrations with a black tie ball in a marquee on Ground 29th June. They would love to see as many of you as possible. Meet old 7pm Advanced Music Recital Evening, Main Hall friends, make new friends and reminisce about your time there! Thursday 9th May 4-7.30pm Y7 Parents’ Evening There will be a welcome drink, three-course meal, magic by Lee Smith Friday 10th May and music by the Sam Lewis Band. Interviews for Head Boy/Head Girl

If you would like to go along please contact the Whitehill school office Monday 13th May or send an email to [email protected]. Appointment of Head Boy/Head Girl Please feel free to share this message with others with a Whitehill 9am-4pm Raising Aspirations Willmott Dixon Day connection and maybe get a group together. 3.30-5.30pm Rounders Years 7 to 10 at Highfield School v Highfield School and St Francis College

Responsibility Respect Resilience

Teaching and Learning

COMIC RELIEF A massive thank you to the staff and students who supported the recent fundraising for Comic Relief through our non-uniform day. We managed to raise a total of £1,032! SUPER SERAPH FUNDRAISING

Students from Year 7 have been leading the fundraising for Seraph by selling badges and holding cake sales. Seraph is a four-year-old boy who has neuroblastoma (a form of paediatric cancer). He has a 40% chance of staying alive for the next five years without treatment in America. For more details, please visit the Team Super Seraph website: https://www.teamsuperseraph.org/ In the forthcoming summer term, we will be holding a superhero-themed non-uniform day on Friday 3rd May. Staff and students should aim to come dressed as their favourite superhero for the day. If you cannot support us by wearing a superhero costume, then regular non-uniform is fine. Superhero accessories are also acceptable.

It will be £1 per person to take part and all money will be donated towards the Seraph collection.

Please remember: no hair dye, face paints or bare midriffs!

Teaching and Learning

HEADTEACHER COMMENDATION AWARDS RED BADGE (FIRST COMMENDATION) For being part of the Year 7 hockey team that won the County Hockey Tournament: Christopher Gadsden 7SO Charlie Cropley 7SO Tommy Cropley 7SR George Watt 7SR George Malone 7SR Jacob Pledge 7SR Samuel Lacey 7SR For coaching the Year 7 hockey team that won the County Hockey Tournament: Thomas Harvey 10TV

For being part of the Year 9 Intermediate team that were runners-up in the first round of the Rotary Youth Speaks public speaking competition: Alice Blackford 9CA For being part of the Year 7 football team that reached the North Hertfordshire District Final: Jayden Walton-Tharp 7KL Zac Burns 7NJ James Herbert 7NJ Pierre Blake 7NS Max Rogerson 7NS Ruby Seaby 7RC Daniel Gill 7SO Finn Scourfield 7SO Eddie Cox 7SO Harrison Donnelly 7SR For receiving a LAMDA award: Matilda Keegan 7SR Fran Peace 8MH

For being a great representative of The Priory School whilst in Whitwell raising money for the food bank: Gus Beard 8RF

For being the second student (first Year 8 student) to achieve both Bronze and Silver on iDEA, taking hours of his own time to complete: Omar Aboushaeshae 9SH For completing his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award: Joshua Bates 10MA James Cook 10BC

For being awarded a Silver Certificate in the UK Senior Maths Challenge: Harry Walker 12LE For being the second student (first Year 8 student) to achieve both Bronze and Silver on iDEA, taking hours of his own time to complete: Omar Aboushaeshae 9SH

Teaching and Learning

HEADTEACHER COMMENDATIONS: AWARDS RED BADGE (Cont’d…) For being a winner of the Year 7 Enterprise Day (Design Your Own Sandwich for Chilli Banana): Macsen Howard 7KL Harrie Maylin 7SR Isla McConnellogue 7SR Jack Cannon 7NS Erin Williams 7RC Eadie St John 7NJ Francesca Gwilliams 7SO Ruby Deane 7SO BRONZE BADGE (THIRD COMMENDATION) For being part of the Year 7 hockey team that won the County Hockey Tournament: Leo McKenna 7SR Oliver Brigginshaw 7SR For achieving 3rd place in the Zonal Schools Trampoline Competition and qualifying for the National Schools Trampoline Competition: Harry Emler 7HF For being part of the Year 9 Intermediate team that were runners-up in the first round of the Rotary Youth Speaks public speaking competition: Sam Johnson 9CA Elliot Mainwaring 9HF

For being part of the Year 11 Senior team that took part in the first round of the Rotary Youth Speaks public speaking competition: Molly Root 11AA For being part of the Year 7 football team that reached the North Hertfordshire District Final: Frank Finch 7KL Szymon Pochodaj 7SR

Teaching and Learning

EXTRA CURRICULAR PE CLUBS: SUMMER TERM

ROTARY YOUTH SPEAKS The Intermediate team (Sam, Elliot and Alice) came third in the District Semi-Final and made it into the District Final, which took place on Tuesday 26th February 2019 at Vandyke Upper School, Leighton Buzzard. The Senior team (Grace, Harry and Euan) came first in the District Semi-Final and also made it into the District Final, which took place on Wednesday 27th February 2019 at the same venue.

Both teams did exceptionally well at the finals and performed the strongest I have ever seen them perform; the Seniors, in particular, were outstanding. However, unfortunately neither team made it through to the Regional Finals. Congratulations to all the students who really did TPS proud.

Miss Anderson-Bonner

Teaching and Learning

MUDDY MAYHEM

On Saturday 23rd February a group of KS5 students and Miss Wilcox participated in Muddy Mayhem, an event organised by Garden House Hospice. We climbed, crawled, ran, swam and jumped. It’s safe to say it took at least three showers to get the mud out of places you never knew mud could go, mainly in our ears!

It was a brilliant day and the weather was surprisingly fantastic (they had experienced a snow storm the year before). Collectively we raised £1,108 for Garden House Hospice which is incredible and we are all so grateful to everybody who helped us. The JustGiving link is still open in case anybody would like to donate to this amazing cause, this is our link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theprioryschoolmudrun?utm_id=124

In the future we (The Priory School) are 100% going to be doing more events for charities including this summer’s Colour Run in Cambridge! Anybody from KS5 is welcome to participate, just pop and see Mrs Hamer in A7 and she can sign you up right away. The charity we are collecting for in the summer is ‘Feed Up, Warm Up’ which is a local homeless charity set up by a Hitchin resident that runs every Wednesday evening. It should be a great day doing something extremely worthwhile and having fun with your friends.

Overall we had a great day and can’t wait for many more events in the future!

Teaching and Learning

LIVE HATCHING CAM On Monday 4th March we went to William Ransom Primary School to help set up a webcam that the students can use to view the incubation and hatching of chicks that their school had received earlier in the day.

The set-up included locating the IP address of the webcam, connecting it to the school network and an algorithm on the Raspberry Pi that uploaded the camera footage onto a livestream on the Priory YouTube channel.

You can watch the live stream by going to www.hatching.live if it’s still working!

William Box & Briony Arnold, Year 10

THE COMET NEWSPAPER SPORTS AWARDS 2019 Baylin Johnson 9CA was nominated for The Comet Newspaper Sports Awards 2019. He was shortlisted and was a runner-up in the final awards on Friday 1st March.

Baylin is an extremely talented and able footballer. He is currently a member of the full Arsenal academy and trains there one day a week. He has represented Arsenal in a number of different international venues and high level competitions.

Congratulations Baylin!

Miss Foy, PE Department

SPORTSTeaching FIXTURESand Learning & RESULTS

ALL ENGLAND BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP On Thursday 7th March, 21 students went to watch the All England Badminton Championships at Birmingham Arena. The students saw some of the best badminton players in the world. Thank you to Mrs Emler and Mr Coverdale for taking the students. Team Coverdale TeamTeamMrs Coverdale Foy,Coverdale PE Department Team Coverdale Team Coverdale

MUSIC EXPO On 7th March 2019, the Music Managers and some of the A Level Music students went on a trip to London Olympia to visit Music Expo. The event lasted two days, and we went on the second one. The time we spent there was filled with many workshops and talks from professionals and their companies, as well as a few performances from others (who were very talented). There were many stalls for us to visit and it gave us an opportunity to see different aspects of the music business. The stalls included various music examination boards (such as ABRSM and Trinity); a range of universities and colleges (most of which specialised in musical theatre and similar studies); and lots of places to buy music books for all instruments. Additionally, there were different talks and workshops which covered many aspects of these industries, including one specific talk about a school rock concert, which was very interesting. Also, there were many different instruments and various components for them on sale. These included many pianos, which we were able to play and try out — some of us even sang along and ‘serenaded’ passers-by! There were also various competitions which we were able to enter with a chance of winning — people won pens, pencils, fleeces, t-shirts and one sixth form student even won a piano and a guitar! As well as that another student was offered a job! There were also many stalls and activities related to teachers, and not just students.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable day; thank you for the opportunity! Erin Dalrymple & Jessica Halford 9CA (Music Managers)

SPORTSRaising Aspirations FIXTURES & RESULTS

TPS APPRENTICESHIPS FAIR

Team Coverdale TeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Team Coverdale Team Coverdale

On Wednesday 27th March, The Priory School hosted an Apprenticeship Fair. Over 30 different companies attended showcasing the different types of apprenticeships, ranging from those available at the end of Year 11 to degree- level apprenticeships available at the end of Year 13. This event was opened up to schools from Hitchin and Stevenage and was very well attended by over 300 people. Our thanks go to Solveway, who delivered two talks during the evening outlining how an apprenticeship works, and to all the companies who made this such a successful event.

LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION (LMI) / DESTINATION DATA Students and parents/carers can now access information about future study options and labour market opportunities by visiting the Raising Aspirations (Careers) section of The Priory School website. Use the Careerometer 2 widgets to review and compare different occupations, what they involve and what the potential earnings can be: http://www.priory.herts.sch.uk/departments/raising-aspirations/

SPORTSRaising Aspirations FIXTURES & RESULTS

£1 CHALLENGE IN AID OF GARDEN HOUSE HOSPICE Below is the Garden House Hospice press release regarding the money raised by students in Year 8 (Raising Aspirations £1 Challenge) and Year 12 (Muddy Mayhem; see article earlier in the newsletter):

Team Coverdale Local pupils raise thousands through £1 charity challengeTeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Students from The Priory School in Hitchin recently presented Garden House Hospice CareTeam with aCoverdale cheque for £1,829.62. Team Coverdale Garden House Hospice Care is a charity close to the schools’ heart, with a number staff, parents and students benefitting from the help and support the hospice offers. After motivational talks from a local entrepreneur and career lessons covering reinvesting profit, the students put their knowledge to the test, taking part in a £1 challenge. Year 8 students raised over £600 during their £1 challenge for the local charity. Each student was given a £1 coin, to raise as much profit from the pound as possible. Some students used the money to buy cake ingredients, with others buying equipment to design Christmas decorations. A group of 4 girls clubbed their money together to raise £200 and an individual boy raised £80 by washing cars in his local area. Year 12 students also took part in the charity’s 5k obstacle course Muddy Mayhem at Hertfordshire’s finest, Knebworth Park. Richard Harbon, Challenge and Endurance Events Manager at the hospice said: “The Priory School have done an absolutely amazing job in raising valuable funds for the hospice. This money will go such a long way to improve the lives of others in our community. We loved seeing the pupils having a great time, they really put the fun into fundraising.”

SPORTSRaising Aspirations FIXTURES & RESULTS

YEAR 9 TRIP TO CAMBRIDGE A group of Year 9s got the chance to take a trip to Cambridge University this term. They had a lecture in one of the old lecture theatres, had a tour of the campus including the library and were served a meal in the Great Hall. During the tour they were even shown Stephen Hawking’s old living quarters! The students had a brilliant time and the trip has inspired them to aim for TeamCambridge CoverdaleTeamTeam University Coverdale Coverdale as their place for Further Education. Team Coverdale Team Coverdale

TPS SANDWICH DESIGNS AT CHILLI B’S, HITCHIN This term Year 7 students took part in a Raising Aspirations day where they designed and marketed a new sandwich. The winning sandwich designs are still on the menu at Chilli B’s sandwich shop in Hitchin. Please pop by and try one!!

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Athletics & RESULTS & Futsal

NORTH HERTS SCHOOLS INDOOR ATHLETICS COMPETITION Congratulations to the Year 7 and Year 8 students that participated at the North Herts Schools Indoor Athletics competition in February. All students performed really well. Thank you to Mr Omar and Miss Dillon for organising and running the training events leading up to the competition. Team Coverdale Year 7 Boys: 4th place TeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Team Coverdale Year 8 Boys: 4th place Team Coverdale Year 7 Girls: 2nd place Year 8 Girls: 5th place

NORTH HERTS SCHOOL GAMES FUTSAL FINALS

Well done to all the students that were in the Under-12 and Under-14 girls futsal teams that participated in the school games competitions in February. The Under-12 team finished in 2nd place and the Under-14 team won the district competition. They proceeded to the county finals in March (report to follow in the next newsletter). U12 Team Harrie Maylin Leah Robinson Maddy Woodcock Daisy Morris Annalise Chitre-Jeffs Meely Maxwell U14 Team Millie Hazzard Amber Duffy Elise Budd Eve Kirkbride Grace Aldridge Lola Mellor

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Hockey & RESULTS

YEAR 7 COUNTY HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS A big congratulations to the Year 7 hockey team for becoming County Champions for U12 hockey at the U12 England Hockey Boys Schools County Championship. The score and who they played: Team CoverdaleTeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Won 3-0 vs Haberdasher’s Aske Team Coverdale Won 2-0 vs Hitchin Boys’ School Team Coverdale Won 1-0 vs Aldenham Team Coverdale Won 1-0 vs Bishops Stortford College Lost 0-1 vs Haileybury (conceded a goal in the last play of the game from a short corner) Won 4-0 vs St Albans Mr Omar said to The Comet: “It is a fantastic achievement for all involved with the Year 7 hockey team and for The Priory School. We have never had a hockey team before and to enter them into this tournament and for them to become County Champions is something very special. The attitude, effort and performance of every single student was outstanding - they never gave up and always work very hard for each other regardless of the situation. We are now looking forward to competing at the Regional (East of England) tournament in the coming months. I would also like to thank and give a special mention to our Year 10 student Tom Harvey, who has coached the team since the start of the year and is very committed to this. He takes training every week after school with the team to develop their skills and work on tactics. He has created a real feel-good factor around the team, who are just as committed and enjoy themselves in every session. We hope that this will encourage more students across all year groups to get involved and join the hockey club."

Back Left to Right (Tommy Cropley, George Malone, Harrison Donnelly, Jacob Pledge, Charlie Cropley, Chris Gadsden). Front Left to Right (Ollie Brigginshaw, Sam Lacey, Szymon Pochodaj, Frank Finch, Leo McKenna, George Watt, Joseph Henley- Waters)

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Cricket & RESULTS

DISTRICT GIRLS CRICKET FESTIVAL Well done to all the students that competed in the District Girls Cricket Festival in February. The competition was organised by Hertfordshire Cricket and was held at Stevenage Leisure Centre. We took the Under 13 and Under 15 teams. Both teams competed really well with the following results: U13 Girls Team Coverdale TeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Nobel School – won Monkswalk School – won Team Coverdale Queenswood School – won Team Coverdale The Team: Uju Okenwa Abbie Thomas Daisy Morris Matilda Deards Ruby Seaby Aaliyah Orobosa-Ogbeide Maddie Woodcock Meely Maxwell Martha Knight U15 Girls Nobel School – lost Hitchin Girls’ School – drew Monkswalk School – lost Year 9 Team Ashleigh Cooper Rhianne Lucas Kaitlin Moore-Haines Rhea Lidder Macy Keeping Amber Duffy Millie Hazzard Elise Budd The Under 13 team qualified for the final. Lady Taverners Indoor County Final The final was held at The University of Hertfordshire on 11th March 2019. The Year 7 team had some tough competition including some teams that were Year 8 students. They played really well in all games, and although they did not progress through to the next round they are all looking forward to competing in the summer term and next year where they hopefully will! Matches and results: Haileybury School – lost by 6 runs John Warner School – lost by 24 runs Ralph Sadlier School – won by 4 runs

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Swimming & RESULTS & Trampolining

STEVENAGE & NORTH HERTS SWIMMING GALA Congratulations to all the students that were part of The Priory School team that competed in the Stevenage and North Herts Swimming Gala in February. The following students were awarded medals for finishing in the top three in their respective event: Team Coverdale Alfie Nellis 2nd place Intermediate Boys Backstroke TeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Zoe Macdonald 1st place Senior Girls Freestyle Luke Griggs 1st place Senior Boys Freestyle Team Coverdale Dylan Cole 2nd place Intermediate Boys Freestyle Team Coverdale The following relay teams also finished in the top three places: Intermediate Girls Medley Relay 2nd place Intermediate Girls Freestyle Relay 3rd place Senior Girls Medley Relay 1st place Congratulations to the following teams for finishing in the top three places: Senior Boys Joint 1st place with Intermediate Girls 2nd place Senior Girls 2nd place

SCHOOLS NATIONAL TRAMPOLINE FINALS 2019 Congratulations to Harry Emler on achieving 4th place in the Year 7-8 Boys Novice class of the Schools National Trampoline Finals 2019, which were held in Cannock in March.

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Football & RESULTS

YEAR 7 GIRLS Congratulations to the Year 7 girls’ football team for winning the District Football Tournament in February, which took place at Marriotts School, Stevenage. The team played the following matches in the pool stage: Thomas Alleyne Academy: Won 5-2 : Won 4-0 Team CoverdaleTeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Marriotts School: Drew 0-0 Team Coverdale Highfield School: Won 2-0 Team Coverdale The team then went on to win against Barclay School in the semi-final to play Hitchin TeamGirls’ School, Coverdale and they won against Hitchin Girls’ School to become district champions! Thank you to Mrs Churchman and Stevenage Football Club Foundation for leading training each Monday evening and for taking the students to the matches and tournaments. Student Harrie Maylin reported as follows: “On 28th February the Year 7 girls football team went to Marriotts School in Stevenage for a tournament against other local schools. They had a tough league but managed to reach the semi-finals with 1 draw and the rest wins, with goalkeeper Leah Robinson keeping a clean sheet. In the semi-finals it was a tough game and with the end result being 0-0 it had to go to penalties. During penalties it was tough, with us going into the final penalty drawn on 2-2. We had to score our last penalty for a glimpse of being in the final and this was down to Meely. Luckily she scored in the bottom corner, and with the opposition missing their penalty we were ensured our place in the final against Hitchin Girls’ School. The final was a tough game but striker Daisy Morris managed to find the net within the first few minutes of the game. The next goal came off of Maddie Woodcock’s hip. Hitchin Girls’ had very few shots on target but all were saved by goalkeeper Leah Robinson. Our last goal came off of defender Meely Maxwell. There was then very little time left for Hitchin Girls’ to gain a goal. The end result was 3-0 with the team coming home with gold medals!”

YEAR 10 The Year 10 football team were victorious in their last match of the season which was against JHN, winning 3-0. They finished top of their league and faced Marriotts school in the District Final on Wednesday 27th March. For the District Final the team travelled over to KTS to play Marriotts. This is the second year in a row that the Year 10 team have made it to the final, last year narrowly missing out to JHN school. This time, after an extremely tough match, the Priory students were victorious, winning 3-1. Goals came from the Captain Brave Omondi and Charlie Ball. Well done to all of the players on a great achievement and for the commitment and effort they have shown!

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Netball & RESULTS

STEVENAGE & NORTH HERTS NETBALL TOURNAMENT Congratulations to all the students that were part of The Priory School team that competed in the Stevenage and North Herts tournament. We had fixtures against with the results below. Well done to all students for their efforts in these games! Team Coverdale Year 7: Won 11-4 TeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Year 10: Lost 10-11 Team Coverdale Team Coverdale YEAR 7 DISTRICT NETBALL TOURNAMENT Congratulations to the Year 7 netball team. They competed in the District Netball Tournament in March and finished in 3rd place! Well done to all members of the squad:

Matilda Deards (captain) Ruby Deane Uju Okenwa Ella Monaghan Abbie Thomas Zoe Cooper Molly Cooper Alana Cheevers

YEAR 8 DISTRICT NETBALL TOURNAMENT On Tuesday 19th March our Year 8 netball team competed at the District Netball Tournament. They performed really well, finishing overall in 4th position out of 12 schools. In the pool competition the results were as follows: Marriotts School Won St Francis College Lost Thomas Alleyne Academy Won Knights Templar School Won Greneway School Drew

Our team then qualified for the semi-final but unfortunately lost to Hitchin Girls’ School. They then played St Francis College again in the 3rd/4th play-off and lost 4-2. The girls worked really hard and played very well. The team was made up of the following students: Rebecca Davies (Captain) Jemma Rose Lara Tobin Lauren Anderson-Parrott Esme Anderson-Parrott Olivia-Asha Duncan Alice Rowlands Beth Sexton

SPORTSSports Results: FIXTURES Netball & RESULTS

YEAR 9 DISTRICT NETBALL TOURNAMENT Congratulations to the Year 9 netball team for gaining silver medals at the District Netball Tournament in March. They played the following teams in the pool stage: Marriotts School Won 5-1 Team Coverdale Hitchin Girls’ School Lost 11-9 TeamTeam Coverdale Coverdale Knights Templar School Won 8-2 Team Coverdale Princess Helena College Won 9-2 Team Coverdale The team then went on to win against St Francis College in the semi-final but unfortunately lost to Hitchin Girls’ School in the final. Well done to the following students: Macy Keeping Annabel Holmes Kaitlin Moore-Haines Ashleigh Cooper Rhianne Lucas Holly Long Nina Stephens Holly Keshishian

Local Events

LOCAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR SUPER SERAPH

For further details please go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hitchin-art-hub-auction-teamsuperseraph-tickets-58289912698

Local Events

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