TERM 3 February 2017—Issue No 3

WELCOME TO 2017!

Welcome back to 2017 at Gravesend ly not be asking parents for contribu- soon. The Headteacher, former GGS ! The academic year tions towards educational necessi- Associate Head Malcolm Moaby, re- seems to fly by all too quickly, espe- ties. ceived specific mention for his work cially for those sitting public exams in has been “…You have successfully led the Summer. Students in Year 11 and proud for over 120 years, to serve school through a period of consider- 13 will be sitting trial exams during the needs of the local community. able change. Standards had declined this term and those in Year 8 and 11 We firmly believe that bright young- since previous inspection and making choices, or beginning to think sters in this area should have the op- you lost no time in raising the ex- about those choices, this term. portunity for the sort of education pectations of staff Just before Christmas the govern- offered by this school, regardless of ment outlined their latest plans for a income, religion, social status, or an- National Funding Formula. The in- ything else. We have no intention of tention was to equalise funding for changing this stance. individual students across the coun- try and remove some of the historical unfairness inherent in the system. Obviously there will be winners and losers as a result of these proposed changes. This school would actually be a net gainer to the tune of ap- proximately 1.6% of our income. This, at least, will help mitigate very slightly the on-going budget reduc- tions that all schools, especially with sixth forms, have suffered over the last three years. There has been some national press speculation that At the end of January we received some schools will be seeking some very good news regarding the “voluntary” contributions from par- other school in the Gravesend Gram- ents to help make up shortfalls. Over mar School Academies Trust, recent years we have managed our Whitehill . Ofsted finances very carefully and, whilst paid a visit to the school deciding there has been some small reduction that it was still a “Good” school that in curriculum choice, we will definite- has made substantial recent progress and is well set to make further steps Page 2 STAFF NEWS DROPPING OFF STUDENTS CONGRATULATIONS to Ms Maxwell on To ensure the safety of our students and staff, please only use the Turning Circle to the birth of her son on 30th January. drop off/collect students. Please do not drop off outside the Main Building or in WELCOME to Mrs Bouhamdi (History), the Top Car Park. Parents should not come on to the school site via the Pine Ave- and Ms Jarvis (Catering). nue entrance. HEAD STUDENT REPORT 2017 has already proven to be a rather credit to our school, with performers visited to look around the school and successful year for us at Gravesend such as Matt McDermott and Robbie attend subject talks, and we received Grammar School and it is very pleasing Smithers-Halberg arousing a huge de- very positive feedback about all the 6th to see the students return from the gree of applause and appreciation for formers who were on hand to help. Once Christmas break as motivated as ever! their music. Furthermore, the musical again, our students helped display our atmosphere in the school was extended school as an extremely credible, friendly For many of the Year 13’s, the prospects when Faber Whitehouse, a Year 12 stu- and positive place. And it very much is of leaving school and going to university dent, held his own concert at the school so! seem to be right around the corner, in which he performed songs of his own whilst many of the Year 7’s have com- creation. This just goes to show the im- This is the penultimate Head Student pletely settled in and seem to have made aginative and artistic flourish that ison Report for this current serving team. As a the school feel like part of their home. offer at the school. Deputy Head Boy, group, we feel like we’ve each made five It’s brilliant to see how, despite the con- Finn Robinson-Jones, didn’t have time to brilliant friends (Mr Dunne’s kindness trast in age, both groups continue to write this report, as he has been working and support does not go amiss!) and we approach their learning with a degree of tirelessly to extend the musical availabil- have all thoroughly enjoyed and appreci- focus, concentration and enthusiasm in ity within the school, by launching a se- ated our roles and responsibilities. We order to achieve the best. ries of mini gigs during school time to would like to thank everybody for their keep the students engaged and provide help, but particularly acknowledge the Several successful events have occurred a regular opportunity to explore their help and sheer generosity that Mr in recent weeks, promulgating the quali- artistic capacity. Well done to both Faber Dunne, Mrs Carmody and Mrs Haggar ty of music that the school has to offer. and Finn! have shown to us! We wish the new As usual, ‘The Big Gig’ held at the school team the best of luck. Who knows, they proved to be a great success, with stu- This term has also held the 6th Form might even be as good as us! dents throughout all years displaying Open Evening, one of the most im- their musical talent to a large audience. portant events of the year. It was a big Bobby Suman The confidence, capability and flair that success for all involved: a huge number Deputy Head Boy the musicians expressed were a true of students, both current and external, US AMBASSADOR VISITS GRAVESEND On 10th January a group of students from turned up some unusual results as Gravesham’s youth had Gravesend Grammar School, St John’s and almost opposite views to the rest of the country on the whole. Gravesham Youth Council met the out- The second section was more open ended, we were all pre- going United States ambassador to the sented with a card at the beginning on which we were asked UK, Matthew Barzun (pictured left). to write something we disliked about the US and something The session was interactive and split into that inspired us. We then discussed the most common an- two parts; the first was a series of ques- swers. tions about important political issues on both sides of the Atlantic, which actually Patrick Dixon 10D FRIENDS AND FAMILY WANTED! Every year the School runs a two day "Challenge of Management" activity for our Year 12 students during Curriculum Develop- ment Week in July. The event is part of a week designed to help our students develop skills that will allow them to excel once they have finished school lives. One of the successes of the event is the opportunity for students to be around people who can lend their experience and work with them as mentors during the two days. We're looking for people with experience in managing and developing teams or mentoring to help our Year 12 students devel- op their ability to work as teams and individuals in unfamiliar situations. The event this year will be on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th July from 8am - 4pm both days. If you are interested in getting involved please send an email to Ms Haggar ([email protected]) with your name and email address and we'll get in touch with more details.

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 3 Careers News application workshop and a visit to a sity (CCCU) for a Careers focus day. The Careers Fair where many apprenticeship event was run in collaboration with employers will be represented. CCCU MA students studying Career man- agement and each of our year 12’s had the opportunity of an individual careers interview and took part in career infor- mation sessions. The topics covered in- cluded Personals statements, CV writing The UCAS deadline on 15th January her- and the impact of Social Media profiles Year 11 are currently in the midst of alded the end of this year’s application on career prospects. This last topic is making their choices for 6th form and to cycle. Offers have been rolling in and help with this process over 40 chose to many applicants have been successful. take the Morrisby Profile. This is a psy- There are still a number of applicants chometric careers assessment tool which waiting to hear and some attending in- gives an objective report of the student’s terviews so we wish them every success. measured potential across a wide range For the Year 13 students who have not of ability areas and combines the results applied to university, progress is well relevant to everyone as many employers with an interest questionnaire to suggest underway to identify and apply for ap- will “Google” prospective applicants to career areas and A level courses that prenticeships. The majority of these will see if there are any positive or negative may be suitable. The profiling takes place be at Level 4 or above and as the appren- posts to be found. In extreme cases ap- in School run by Mrs MacMahon and I ticeship offer expands every year, more plicants will be rejected if their online who are trained Morrisby Practitioners. diverse occupational areas are being profile is deemed inappropriate for a The reports are processed by the Morris- accessed. Areas of work that our stu- future employee. Take note now! Try by Organisation and then the reports are dents are applying for include account- searching yourself to see what impres- fed back to the students in school, be- ancy, engineering, construction manage- sion you give the every growing online fore they take them home to read and ment, retail management, and mar- community. discuss in detail. keting. Further activities are planned Jenny Douse over the next few weeks to support Recently a small group of Year 12s trav- Careers them in their application including an elled to Canterbury Christ Church Univer- [email protected] BANK OF ENGLAND ECONOMICS TRIP

control levels of inflation as the random After an hour looking around the Bank of movement of the tube represents the England museum, we went to the lec- economic shock waves that massively ture. Here we listened to a talk and then affect the inflation levels in the UK. One watched an informative video about the thing this game taught me is that in or- Bank. We were told how the Bank is run der to keep inflation around the target of and the setup of the people in charge: 2%, one needs to pre-empt the shock- you have the Governor at the top waves and act before they actually hit. (currently Mark Carney) and then it is On Tuesday 17th January, Mr Poon, This is similar to identifying a recession split into three different committees— along with Mr Haves, took some of the before it is actually happening. the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee), Economics students to the Bank of Eng- the PRA (Prudential Regulation Authori- The museum also contained many inter- land where we looked through the mu- ty) and the FPC (Financial Policy Com- esting exhibits, from extremely old bank seum and attended a lecture about the mittee). We also found out from the lec- notes and coins to a solid gold bar worth Bank explaining what it does and how it ture a bit about the history of the Bank £400,000!! We were even able to lift the is run. The trip was a very engaging and of England and also some of their future gold as it was in an especially secure box interesting one and definitely worth- plans, for example, bringing out polymer you could put your hands in. Something while as it added to our overall under- £10 and £20 notes within the next two that surprised most of us was the sheer standing of the subject. years. weight of it! We knew gold was heavy Firstly, we spent time in the museum, but this bar weighed an impressive 13 Overall this was a very enriching and which contained many interactive kilos! We learnt from the displays that engaging trip, as we increased our gen- games, in one you had to tilt a tube to underneath where we were standing the eral knowledge of economics in the real keep a ball in the centre while the tube Bank of England vault contained over world but also had an enjoyable time. moved randomly up and down. This illus- 400,000 of these gold bars!! That’s a Joseph Stibbons 12UC3 trates the Bank of England’s attempt to huge £160 billion worth of gold!

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 4 A CHRISTMAS CAROL On Tuesday 20th December, a group so people, they did a great job. The be an ingenious idea. The change of of performers presented us with acting was very good and believable, costume was quite agile; they even their version of Dickens’ “A Christ- which is something that is welcome. changed the stage set while singing. mas Carol”. As we saw, they only had It makes the audience feel like they If we were to rate this play out of three actors, meaning that they had are in the play, which is (obviously) a ten, then we would give it a solid a big task to cover the many different good thing. The actors were success- “eight”. characters within ful in making the play feel like it was We liked the set design too. Like the script. They did going at a steady rate, with very min- most small plays, they only had one this by using hats, imal breaks between scenes, and set, but the actors themselves car- props, etc. We per- that is because they changing charac- ried on objects while they were sonally believed ters very quickly. The most impres- speaking, which was a great way to that this was a sive example was during the scenes reduce waiting time. The wallpaper very clever and of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to on the stills was really good and interesting way to Come, when the female actor very looked like Victorian , with a take this problem quickly changed between characters grim art style portraying the dirty on and demonstrates that much (sometimes between 5 to 10 sec- and somewhat dull London at the thought went into this play, which onds), which shows just how much time. also shows creativity. Another thing Finally, they adapted the story really that we saw was that the script has well, with lots of detail and in a way been edited well; we can tell this be- that the play could always be ex- cause they have shortened it down citing. They added onto the story in to a reasonable time and cut out some places (like Scrooge meeting lines that may be unnecessary or un- the man with the giant prize turkey) wanted, or add lines for the opposite and fixed some very minor plot holes purpose. Overall, we think that they as well. Overall, this adaptation was have done this well, despite a short- really good and enjoyable. The play age of actors, and they have also talent these people have. The actor was enjoyable, exciting, very well adapted the script well so that the portraying Scrooge was really enjoy- adapted, very well acted, and a treat. audience can enjoy it without it be- able, and we thought that he was a We would tell people that this was a ing too long. definitive Scrooge. brilliant adaptation of a classic novel- The play was an extraordinary suc- la. The play was highly anticipated by cess; though the idea of only three the members of our class, and rightly actors was, in our opinion, a disaster James Close, Oliver Morris, and so. For being setup with only three or waiting to happen, it turned out to Haytham Annise 8C CHARITY Since taking over as charity prefects in mid-December, we have overseen two hugely success- ful non-uniform days. Our first one, a Christmas Jumper Day in aid of ‘Save the Children’, raised an incredible £949, all of which we're sure will go a great distance towards helping chil- dren in situations far worse than our own.

Our second non-uniform day was even more successful, raising £1142.66 towards Dementia UK, a charity which deals with a condition that undoubtedly affects many of us in some way, shape or form.

The tremendous amount of money raised is down to you all, of course, and we cannot thank you enough for your donations and generosity!

We look forward to the months ahead, where we look set to raise a lot of money for several great causes.

Joe Paternoster, Bethany Murray and Masum Rahman GGS Charity Prefects

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 6

OXFORD seemingly identi- lunch in a canteen area of sorts, be- cal roads, we fore making our way over to the were warmly nearby Museum of Natural History. greeted at the There we found ourselves observing Department of anything from the colossal skeleton Earth Sciences by of a T-Rex, a diminutive model of an Claire Grainger. echidna, a barbaric live tarantula Here, she talked (whose only purpose is surely to to us about Earth frighten many an arachnophobe), as Sciences as a well as a wide assortment of rifles, whole for a short knives, flutes and skulls of dead chil- while, informing dren from hundreds of years ago. ‘Oxbridge’ is a word that has some- us about a discovery the university thing of a legendary aura in recent had made, which seemingly guaran- times and remains to many aspiring teed the world’s supply of helium for sixteen and seventeen year olds the a few more years yet. At this point, pinnacle of their ambitions. So when we were introduced to the eccentric Mr Pallant presented us with a trip to and charismatic Jon Wade, who led one of these two great universities, the way downstairs to the labs. myself and nine other students We were thus split into two groups, jumped at the chance to go, with the with one going off to look at the no- university being Oxford, in this in- ble gas lab at first, and the other go- stance. ing into the Scan Electron Microsco- After a minibus journey full of wrong py (SEM) lab. I was part of the former -turns and confusion (locating one of group, and went into a room alive Oxford’s thirty-eight colleges with the roar of machinery and hiss- amongst an ocean of houses, shops ing of pipes, where it felt as if at any and architectural masterpieces is no moment you would hear a metallic easy task), we eventually arrived at clank and the whole place would ex- St Hugh’s College, a pristine and se- plode. A helpful young lady talked us rene area with buildings both mod- through what she was researching, ern and old. Despite the harsh bite of using copper tubes to isolate helium the cold weather, we were guided and measure quantities of the noto- through a wonderfully kept garden riously hard to detect gas. This all en route to a main hall, by a rather came whilst wearing disposable stereotypically ’Oxbridge’ student overshoes, which I mention simply named Luke. Luke gave us a presen- because of the magnificence of Peculiar, random, but interesting tation outlining some key ideas putting them on, with an actual ma- nonetheless. about Oxford, debunking some very chine adhering them to your shoe. That was our final activity of the day, common myths about the place, and Incredible. and we returned home having learnt giving us some very helpful advice on The two groups swapped round a lot, seen a lot, and having been left how to approach applying for Ox- shortly after, and we were intro- a lot to think about regarding our ford, if we should wish to do so. Tight duced to an electron microscope, futures. for time, he gave us a brief tour of St which we were told cost £1million, Also, special thanks to Mrs Purdy for Hugh’s, before we sharply departed something which I was quite alarmed stepping in as our emergency driver! as we needed to get to our next loca- at due to my innate clumsiness. Jon tion, the Department of Earth Scienc- presented this to us, taking us Joe Paternoster – UT3 es, with quite some haste. through how it worked, and even Not that it mattered, however, for allowing me to sit down and peruse a we were soon to get lost again for computer with electron microscope another half an hour! images of part of a turbine in excep- This being said, when we did eventu- tional detail. ally make it through the labyrinth of Shortly afterwards we went and had

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 6

YEAR 7 & 8 ACCELERATED READER MILLIONAIRES

As we approach the half-way point in the School Year, we would like to congratulate those students in Year 7 and 8 who have achieved the status of Accelerated Reader Word Millionaire. To join this prestigious club, students need to have read over 1 million words though the Accelerated Reader programme.

Well done to: Harry Beaton 8C Szymon Kogut 8H Matthew Boniface 7C Jack Douse 7C Max Owen* 8D Haslem Stroud 8H Harry Green 7D Maciej Rytlewski 8D Tyler Zziwa-Longe 8S Jaden Terry 7D Noah Thomas 8D Walid Razaq 8T George Peters 7F Adam Clewes 8F Max Holyoake 7H Lewis Green 8F Arun Jandu* 7H James Fisher-Kearns 7S Kieran Lee 8F Tomisin Oniyitan 7S Iyanu Durojaiye* 8H Henry Fry 7T Joseph Ellis 8H Leo Sofocleous* 7T

*Denotes having read over 2 million words

We look forward to seeing more students join the above in the second half of the year.

Mrs Nurdin

LIBRARY BOOK Gravesend Ki Aikido Club AMNESTY What is it? 1 WEEK ONLY A soft Martial Art that can be enjoyed by all ag- 21 FEBRUARY – 24 FEBRUARY es. The Library is holding a Book Amnesty Where is it held? for 1 week after half term. Upstairs in the Sanderson Building This is your chance to return any overdue books at GGS (no fines charged that week) or any books that When is it? might have found their way on to your book Tuesday evenings 7pm – 9pm shelves at home – check over half term - no ques- How much is it? tions asked! £5 per lesson, first lesson free For more information contact It is very important that books that are marked as th available on the shelves for borrowing are actually Sensei A Johnston 4 Dan there. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly at apparent that some books have ‘disappeared’ out [email protected] of the Library! Are they on your shelves at home? 07858893772 There will be a box in the Library for you to place Or any overdue or ‘disappeared’ books for one week Just come along only. Affiliated to The Ki Federation of GreatBritain . (Fines will recommence the week beginning 27 www.kifederationofgreatbritain.co.uk February)

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 7 CERN below the Swiss. Just the phrase 'Bonjour Mon- speed of light sieur' I could imagine sound like a 11,000 times toddler trying to pronounce round the 'anemone' after watching Nemo. loop in one English was the safer option. second. They have to carry the test out in a vacuum and use mag- netic fields to make sure that energy isnt lost by guiding the protons Earlier this January I was glad to have through the tunnel not hitting the But besides the prices, the language been apart of the CERN trip in Swit- sides of the tube. All so that in 20 and countless losses of possessions zerland, and I could easily say that minutes they can detect what is be- the trip was certainly a memorable this trip was the most fascinating and ing produced as they collide these one. But all jokes aside I can say engaging trip I have been on run by protons as four different points in that this trip was definitely made by the Science Department. It has been the tunnel. A very sophisticated ex- the teachers and students who ac- running for the last three years and it pensive piece of kit, just a fraction companied me and who had just as gives students like myself the oppor- more than your average Meccano kit. great an interest as me in the science tunity to see physics being applied in In addition to seeing the Hadron col- behind the future. real life research outside of the black lider, we also had the chance to go and white learning of the classroom. A trip I can only hope is available for into downtown Geneva where we years to come. We were given a guided tour around spent most of the day cringing at the the site to see things like collider prices of food and gifts. But besides parts being tested as well as one of the huge burnt hole in everyone's Jordan Ramsay-Clements the four sites where they monitor pockets, we were given the chance collisions of the protons. This in- to go around and explore parts of the 12 UD3 volved looking at how they create city for ourselves. This really gave us the protons, how they fire the pro- a chance to experience Geneva tons, how they regulate the proton more; some of us even tried our beams and what they are looking for. French linguistic skills which I could only expect with our English accents There were also interactive areas of would have sounded horrible to the the tour whereby we could look at how the collider actually works and the conditions of which they need to keep the pipeline in order for experi- ments to be as efficient as possible. Showing us that they use protons instead of electrons due to the fact they lose far less energy when mov- ing around the 27km tube. That pro- tons can be far easily extracted from the source thet they use which is hy- drogen. Also why they need to keep the protons at absolute zero (-273 Celsius) for the supercooled electro magnets to fire the protons 11km/h

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 8 YEAR 11 BRUSH UP THEIR FRENCH Just before Christmas, a group of Year 11 group of Year 11s to France for the day, ied; many of us were shocked by the size students completing their French GCSE and thank you to Miss Pasini and Mr of the cemetery and the number of sol- this academic year, participated on a day Deamer for joining us on the trip! diers who were buried there. trip to France organised to support stu- VAL dents’ understanding of the French lan- guage, and to have the opportunity to On Tuesday 20th December 2016, a put this understanding into practice, and group of around 30 Year 11 French stu- broaden their cultural awareness. dents including myself, went on an ex- citing day trip to France along with Miss Lewis, Miss Pasini and Mr Deamer. We had to arrive at school at 6:00 AM to enable us to begin our journey to France via the Eurotunnel. When we arrived in France, our first stop was at a small French Christmas market in Étaples, where we spent approximate- Then we went to a small bakery, where ly half an hour browsing around the we attended two talks by the owners who explained to us in French how they made bread and croissants, and we were William Cronin (11W French/ 11T) has even able to have go at rolling the crois- written about the experience, which sants ourselves. Many of us bought included: a market visit to Étaples and some fresh baguettes and croissants the British Military Cemetery, a practical from the bakery before heading to Bou- workshop and demonstration at a bak- logne. In Boulogne we had to complete ery, Boulangerie Le Fournil in Wierre- some language tasks which required us Effroy (a very big and heart-felt ‘MERCI!’ to walk around the town and find our to Bruno and Chantal Berquier for an way around before returning back to the amusing and an informative visit and a coach to come home after a long day in warm welcome!), and a short visit to many stalls. After this we went to the France. Boulogne Old Town. British Military Cemetery where thou- William Cronin 11T It was a pleasure to take such an enthu- sands of soldiers of all different national- siastic, well-behaved and well-mannered ities from World War 1 and 2 were bur- BIG GIG 1 The first of two Big Gigs this year was well attended and highlighted our talented students across all years.

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 9

BRONZE AND SILVER DoE—TERM 3 UPDATE

This term, the Year 9 Bronze DofE weather will soon depart, paving the Wrotham/Meopham area in May participants continued with their way for a summer of sunshine and and the Qualifying Expedition in Ash- training program in preparation for warmth. down their expeditions this summer. Thus Earlier this year, we arranged for a Forest, far, they have cooked several dishes number of students to volunteer at Sussex in with domestic cookers in the Cooking Riverview Junior School as part of the Septem- Room; learnt about first aid; read Volunteering section. They give up ber. maps and understood the features their time every Friday after school We are (for three or six months) helping the all look- students with a wide range of aca- ing for- demic subjects. The participants ward to thoroughly enjoyed the experience next of coaching younger students, and term, the teachers have been extremely when impressed with their dedication, pro- there will fessionalism and politeness. hopefully be better weather and In addition, this term we have re- more daylight hours so we can start cruited 13 Silver DofE participants, our outdoor adventures. My thanks the highest number yet. They will go to Mr Foster, Mr Haves, Mr Jes- on a map, and cooked several more soon embark on their journey to son, Mr Newman, Mr Townsend and dishes outside in the cold using Tran- achieving their Silver DofE by com- Mr Matthew Ward for making the gia cookers. pleting the four sections DofE run smoothly and successfully. The students have been relentless in (Volunteering, Physical, Skills and the sessions, learning new skills and Expedition) during this calendar year. KKP asking excellent questions about the Since they have all achieved their outdoors. At the same time, they Bronze DofE last year, they are fully were able to get out of their comfort aware of what they are required to zones, got to know each other better do for the four sections. Of course, and try things they have never done their highlights will be the two expe- before. Hopefully, the cold and wet ditions: the Practice Expedition in the CCF MATHS CHALLENGE As men- Area Instructor who was pleased RAISIN’ ATTAINMENT tioned in with the progress that we are making the Term 2 in terms of planning our training pro- newsletter, gramme and developing our under- we are standing of the CCF ethos. shortly opening a CCF unit in school. We have been provided with details The cadet force adult volunteers (Mr of forthcoming camps and courses Poon, Mr Haves, Mr Jesson, Mr Fos- run by the Royal Navy and once our ter and Mrs Warner) have already unit is up and running we hope to begun their training and the cadets encourage some if not all of our ca- are in the process of being formally dets to sign up for something and recruited. Several students have put experience life on the ocean wave, themselves forward to be the senior whether it be in a dinghy, power cadets, who will be responsible for boat or kayak. planning and delivering sessions to the younger cadets and we hope to CNW begin their training in Term 4. We have recently been visited by our Answer on back page GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 10 Gravesend Grammar Games

GGS students compete in County Competitions

Bolt’s secrets: what it takes to be best REGULAR FEATURES Headlines: GGS Student compete at County com- petitions. The Interviews: Student & staff athlete profiles. PE Focus: A level feature: Arcane public school games explained: Anyone for Rugby Fives, The Field Game or Winkies? Forthcoming Events: Rugby 7’s Match Reports, Results & Fixtures: Badminton, Cross Country, Football, Rugby, Table tennis. Bolt from the blue: The sprinter has lived and trained in Jamaica all his career.

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 11 The film ‘I am Bolt’ discloses the secrets of the world’s fastest man. Above all it shows how tough it is to be a world champion. Is being the best really worth it?

Usain Bolt is one of the most fa- be believed. Those hours could be reads: three fried-egg sandwiches mous people in the world, thanks spent socialising, learning or travel- with cheese, one five-egg omelette, to 87.53 seconds’ worth of action. ling, rather than swimming lengths one bowl of grain, three slices of Taking his combined finishing or playing chess. French toast and three chocolate- times in the 100 metre and 200 chip pancakes. He spends around metre finals at the last three Sum- In some fields there is a darker side nine hours per day in the water. mer Olympics, it took to success. In 2011 Mariafrancesca the Jamaican just under a minute Garritano, a former ballerina, de- Pushing too hard and a half to win six gold medals. scribed how dancers suffered ‘This doesn’t sound worth it,’ say It will take you longer to read this from bulimia and anorexia as a re- some. Attempting to become a article. sult of the pressure to maintain the world champion removes you from perfect body shape for their job. ordinary life. Imagine not being But those races were the culmina- For most dancers, blisters and bro- able to choose what you eat, and tion of a lifetime of discipline and ken foot bones are the inevitable being away from your family for strict routines. Bolt eats six meals a result of a life spent on tiptoes in weeks at a time. A quiet family life day, all rigorously controlled by his tiny shoes. is surely preferable to this painful, trainers and assistants. His days and in some ways pointless, quest start off with an exhausting Perhaps the most restrictive thing for supremacy. workout — and that’s before he about elite sport is diet. Take jock- even starts sprinting in the Caribbe- eys, for example, who tend to ‘Life should be about endeavour an humidity. weigh around eight stone. This and ambition,’ say others. To be means that they have to survive on the world champion at anything Then there is the stress of being a 1,000 calories per day. The recently would be much more fulfilling than world champion. The film portrays -retired Tony McCoy only ate din- living a humdrum life. Bolt, Phelps a man who, for all his outward ner four nights per week. Over his and others teach us that hard work, calm, is haunted by doubts. ‘Every career he broke almost every bone focus and discipline can help you year, before my first race, I worry: in his body. achieve your dreams. That is a les- ’Am I still fast?’’ he says. son worth learning. And at the other end of the spec- Mastering anything requires work trum is the swimmer Michael — 10,000 hours of practice, if the Phelps. He eats 12,000 calories per psychologist Anders Ericsson is to day including a breakfast that

GAMES CHALLENGE: Guess Who???

(Answers in next issue)

(Issue 2 answers: Andy Murray, Tom & Ben Youngs, Steven Gerrard)

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 12 STUDENT ATHLETE INTERVIEW Form: 9F Taekwondo but there are more Sport: Taekwondo Old style ITF local clubs including Gravesend Tae Position: 65-70Kg representing & Kwon Do and DFC. England. 1st Dan. What was the best advice you were ev- Years in current sport: 8 years er given? What got you started?: My parents en- The Tae Kwon Do Tenants: Courtesy, couraged me to train in martial arts as I Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and was being bullied at primary school. Indomitable spirit. How often do you train? Everyday: jog- Do you have a role model? ging, performing katas and weight lifting. Connor McGregor: He is cocky and some How far do you want to go? don’t like him but he is spiritual in the I compete in Taekwondo Old style ITF, way he trains, I respect his fighting style YTF competes at Olympics. I love martial and approach. arts and want to learn as many as I can and will probably start MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). I also want to get the high- est qualification for Taekwondo: 9th Dan it takes 40 years to earn it. Name: Denis Piralic How would someone get involved? Age: 13 There are several clubs in Kent: I go to

TEACHER ATHLETE INTERVIEW Name: Mr S Burton days?: Hockey (Gravesham and Well- Which three sports people would Professional Role: Head of Key Stage come HC) and Cricket (Meopham CC). you like to have around for din- 4 PE and Extra-Curricular Sport What got you started?: My father ner and why?: Johnny Wilkinson Education: Gravesend Grammar was heavily involved in rugby and (insight into the World Cup, 2003 School, University of Wales Institute cricket but also encouraged me to and his levels of dedication), An- Cardiff, Canterbury ChristChurch Col- play as many different sports as pos- drew Flintoff (I think he would be lege. sible. What is your earliest sporting What other ways do you stay entertaining) and Sebastien Cha- memory?: Playing cricket in my back healthy?: I walk as much as possible bal (he looks like me). garden with my father. with my family. What was the best sporting ad- Who were your sporting heroes What is your favourite sporting vice you were ever given? Do the growing up?: Ian Wright, Robin memory?: Scoring for Kent U18 simple things well! Smith and Graham Thorpe. against Coleraine , under How would someone get in- Can you recall a memorable sporting lights at GRFC, in front of my peers volved in your sport? Find a local teacher?: Mr Laventure, he showed and parents, who had played just club, just go along and stick with great passion in all aspects of school before me. it. life. He seemed to really care about What is your biggest sporting bug- what we as students did. bear?: The attitude towards officials What is your biggest accomplish- and apparent need to cheat/bend ment in your sport?: Representing the rules to achieve success. my county in both rugby and cricket. When was the last time you cried at What other sports did you partici- a sporting event?: I tore my anterior pate in and to what standard?: Crick- cruciate ligament in my knee in the et (Kent Schools U17), Rugby (Kent first 30 seconds of my final school Schools U18) and almost anything match, against Dartford GS. I was else I could fit in. inconsolable for the rest of the What sports do you play these match!

SPORT THIS TERM: What’s on… http://gravesendgrammar.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2016-2017-Term-1-2-3-4-1.pdf

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 13

PE Feature: Arcane public school games explained:

From a sport expressly designed to the Sixties, by which time it had prac- Eton Wall Game, but it's hardly ever make athletic skill all but irrelevant tically died out. The courts were anti- played. Field Game, on the other to a game in which furking is an quated and there was no longer a hand, is played by everyone. For one offence, willing - and not-so-willing - league. The irony is that while it had term it's the only sport on offer. A partakers explain the rules. almost died at Rugby, it was played cross between rugby and football, at the other public schools, such as you have forwards and backs like Winkies Oundle and Uppingham. Thomas Ar- rugby, but can only use your feet. Winchester College nold, Rugby's great head master, and There's a scrum, which is called a "Winchester is not a school with a a lot of other masters, went off to bully. It's made up of one post, like strong sporting tradition. It's basical- found Clifton and Marlborough and the hooker, two side posts and three ly full of spotty civil-servants-in- other public schools back in the 19th corners. Then there's one bup, who waiting who'd get bullied anywhere century, so the game spread through is like the number eight in rugby. You else. Etonians kick sand in our faces the Rugby diaspora. never lock head and shoulders in the and steal our girlfriends, or at least bully. they would if we had girlfriends.” It's like squash, but you don't have a racket, you use a glove instead and “Instead, one side bends forward and “It is, accordingly, a nice touch that play up against a wall and sideboards the other pushes back with their the weirdly arcane school sport Win- – basically a squash court. And the stomachs. The ball goes into the bul- chester College Football (universally scoring is exactly the same as squash. ly and the post hooks it out to the fly known as Winkies) is expressly de- Of course, you can hit the ball harder who then runs up-field. There are signed to make athletic skill all but with a squash racket, but you can still two ways to score: by kicking it into irrelevant: it's written into the rules give it quite a whack. You might end the (hockey-sized) goal for three that you have to kick the football as up with a slightly calloused hand. points. Or by deflecting the ball off hard as you can if you want to kick it an opposing player to fall behind again, neatly eliminating the possibil- Then there's Eton Fives, which is their line and then scoring a try. This ity of dribbling and forcing you to played with a buttress in the middle nets you five points and is called a wang it downfield and chase, in- of the court. It was developed be- rouge. There's one other rule to re- stead. cause of the buttress in Eton Chapel. member. The bup and the bully, You could say it's a more interesting while formed, can bring the ball for- “Smack it, run, hope, smack it, run, game: it has its quirks in the way it ward. But they cannot kick it back. If hope; you immediately begin to see ricochets at different angles. But they do it's called furking – and furk- how the place became a British for- then Rugby Fives is harder, simpler, ing is an offence." eign policy training ground. Still, at straighter." Hugo Sells, 26, property developer, least it gave us malcos a chance." Tim Blackstone, 68, semi-retired fi- London Anon, Old Wykehamist nancial PR, London http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ Rugby Fives The Field Game education/schools/arcane-public-school- Rugby School Eton College games-explained-anyone-for-rugby-fives- "I came to play Rugby Fives back in "Everybody seems to know about the-field-game-or-winkies-9695696.html

Williamson's Mathematical School, Rugby training continues for all age Forthcoming Rochester. groups, where pupils will be concen- Year 9 - Tuesday 14th March - Dartford trating on 7s gameplay. We would Grammar School. Events: Rugby 7s like to wish all the pupils all the best Year 10 - Thursday 9th March - Gravesend while representing the school. Good Next term sees the return of the 7s Grammar School. luck. competitions, Gravesend Grammar Year 11 - Wednesday 1st March - Sutton Valance School. Mr Gray School has entered a number county Senior - Wednesday 8th March - Graves- and national events. Below are the end Rugby Club. FIXTURES: dates and venues for each competi- - Wednesday 22nd March - Rosslyn http://gravesendgrammar.eu/sports-fixtures/ tion: Park National 7's. Year 8 - Thursday 16th March - Sir Joseph

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 14 HOUSE RUGBY Saturday 28th January matches were played throughout. 8 Cliff the BBQ and refreshments. They raised a Our annual event was met with cold but and 9 Cliff both scored 31 tries each, the very impressive £900!! I would like to sunny skies and once again a feast of most on the day. The best represented thank all the parents involved that made rugby was witnessed. Just under 400 form on the day was 7 Cliff, so well done this possible. students were representing their respec- to them! tive Houses with some great displays of Above all, the day would not be possible rugby on show! The final results are reached with the without all the hard work from the staff results of the matches combined with involved, refereeing and looking after Two teams represented each House in the attendance figures of each form. In your sons and the boys themselves. It is years 7 - 9 with one team in each of year the result of two or more teams being a pleasure to be part of Gravesend 10 and 11. All teams scores were com- level the final standings are decided on Grammar School when I see so many bined to get an overall year group and the number of students in attendance. boys out playing rugby and ultimately then lower and middle school winner. 75 enjoying themselves. I hope this acts as a matches were played with 459 tries The event was once again ably supported springboard for next season! scored, that is just over 6 per match! by parents of students on our forthcom- That shows that free flowing high scoring ing rugby tour to Canada/USA who ran SAB FINAL STANDINGS 2017 YEAR 7 OVERALL P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST H 10 5 2 3 18 7 +11 22 45 2ND F 10 6 2 2 27 14 +13 21 45 3RD T 10 6 0 4 30 9 +21 19 45 4TH D 10 4 3 3 16 13 +3 23 44 5TH C 10 3 7 0 13 32 -19 24 40 6TH S 10 1 9 0 14 47 -27 19 31

YEAR 8 OVERALL P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST C 10 7 2 1 31 16 +15 22 47 2ND D 10 6 3 1 26 18 +8 22 45 3RD T 10 6 2 2 22 15 +7 17 41 4TH H 10 3 5 2 21 21 0 15 33 5TH S 10 1 8 1 6 27 -21 11 24 6TH F 10 3 6 1 17 26 -9 7 24

YEAR 7 + 8 OVERALL P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST D 20 10 6 4 42 31 +11 45 89 2ND C 20 10 9 1 44 48 -4 46 87 3RD T 20 12 2 6 52 24 +28 36 86 4TH H 20 8 7 5 39 28 +11 37 78 5TH F 20 9 8 3 44 40 +4 28 69 6TH S 20 2 17 1 20 68 -48 30 55

YEAR 9 OVERALL P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST S 10 6 3 1 25 13 +12 16 39 2ND D 10 7 2 1 39 12 +27 14 39 3RD C 10 8 2 0 31 16 +15 11 37 4TH T 10 6 4 0 21 22 -1 13 35 5TH F 10 1 9 0 4 28 -24 8 20 6TH H 10 0 9 0 3 40 -37 6 16

YEAR 10 P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST H 5 3 1 1 10 4 +6 9 21 2ND S 5 2 1 2 9 8 +1 11 19 3RD T 5 0 5 0 7 17 -10 8 16 4TH D 5 3 2 0 11 8 +3 5 16 5TH F 5 1 2 2 5 8 -3 6 15 6TH C 5 3 1 1 10 6 +4 3 15

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 15

YEAR 11 P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST D 3 2 1 0 13 6 +7 10 17 2ND C 3 2 1 0 10 7 +3 7 14 3RD S 3 0 3 0 4 13 -9 10 13 4TH H 3 2 1 0 7 8 -1 6 13 5TH F 3 2 1 0 10 7 +3 4 11 6TH T 3 2 1 0 7 8 -1 4 11

YEAR 9, 10 + 11 OVERALL P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST D 18 12 5 1 63 26 +47 29 72 2ND S 18 8 7 3 38 34 +4 34 71 3RD C 18 14 4 0 51 29 +22 21 67 4TH T 18 8 10 0 35 47 -12 28 62 5TH H 18 5 11 2 20 52 -32 21 51 6TH F 18 4 11 3 19 43 -24 18 47

OVERALL STANDINGS P W L D TF TA Tdiff Pl Pts 1ST D 38 22 11 5 105 57 +48 74 161 2ND C 38 24 13 1 95 77 +18 67 154 3RD T 38 20 12 6 87 71 +16 64 148 4TH H 38 13 18 7 59 80 -21 58 129 5TH S 38 10 21 4 58 102 -44 64 126 6TH F 38 13 19 6 63 83 -20 46 116

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 16

run. Devlin (7T) and Zane Narh (7S) both MATCH REPORTS scoring goals against very well organised BADMINTON At 11:20 am I began my 3k Kent Schools defences. The 6s tournament is sure to On Wednesday 11th January, myself and cross country race at Duke of York's Roy- be another test for the team’s skills and three other year 7/8 students went to al Military School in Dover. It was a very organisation in defence. Ebbsfleet Academy to compete in a dou- cold but sunny morning and the course bles tournament against two other local was very challenging as there was lots of If you would like to join Hockey all years schools, Ebbsfleet and St. Johns. Each mud and steep hills along the way. De- are welcome. Training is on Wednesday’s school entered two doubles teams. spite the conditions I managed to finish after school. Gravesend Grammars pairings were my- in 54th place out of 109. I was pleased BPS self (Josh Chiswell 7D), Alex Richards 7F, with my efforts but I know I could do Matt Boniface 7C and Oliver Gardener better as my fitness was not at its best. I RUGBY 8T. am looking forward to my next challenge U12 RUGBY representing the school and I know that I This year has been superb for our Year 7 We played five games in total including a will do better. Squad, it has been enjoyed thoroughly match against Matt & Ollie. Overall we Luke Fenton 7C by staff and students alike. The vast ma- all played very well as the end results jority picked up a rugby ball for the first showed with myself & Alex securing 1st FOOTBALL time in September, when they first place and Matt & Ollie coming joint 2nd. 2nd XI joined GGS. Training has seen 40-50 play- My most challenging match was against 2017 has seen the GGS 2nd XI improve ers turning up regularly, hopefully this Matt & Ollie finishing with a score of 18- immensely since a disappointing start to will continue next year. 16. It was a great tournament and a real- the season. Our first fixture of the calen- ly fun experience. dar year was against a tough St Gregory's We have had several fixtures against Josh Chiswell 7D (Tonbridge Wells) side who made it diffi- good rugby schools such as St Olave’s, cult for us on a boggy pitch. But our tac- Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School CROSS COUNTRY tics and perseverance saw us through and Dartford Grammar school. Through On 21st January, I competed at the KSAA after going a goal down to win 5-1. The all of these, the players have improved Cross Country Championships at Dover. I reverse fixture was played the week after significantly and their determination and ran in the intermediate boys race, which and again we overcame this physically enthusiasm has never waned. The squad was three laps around the Duke of York's tough side with an impressive 5-2 victory has enjoyed several away fixtures to Si- Royal Military School. In total, this to- after some great finishing from the at- mon Langton Grammar School, Dartford talled 7km and I managed to place 65th tacking players. Grammar School, Rochester Maths and in the race with a time of 25 minutes and Wallington Grammar School where they 39 seconds. Overall, I would say it was all Our biggest test as a squad came in late were a true credit to the school. At our a great experience. Also the top runners January going up against a team from final competition, we beat Wilmington in the race earned themselves places in St.Olave’s who had previously beaten us Grammar School and narrowly lost to the ESSA Cross Country Championships 11-0 at the start of the season. The game Dartford Grammar in the other local der- 2017, which is a race between the best was gritty and marked by several hard by. runners from each county in England. tackles made even worse by the state of Max Charlwood 10F the pitch. After a dogged and deter- The team has been captained by a num- mined performance, we ground out a ber of players, but notably by Olamide It was a very cold and foggy day. There well deserved draw, with the final score Sodeke, Isaac Tokura, Chidi Ikediashi, were 85 people and I came 54th which being 2-2. This result goes to show how Emmanual Olaofe, Ben Reeve, Jerome I'm very happy with. It was also a very much the team has progressed through- Omolayole and Max Holyoake. All of the muddy surface so it was very hard to out the year and what a promising future captains have also spoken very well after this side has. As a coach, I am immensely matches and have behaved in the true proud of the commitment and passion "Rugby Spirit" by welcoming the opposi- shown by the boys since the start of tion and being gracious in both success 2017, long may it continue. and defeat. TAS We sincerely hope that the players will HOCKEY - U13 continue to play next year, as there is a The number of players in the U13 hockey lot of raw talent in the squad and that, squad has been growing and growing coupled with the drive and resilience over the last two terms. The team have that they have shown will lead to a suc- had two games this term and are head- cessful season. I would also like to thank ing to the Kent 6’s tournament on the 6th the support of all of the parents who February. They have faced some very have attended home and away fixtures strong and established hockey schools, (even in the cold and the wet!) It means where they equipped themselves very a lot to the boys and to us as a well, and despite two losses they played School. Good luck. some nice, flowing hockey with Keanan EJR, RMH, CNW

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 17

U13 RUGBY been catching us up. application and desire culminated in 2016/17 has been a very impressive a winning result against the School’s season for the U13 squad. For the The season has been full of commit- oldest rival, Dartford Grammar first time in two years, they were ment and some undeserved results. School. The performance within this able to field an A and B team for the Often the Opposition have pulled game was outstanding with all the majority of the fixtures. Among those away in the last quarter as there are players showing passion, desire, uni- fixtures were some excellent team only so many tackles we can make. ty and skill to win this fixture for the and individual performances, includ- first time in 8 years. This result, on ing victories against Robert Clack, The season started well with wins top of the improved block fixture Maidstone, Chis and Sid and Beths. over St Dunstan’s and Hurstmere and results and fantastic performances The team have developed through- finished with a run of very close across the season, has led to a sea- out the season in many different are- matches with Wallington County, son where all players can take tre- as. In particular in defence and in Chis & Sid and Rochester Maths. The mendous pride. This positive finish their support play. match against Rochester Maths was has allowed us to savour the effort lost with the last kick of the match. for some of the boys who have over Training will begin again on Tuesdays three years in the senior squad and after half term to prepare that boys We now are approaching the 7s sea- others over the last few. We take this for the Kent 7s competition in son and the culmination of junior momentum forward into our 7s sea- March. rugby at GGS for the squad. Next son, where we hope to have the BPS year, they will venture into the Sen- same level of success as before. ior squad and will definitely be truly CC U14 RUGBY tested. The freezing weather has hampered TABLE TENNIS the latter part of our season causing As a squad/team the U15s have pro- Maksim Balas (8S), Connor Morton cancellations. In our final game of the gressed week on week and there season we faced Dartford Grammar have been some excellent perfor- away. This was a very physical con- mances throughout the year. Oliver test with Gravesend Grammar domi- Perkins (10F) and Edward Bentley nating physically despite the opposi- (10H) have been consistent perform- tions greater size and quantity of re- ers and Luke Trigg (10F) has recently serves on their bench. Gravesend been selected for the Elite Player De- lead throughout the first half and velopment Group, the top level of spent the majority of the game in the County rugby in his age group. Opposition’s 22. Early in the second half we allowed Dartford back in the I have really enjoyed coaching the game early but still led on the score- boys this year and I would like to board throughout. Unfortunately we thank Mr Guck who has worked tire- (8D), Jason Smith (7C) represented could not maintain the lead with a lessly all season coaching alongside the School in Gillingham at the disallowed try and a Dartford try 10 me. Kent table tennis tournament against minutes in overtime left the score 14 SAB other schools on 24th January. There -10. We were unlucky to not leave were many top Kent players there with a win and all the players should SENIOR RUGBY but we won some games. Connor be proud of their performance. For Senior rugby in the 2016-2017 sea- made it to the quarter finals of the his physical performance and fero- son proved to be a positive experi- consolation tournament and on his cious tackling, Harry Tasker 9T ence and a successful one, with the way, he had to play Maksim and earned himself Man of the Match. All squad having settled as a stronger knock him out of the consolation. the players have improved and unit than in previous years. As a re- Jason lost against the eventual final- should be commended for their sult of this improved unity and great- ist in the group stages when he could efforts and enthusiasm. WBB er team spirit between the players easily have won that game having this season has meant that we pro- had three match points. We all very U15 RUGBY gressed in a positive manner. much enjoyed the tournament and The 15-a-side season is now com- hope to represent the school again plete, it has been a tough year! The Although some results did not go our next year. squad over the years at GGS have way for one reason or another, there Maksim Balas (8S) had a lot of success. However, for can be no question of the students’ various reasons other schools have application in match fixtures. This GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 18

HOCKEY U13 Kent Hockey 6s Tournament 2017 not come in the allotted time. Result 2-3.

A small group of year 7 and 8 pupils were A short break and then we were back on entered into the Kent Schools In2 Hockey to face the next team, tournament on Monday 6th February, to B. This time, the boys were ready and be held at Kent College, Canter- defended far better. There were more bury. After an early start, we assembled battles in midfield, with some movement at their grounds. The format was seven- towards the wings from both a-side, including a goal keeper, with teams. Olamide Sodeke, our goalkeeper, twenty minute matches to be played. did a wonderful job, sometimes having to defend multiple shots in the same pas- Our first opponents were Harvey Gram- sage of play. However, one is all it mar. We were a little off the pace to takes. He stopped the ball a few times, However, our boys have nothing to feel start, conceding a goal within the first but the play had pulled him out of posi- despondent about. This was their first two minutes. Thereafter the game be- tion and the opposition fired one tournament fixture. The tournament came a lot tighter. The opposition were home. A closely fought match but a 1-0 was a Year 8 competition. As the GGS pressing high up the pitch so we had to loss. team were mainly Year 7s, they have defend; clearing the lines was an issue as gained some valuable experience to aid it meant not using our normal pattern of The final match was against Simon Lang- them when they go to next year’s com- going sideways and then up the ton, a far more organised team, who had petition. They showed some excellent wings. Some instructions from Mr Stan- a very obvious able player. The first team work, worked hard for each other ley allowed the team to adapt and move short corner they received resulted in and learnt a lot about the intensity, forwards. Keanan Devlin did some ster- the ball going completely out of the field match-play and tactical awareness of ling work moving forward, getting into of play and on towards a parked car; competitive school hockey. the goal area and scoring a fine individual luckily, no damage was done. (Face AS goal. There were some replies from Har- masks were worn and with good rea- vey Grammar, such that they were lead- son!) Keeping them out of the goal area The team consisted of: Olamide Sodeke, ing 3-1. But Keanan broke forward again, proved a complicated task as they were Matthew Boniface, Charlie Agg, Cody linking very well with Cody Eagan, who adept at pinching any type of pass and Eagan, Ben Andrews, Harveer Singh slotted a pass forward for Harveer Nijjer able to shoot from both the strong and Nijjer, Caleb Rolfe, Keanan Devlin, Man- to push past an outstretched keep- weak sides of their sticks. The result was tej Singh Clare, Roan Singh Chima. er. One more goal needed, but this did a loss, 0-4. PTA NEWS

It was nice to see so many of the parents ble but with everyone's life becoming so day every month at 7pm. Everyone is over the Christmas period, at the Elf pro- busy, at times we struggle. After 11 years welcome but if it is your first time it duction, Carol Service and other events. on the PTA I will soon be stepping down would be best to email me to make sure Congratulations to you if you won one of as Chairman and other members will be you get to the right place. Not every the PTA draw prizes, you have all helped resigning their positions too. So there school has a PTA, let alone one that is to raise more funds than ever for the will be key vacancies on the PTA come fully embedded into the school like ours school. The hampers were extra special the AGM in April. Have a think about is. this year too, so a special thank you to volunteering and joining us, personally I Peter Williams you if you donated goodies to go into have found it very rewarding and en- PTA Chairman them. joyed my time helping such a great school. As the school year rumbles on the PTA committee does its best to bring refresh- The committee meets with the Head and ments to as many school events as possi- teacher representatives on the first Mon-

250 CLUB 1st - £195.25 - No 257 - Member since 2003, one previous win 2nd - £106.50 No 179 - Member since 2003, two previous wins Claire Holmes 3rd - £53.25 - No 324 - Member since 2016 250 Club Coordinator

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Chal- Page 19

GRAVESEND GRAMMAR SCHOOL TERM DATES - 2017 - 2018

Term Start Finish Days th Monday, 4 September 2017 Staff INSET Term 1 Tuesday, 5th September 2017 Friday, 20th October 2017 34 days Holiday: 10 days - Monday, 23rd October – Friday, 3rd November 2017

Term 2 Monday, 6th November 2017 Tuesday, 19th December 2017 32 days Holiday: 11 days - Wednesday, 20th December 2017 – 3rd January 2018 (three Bank Holidays)

Term 3 Thursday, 4th January 2018 Thursday, 8th February 2018 26 days Holiday: Six days – Friday, 9th February – Friday, 16th February 2018

Term 4 Monday, 19th February 2018 Thursday, 29th March 2018 29 days Holiday: Six days – Friday, 30th March (Good Friday) – Friday, 6th April 2018(two Bank Holidays)

Term 5 Monday, 9th April 2018 Friday, 25th May 2018 34 days Holiday: Five days - Monday, 28th May – Friday, 1st June 2018 (one Bank Holiday)

Term 6 Monday, 4th June 2018 Friday, 20th July 2018 35 days 190 days Summer Holiday: Monday, 23rd July – Wednesday, 29th August 2018

GRAVESEND GRAMMAR SCHOOL TERM DATES - 2018 - 2019

Term Start Finish Days th Wednesday, 29 August 2018 Staff INSET th th Term 1 Thursday, 30 August 2018 Friday, 19 October 2018 37 days nd nd Holiday: 10 days - Monday, 22 October – Friday, 2 November 2018

th Term 2 Monday, 5 November 2018 Tuesday, 18th December 2018 32 days

Holiday: 13 days – Wednesday, 19th December 2018 – Friday, 4th January 2019 (three Bank Holi- days)

th th Term 3 Monday, 7 January 2019 Thursday, 14 February 2019 29 days th nd Holiday: Six days - Friday, 15 February – Friday, 22 February 2019

th th Term 4 Monday, 25 February 2019 Friday, 12 April 2019 35 days th rd Holiday: Seven days - Monday, 15 April – Tuesday, 23 April 2019 (two Bank Holidays)

th th Term 5 Wednesday, 24 April Friday, 24 May 22 days th st Holiday: Five days - Monday, 27 May – Friday, 31 May 2019 (one Bank Holiday)

rd th Term 6 Monday, 3 June 2019 Friday, 19 July 35 days

nd th Summer Holiday: Monday, 22 July – Wednesday, 28 August 2019 (NB: provisional)

GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017 Page 20

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Thursday, 9th February LAST DAY OF TERM 3 Ski trip to USA—9th February—17th February Berlin trip—9th February—13th February Monday, 20th February START OF TERM 4 ((WEEK 2) Year 11 Trial Exams start Thursday, 23rd—Saturday, 25th February Y12 Geography Field Trip Thursday, 2nd March Y8 Options Evening Monday, 6th March Year 8 Consultation 3:30 pm (1) Wednesday, 8th March Year 12 Hustings Monday, 13th March Year 8 Consultation 3:30 pm (2) Monday, 20th March Y8 Options due Year 9 Consultation 3:30 pm Tuesday, 21st—Thursday, 23rd March Production—Roald Dahl Monday, 27th March Parents’ meeting for Normandy Trip Tuesday, 28th March Post –18 Options Evening Friday, 31st March Rugby Tour Quiz Saturday, 1st April—Sunday, 9th April Ski Trip to Italy Monday, 3rd April Year 10 Consultation—3:30 pm Tuesday, 4th April LAST DAY OF TERM 4 Thursday, 6th April—Wednesday, 12th April Yorkshire Dales Walking Trip Tuesday, 18th April START OF TERM 5 (NB WEEK 2)

TERM DATES 2017-2018 AND 2018-2019 HAVE NOW BEEN PUBLISHED AND ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: www.gravesendgrammar.eu TERM DATES FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2016—2017

Term 1 Starts: Monday, 5th September 2016 Year 7 Familiarisation Day Tuesday, 6th September 2016 – Teaching starts for whole School Finishes: Friday, 21st October 2016

Term 2 Starts: Monday, 31st October 2016 Finishes: Wednesday, 21st February 2017

Term 3 Starts: Tuesday, 3rd January 2017 Finishes: Thursday, 9th February 2017

Term 4 Starts: Monday, 20th February 2017 Finishes: Tuesday, 4th April 2017

Term 5 Starts: Tuesday, 18th April 2017 Finishes: Friday, 26th May 2017

Term 6 Starts: Monday, 5th June 2017 163830

Finishes: Friday, 14th July 2017 of total a giving 6+840+91359+71625,

or 6+820+91359+71645

is letters by represented sum The

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GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment February 2017