Parkstone NewsNews No.1 1. 1 Welcome to the new format of our school newsletter - producing and printing the publication and so we’ve come up Parkstone News. with the idea of producing shorter but more frequent The introduction of ParentMail has offered us the editions of Parkstone News. This means the news is more up opportunity of rethinking how we issue our newsletter to to date and so will reflect what’s happened in school over the parents and the school community. Being able to forward previous few weeks. the majority of our newsletters by ParentMail or email has We hope that you enjoy this new format and look forward to very much reduced the previously high costs involved with ‘speaking’ to you more frequently! Parkstone Goes Into the Woods hree nights in October saw the culmination of ten months‟ hard work when the school hosted performances of the musical Into the Woods. T In a joint production with Poole Grammar School, the two schools enthusiastically and excitedly demonstrated their strong talents and teamwork by offering four spectacular shows. From the talented musicians and actors to the artistic lighting technicians, scenery painters and make-up artists – everyone performed to their highest capability and this was Administrator and Examinations Officer Gavin reflected in the highest quality performances. Clegg is well known in the school for his passion of the sport of Orienteering. Into the Woods (music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and story A very keen and dedicated Orienteerer, Gavin by James Lapine) is a unique often travels afar to compete in prestigious races. But his latest race really tested his musical, bringing in many famous commitment when he needed to travel all the fairy tale characters such as way to Sydney, Australia to compete in the Rapunzel, the Ugly Sisters, Little Orienteering World Master Games. With over Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, 28,000 competitors the World Masters Games to produce a sometimes dark, but is four times the size of the Olympics. Serious highly funny dramatic piece. competitors, like Gavin, face quality opponents in the competition as the World Masters Games is seen as a pinnacle event. The final performance welcomed local dignitaries The final of the Orienteering Sprint Races was and community members to held in the Olympic Park and Gavin ran a the school, including the magnificent race, finally being awarded the Silver Medal – a wonderful achievement! Mayor and Annette Brooke MP. At the end of the show The quality of Gavin’s competitors was the Mayor kindly offered a extremely high – he came second to expert warm and amusing speech Warren Key from Australia and beating Jörgen to the evening‟s guests Mårtensson who achieved the bronze medal position. This was a terrific personal when he eloquently echoed achievement for Gavin particularly as Jörgen the audience‟s appreciation is highly successful in his sport and he is twice of such a highly gifted group winner of the World Orienteering of students and staff. championships. Congratulations to all involved! fter an early morning start, 30 to be to pass the inspection; you could students accompanied by literally see your reflection in the shine teachers and Mr Bruce Worthy of the leather! A (our Premises Manager and From the courtyard it was then on to former trumpeter of the Blues and the farriers’ forge, an exploration of Royals Regiment) arrived at Hyde Park the two stable blocks, a crash course Barracks – the home of the Household in Cavalry Saddlery before finally product of all Cavalry. We had an exciting day ending up at the outfitters. Here girls the hard work ahead of us … could be found trying on Prince and effort we First we were treated to a tour of the William’s and Prince Harry’s dress had seen that Barracks during which we watched a coats from their time in the Cavalry, morning. surreal show jumping lesson out in as well as one of the teachers Going to see Hyde Park with servicemen of all ranks precariously lifting a certain drum so the showing off their skills and valuable that no insurance company Household horsemanship. in the world will insure it (needless to Cavalry was a Following this we were then privileged say it was hastily replaced in its thoroughly enjoyable day and one to witness the inspection of the men casing!). that I shall never forget. and horses who were about to set off Finally, after lunch we travelled from to Horse Guards Parade. We were the barracks to Horse Guards Parade lucky enough to be allowed to get up to have a look around the Household ABBY MAYNARD close to the horses and see for Cavalry Museum and watch the YEAR 12 ourselves just how clean their kit had changing of the guards – the end hen last year’s 9K studied the form of Greek arkstone was very pleased to welcome back former Tragedy in Drama it was a tragic day for Jamie student and professional dancer, Lauren Bridle. W Oliver. Sadly Jamie died a ghastly death – and P Lauren left Parkstone five years ago and has kept in all in the cause of chicken welfare! touch ever since being a firm „friend‟ of the PE Department. Poor Jamie! Current students, Mae Hills and Jemima Robinson, tell us of her As part of the course students are required to choose a visits : ‘serious topic’ and six girls - Hannah Thorpe, Emma Younger, Emma Wright, Marnie Pilkinghome, Holly “We were lucky enough to enjoy some wonderful dance Poulson and Sarah Jane Tarver - chose Jamie’s campaign tuition from Lauren Bridle, an ex-Parkstonian. for chickens for their topic. They then enacted a play on the issue in the Lauren visited the school to help judge the Gym and Dance tradition of a Greek Tragedy, with chorus, messenger, protagonist and competition, and also to kindly give some dance workshops to antagonist. the students. The group was so pleased with the final performance that they recorded The workshops consisted of a thorough warm-up, leading on it and sent a copy to Jamie, apologising that he had had to die for the to contemporary dance. Lauren is a student in London and chickens! spent her first year at college studying musical theatre, before In return all the students received a signed photo of Jamie, and a lovely finally deciding she preferred contemporary dance and so letter from his organisation, saying ‘It’s a shame Jamie had to die in the focussing on that for the following two years. This sort of end (we’re glad you didn’t show that, it sounded very graphic!) but we’re dance is very relaxing, flowing and quite interactive and pleased that you chose Jamie’s chicken campaign for your topic. We hope Lauren shared some of her wonderful talent with us. you received a good mark for it - we’d give you A*’ The workshops were a great hit with the students, so much so In fact they liked it so much they have forwarded the DVD to his PA so we that Lauren is considering returning when her schedule allows, may even hear from the man himself! to share some more of her amazing dancing ability.” Mrs Parks – Drama Department Undeterred, the students started their matches – t the end of the summer term a group of Parkstone’s tennis ONLY FOR IT TO VERY UNEXPECTEDLY POUR players were lucky enough to be invited to compete in the WITH RAIN! Poole and East Dorset tennis competition. The nine girls The girls played very well indeed, with the AA were formed into two teams and each team was required Parkstone A Team achieving 3rd and the B Team to play 3 singles matches and 3 doubles matches each. gaining 8th place. Both positions were to be commended – The girls arrived a little nervous about the weather - it was during particularly as the other teams were mixed and, as a girls only the summer heatwave and the weather for the day was forecast as school, Parkstone’s teams were the only ones without boys! the hottest of the summer so far! Congratulations to all the players on a wonderful day out. SSppeecciiaalliisstt SScchhoooollss his term has excitedly seen the launch of our first One e are very fortunate this year to host two World Language Week, celebrating the cultural diversity Comenius Assistants through the British T within the school and internationally. W Council scheme. This scheme allows a For the last week in September there were many activities member of staff from Europe to join the school and to taking place throughout the school including themed work with teachers and students to promote their assemblies during which both students and staff who speak a culture, language and cross-curricular links. community language were on stage. In addition, girls and staff were offered the opportunity to Our first student, Anna Marsh, is from complete a One World Language Quiz where participants Sweden. She is working mainly with were asked people to match the internationally famous the PE Department teaching hip-hop person with his/her subject area. and contemporary dance to our As part of the celebration, Mila Love, one of the school’s students. She will also be teaching a Cover Supervisors, hosted a Russian Day. During this day, she Swedish language course from November for interested girls in Years taught Russian to a variety of classes and also taught Russian Anna Marsh dancing at lunchtime. This was open to all girls and was 8 and 9. hugely popular, so much so that Mrs Love will now be Our second assistant, Magdalena teaching a Russian dance group on a regular basis! Macón, is from Poland.