Maidenhill Newsletter

WINTER 2018 EDITION MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018 MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018

Headteacher’s Update

e are delighted that the Year 7 WTeam Building day in September “I loved the school visit because it was a was such a huge success. The visit to the great experience and I got to know a lot Dean Field Studies Centre in September more people. In my opinion the best bit enabled our new Year 7 students to was the leap of faith. I was terrified and get to know each other better and also didn’t want to do it but my friend experience a range of individual and team encouraged me and I gave it a go.” challenges. Learning to work and spend Isabella Parris, 7DLC time together is a key focus of our work in Year 7 when students learn to adjust to life in secondary school, meeting a range of different students and staff. Our aim is to support all students to develop “I think it was amazing. It helped me get academically and personally during their to know my community better and who time at Maidenhill. they are. It was such fun. We did lots of Mrs Wilson, Headteacher different activities. My favourite was an activity where we were blindfolded Y7’s “Newspaper Challenge” on their first day and had to work together to make a square.” Year 7 Team Building Sofie Taubert, 7HCP

n the 17th and 18th It was now time for our final OSeptember Year 7 had activities: the trapeze and the privilege to go on a team- Jacob’s Ladder. For the trapeze, building day at Dean Field we cheered each other on as Studies Centre. Doverow and we climbed up the wobbly pole Frocester went on one day and eventually jumped off the followed by Rodborough and edge to reach the swing. When Haresfield. it was my turn I was so scared. “I enjoyed the scavenger hunt I had to put a harness on and the most which was when we After we had been briefed as I was climbing up the pole it had to hunt for things around and divided into groups; we began to shake. As I got to the Gabbie Adams, 7RKS the forest.” went with our teachers and top my legs began to feel like community leaders. The first jelly. I jumped off the edge and I activity that I did was finding reached for the bar and slowly the stamp. It was challenging as I was lowered down. they were hidden on lampposts but it was also fun. We raced Now it was time for Jacob’s “The trip was very helpful and encouraging around to see who could find it Ladder. We helped each other because it taught you to do anything if you the quickest. up the steps that were almost tried. It made me have a lot of courage, taller than us. One of us stood resilience and taught me how to work in a Our next activity was problem on the other person’s legs and team. My favourite part was the leap of solving. The most challenging heaved the other person up. faith because I did it but I thought I would one was getting the tyre over It was hard work. My group be scared” Chantay Arnett, 7HRE the pole. We stood on each eventually made it up to the other’s shoulders but we still top. I wish I could go back there couldn’t reach it. The funniest because I had so much fun part of it was when someone (except getting covered in mud)! fell over into the lake and got soaking wet. We all laughed. Lily Fenton, 7HHW

2 3 MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018 MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018

Achievement Evening Ambitions 2018

n Thursday 22nd November, we welcomed back last year’s Year 11 students to receive their GCSE Ocertificates. Each subject also nominated students to receive prizes. A variety of other awards were presented including the Headteacher’s Special Award and Governors’ Special Award

ear 9 is generally when students at school must, opportunity for our students to talk to experts Yfor the first time, choose what academic or from many employment sectors, gaining advice vocational subjects they want to pursue for the rest from independent careers advisers, apprenticeship STAR Award – Headteacher’s Special Award – Support Teachers’ Special Teachers’ Special Award – of their compulsory school life. These choices can providers, universities and local colleges. Amie Radford Charlotte Cousins Award – Lewis Clifford Mollie Brown determine their future interests and paths they take into higher education and employment. The event aimed to provide a comprehensive guide to future employment and further study or skills On Wednesday 7th November, our Year 9s attended development and certainly helped our students to find the Stroud Ambitions event, which is the biggest the support and information they need ready to take careers event in the district, providing a unique their next steps.

School Council

huge thank you to all students “I wrote my manifesto preparing it was over I felt very proud of myself. Awho challenged themselves for the nervous day ahead of me. I I came second in the votes and now by putting themselves forward for thought of things to make my learning represent Performing Arts, which I am the School Council elections 2018. community vote for me and included happy with. Next time, I wish to come Governors’ Special Award Tom Moore Trophy – Performing Arts Award – Humanities Award – – Betsey Hall Jodie and Katie Bailey Wesley Lowe Oliver Hodgson It was amazing to see so many it in my testimonial. Finally, the day first and make the school the number students wanting to have a say in came to read my speech to Frocester. one school in the whole country!” the future of Maidenhill School. We It was nerve-racking at first, but when Bradley White, 7FMS Careers Study Skills are very proud of you all and you should be very proud of yourselves. im Harris, our independent interview. To support this work, on he morning of Wednesday Kand impartial careers advisor, 13th November, we held our post T17th October saw Year 11 Congratulations to Caitlin Donovan, has been working with the 16 evening, which was attended by students out of lessons engaging Taylor Pritchard, Cristian Reiger, Year 11 students to help them many local colleges, Sixth Forms, in a Study Skills morning in Harvey Huntley, Toni-Jenna consider their options once they universities and training providers preparation for their December Laming-Mann, Connor Timbrell, leave Maidenhill School. Most as well as local businesses. This is mock exams. They received hints Daisy Stephenson and Macy have now received a careers an extremely useful evening for and tips on how to revise all core Stanton who will represent their interview to check over plans, students to gather information subjects and also participated communities and also Council Reps, explore opportunities and to gain about their future education and in workshops on ‘remembering’, Jasmine Girvan (Y6/7 transition), additional information. The careers careers. interview skills, destinations, and Bradley White (Performing Arts), interviews will continue into well-being. On the back of this, we Isabella Parris (Environment), Freya January. Kim is also available for Kim has also spent time with Year ran an October half term study Kay (Independent Study), Simon students to drop in on Wednesday 9 during Learning for Life to help day offering tea and toast as well Bermingham (Well Being), Grace lunchtimes to ask questions, gain them become better prepared for as a place to study for the day. It Gibbons (Y11/Exams), Georgina help with a CV, application or choosing their KS4 subjects when was a first for Maidenhill and was Knight (Sports) and Nathan preparation for an apprenticeship they make their choices next term. very well attended. Greenway-Davis (Learning).

4 5 MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018 MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018

Remembrance Charity News Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Le Champignon Sauvage Sunday n 21st n October Year 10 and 11 art interesting and it inspired me to OSeptember, Mrs Istudents visited the Birmingham experiment more with different Snelgrove’s tutor Museum and Art Gallery. This styles and techniques.” group organised a non- visit gave them an important Bella Hannis, 10RIS uniform day where opportunity to experience world everyone wore jeans quality art and artefacts from “We got to see lots of really to school to support different times and cultures. They interesting artefacts and paintings. the charity Jeans were able to see how the great What surprised me most was how for Genes. Jeans for themes in art, such as the natural big some of the paintings were and Genes raises money world, portraiture, faith and belief how old some of the artefacts are to transform the lives and conflict to name but a few, in the ancient Egyptian mummy of people affected by a life altering genetic disorder. We raised nearly are expressed in two and three section.” £300, which will help provide day-to-day support, nursing, equipment, dimensions in a diverse range of patient support services, and events that will help bring children affected media and from different cultural Cameron Johnson, 10FMS by a genetic disorder and their families together. viewpoints: “My favourite piece was a painting “I enjoyed looking at the variety called ‘The Music Lesson’ of a European Day of Languages of paintings and sculptures but woman being taught to play an n Sunday 11th November, the painting that stood out for me instrument called a virginal. The Oas part of the remembrance n 26th September, European Day of Languages was marked with most was ‘Charity’ by William A largest watercolour in the world by service in Stonehouse, Year Ocompetitions and challenges. Bouguereau. I was intrigued by the artist Burne Jones surprised me 11 students Ruby Gaulder and the media used and the scale of – it was made of ten sheets of A1 Toni-Jenna Laming-Mann placed Mrs Collins organised a European baking competition and the cakes were the painting. I thought that the watercolour paper joined together. a poppy wreath. This year marks sold in aid of UNICEF. I entered the baking competition because I wanted Birmingham experience was very Bryoney Parry, 10DSP On 20th October we went to 100 years since the end of the to take part in something which is fun, helps others and also helps satisfy First World War. a Michelin starred restaurant hungry students and teachers! I enjoy baking so I wanted to challenge called Le Champignon Sauvage in myself by baking a different recipe and use different skills. I researched South West Junior Chef Cheltenham. We were offered the During the week beginning European recipes and found a cake called ‘Piernik’ which is a Polish he South West Junior Chef to find out how I got on in the chance to go after becoming semi- 5th November, each Learning gingerbread with a dark chocolate glaze. I had never made a glaze before final was held in Ashburton in Junior final. finalists in the South West Chef of Community took part in a so I took it as an opportunity to challenge myself and was pleased with T Devon in October. There were six the Year competition. The chefs remembrance assembly and our the result. The other cakes looked amazing. They were all decorated with finalists, one from each County and I cooked a chicken, leek and were really funny and showed minute silence took place on 9th different themes and were very creative! November. I was representing . mushroom pie with zesty seasonal you professional techniques to I had already spent an afternoon vegetables and it all came together cook high quality food. We learnt I won the competition for best European cake; Phoebe Fox won for most with Gus Ashenford, a chef really well, even my flaky pastry that you have to try food as you Student Leaders and the school creative and Highly Commended was given to Grace Gibbons Year 11, Tia who runs his own restaurant in looked really good, so I was really go along and it tasted delicious. council took charge of selling Isles Year 8 and Lily Fenton Year 7. £44 was raised for UNICEF from the Winchcombe to tweak my dishes, chuffed I didn’t make any mistakes! We helped prepare food like fresh poppies and wristbands during sale of the cakes. break time to raise money for the and I had practised lots at home, so Although I didn’t win, I was really jelly and cheese biscuits and we Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. felt I was prepared. pleased for Conor who won – he made two big batches of brownies The tutor group quiz was won by FDH and the Year 7 challenge was won was cooking next to me and I had and some almond balls. They call by Isabella Parris. Pippa Benn, 9HDK The cookery school in Devon was been helping him… by eating his making the almond balls a zombie Food Bank amazing; they had a walk-in fridge leftovers! The judges were all really job as it takes ages. We were also and a team of staff who washed encouraging and friendly and it lucky enough to present the food, uring Harvest Festival and everything up for us! It was a bit like was great to meet Michael Caines! which was given to the customers. Dagain at Christmas, a food being in Bake Off, but there were six The feedback from the judges was It looked amazing! bank collection was made for professional chefs judging us and that I hadn’t seasoned enough – it Stroud District Food Bank. Staff asking questions as we cooked. is really hard to get this right as We are so glad we had this and students donated a large chefs use lots of salt and pepper opportunity and would love to go collection of tins, packets and non- Miss Shannon was in the home-cook and get it just right without it being back again. perishable goods. Thank you for final and had cooked her dishes in too salty! Aleah Phipps, 11HHW and Maddie your support. the morning – so she kindly waited Eva Bolton-Lake, 11RKB East, 8DSP

6 7 MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2018

Wall of Excellence

aidenhill is a school that representation of the quality work into school to view the work on Malways strives to celebrate our students are involved in; from display and to enjoy some light the achievements of its students written work to photographs of refreshments. Congratulations to and we are delighted to announce practical work and beyond. The those students who have had work that our Wall of Excellence is now wall is updated termly and we have displayed already; we hope to see on full view in our canteen area. been very pleased to welcome the work of new students being The wall acts as a stunning visual both students and their parents displayed in the coming months.

PE News ongratulations to James Cross Country CMitchel and Kit Thomas- Franklin who were selected to n the recent district cross represent Stroud District in the Icountry championships held at U16 Rugby squad. They played in , Lexie Bull and the U16 Rugby Festival County Oakley James performed very well Championships in October at St indeed. Lexie finished second in her Peter’s School Gloucester. age category and Oakley finished in sixth place. Oakley was also competing against boys who were a year older so did exceptionally well. Both Lexie and Oakley have now been selected to represent the district at the county championships which will be held in December. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

TERM 3 TERM 4 Monday 7th January Start of Term 3 Monday 25th February Start of Term 4 Thursday 10th January Full Governing Body Meeting Wednesday 13th March Y9 Parents’ Evening Monday 14th January 8.45am Y11 Photographs Thursday 14th March Full Governing Body Meeting Wednesday 16th January Y11 Parents’ Evening Tuesday 2nd April Y10 Parents’ Evening Thursday 31st January Y8 Parents’ Evening Friday 5th April End of Term 4 Tuesday 12th February Y9 Choices Evening Friday 5th April – Friday 15th February End of Term 3 Monday 8th April Paris Visit Friday 15th February – Berlin Visit Monday 18th February

Maidenhill School, Kings Road, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, GL10 2HA Tel: 01453 822469 If you would like to receive a copy of this newsletter by email, please contact [email protected]

8