Wednesday 28th March 2018 Issue 24 Contact Details Reception: 01625 526191 Attendance: 01625 441089 Sixth Form Attendance: 01625 441070 Community Liaison: 01625 444159 School Lettings: 01625 441053 Second Hand Uniform 07796 266165 (Annabel) Wilmslow High wins the National Bar Mock High Notes Trial March 2018 highnotes@wilmslow high.cheshire.sch.uk The Bar Mock Trial is a national competition where students fight a criminal trial. Judges (who are real recorders, Circuit judges, High Court judges and Lords Justice of Appeal) decide who has given the best performance. 2,730 students took part from 182 schools, competing in 18 regional heats all over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We won! In the first case, Deniz Grey (played by Emily Short) has been accused @wilmslowhigh of domestic violence on her partner, Vik Matthias. They were having one @whigh_maths of their usual rows in the kitchen. Vik was very angry, and waved a knife @whigh_eng at Deniz. Deniz grabbed her by the arms and pushed her to the ground. wilmslowhigh.com Somehow, some way, Vik broke her leg. Continued on page 2 1 What Vik failed to mention to the police was that she had broken her leg in the same place 3 months ago while playing football, so this was really a re-fracture. Deniz argues that she reacted in self-defence because she really believed Vik was going to harm her. What’s strange is why, when Vik was writhing on the floor in agony with a broken tibia, Deniz carried on telling her to leave and even rang the police to tell them she was scared of her. Emily batted this one away: “You know what these footballers are like; one minute they’re lying on the floor screaming, and 30 seconds later they’re up and about again. I assumed she was play-acting”. The second case was about the Charalambous, an old couple who lived in the flat above the Simms. The Simms believed Georgie Charalambous was deliberately pouring foul pet waste down the drain, knowing that the drain was blocked and the waste backed up the drain onto the Simms’ balcony. For the 5th time, the Simms went to see Georgie, who answered the door. Ashley Simms threatened Georgie, and had her foot in the door. Georgie threatened to call the police, and tried to close the door. According to Georgie, at that point, the Simms left and that was that. According to the Simms, Georgie produced a gun and pointed it at them. Who’s telling the truth? Georgie does have an imitation gun, which she keeps in a cabinet, and she was fed up with being pestered by the Simms about something the council should be dealing with. However, the Simms could have made the whole thing up: maybe Ashley realised she’d gone too far, harassing the Charalambous, and so she accused Georgie of pointing a gun in order to avoid getting into trouble herself. Who knows: maybe Georgie might even get evicted, which would suit the Simms down to the ground! With only 7 members, we were the smallest team in the competition. Evie Smith played three barristers’ roles; both Juliet Cook and Emily Short doubled as witnesses (a nosy neighbour and an angry event assistant) , barristers, a clerk and an usher; Amelia McDonald played two barristers; Sophie Lawlor played a witnesses (a belligerent office manager), a barrister and a clerk; Continued on page 3 2 the irrepressible Ella Sankey played three witnesses (a wounded footballer, a fitness instructor who’s scared of dogs and an old lady who owns a gun) and an usher, and Charlie Keller played two witnesses (a gooseberry on Valentine’s day and an old man who lives through his dog, Bouncer and his parrot, Captain Jack). The competition was fierce. We really weren’t expecting to get through to the head-to-head between the two highest scoring teams. It therefore came as a shock; we were prosecuting King Edward VI (Handsworth), a leading grammar school which has won the competition in the past. We nudged ahead of them comfortably. Our cross- examinations were clever, focused and didn’t allow the witnesses an inch of manoeuvre; our speeches were well argued and beautifully pitched, holding the jury’s interest even during the ‘boring’ legal bits. Our witnesses had anticipated every question and had retorts ready for everything that was fired at them. Lord Leveson, President of the Queen’s Bench, head of Criminal Justice and chair of the Leveson Inquiry into British press practices, handed out the prizes. He complimented us on our technique and excellent delivery. This is the 5th year in a row that we’ve got through to the National Finals; a record no other school can beat. Last year we came 3rd out of 232 teams; the year before we came 2nd out of 209. We celebrated with vast amounts of chocolate on the train home. What a day. 3 The Magistrates’ Mock Trial Team win local heat The Magistrates’ Mock Trial team have won the local heat yet again, enabling us go through to the regional finals in Burnley in May. The students worked their socks off, and it paid off. Every innuendo and twist of logic was analysed and evaluated. The case was about Sam Fenton, who was accused of having a knife in a public place. He had a row with his sister’s friend, and then stormed out of the flat. The next door neighbour said he had a knife with him; his sister’s friend said the same. If two independent witnesses are telling the same story, it looks like Sam’s guilty, doesn’t it? However, the witnesses’ evidence is a bit odd. The neighbour says Sam put the knife into his belt. Why would he do that? He could cut himself, or the jeans or himself! And surely he wouldn’t flaunt his knife in public, when he could easily hide it under a coat. The other witness says he thought Sam was about to attack him. So why didn’t he call the police? We were complimented by the judges for our confidence and professionalism. All our cross- examinations were focused and clear, and we made our points effectively. Our witnesses were convincing and dodged all the bullets fired at them by the other side. Wish us luck at the Regional Finals! PRIDE VISA APPROVED (By Form Tutor) Professionalism: Your ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY and BEHAVIOUR NOTES during the Mock exams was excellent Respect: You have been RESPECTFUL to the school site and staff Integrity: Approved (by LRC staff) You have returned all outstanding books to the LRC Determination: You have attended a range of REVISION CLINICS and PROGRESS LABS Empathy: You have understood the needs of others in your form supported them and followed the WILMSLOW WAY CONGRATULATIONS You have worked hard this year and deserve your place at this year’s PROM. Signed ________________________ Head of House Passport to the Prom As the Year 11 students enter the final phase of their GCSEs, we are launching our ‘Passport to the Prom’ scheme. Each student is given a card PRIDE(or V‘passport’),ISA APPROVED (By Form Tutor) Professionalism: Your ATTENDANCE and with different sections for form tutors, subject teachers and you PUNCTUALITYas a and BEHAVIOURparent to during the Mock exams was excellent complete and sign as they approach their final examinations. Respect: You have been RESPECTFUL to the school site and staff Integrity: Approved (by LRC staff) You have returned all outstanding books to the LRC Determination: You have attended a range of If students successfully complete 20 out of the 24 sections on theirREVISION CLINICS ‘passport’,and PROGRESS LABS Empathy: You have understood the needs they will be allowed to buy a ticket to the Year 11 ‘Prom’ at the of others Deanwaterin your form supported them and followed the WILMSLOW WAY Hotel on Thursday 5th July. CONGRATULATIONS You have worked hard this year and deserve your place at this The passport is closely linked to the ‘Wilmslow Way’s’ set of expectations, year’s PROM. sanctions and Signed ________________________ Head of House rewards. For the vast majority of students, this scheme will be an opportunity for them to have their excellent behaviour, achievements and all round performance in school formally recognised. issues with this. Anyone who has not shown sufficient commitment to these sections may be advised to do the assessed expedition next year, rather than May 2018 as planned. A letter was given out this week to students The Duke of Edinburgh’s giving details of the May expedition (12-13th Award – update May) – here’s the link to the letter on firefly: https://tinyurl.com/yavtegns Year 9 Bronze Students recently signed up in Year 9 should Year 11 Silver be carrying out their volunteering, physical The training expedition takes place during the and skill sections. Anyone who is still looking Easter holidays, 12th – 14th April 2018. Tents, for an activity for any section should contact rucksacks etc were given to students this Mrs Farris as soon as possible by email. week, any problems wth this please contact After the Easter break there will be support Mrs Farris. sessions to help with logging onto eDofE and writing programme planners for anyone Here is the link to the letter giving details of who needs it. But you can still be doing your the April expedition: activities – don’t worry if you haven’t been https://tinyurl.com/y7pkffbq able to sign onto eDofE yet. Instructions on how to log on and write your programme Here’s hoping that the weather is kind to us planners can be found here: for all these expeditions.