Chess Regional Finalists page 2 DofE Bronze Award page 4 Cooking Champion page 5 Highcliffe Newsletter H2U Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1- 2017

GCSE and A level exam season is upon us and I am immensely proud of how calm and focused the atmosphere is in school. The energy and determination shown by staff and students in recent months undertaking booster study programmes, walking and talking mocks, and revision sessions has been remarkable. Students have remained motivated, purposeful and composed; a real credit to themselves and a huge compliment to the staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare and support students for this time. Over the last two years we have reduced the total number of GCSEs students take, as they have become harder, and re-designed the curriculum so that courses finish earlier in Year 11, allowing more time for revision. I am sure these changes have helped boost students’ confidence too. My colleagues and I are very grateful for the high level of support GCSE and AS/A Level students receive at home from parents at this time of year. I speak on behalf of all the staff at Highcliffe School to offer every student sitting GCSEs, AS and A levels the very best of luck. Our Year 10 students must also be commended for their efforts in sitting mocks exams covering the first year of their GCSE modules, along with Year 8s, who recently sat exams in February leading them to important subject decisions and the start of their GCSE journey. Year 9s and our youngest students in Year 7 will soon sit their end of year exams in July and we offer them every encouragement to do their best. Patrick Earnshaw Headteacher

Our school community wishes to send its thoughts and condolences to all those impacted by the tragic event on Monday night in Manchester

1| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Enrichment trips, activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 YEAR 7S STUDY SKILLS DAY With the Year 7 exams looming on the horizon, June the 19th is not too far away. The Year 7s had a study skills day following on from Mrs Dedman’s assembly on methods to memorise lists or facts in order. Year 7 were gathered in the hall in four groups over the day. Each group had an intensive revision skills session, outlining a variety of methods to memorise information and interpret examination questions. Each session also contained 2 hand outs. One was a blank revision time table for the students to plan out their revision, the other was the examination booklet which included the exam dates, exam content for each subject and examinations rules as laid out by the national examining bodies.

Feedback from both staff and students was excellent. Students really enjoyed the sessions and were full of enthusiasm and ideas for how to start preparing for their June exams. Staff were really impressed with the open minded approach of all the students, the enthusiasm with which they attacked the different activities and mainly the way in which they were all keen to help each other out and help support each other. All of this bodes well for the future. Make sure that you do little and often and do not put off the revision.

All of this was at the end of a week which included a really successful parents evening for Year 7 and a celebration assembly jam packed full of hundreds of certificates going to almost every student in the year group for the hard work that was put into the Spring term.

Well done Year 7 for a fantastic 2 terms at Highcliffe School, lets make sure that the exam results reflect all the hard work that you have put in so far. Then we will celebrate with a wonderful activities week in July!

Mr W Edmonds, Year 7 Head of Achievement

CHESS TEAM REGIONAL FINALISTS!

For the first time, Highcliffe School’s Chess Team reached the final of the Inter-School Chess Tournament.

Our opponents in the final were School for Boys and they fielded a strong Sixth Form team with only one Year 8. Our team consisted of two Year 12s, Fridolin and Thomas, and four Year 8s: Annelie, Joshua, Mickey and Benjamin.

Over three rounds, Fridolin and Tom won every game except one. The organiser’s picked out Fridolin’s third round game as the most strategic win and Tom’s second game as being the most brilliant win, check-mating with just a pawn.

All four Year 8s maintained a positive spirit against very strong competition. Annelie showed exceptional cool and composure under pressure; she won one of her games and was in an excellent position against the number one player from Bournemouth School.

All our team received certificates and medals as runners up and two Year 7s, Owen Collie and Harvey Roberts, helped us in earlier rounds to qualify for the final.

In his report on the 2017 Inter School Team Event, Eric Sachs – Junior Chess Officer said, “In the senior section Highcliffe were too strong on the top 2 boards but Bournemouth had a more even allocation of strengths across boards 3-6 and this was consistently crucial over all three rounds. The standard of chess being played was most impressive specifically on the top 2/3 boards and all credit to Highcliffe for fighting so hard with much younger players on the lower boards. An excellent match and well played Bournemouth who retained their trophy.”

Congratulations to the Chess Team and we look forward to next year!

2| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Enrichment trips, activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Enrichment trips, activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017

FRIENDS OF HIGHCLIFFE SCHOOL FUNDRAISING I would like to take the opportunity to once again thank the caterers Taylor Shaw for funding The Pod and its rain shelter and the Friends of Highcliffe School for providing the funds from the Winter Fair to install the second rain shelter off the Christchurch building. Nearly 3 years ago students asked for rain shelters and I am pleased we have been able to install shelters at no cost to the school itself, and can now move on to new projects.

Patrick Earnshaw, Headteacher

YEAR 7S BRILLIANT CLUB GRADUATE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY

On 18th May 2017, ten Year 7 students went on a trip to Trinity College in Oxford.

The ten students were going for their ‘graduation’, after completing their recent assignments from the Brilliant Club. To read an account of the day, written by one of the students, please click on the link: goo.gl/gmoTZg

ON THE 2ND MAY, 10 STUDENTS FROM YEAR 10 VISITED ST HILDA’S COLLEGE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

The day started with a presentation about university life in general, and then more specifically undergraduate life in the collegiate system at Oxford University. The students were lucky enough to have lunch in Oriel’s great dining hall, which really illustrated university life. They also had the opportunity to see the first year accommodation available at Oriel. This was really interesting as it showed them the reality of living at university.

The students then returned to St Hilda’s College where they experienced three mini taster lectures on Psychology, History and Mathematical Biology.

The entire opportunity was inspiring and thought provoking as it allowed the students to start to plan their paths into university and the choices available.

OUR PINK KANGAROOS PERFORM ON THE EUROPEAN STAGE!

Following on from the success in the UKMT Inter- mediate Challenge, five Highcliffe students quali- fied to sit the Pink Kangaroo exam.

This is the biggest numbers of qualifiers in our history and one student, Daniel Jenkinson, received our first Certificate of Merit.

In second place was Louise Bach from Year 10 and the other qualifiers (One student unavilable for photograph) were Kai Major, Jessica Lovegrove and Tarka Abraham.

Our best all round result in the Pink Kangaroos!

3| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Enrichment trips, activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017

DUKE OF EDINBURGH BRONZE AWARD

The DofE is the world’s leading youth achievement award, giving millions of 14 to 24 year olds the opportunity to be the very best they can be: Highcliffe School is proud to be part of this.

The Bronze Award is offered to our Year 10s and comprises of a volunteering, skills and physical section, of which two are completed over a 3 month period and one is completed over a 6 month period. Students also complete a practice expedition and a final expedition that is assessed by external examiners.

Both expeditions last for 2 days/1 night.

Our current Year 10s have made an enthusiastic start to the award and all are currently undertaking some form of volunteering within the local community. They have also completed their practice expedition and despite a rainy start, our students’ spirits were not dampened as they set off. They persevered through the rain and navigated their way across the New Forest on a walk that they had previously planned and made it into camp late afternoon.

Whilst in camp a whole array of activities were put on for them with the opportunity to take part in a

boot camp training session, or for the tired, an opportunity to sit by the campfire and toast marshmallows.

We would like to say well done and good luck for the final expedition in June.

To view the album, please see our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HighcliffeSchool

4| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Enrichment trips, activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 DA VINCI DOES IT AGAIN! Our GCSE Catering students have been performing at their best in the Da Vinci building impressing local and celebrity chefs with their culinary skills. As part of their Catering course, the Y10 Catering students entered into the Christchurch Food Festival Cookery Challenge with the aim of the competition to develop cookery and presentation skills, and to show the ability to cope in a demanding situation.

We were thrilled to welcome celebrity chef, Lesley Waters, to our school to head the judging panel, accompanied by: Kevin Brown, Head Chef at The Lord Bute Restaurant; Mary Reader, Founder of Christchurch Food and Wine Festival and Richard Reader, President of the Christchurch Rotary Club. The winner at school was Tarka Abraham with Callum Copping coming 2nd, Ryan Obagi placed 3rd and Clowance Wickson in 4th place.

Tarka and Callum represented Highcliffe School in the area school’s cookery competition held at Chewton Glen on Monday, 15th May.

This years’ brief was to prepare and cook a two course healthy meal for two people for a special occasion; the meal should cost no more than £8 per head and we are delighted to say Tarka won!

Tarka’s winning meal was: Seabass with roasted ratatouille, sweet potato mash & a basil dressing Raspberry soufflé with a tuile. Well done Tarka!

To read Tarka’s suberb account of the day, please click on the link: http://station1.highcliffe.dorset.sch.uk/intra/default.asp?id=/3293-Tarka-wins-for- Highcliffe-School! YEAR 8 CERAMIC ART ON SHOW

Year 8 have the wonderful opportunity to celebrate their hard work and creativity at Highcliffe St. Mark’s Church ‘Festival of Celebration’ in June.

Students have been learning about the celebration of life, investigating the festival of ‘The Day of the Dead’. The festival takes place in November and is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of lost loved ones. Students have embraced this opportunity to create a personal skull in the medium of clay. The skulls demonstrate an array of skills from: pinch pots, low relief, high relief and modelling.

All Year 8 skulls will be part of the St. Mark’s Church Highcliffe Festival of Celebration which takes place from Friday 9th – Sunday 11th June 2017.

Please come along and help celebrate the students’ achievements. There will be a series of arts and crafts activities to join in with during the festival weekend.

5| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Sporting activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 TOWN SPORTS - KINGS PARK, BOURNEMOUTH A great day! The students were high-spirited and enthusiastic, with a an encouraging and supportive team spirit. Thirteen schools participated in the competition and Highcliffe performed exceptionally well to come 3rd overall. There were many notable team and individual performances and we celebrate the achievements of the following students who will now go on to represent Highcliffe School at the County Athletic Championships in June:

Year 7 Girls Year 8 & 9 Girls (Junior) Year 10 & 11 Girls (Intermediate) 1st - Elisa Fordham - 1500m 3rd - Molly Morris - High Jump 1st Stephanie F. Jones - High Jump 1st - Emily Derham - High Jump 3rd Mia Elmore - 200m 3rd Tarka Abraham - Long Jump 3rd - Holly Chitten - Long Jump 3rd Imogen Vaughan - Shot Put 3rd Danya Strongman - 300m 3rd Pearl Mortimer - Shot Put

Year 7 Boys Year 8 & 9 Boys (Junior) Year 10 & 11 Boys (Intermediate) 1st - Oli Coombes - 200m 3rd - Tom Baines -Shot Put 2nd - Tyreece Carlos - 100m 1st - Dan Staples - Discuss 2nd - Cameron Solley - 400m 2nd - Sam Rapoport - Long Jump 2nd - Toby Bailey - 800m 3rd - Freddie Penny - 800m 2nd - Ollie Woodhouse - Shot Put 2nd - Max Elmore - 1500m 3rd - Jack Ogden - 200m Special congratulations must be made to Year 7 student, Emily Derham, for her incredible performance in the High Jump clearing 1.38m: this would have won in the Junior and Intermediate groups as well! We wish all our students success at the County Championships!

GIRLS RUGBY INSPIRED BY EX-STUDENT AND COUNTY PLAYER

The girls Rugby club was started when a group of Year 7 students requested one. The Year 7 and 8 team have been training most of the year and recently attended a tournament with great success.

Ex-Highcliffe student, Kiriko Lose, who now plays for Richmond Ladies First Team, Surrey County and the UK Police, came in for a special coaching session. The focus was on handling skills and the girls were introduced to moves like a switch and were also given expert advice on improving their passing, catching and game management in both attack and defence.

As always the girls approached the session with enthusiasm and good humour, the soaked up the expert advice and improved greatly over the session. I look forward to working with the girls again next season as we move into tackling and some more tournaments. Well done to all the girls that have attended the training sessions this year, congratulations to all those that attended the tournament and won so many games and finally a massive thank you to Kiriko Lose for inspiring the next generation of girls rugby players at Highcliffe school.

Mr W Edmunds Head of Year 7

6| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 Sporting activities and events: Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017

INDOOR ROWING SUCCESS On 9th May Year 7-9 students competed in the area indoor rowing competition. This involved rowing for a set time according to the age group. Highcliffe students did exceptionally well with all the boys teams gaining first place and all the girls teams gaining second place. The best individual were from Daniel Staples in Year 7 and Molly Morris in Year 9. We now have to wait for other results before finding out if we are through the School Games finals in July.

INDIVIDUAL SPORTING SPOTLIGHT NETBALL 2017 NATIONAL CLUB FINALS. YEAR 8 STUDENT 5TH IN THE UK

Year 11 student, Lauren, played her part as the Alexandra swam again this weekend at Millfield School Winchester-based club, Western Park Blades, qualified as on the 2nd weekend of the South West one of the top 18 teams in the country following a Championships. Alex swam on Saturday afternoon in rigorous regional league. the 800m Freestyle and came home 16 seconds clear to With a support team led by acclaimed coach Jan win another gold medal and is ranked 5th in the UK for Crabtree, Blades won five of their seven matches at the her age. Alex then swam again on Sunday in the 200m finals in Essex. Freestyle and finished in Bronze medal position and is ranked around 10th in the UK. The next Lauren, started playing netball in 2011 with Christchurch step this year for Alex in July is the English based Peeks NC., and joined Blades in 2015. She has Championships & the National open water represented Hampshire at under-16 level and progressed Championships in Sheffield where Alex will try to to the under-19 South Regional together with improve on her 2016 Bronze medal. being selected for the Team South Tigers long squad for the NPFL in August 2017. Best of luck to Alex for successful summer!

We wish Lauren and her team the best of luck!

7| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1 - 2017 CHARITY NEWS UPDATE…

MUFTI DAY GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER!

Our Mufti Day held on 7th April raised an incredible £1066.48! This has enabled the school to buy a defibrillator and donate £631.11 to the British Heart Foundation.

A representative from the British Heart Foundation came in this week to receive our donation and present the school with a certificate certifying Highcliffe School as an Accredited Defibrillator Location. To receive this accreditation, the school has had to meet strict criteria

Using training kits provided by the British Heart Foundation, our Health Officer, Mrs Thompson, led CPR training sessions to all Sixth Formers in March with training sessions to staff and students from younger year groups now in progress.

Thank you to all those students and staff for donating £1 each on Mufti Day, your generosity really does make a difference to people’s lives.

YEAR 8 ART STUDENTS RAISE MONEY FOR MACMILLIAN CANCER SUPPORT Therefore, the winners were: Reminder... 8.5 Tutor group have had a great turnout Year 7: Celia Douglas to our Art Competition. During the weeks Year 8: Alana Rodgers If you shop online, from the 2nd of May to the 12th of May, Year 9: Cara Pitt. you can raise we had entries of Year 7’s, 8’s and 9’s who In addition, the runner-ups were: money for the entered a variety of Art. These entries Year 7: Jasmine Halchison and Jonas school at no cost to included sketches, sculptures, photography Downie yourself, by and paintings. We judged the Art ourselves Year 8: Olivia Irvine and Tate Scotford registering with and overall it was very difficult to choose Year 9: Annabel Gravnel easyfundraising and the winners and runner-ups. Students Well done to all the other people who won, making the school spent a lot of time on their outcomes and and all art work will be displayed in the your chosen we could see they put a lot of effort into atrium of the Di Vinci builking. beneficiary. their work and would like to thank all those who entered have helped raise £32:00 for By: Katie Swaine & Kaitlin King, Year 8 Thank you McMillian Cancer Support. students

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR YEARS 7-11: • 6th Jun - Peer Mentoring Training Leeson House • 3rd jul - Year 10 Awards Evening • 13th & 14th Jun - Year 7 Geography trip • 7th Jul - Sports Day • 16th - 17th Jun - DofE Final Expedition • 10th Jul - Year 7 Awards Evening • 18th - 24th Jun - French Exchange • 10th Jul - Year 10 Work Experience week • 21st Jun - 28th Jun - Spanish students visit • 11th Jul - Year 9 Awards Evening • 22nd Jun - Year 11 Summer Ball • 14th - 17th Jul - Battlefields Trip • 22nd Jun - 24th Jun - German students visit • 17th Jul - Year 10 Work Experience Week • 28th Jun - Year 8 Awards Evening • 20th Jul - SCHOOL CLOSES AT 12.20PM • 29th Jun - Summer celebration Concert

Wishing you all a very happy half-term holiday! ‘We value the power of education to change lives’ Highcliffe School, Parkside, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset. BH23 4QD t: 01425 273381 | e: [email protected] | www.highcliffeschool.com | @HighcliffeSch

All information is correct at time of going to print: 26th May, 2017 8| Highcliffe School Newsletter - Summer Half-Term 1- 2017