SUTTON VIEWS the Voice of Sutton Valence School
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Edition 48 March 2011 SUTTON VIEWS The Voice of Sutton Valence School Tuning up for Strings Day Back To Victorian Times Page 5 World Book Day Page 9 Some three dozen children aged seven to 11 from Preparatory Schools in the county converged on the Senior School recently for a day’s expert tuition from In Fine Voice Page 14 Head of Strings, Mr David Holmes. During the day, they learned to play Purcell’s Rondeau and a special strings arrangement of the theme from the film Pirates of the Caribbean , before putting on a concert for parents in the Baughan Theatre. Continued on page 2 Information A member of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation For information about Sutton Valence School or to request a prospectus, please contact: Registered Charity No. 309267 • the Admissions Office at Sutton Valence on 01622 845206 or email [email protected] Founded in 1576 by William Lambe • Sutton Valence Preparatory School on 01622 842117 or email [email protected] Sutton Views March 2011 1 Continued from front page Children brought along their violins, violas, ‘cellos – and even a few double basses – to take part in the day, which was declared a resounding success. Director of Music, Mr Phil Horley, who assisted with the classes along with strings tutor Mr Bryan Gipps, said, “It’s the first time we have organised something on this scale for external students, but it proved a great hit and is definitely something we will be repeating.” Headmaster, Mr Bruce Grindlay, an accomplished musician and former organ scholar at Cambridge, said, “This type of event gives the children a greater insight into the world of music and teaches them team work, as well as proving they have the potential to produce a great sound after only a few hours’ concentrated effort.” 2 Sutton Views Author Ann addresses pupils Children’s author Ann Bryant enthralled consider their own reading choices and Prep School pupils when she spoke to them inspires them to try out different authors and about her life as a writer and introduced genres.” them to some of her popular characters. She led an all-school assembly before conducting a number of workshops for different age groups during the day. “The children had a really enjoyable day”, said Deputy Head, Miss Claire Corkran. “We believe that children should be encouraged to be ambitious with their reading and read as widely as possible. Bringing authors into the school, who can make reading fun and bring books alive, encourages children to Biennial Inspection On Parade At the beginning of March the CCF “The cadets were a credit to themselves, the Contingent had their Biennial Inspection at School and CCF and should be very proud. Crowborough. The inspection was carried This was a fitting tribute to a very successful out by Air Commodore Barbara Cooper CBE, year for CCF at Sutton Valence.” Commandant Air Cadets, who was very complimentary about all that CCF Congratulations must also go to the Navy demonstrated and achieved. As Lt Col Anne section who won the ‘Becky Norris March Wilkinson, Contingent Commander said, and Shoot Trophy’. March 2011 3 Army Exercise March and Shoot Cup Presentation RAF Exercise 4 Sutton Views Contingent Adjutant Capt. B Miller, Head Master, Air Commodore Barbara Cooper CBE Pupils step back in time as ‘Victorians’ have their day! Pupils at the Prep School stepped back more than a century to experience life in Victorian times. Children in Year 2 were asked to come to school in clothes reminiscent of the 1880s – as were some members of staff. PCs, laptops and interactive whiteboards were banned as blackboards and chalk were brought back into play in a morning filled with living history. School Archivist, Mr David Pickard, looking every inch the Victorian country gent, told the children about life at school in the March 2011 5 Victorian era, in the days when Sutton Later in the week, the children in the Prep Valence was an all-boys boarding school. School Reception Class enjoyed their very own fairy tale day, dressing up as fairy tale After a morning of typical Victorian lessons, characters and ending with a special Fairy focusing very much on the three Rs, it was Tale Ball. off to the dining hall for a typical Victorian school lunch of gruel. Head of Pre-Prep, Miss Philippa McCarmick said, “Life in school is so very different today compared with how it was a century ago. Re- enactment activities such as this help bring history to life for young children and the pupils had a wonderful morning.” 6 Sutton Views School looks to the East With the rise of China as one of the world’s and providing a link with home. fastest growing economies, the School has introduced a series of activities to introduce On Tuesdays, Ms Quang teaches Mandarin our pupils to its culture and language and to Chinese lessons to Sixth Form, as well as highlight the opportunities that may be open leading two Mandarin Clubs. to them there. Ms Quang and Mr Xian are both on Two Mandarin Chinese teachers, Xian Tang secondment from the Confucius Institute, a and Quang Long, are working at both the non-profit public institution that aims to Senior School and the Preparatory School, promote Chinese language and culture and introducing China and the Mandarin support local Chinese teaching language to pupils from age five to 18. internationally. On Mondays, Mr Xian hosts the Mandarin Headmaster, Mr Bruce Grindlay said, “It is Club at the Prep School, teaching young clear that China’s growth presents great children about his country, its culture, basic opportunities for our pupils in terms of future words and Chinese characters. employment potential, but there is also a lot we can learn from a nation which has In the evening, he joins some of the admirable rigour in its approach to teaching Chinese pupils who board at the Senior and learning.” School, supporting them in their homework March 2011 7 My life as …. a Maths teacher, by Mr Coennie Wesselink What made you decide to be a maths teacher? One-upmanship; so many people struggle with Maths and I have a degree in History and Psychology so Maths was the obvious choice. Tell us the best thing about the job? Witnessing the development of so many young people. Meeting successful, happy past pupils when they have become adults. And the worst? Educational experts in protected employment reinventing the wheel and moving the deckchairs on the Titanic by changing the structure of the curriculum. What’s the funniest thing that’s happened in your career? There is often humour in the classroom. As a teacher I demand the right to make weak jokes! The important thing is not to take yourself too seriously; Monty Python’s ‘The Meaning of Life’ serves as a reminder to keep it light. How do you think the role has changed since you started? Not at all! But there is more pressure on children to perform and get grades. Is there anything that makes your maths department particularly special? The most dedicated bunch of professionals I have ever had the privilege to work with! What would be your top tip for anyone who is struggling with maths? Don’t struggle with Maths; follow the ‘Nike’ slogan: “ Just do it! ” As published in Sussex Life, April 2011 8 Sutton Views Don Quixote and Mary Poppins are ‘Top of the Form’ Pupils at the Senior School were surprised and delighted to discover that their teachers had been transformed into some of the most famous characters from literary fiction for World Book Day. Staff arrived for classes dressed as characters from some of the most famous books in history – from Don Quixote to Harry Potter, Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims to Disney’s Mary Poppins. The initiative was the idea of Head of English, Mr Chris Davenport and Librarian, Mrs Christine Carter, with teachers and pupils entering into the spirit of the day in style. Almost 30 staff came in costume, including Spanish teacher Mr Fuentes as Don Quixote, Miss Charlotte Yoxall as Queen of Hearts (from Alice in Wonderland), Mrs Sally Rose as Red Riding Hood, Mrs Anne Kane as Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective Poirot, Mr Chris Westlake as Malvolio and Mr Bob Carr as Just William! Mrs Carter flew into school as Mary Poppins, while Mr Davenport cut a dash as 007 agent James Bond. Mr Davenport said, “It was a different, and The day concluded with Sony Award- highly successful, way of celebrating our winning comedy writer, author, journalist literary heritage, and introducing pupils to and former Church of England vicar Simon great books they may not have read before.” Parke meeting pupils in the school library to pass on tips about successful writing. The Prep School joined in the literary media theme with ‘cub reporter’ workshops There was a ‘Design a Book Jacket’ ran by Charlotte Rawstorne, a journalist with competition with a chance to win book the Daily Mail. The children were to imagine vouchers, and teachers read excerpts from that they were reporters producing a favourite books at break-time sessions. March 2011 9 newspaper in 1947 about the Queen’s wedding to Prince Phillip. At the end of the day, they came together to see how the final layout of a newspaper is put together and to write some headlines. The full edition can be viewed in the Prep news section of the School website. Simon Parke Mrs Rawstorne explaining how to start writing a story. 10 Sutton Views New trees for Prefects’ Lawn For generations, pupils and teachers have Valence that spanned 27 years.