Newsletter May 2016 DATES & HEAD LINES…
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26 February 2016 Newsletter May 2016 DATES & HEAD LINES…. Our Golden Jubilee year is almost upon us - a celebration of 50 years of St Gregory’s School. A variety of EVENTS events will help us mark this special year, starting with Mass on 30 June 2016 and culminating with a Golden Jubilee Ball at Salomons on 8 July 2017, with many exciting events in between. Term Ends St Gregory’s opened in September 1966 when the all-age St Augustine’s School was re-organised into three Friday 27th May schools, infant, junior and secondary modern. The changes in education across the UK have been profound during the past 50 years, as many parents will bear witness, and St Gregory's is no exception. What has Term Starts remained constant is our strong Christian ethos at the heart of our school. We also remain very much a Monday 6th June family school which has educated generations from the same family and will continue to do so for many more years to come. We will be reflecting on how St Gregory’s has changed over the years, key events in Year 8 Parents’ Evening the school’s history and celebrating achievements. We look forward to sharing this with you over the coming Thursday 9th June weeks and months. I have included in this newsletter a calendar of events to help you “save the dates”, the biggest being the New Year 7 Information Golden Jubilee Festival this summer on 9 July where we will have the 'Jules Rivet' football tournament Evening (coinciding with another famous 50th anniversary) followed by a Jubilee Festival of Food and Music. I look forward to seeing as many of our 'extended family' as possible at these events to help us celebrate this Monday 13th June landmark in the school’s history. Golden Jubilee Mass Sean McQuillan Thursday 30th June at Head of School 11am Football Tournament PAT GLASS MP VISITS ST GREGORY’S Students gave a rousing welcome to Pat Glass MP, Shadow Minister for Education, who visited St Gregory’s Saturday 9th July at 3pm on 11 May. Golden Jubilee Summer Ms Glass talked to students about the many issues surrounding EU membership and the far-reaching Fair Festival of Music implications of a decision to leave. She took a wide range of questions from students. In a later interview and Food with the Courier she said, “They were wonderful, they were very informed, very confident young people. And Saturday 9th July at 6pm they asked really important questions. They were really great kids. They wanted to know a little about me and then wanted to know more about the Remain campaign and to know the kinds of jobs that would be hit if we left the EU. And they talked very informatively about the impact of leaving the EU on the NHS or schools. For instance, how many teachers we get from Europe.” Year 12 student and Head Girl Claire Wolfle said, “She spoke from a very personal and factual perspective. Her arguments for remaining in Europe were considered and balanced whereas a lot of what we see in the media on the issue is very polarised.” News MANDARIN LESSONS LIVE FROM BEIJING Year 7 students are learning Mandarin with a teacher in Beijing. Miss Liaudet, Subject Leader for MFL, has teamed up our ICT department to get a live link via Skype with Beijing every Friday morning for five weeks. The languages teacher in Beijing, Freddie, is highly engaging, has the students’ rapt attention throughout, even getting them to do ‘air’ high fives for good work. Our Year 7 students have become competent in basic conversation and knowledgeable about Chinese characters and tones as well as learning about Chinese culture including the Great Wall and Kung Fu. A simple turning the camera so they could see outside his window onto Beijing was fascinating in itself. The students have picked up the language extremely well with lessons being delivered brilliantly and with enthusiasm such that they are thoroughly enjoying them. We will certainly renew the experience and plan to extend the opportunity to learn Mandarin through the Year 7 Language Academy introduction into the ACE programme from September 2017, to develop students’ passion and skills for languages and broaden and deepen internationalism in learning. YEAR 10 FRENCH EXCHANGE Year 10 students progressed their French through a week’s “immersion” in the language in Provence in March where they stayed with penpals and families to enjoy a typical week of family activities and of course school. Three St Gregory’s year 12 students also joined the group, to do work experience at a nearby primary school. They taught English to Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils, having planned engaging activities including food tasting where some funny faces were pulled when Marmite was tried! They also spent a day in the school’s Sixth Form with their penpals. Students visited Avignon’s Palais des Papes with a little time enjoyed for some shopping in the ancient city, as well as Marseille where they took a train tour of France’s second city’s major sites. Teamed up with their penpals, Year 10 students embarked upon an orienteering challenge in the town of Salon whilst the Year 12 students went for a hike on the heights of Lamanon. With their host families and penpals, St Gregory’s students enjoyed trips to the seaside and “Go Ape”, still speaking in French the whole time. At the end of April, it was the turn of St Gregory’s students to welcome their French penpals to Tunbridge Wells where they enjoyed trips to London and the Pantiles as well as two days at school. Emilia Thomas said, “Even though it was a bit daunting going to a complete stranger’s house and a school that I have never seen before, it was one of the best experiences that I have had. It was really surprising how I could become so close to people I have never met before in such a short period of time. My exchange penpal and I still keep in touch after all this time, which not only gives me more confidence in French but gives me someone to talk to as a genuine friend. I have definitely made a friend for life!” Nicola Pleskot said, “The French exchange not only gave me more confidence, but it also helped me to improve my French. Although it was only a week, the help was unbelievable! I enjoyed going to school as it is very different from school in England. At first I didn’t expect it to be that good, I was actually scared but everything turned out great! I made friends that I still talk to today and I love them! The host family was lovely and I will never forget them. We are already planning to come and visit each other!” News STARLIGHT 2016 Polished performances filled the hall as students produced “Starlight”, the annual talent show on 14 and 15 April. Organised by Sixth Formers, 27 star performances were staged by 60 students across all age groups from ages 11 to 18 were heard by proud families, staff and an energised and supportive student audience creating a buzzing atmosphere. Mr McQuillan, Head of School, said, “This was our best ever Starlight. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their talents and they really are something else on stage.” The show was made all the more professional with spectacular sound production and lighting, the latter generously funded by the Friends of St Gregory’s, and operated by a team of Sixth form students. Sixth Former Daniel Miles said, “I really enjoyed working behind the scenes as part of the lighting crew for Starlight 2016. Everyone has worked extremely hard to create the professional production which was put on.” Mr Trevaskis, Subject Leader for Music said, “A lot of effort went into the production and I am immensely proud of the high standard of performance and production of this two-night show.” St GREGORY’S STAR IN PROMOTIONAL VIDEO Author Dan Freedman, who has twice visited St Gregory’s, is having his “Jamie Johnson” series of books turned into a new CBBC drama series starting in June to tie in with the European Championships. Dan’s visits to St Gregory’s have inspired many of our students and he was so impressed with them that he asked to use our school to compile his promotional video for the "Jamie Johnson" books. Please see the link below. https://vimeo.com/109264951 We are really proud as a school to have been part of this wonderful journey with Dan and his team. Dan often asks about the students he met at St Gregory's School and looks forward to seeing them each year. Dan will be visiting the school again in the next academic year with more news about "Jamie Johnson" and may even give an insight into Jamie's next adventures! News WEST KENT SCHOOLS FOOTBALL FINALS Perfect sunshine and almost 200 students from six different schools filled the Longmead Stadium, home of Ryman Premier League Tonbridge Angels, for the West Kent Schools Football Finals on 5 May. This annual event, now in its 10th year, is organised by Mr Cumber, Chairman of West Kent Schools FA as well as Head of PE at St Gregory’s. Mr Cumber said, “It has been a fantastic day and great to see so many students, boys and girls, displaying some amazing skills and being so supportive of each other.