Mayfield Grammar School Gravesend
NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2017
Another school year draws to an end and we look forward not only to our Summer break but also to the days in August when our A Level, GCSE and AS Level candidates return to school to collect their results.
Despite the reduction in student numbers during the Summer months life in school has been extremely busy. There have been a number of visits and trips during this term and a number of sporting fixtures and Duke of Edinburgh events that have been well supported by staff and pupils.
In school our two Curriculum Enrichment Days were a huge success with various events and activities taking place across the school. Many thanks to Mrs Jones and all other staff for organising these activities. I know all our pupils greatly appreciated the efforts and support of staff.
In addition our annual Graduation Ball recently took place for all those Year 13 students who have now completed their time with us. My thanks to the Parents’ Association, Mrs Absolon, and the Premises and Catering staff for making the event such a huge success.
As Year 13 students depart for pastures new we also welcomed Year 6 pupils into the school as part of their Induction day in preparation for joining us in September. My thanks to all our current pupils, but particularly Year 7 girls for making our “guests” feel so welcome. I know all the Year 6 pupils had a thoroughly enjoyable day and my thanks also to Mr Gordon, Mrs Kemp and Miss Etherington for all their efforts in organising this event and for the many Primary School visits they and other staff have undertaken in the last few weeks.
For the third year running the school has admitted an additional form of Year 7 entry in our continued efforts to support parents in our local community. Consequently, we have been working closely with the Local Authority and the Education Funding Agency to develop and build new facilities for all our students.
Some parents may remember the consultation meeting held at the school back in January. I am delighted to inform that the first part of our building programme will take place this summer, where a new sixth form study area and social space will be developed. This will then lead to the refurbishment of our dining hall, together with a new kitchen and servery area. Unfortunately, this work is unlikely to be completed by September, so please bear with us at the start of the new academic year as we operate before our new facilities are complete. There will be two new classrooms added to the I.N. site this summer which means students may have to relocate for some lessons when further building work commences on the main site. Clearly our priority will be to keep disruption to a minimum, but we recognise that investment of this scale in schools doesn't come along too often, so hopefully some inconvenience next year will bring much needed new facilities for all our students to enjoy and benefit from.
I will endeavour to publish more details for parents in the Autumn, as more information about the expansion plans become available.
Our last newsletter of the academic year also contains details of many other events that have taken place over the last few months, including the Art Exhibition, Music Concert and Fun Run.
Finally, my best wishes to all pupils, staff, parents and Governors who have supported the school throughout another very successful year and I hope you all enjoy a relaxing summer break.
Mrs Wilson, Headteacher
STAFF NEWS
January 2017 Mrs Sandeford was appointed in 2009 as School Business Manager, taking her place alongside the Senior Leadership Team. Responsibilities in this regard included oversight of matters such as budget, personnel issues, P.A. liaison, premises management and many more duties. However, despite the role being largely office-based, throughout her 7 years at MGSG, Mrs Sandeford was very visible around school and always willing to get involved with wider activities such as accompanying trips and visits – including Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and leading our school trip to China. Mrs Sandeford left her position in January this year after deciding that she wanted to reduce her working hours. We are grateful that Mrs Sandeford is still available to assist us from time to time but I am pleased she will gain time to spend with her family and wish her well for the future.
April 2017 Dr Morris completed a PhD in Photochemistry in 2004. With a professional background in academia and education, as well as enjoying volunteering as a youth worker, he decided to train as teacher in 2011. In 2012, he was appointed as a newly qualified Teacher of Science at our school. Dr Morris has been a highly effective, efficient teacher with in depth subject knowledge, assisting many students in achieving their potential. In addition, Dr Morris supported the belief that whilst academic success is desirable, students gaining lifelong skills that can be transferred to wider aspects of life is immensely important. In 2014, Dr Morris was appointed as Duke of Edinburgh Assistant Leader where he played an active role, accompanying and transporting students to a variety of extra-curricular activities. Dr Morris has now relocated to another part of the country and we thank him most sincerely for all he has done for our school and wish him every future success in his new school. April 2017 Mr Houston joined the school in 2008 as a Teacher of Design & Technology and was subsequently promoted to the post of Subject Leader of DT in 2009 and then Faculty Leader of Creative Arts in 2013. Mr Houston quickly made a significant contribution and impact on the delivery of Design & Technology. His overall aim was to ensure every student experiences design technology in a challenging and engaging way and to push every individual to achieve their full potential. Mr Houston was greatly respected for his skills and passion for all aspects of DT including design, fashion, art, textiles, graphics, animation, resistant materials and food technology. He contributed massively to the success of students, inspiring many to continue with their creative studies beyond school and into Higher Education. Mr Houston has since moved away from Kent and is pursuing experiences outside of teaching. We are very grateful for all of his hard work over the years, he will be greatly missed but wish him the best of luck for the future.
May 2017 Mr Boyce qualified as a Teacher of Mathematics in 2010 and he was recruited to our school in 2011. He was an effective and versatile teacher who was successful in motivating and encouraging students so that they wanted to achieve their best. Mr Boyce had excellent relationships with both staff and students and was always willing to go the extra mile in support of school life. In 2012, he took up the position of Year 7 Learning Leader, making a great success of the role, doing everything possible to ensure that incoming students enjoyed their transition to secondary school. Mr Boyce, also had energy and enthusiasm, could be counted upon to fully engage in school events, He was always keen to participate in fancy dress, sporting or charitable activities (including running the London Marathon in our school kilt for charity). He freely gave time to accompany trips and visits and with a keen interest in football and karate, he was able to lead his own clubs whilst also actively supporting our school’s extra-curricular events. With this in mind, he was the perfect candidate to coordinate the Adventure Service Challenge which was first introduced to Year 7 in 2015. Mr Boyce certainly made an impression on colleagues and students throughout his time at our school and is missed by many. However, we are delighted that he secured a promotion to the position of Director of Mathematics in a school nearer to home and wish him every future success.
Mr Busfield and Mr Reaveley both joined our school earlier this year to cover absent or departed colleagues. I thank them both for their commitment to the school and enthusiasm for their respective subjects, wish them well for the future and hope they remain in touch with the school.
Mrs Wilkinson was appointed in 2015 as Teacher of English, bringing with her, considerable experience gained from over 35 years of teaching. Our students have benefited greatly from her teaching throughout the two years that she has been with us. Mrs Wilkinson has always been kind, cheerful and willing to help. She will be missed by our school community, but leaves with our very best wishes for a long and happy retirement.
Mr Nicholls came to our school in 2014 as a trainee teacher and joined our teaching staff the following year. Throughout that time, Mr Nicholls has played an active part in extra-curricular activities such as trips and assisting with clubs. He also established excellent relationships with students and has always been prepared to provide help whenever required. Mr Nicholls leaves our school today to experience new opportunities and we wish him well for the future.
Ms Wheeler has been working as part of our Learning Supervisor team since January 2014 and the following year, also took on the role of Duke of Edinburgh Award Assistant Co-ordinator. She has been a dedicated supporter of the scheme and has contributed greatly to the success of many students in achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Ms Wheeler has also given much time freely to assist with clubs, fixtures, trips and other activities. Ms Wheeler leaves our school today with our thanks and we wish her every future success in her new job.
Mrs Moore first taught at our school as Teacher of Music from 2012 to 2014 and returned in September 2015. In that time, she has made a very positive contribution to the music department. Mrs Moore is greatly respected by her students and has provided enjoyable music lessons, sharing her vast subject knowledge and experience with our pupils. She has also supported all our wider musical activities in school and participated in trips that support the education and enjoyment of music. We thank her most sincerely for her dedication to success of Music within our school and wish her every future happiness in her retirement.
Mr Downs was recruited as a newly qualified teacher in 2012 and quickly fitted in as a valuable and popular member of our school community, establishing excellent relationships with both staff and students. He has always played an active role in school life, participating in many school events and activities. He has also organised and attended numerous visits and trips. Mr Downs has an excellent subject knowledge of Geography, Politics, and History and has successfully led the teaching and learning of Lower School Geography for the past two years. His passion for learning is evidenced by his own commitment to learning by gaining a Master’s Degree in Politics while working at MGSG which is a great accomplishment. Mr Downs very much deserves his promotion to Head of Geography at his new school and whilst we will miss him greatly, he leaves with our best wishes for the future and hope he remains in contact with the school.
Mme Collin received her early education in France and achieved qualifications in, of course, French as well as English Language, but also in studies of French Literature, Greek and History, plus a complete education in Music and piano. In the early 1980s, her studies were finally completed at a respected University in Paris and she came to England to improve her language skills and gain her teaching qualification. Since then, Mme Collin has had a full teaching career. She joined our school in 1997 as Head of Modern Languages and has worked tirelessly in support of the school for the last 20 years. This is a remarkable achievement and one that should be acknowledged and celebrated. Mme Collin is a dedicated and hard-working colleague who is held in enormous affection and respect by all staff and students. In 2006, Mme Collin also took on the additional role as a school Governor and volunteered her time to attend meetings and support the Governing Body in their work. Most of all though, she is an outstanding teacher who has a passion for her subject and has inspired countless numbers of students to continue with their studies of languages beyond school and into Higher Education. Mme Collin delivers memorable and unique lessons by acknowledging that a good teacher/pupil relationship brings the best outcomes and has always given her time freely to assist students with their learning. Mme Collin has organised many exchanges, visits and trips to Europe in order to extend learning outside the classroom and allow students to experience different cultures. She will be greatly missed by everyone at MGSG but I know that she will remain in contact with the school. She does, however, thoroughly deserve to relax and enjoy a long and happy retirement where I know she is looking forward to spending time in France as well as the UK and having the flexibility to visit family and friends.
Ms Holton was educated in a Girls’ Grammar School in Kent and made good use of her abilities in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics as she went on to achieve a Natural Sciences degree in 1976 from the University of Cambridge (followed by an MA in later years). Ms Holton spent some time working in industry before training to be a teacher in 1984. She joined our school in 1992. Ms Holton is retiring from her position as Teacher of Physics after an extraordinary 25 years of service to our school. A few short sentences will not be able to adequately reflect the impact Ms Holton has had on countless numbers of students who have studied under her direction. She has a particular interest in Astronomy and Astrophysics and took pleasure in learning more about these topics which no doubt enriched her lessons. Ms Holton believes that for Physics to be a successful subject, students need to see the relevance of their learning in practical applications and has, therefore, organised visits and activities out of school and invited outside speakers into school to broaden our students’ knowledge. We say goodbye to Ms Holton after 25 years of service but she leaves with our wholehearted thanks and best wishes. She will be missed, but we hope she has a happy and enjoyable retirement. I am sure she will keep in touch with us in the years ahead.
Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend Examination Results Information 2017
A Level Results Day, Thursday 17th August
Students are welcome to collect their examination results from room 1 between 7.30 am and 10.30 am. After that time, results can be collected from the main office until 2pm. Any remaining results will then be put in the post. Mrs Absolon and other members of staff will be there that morning to offer help and advice as needed.
GCSE Results Day, Thursday 24th August
Students are welcome to collect their examination results from room 1 between 8 am and 10.30 am. After that time, results can be collected from the main office until 2pm. Any remaining results will then be put in the post. Mrs Absolon and other members of staff will be there that morning to offer help and advice as needed.
If students find that they have changed their mind over what they want to study or haven’t qualified for a particular subject, this can all be dealt with at the start of term. However, if you wish to speak to a member of staff before then and you feel that the matter is urgent, time slots on the following days are available for both internal and external students:
Friday 25th August Mrs Absolon will be in school (Room 1) between 9am and 11am if help and advice are needed. Monday 4th September Please ring the main office (01474 352896 between 9am and 2pm) during the week of 29th August – 1st September to make an appointment to see Mrs Absolon (Assistant Headteacher) or Ms Cocks (Learning Leader for Year 12). Tuesday 5th September Please ring the main office (01474 352896 between 9am and 2pm) during the week of 29th August – 1st September to make an appointment to see Mrs Absolon or Ms Cocks. Wednesday 6th September First day back at school. Staff will be available at various points during the day to deal with option choices and queries. External Students External students need to bring their examination results to the main office to be copied by September 1st. They also need to collect, complete and return our application pack. The appointments listed above are open to both internal and external students. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Exam boards no longer re-issue certificates that are lost. They will be replaced with a Certified Statement of Results. Certificates will only be replaced upon production of a Police certificate to state that they have been stolen or destroyed by a household fire. Therefore it is very important that certificates are kept safe to avoid unnecessary disappointment or costs. Exam Office Opening Hours. GCE Results Thursday 17th August – 7am -12.00 pm Friday 19th August - 8am – 11.00 am GCSE Results Thursday 24th August – 7am -12.00 pm Friday 25th August - 8am – 11.00 am Please be aware that if you are in Year 13 and did not receive the grade you expected, we can apply for a 'priority review of marking'. All students not in Year 13 should seek their subject teacher's advice on or after the 4th September 2017. 'Non-priority Review of marking' can be applied for up to the middle of September Review of Marking. Please be aware that Boards will only correct genuine marking errors – They cannot change reasonable marks. How to support your child’s learning Lower and Upper School
All of our students in Years 7-10 have worked very hard over the past two terms. The girls sat their internal examinations at the end of May and received the outcomes of these important milestones on their return to school in Term 6. Examination papers were returned by class teachers and detailed class and individual feedback was given. During these sessions the girls will have had the opportunity to ask questions and understand clearly what went well and what they should do to improve their performance in the future. Please can we ask you to speak to your daughter and ask her about her work, her approach to study, revision and what she has learnt from the recent examination process. Full annual reports were published to parents on Friday 14th July via Go4Schools and your daughter will have brought home her own reflection on her progress and achievements over the past year. Term 6 progress grades will be published on Thursday 20th July and demonstrate how students have progressed since the May examinations. Please review these grades against those published in the annual report. Sixth Form – Year 12
For Year 12 Term 5 and 6 were especially busy with students juggling the preparation for external AS examinations and internal examinations. Both equally important, the former marking the end of courses and the latter reflecting progress to date and determining UCAS grades. Examination papers were returned by class teachers in mid-June and detailed class and individual feedback was given. During these sessions the students will have had opportunity to ask questions and understand clearly what went well and what they should do to improve their performance in the future. Please can we ask you to discuss the outcomes of these conversations and ask about work, approach to study, revision and what they have learnt from the recent examination process. Term 6 progress grades will be published on Thursday 20th July and demonstrate how students have progressed since their return to school following the June examinations.
French Exchange 2016/17
This academic year has been extraordinary. I’ve been able to participate in so many trips and events, making memories and learning so much. The French Exchange was an opportunity which I’ve been extremely lucky to be part of. In November 2016, I remember meeting my exchange partner at Ebbsfleet train station, which was a foreign experience. When my family took her home that evening, I think we were both a little nervous. However, I found that the more I spoke to her, the easier it was to communicate. We had become very close and had a lot of common interests. We visited many places as I tried to reveal the true nature of the UK and show her what we had to offer. At my home, we prepared ‘typical’ English dinners which I guess was different and weird to her, but I’m sure she enjoyed them and experienced our culture as a whole.
Going to France in February 2017 was extremely nerve wracking. It was almost a 10 hour journey, mainly on a coach. The highlight of my journey was definitely seeing the Eiffel Tower and experiencing its atmosphere. It was honestly so beautiful. When we arrived in Pontarlier in the Jura, it was cold and dark. But beside from that, there was snow everywhere! The whole landscape looked gorgeous and my friends and I were in awe at its beauty! We spent the whole week experiencing their culture, learning their language and getting to know their village. I can’t express how much it has helped me with my French, just by speaking more confidently and proudly. We were able to watch movies in French and even attend their school! We also spent one day in Lausanne in Switzerland and one day in Besançon. I met some amazing people, whom I’m still in contact with to this day and who made the trip worthwhile and extremely fun!
I would definitely recommend this trip to any future Year 10 and would love to go again next year before my GCSEs. None of this would have been possible without Madame Collin, whom I want to thank on behalf of everybody who participated! We loved your tour of Paris and everything that came with it! Thank you so much for taking your own time to create something beautiful, which was a once in a lifetime experience. I’ll never forget it!
Mary-Ellen Hartnup 10R
German Exchange and Work Experience - between coffee and cake, school and jobs, Hamburg and Lübeck
On 27th February, a group of 27 students from Year 10, Year 11 and Year 13 embarked on a trip to our twin town, Neumünster, in the North of Germany, accompanied by Herr Wellens, Herr Lobo and Frau Pina. We set off in the early hours of Monday morning and arrived in Neumünster just after 2 pm local time where we visited the Klaus-Groth-Schule. We were greeted with cakes and beverages and a warm welcome from Herr Jesper, Klaus-Groth-Schule the headmaster of our partner school. Although tired, it was great to see the exchange partners reunited Mr Jesper after the Germans’ initial visit to Gravesend earlier this year.
We were then officially welcomed in the town hall by Mr Iblher, who runs the Gravesham-Neumünster twinning association, as well as by Mrs Schättiger, Neumünster’s ‘Stadtpräsidentin’ (i.e. the mayor). Our exchange programme with the Klaus-Groth-Schule has been running since 1988 and is still enjoying a lot of success. It was mentioned by both representatives of Neumünster how important it is for young people to go abroad, see and experience different ways of life, a different culture, to practise language skills, to take a
step into the unknown and maybe make friends for life in the process.
This is exactly what most students achieved in the exchange, a cultural experience, some improvement of their German knowledge and making new friends.
Two highlights of our exchange were the trips to Hamburg and to Lübeck. The students had the chance to get to know the city-state of Hamburg, see its interesting architecture, do some very important shopping and enjoy their time in the historic ‘Speicherstadt’, a quarter of old shipping warehouses, depots and wharfs. In a guided tour through Lübeck, the students got to know everything about the historic centre of the town, which is situated on a small island, and all were able to enjoy some pre-spring sunshine and buy some world-famous Niederegger Marzipan.
The Year 13 students on the trip were busy in work placements (see photos below) for three days during our time in Germany. They were all in different work places, practising their German and developing some skills. Nicole Parish worked in a pharmacy (making hand lotion), Anya Bakker dealt face to face with clients in a bank, Laura Taylor looked after animals in a zoo, Jennifer Verrell worked in a lawyer’s practice and visited the courts twice and Leanne Mays completed her work placement in a primary school while Lauren Lynn was busy in a book shop. Even though they had all been nervous about working alone in a work experience in Germany, all six students showed courage, braved the challenge and enjoyed their work placements thoroughly. Well done to you all!
The weekend was spent with the German families and then, suddenly, a week had passed and our exchange already came to an end. We said our (for some quite tearful) goodbyes over some more cake at school and again on the platform of Neumünster station, our pockets and suitcases full of German sweets and specialities.
We would like to say thank you to everyone involved in the exchange, for all their efforts to create bonds between the two countries in times when the world seems to be drifting apart, when many a country’s solution to problems appears to be shutting themselves off politically. It has been inspiring to see our lovely students showing the open-minded will to embrace a different culture and to make friends across the channel, hopefully for life.
Danke und bis zum nächsten Austausch im Jahr 2019!
S. Wellens
US Ambassador
On the 11th January some of our sixth form students were lucky enough to attend an amazing workshop offered at St John’s Comprehensive School, run by the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun. It was a great privilege to meet someone so important to connecting our great countries, and someone who had worked closely with President Obama. The workshop started with a beautiful rendition of the American National Anthem sung by a young student from St John's, making the Ambassador feel very welcome.
Mr Barzun offered an interactive questionnaire to start with, asking us on our views of events happening globally at the moment and how we feel our two countries are doing. Then he asked us to name topics we felt confused or frustrated about to do with the United States, topics such as The Presidential Election, the 2nd Amendment and Equality in the USA. He then addressed these concerns by explaining how they work in America or what the government is already trying to do about them.
Mr Barzun gave an amazing workshop really involving us. He answered our queries without giving too much of his political opinion, showing the positive and negative sides of topics, and encouraged us to keep the bond strong between the United States and the United Kingdom
Rebecca Keenan 13AMS
Music
The following students passed their ABRSM / Guildhall Trinity Music exams last term. Well done! Name Year Instrument Grade Ruth Ajibola 8 Piano 5 Hannah Runting 9 Harp 5** Claudia Konarowski 10 Piano 3
Gurleen Bhela 11 Piano 1
Aleksandra Nowak 11 Piano 3
Priyanka Ramchunder 11 Piano 4*
* With merit ** With distinction The Summer Concert took place on Tuesday 4th July and featured music ranging from “Theme from Thunderbirds”, “Lean on Me”, “When I Was Your Man” to “Radioactive”. Well done to all who performed in the Orchestra and Choir and the following students who performed solos: Louise Hulatt and Maria Savvidou (Year 7); Iesha Agnihotri, Thushana Balachandran, Kitty Boston, Emma Cook, Lucy Gibbons Maria Jarvis, Prahbleen Kaur, Udumpreet Kaur, Sarah Linoy Cherian, Katie Purvis (Year 8); Hannah Runting (Year 9) and Ellie Nixon (Year 10). Well done also to Alice Dunne, Music Prefect, who was on sound and thank you to Miss Orton for rehearsing and directing the Choir.
SAFER INTERNET DAY
Safer Internet Day (SID) is organised each February to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology, especially among children and young people. Celebrated on the second day of the second week of the second month, each year on Safer Internet Day thousands of people unite to raise awareness of online safety issues and participate in events and activities right across the globe.
The online safety landscape has evolved over recent years from a focus on creating a ‘safer’ internet to creating a ‘better’ internet. Whether we are children and young people, parents and carers, educators or social care workers, or indeed industry, decision makers or politicians, we can all be the change and unite for a better internet. In championing a better internet, the theme aims to encourage people to be the change and make the most of the positive opportunities offered online, while giving them the resilience, skills, knowledge and support they need to navigate any online risks they may come across. Mayfield engaged in activities over the week aimed at encouraging students to work towards creating a better internet.
Year 7 watched a short film looking at young people and images online to gain an awareness around an online reputation and the impact images may have on young people's lives in the future. Students had discussions about the choices young people make about how they represent themselves. They also considered: What impact does an image have over words? Reflecting on why image apps have become a popular way of communicating and the possible negative consequences for sharing images.
Year 8 looked at why they take selfies and whether images should be shared or not online. The activities also remind students that these images are there forever. They will also look at the video about online image and how photos they share online now may affect future prospects.
Year 9 did a quiz about internet safety, plus discussed and identified points in answer to the question: “what your parents/grandparents need to know about internet safety”
Year 10 watched a short film looking at young people and images online to gain an awareness around an online reputation and the impact images may have on young people's lives in the future. Students had discussions about the choices young people make about how they represent themselves.
Year 11 focused on the dangers of meeting people off line. They watched “Kayleigh’s Love Story” and discussed the issues that arose in this short film.
Year 12 watched a short film looking at young people and images online to gain an awareness around an online reputation and the impact images may have on young people's lives in the future. Students had discussions about the choices young people make about how they represent themselves. In addition students discussed the use of Emojis: why do we use them? Will people always understand what we mean when we use them? Our young people can help to create a better internet by being kind and respectful to others online, by protecting their online reputations (and those of others), and by seeking out positive opportunities to create, engage and share online. They can help to respond to the negative by being ‘helpful bystanders’: supporting peers if they encounter issues online, taking a stand against cyberbullying, and reporting any inappropriate or illegal content they find. Above all, students are encouraged to take their stand as digital citizens of the future. LRC NEWS
2nd March, dawned fairly brightly and not too cold. This augured well for the start of one of the most important days in the School literary calendar, namely “World Book Day”, a worldwide celebration of reading, fun and further activities later in the day down in the LRC. This was indeed a day to promote interest in, and love of, literature and reading. The main activity in the LRC during lunchtime centred around the annual Lower School Years 7 & 8 Fancy Dress competition when students were encouraged to dress up in their favourite character from their favourite book. Chaos at lunchtime predictably reigned with the LRC overflowing with students in all kinds of colourful costumes filling the room as the magic decision hour of 1.30 approached. Some vague sense of order emerged from the ensuing mayhem. Following a quick twirl or two by the many contestants, a shortlist of three finalists from Y7 and Y8 was selected. I am pleased to report that the joint winners from Y7 were Lauren Everson and Zoe Mills from 7R who were dressed respectively as “Dorothy” & “Toto” from the Wizard of Oz and from Y8 Anjileen Devgun of 8L was chosen, dressed, I am reliably informed, as a character from “The Trails of Apollo”. Each of the winners received a £5 Bluewater prize voucher. Commiserations and thanks to everyone who sportingly participated, especially if you did not win. There will be more LRC competitions coming up and further chances to win prizes! Again, in connection with World Book Day, I invited students to take part in a “Bumper Literary Quiz”. I had quite a number of entry forms returned However, I am pleased to announce that the name drawn with the most correct answers was Laura Harris of 7R who wins a £10 Bluewater voucher. Congratulations to Laura! I must make special mention of a member of the MFL staff, Miss Bastidas, who sportingly assisted me with the various dystopian lunchtime activities, dressed as a very fine Victorian upper class lady. Thank you, Miss Bastidas! During the past term, one of the most important literary events in the LRC calendar has been taking place and has just reached its conclusion, namely the annual "Carnegie Medal Shadowing". Each year, the majority of secondary schools in the UK take part in "Carnegie". Students try to read as many as possible of the eight new fiction titles recently published and here at MGSG we meet each week in the LRC from the beginning of April until around mid- June when the winning book is chosen by the official judging panel in London. These weekly meetings take the form of informal discussions about the various Carnegie books students have read and they give their opinions as to the merits, or otherwise, of each one and talk about their favourites. These occasions are always relaxed and a bit of fun and are always enjoyed by our students.
"Carnegie" is a very auspicious prize for the winning author as it results in widespread publicity, featuring both on TV and in other media outlets. The successful author can look forward to a surge of interest in his or her book and increased sales! This year was no exception. Our students took a final vote at the conclusion of our meetings and choose the book they think should win...... however, as is frequently the case, the august panel of official judges chose a title different to our students as the winner. The official winner of the 2017 Carnegie Medal is "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys, a fictional adaptation of an actual tragedy of World War 2 when an overloaded ship carrying refugees from Nazi occupation was sunk. Read it! Our MGSG students chose the intriguing "The smell of other people's houses" by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock - an equally good read. Oddly enough, the meeting with the most attendance was the celebration "end of Carnegie" party held on 22nd June in the LRC where we commiserated with each other but had a good time.
Mr Martin
Darent Valley Emergency Department
I just wanted to write to you to express my gratitude for some work 4 of your Year 13’s undertook for me.
I am the Matron of Darent Valley Emergency Department (and also Mum to Laura Taylor!) and I approached the girls (Laura, Katie Bullimore, Jess Reading and Kerry Bolland) to ask if they would be willing to paint a picture for me for the wall of our newly refurbished Psychiatric Assessment Room.
The room is used to assess patients who present to the Emergency Department feeling suicidal or having taken an overdose/deliberate self-harm etc. Patients can spend many hours in there waiting to be assessed/treated. The walls had recently been painted cream and I asked the girls to come up with a peaceful/calming picture.
They chose to replicate a picture Laura had taken whilst on a family holiday to Scotland, they spent 12 hours over the Easter holidays completing the picture in their own time and for no payment.
The picture has been exceptionally well received by staff and patients alike and I cannot thank them enough for giving up their time to do this for me. The hospital has uploaded the pictures onto their Facebook page and also their Twitter account and the comments received there have been amazing.
I was hoping there could be some recognition for all their hard work in the next newsletter?
I have attached some pictures of work.
Once again I cannot thank them enough and I am extremely proud of them and all their hard work.
Liz Taylor, Emergency Department Matron, Darent Valley Hospital
Careers
Year 11have recently gone out on their work experience after their GCSE examinations. This work experience is an important introduction to working life, even if their placement is not connected to their lifetime ambition, because they have the opportunity to witness and develop those “soft skills” needed in any work place, reliability, time keeping, listening to instructions, communicating and using their initiative. Work experience is of increasing importance to prospective employers and universities. If your daughter has a particular career in mind you may like to encourage her to secure a related placement over the next year so that it can be used to support their application for employment or university entrance.
Year 12 on return from their examinations will begin their University applications. Mrs McNulty will be available for longer interviews giving advice and guidance about university choices. Please encourage your son or daughter to book these and gain as much advice and guidance as they can. Many students have already booked University visits. Do be aware that if they cannot make the official days they can contact the university and usually go at a time convenient to themselves.
Catering
Our Catering Department serves a range of freshly prepared food throughout the year. We open at 8.00 a.m. till 8.30 a.m. for breakfast, at break time and during the lunch period. There are hot mains, vegetarian options, jacket potatoes, pasta with sauces, a salad bar and a selection of sandwiches and snacks available daily.
We aim to keep prices as low as possible. However, due to the higher cost of ingredients and the running costs of the canteen, we need to slightly increase the cost of our main meal, salads, sandwiches and pasta pots from September, but most snacks and drinks will remain unchanged. A full price list will be available on our website and in the canteen. Hot drinks from the vending machines will be reduced to 65p. We are confident that our products represent good value and remain competitive.
The canteen now provides a packed lunch service. Students can fill out the form either at breakfast or break time and pick up their cold lunch at the beginning of the lunch fresh from the fridge.
Students who are eligible for free school meals and are going out on school trips can order their packed lunch from the canteen to take with them on the day out. Please make sure that this is done the day before the trip so it can be ready for you on the morning of the event.
Our cashless catering system has been running for 3 years and we are pleased with the difference it has made to the queues in the canteen. We would like to encourage parents to pay online. The cash loader is for emergency top ups only. Parents will benefit from seeing the food choices which have been made in school. If you need a code to activate your online account please contact the Finance Office on [email protected].
Our system does not automatically allow overdrafts and these are only available in an emergency. We would be grateful if you would ensure that accounts are kept in credit to avoid delays when buying food throughout the day. If you wish to complete a consent form for biometric registration then they are available to download from the website.
If you want to find out more about eligibility for free school meals please visit the Kent County Council website.
Technology
We have had some excellent work being carried out in all areas of Technology this year and would like to congratulate the following students for their excellent achievement and effort:
Year 7- Oluwakemi Kazim, Sasha Barnes-Crowhurst, Abbie Watson
Year 8- Hollie Edwards, Daya Kaur Bachu, Udumpreet Kaur, Harsimran Gill, Mary-Ann Nwodo
Year 9- Mia Sutherland, Rebecca Lloyd, Rosie Tearle, Justyna Nowak
Year 10- Nayana Cornwell, Lakshmi Lakha, Charlotte Marsh Williams, Olivia Marsh Williams, Harleen Mudahar, Isabel Lloyd, Hannah Baruch
Year 11- Chloe Milton Robinson, Abigail Ayley, Josephine Butler, Riya Tehara, Ellie Savage, Hannah Styles
Year 12- Sophie Champion, Lucy Page, Kimberly Jhurry, Simrat Talwar, Dulcie Cook
Year 13- Katie Ayton, Amelia Halliday and Beth Coyne
Mrs Campbell
Poetry From Year 8
Year 8 have been writing poetry inspired by childhood memories in their ‘Let’s Think’ English lessons. The students had a variety of interesting and creative ideas and three of them have been selected for inclusion here.
FAULT Maybe it was my fault, That I’d never sat beside you On that rough red play-mat, On that surprisingly warm day in September. In that classroom of giggles and squeals.
Maybe it was my fault, That I wouldn’t wear that sparkly tutu. And instead perched on that bench Watching you rule the fairy kingdom, Whilst I sipped my Capri-sun in awe.
Maybe it was my fault, That I didn’t know the words to that Katy Perry song, The one that I could hear you mumble under your breath, Just across the table, When we both knew you should have been focused on your maths.
Maybe it was my fault, That while you tried everything to make that skirt so short I was covering my hands with the sleeves of my tatty cardigan, And making sure that my glasses covered just the right amount of my face, In the hope that the teacher wouldn’t pick me to read.
Maybe it was your fault, That you didn’t see what you missed. That while they might have been better at braids, My heart wasn’t made from melted down Barbie dolls and buttons. But that doesn’t matter to me. Chloé Monteil-Thang 8A The Book of Life I remember waiting for her, But she didn’t come. I was left there waiting, In the blazing sun.
Night turned to day And my excitement turned to fright. But she didn’t care, Not a text nor a sight.
So I opened the book And in I strode. Now she’ll never find me, I’ve left my friends, my town and my home. I’ve left her behind me.
I’ve begun my adventure, I’ve started my quest. I’ve battled a beast and danced at the ball. I’ve travelled the world, I’ve travelled through history. But not once, I bet, she missed me.
Now I’ve finished the book, I’m back in my old home town. Now I’ve finished the chapter, I’ve finished my journey. She can now no longer hurt me. Chloe McMahon 8A
Don’t leave me here
Don’t leave me here With the massive spider in the garage, The foxes howling at midnight, The slug that eats mum’s lettuces.
Don’t leave me here With the seagulls that eat my ice cream, The monster at the back of the cinema, The worm that lives in the apple. Don’t leave me here With the bulldog next door, The wolf that ate my trainers, The cat that ate our fish.
Don’t leave me here To face the world.
I’ll keep you here, In my heart, As you move to Scotland And have a new start.
Ruth Ajibola 8A
ENGLISH A Level
As part of their English Language and Literature ‘A’ level coursework, Year 13 students had to write an opinion piece on a subject of personal interest. The students studied a range of contemporary journalists and bloggers, then researched their own chosen topic, before producing an article of their own. Some chose to write in the style of a regular blogger, whilst others opted to write as though for a newspaper article. One example of the students’ completed pieces is included here, reflecting their strength of feeling about subjects of topical human interest.
Why are we paying more, more, more for less, less, less?
We need to put a stop to corporate companies shrinking our food products before our delicious snacks disappear altogether. Ever noticed how our food products seem to be shrinking but the prices are increasing? Well, I have. The other day, I walked into Tesco simply because my bus was not going to arrive for another fifteen minutes and I did not want to wait outside in the cold, wet rain. So I thought that I should buy something to treat myself - delicious Mr Kipling angel cakes, of course. They were half price at £1.17 for a box of 9 individually wrapped cakes in their own plastic boxes. I was chuffed. However, when I returned home and proceeded to open my first cake I was aghast. The cakes had shrunk. And by that, I mean the top half of the cake (the yellow bit) was now much narrower and the icing that lines the middle of the two different coloured sponges was no longer reaching either end of the cake. This was not the first incident. Not too long ago, there was an uproar in the canteen when I revealed to my closest friends that Mr Kipling had shrunk the icing on top of the cake so that they were two small lines of uncovered sponge cake at either end. Outrageous. However, when Mr Kipling changed the branding they also changed the size of the box to become smaller. This is all well and good seeing as less plastic means less waste and, consequently, less harm to the environment. Although, maybe this was merely a gateway for what was to come. Revelling in the joy of being able to save the environment with my newly smaller plastic packaging where I could reduce the amount of rubbish I would throw away, I did not think about the repercussions. Oh no. I did not think about the opportunity to shrink the actual cakes inside. Yet Mr Kipling is not the only company to decrease the size of their products –let’s not forget Mondelez. The food conglomerate who sent the entire country into uproar when they increased the gap between the peaks of the pyramids in Toblerone chocolate to reduce the weight of a 400g bar to a mere 170g, remember that? They reduced the weight by 230g! That is equivalent to three C-cell batteries, or a key ring with six keys, or a roll of US nickels (or a roll of pennies for you and me). This same US food manufacturing company are also increasing the price of Freddo bars by 20%, raising the price from 20p to 30p in the spring. But are they increasing the size of Freddo bars by 20%? No. I would also like to add to this ever-increasing list of delicious snacks that are decreasing in size, the 1kg tins of Quality Street and Roses which have been shrunk to 820g. And on top of that, the rival company Mars are shrinking their Maltesers snack bags by 15%! A six-pack of Cadbury's Crème Eggs is now a pack of five and Kit-Kat bars now have three fingers... Wave goodbye to that fourth finger because it is not coming back. What I would like to know, and I'm sure you would too, is why this new of epidemic of 'shrinkflation' has come to the fore? Yes, that is what they are calling it. Shouldn't the mere fact that it has a stupid name like 'shrinkflation' highlight that this is an issue and we need to put a stop to it right now? Anyway, the reason for this mass shrinkage of food products is - apparently - because of Brexit. Ah, a word we all love to hear. A word that became Collin's word of the year because of the sheer overuse of it. A word that connotes death, destruction and despair. Well, I suppose that is a bit dramatic but I am sure that some of you see it that way. But I'm not going to delve into that topic now... not today anyway… And why, you may ask, is Brexit the cause of this catastrophic c condensing? Well, inherently, it is not the cause but simply the ‘catalyst’ which has sped up the process of shrinkflation so much so that people are starting to notice. Companies are claiming that the costs of raw materials are rising. Consequently, the cost of manufacturing the products is also rising therefore to lower the costs they are decreasing the size of the products while the prices that we pay remain the same - some companies are even hiking the prices up even more. Much to the consumer's dismay. I suppose it is one or the other, shrink the products or expand the prices. Which one to choose? This is like a game of 'would you rather' where both the answers leave you in a terrible situation. Only with that, you don't have to endure the consequences. But this is real life and now we as consumers, who like to treat ourselves to a sweet snack when we begrudgingly force ourselves to do the food shopping, are having to suffer the fate of getting less for our money. What a nightmare. Don't we all love a good bargain? Yet we are getting the exact opposite, aren’t we? The aftermath of a newfound Brexit Britain has left us with a pound that is now worth less than a pound which has consequently led to widening gaps (in both Toblerone bars and our relationship with Europe) and shrinking confectionery. Now, when I first heard about the effect of the Brexit vote I turned my nose up at it. Why should I care if we leave the EU single market? I have no idea what that even means. But once you mess with my angel cakes, I'm mad. Mad enough to write an article about it. Now if you'll excuse me I am going to go and sit down with my feet up, have a nice cup of tea and eat a disproportionately sized angel cake. Lauren Lynn 13SBY
MATHS
Year 9 ‘Statistics Gone Wild’ On Friday 23rd June 2017, eleven enthusiastic Y9 mathematicians accompanied Mr Windle and I on a ‘Statistics Gone Wild’ event at the Canterbury Campus of the University of Kent. The event was hosted by Statistical Ecology at Kent, which is part of the university’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science. The event focused on the study of ecology in statistics, particularly the real-life sampling of wildlife populations. During the day, students were involved in three sessions which were delivered by PhD students, as well as introductory and closing speeches delivered by lecturers at the university. One of these sessions looked at Capture-Recapture, a topic students will study in Y10. The main hands-on activity in this session involved throwing toy birds into a bucket on two occasions (doing this twice captured the ‘capture’ and ‘recapture’ parts), and using this data to estimate the population size of a species of an endangered animal. Another session that was delivered was about Removal Modelling. This looked at the implications of removing a species of animal from its habitat to another suitable habitat, and using statistical packages to compute an estimation of the total population size through the removal of animals from just two samples. The students enjoyed digging for lizards in the sand, which was the hands- on activity task to help them understand how removal modelling worked. One animal involved in the UK is the Great Crested Newt. Removal and relocation has been done for house development purposes and protection of this species of animal. A third session that students participated in was on Occupancy Modelling. This involves looking at detection to see if animals are within a certain boundary through sampling. This was delivered in the context of Galapagos penguins. The three sessions were then followed by a Quiz on the key points raised in the sessions during the day, from questions on the most important reason why bumblebees are crucial in the food chain, a feature of Great Crested Newts which makes them uniquely recognisable, to which sampling method would be used to see how many words William Shakespeare knew. I am very pleased to say that MGSG students did exceptionally well, and we are particularly proud of their understanding and achievements on the day. Well done! It also turned out that Mr Windle came joint first in the quiz, however he could not get his hands on the prizes of sweets as he was not a student. Each student did get to take a magnet about statistical ecology at Kent home with them which was appreciated! Speaking with students after the event, I am pleased to say that they enjoyed their day out, and they liked experiencing a lecture and seminars at a higher education institution for the first time. It is important for us all to recognise the importance of the conclusions that are reached having analysed ecological data to try to describe and better understand the environmental changes which affect the behaviour of wild animals and plants, in terms of population size. This is particularly important as many species of animal are endangered or extinct and it is vital for us, as responsible human beings, to contribute to a sustained environment where as many species of animals and plants as possible can flourish. Miss R Bains
PE and Sporting Success District Athletics 2017
There was a range of standout performance from each of the year groups Mayfield Grammar School achieved the following results:
Year 7 3rd place
Year 8 2nd Place
Year 9 3rd Place
Year 10 4th place
A full list of the results will be on the next newsletter. Well done on these superb results.
ATALANTA CUP
Sports Day Winners 2017 Atalanta Cup Results
1st – Darnley 693 points 1st – Lynton 1119 points 2nd – Lynton 679 points 2nd – Atholl 1079 points 3rd – Atholl 659 points 3rd – Darnley 1043 points 4th= – Chadwick 620 points 4th – Westbrook 965 points 4th= – Westbrook 620 points 5th – Chadwic 930 points 6th – Reekie 568 points 6th – Reekie 838 points
Individual Successes
Chrystal Touch - 7 Darnley
In a recent gymnastics competition Chrystal received: Gold in the Kent Twin Piece competition Gold on the individual bars piece & Bronze on the individual beam piece.
Well done Chrystal, a fantastic achievement and we look forward to hearing about future successes.
Olivia Brian 9 Chadwick took up Hockey only a year ago and since picking up her stick she has gone from strength to strength. She received Player of the Year at her club, Burnt Ash. She has since been selected to be part of the Junior Development Centre where she is hoping to impress the Kent selectors in the near future and expand on her Hockey career to achieve a place in the county squad. Well done on your achievements this year Olivia and we look forward to hearing about more successes in the future.
Emily Frimpong in 8 Lynton is an outstanding athlete who excels in a variety of track and field events. She recently attended the Kent School Games Athletics Competition where she won the hurdles event. That in itself is huge achievement, but due to this success she has been chosen to represent Kent in the National Schools Competition. We wish her every success and look forward to hearing about her future achievements. Well done Emily Netball
The netball season this year was dominated by the competition between Mayfield and St Georges. Week in and week out we battled it out on the courts and the friendly rivalry made the matches exciting to watch. Unfortunately, we unluckily missed out on winning the leagues overall but it was very impressive to see so many girls turning up to train and play between Year 7 – 10, which resulted in us fielding 3 teams per year group on occasion. A special thanks must go to Grace Ogonlola in Year 13 whose commitment to coaching and umpiring at the matches was excellent. Without her the opportunities for the girls to play would have been limited. Thank you Grace from all of the netballers!
I look forward to the up and coming season 2017 -18 and watch out St Georges – we are coming to get you!
Gravesham and Dartford Year 10 Tennis Tournament
On Wednesday 14th June our year 10 tennis team went to the district tennis tournament. It was a very hot afternoon, but the girls soon settled into their matches. They had to play two singles matches and a doubles match.
Our girls won every match they played in. Well done girls on such a great achievement. Basketball
U14 Kent Schools Basketball Tournament at Canterbury University. With many of the players in the Year 9 Basketball team attending a Duke of Edinburgh expedition on the same day, it was left down to the Year 7 & 8 team to step up and complete the squad. After a nervous beginning the girls got into their stride and won all three of their games. The final game was against another team who had not lost any of their preliminary matches either. Mayfield did not let the height or age difference intimidate them and they went onto to win the final and be declared Kent Champions. A fantastic achievement, well done all those involved.
FUN RUN 2017 This year’s theme was Disney Characters
LOWER SCHOOL PRIZES Year 7 Achievement Prizes Oluwanifemi Akinyosoye Ellie Feakins Jaskiran Khatkar Pawandeep Bedi Alisha Gada-Ranchor Alexandra Orchard Niamh Begley Isabelle Gubb Shivani Patel Tanya Bhardwaj Mari Hall Hafsa Shafi Isabelle Clark Laura Harris Abbie Watson Sophie Croft Oluwakemi Kazim
Year 7 Progress Prizes
Fiona Anim Zahra-Noor Goraya Sophie Saunders Faye Bromwich Yasmin Lidder Erin Symonds Grace Cheshire Evie Loveridge Jessica Symonds Charlotte Cook Chiedza Madamombe Jasmine Whitsitt Gursharan Dhillon Neda Moosavi Kunayomi Edomobi Lisa Oluwole
Year 7 Outstanding Effort Prizes Pawandeep Bedi Isabelle Gubb Neda Moosavi Niamh Begley Talea Harding Alexandra Orchard Tanya Bhardwaj Samantha Harvey Simar Raina Dorina Caushaj-Bokciu Oluwakemi Kazim Jessica Symonds Grace Cheshire Jaskiran Khatkar Abbie Watson Sophie Croft Yasmin Lidder Ellie Feakins Evie Loveridge
Year 7 Subject Prizes
Art & Technology Music Physical Education Ellie Feakins Louise Hulatt Jessica Bisrat French German Spanish Niamh Begley Alexandra Orchard Yasmin Lidder
Science Jasmine Whitsitt
Year 8 Achievement Prizes
Daisy Antill Marin Lee Elizabeth Oyedele Katherine Boston Jagoda Molska Rhiannon Powell Mia Day Chloe Monteil-Thang Katie Purvis Emily Frimpong Jessica Nicholls Ellie Smith Lucy Gibbons Holly Noakes Abisha Suyathasan Udumpreet Kaur Jennie Okeke Yozanne Terry
Year 8 Progress Prizes
Daya-Kaur Bhachu Isabella Lane Ravjeet Sandhu Anjleen Devgun Anna Luxford Delight Shitta Abbie Ellis Riya Nihal Ayomiposi Soleye Charlotte Gappa Kaytan Padda Alicia Williams Kashish Kamran Ineyaarl Ramanan Eleanor Williams
Year 8 Outstanding Effort Prizes
Victoria Abdul-Salam Lucy Gibbons Jagoda Molska Daisy Antill Harsimran Gill Jessica Nicholls Mia Day Katie Glennon Rhiannon Powell Gabrielle Edwards Rebecca Greenwood Ellie Smith Abbie Ellis Prabhleen Kaur Delight Shitta Lara Eyre Udumpreet Kaur Abisha Suyathasan Abigail Folkard Alayesha Khanam Madeleine Folkard Sarah Linoy Cherian
Year 8 Subject Prizes
Art & Technology Music Physical Education Rebecca Greenwood Sarah Linoy Cherian Eleanor Williams French German Spanish Holly Noakes Udumpreet Kaur Ellie Smith Science Alicia Williams
Year 8 Sports Performer of the Year Emily Frimpong
UPPER SCHOOL PRIZES Year 9 Achievement Prizes
Shivani Bhoombla Jodie Hofford Hannah Miles Frances Colclough Jessica Kallu Justyna Nowak Holly Creed Rebecca Lloyd Rosie Tearle Vineet Dhillon Rebekah McManus Evelina Ursu Min Jie Guo Lauren Medland
Year 9 Progress Prizes
Shanead Akyena Madison Hawkins Elana Patrick Caitlin Beard Sukita Kandeepan Mandeep Powar Helina Bhat Oreoluwa Kukoyi Simran Rai Ceri Ellis Kirsten-Andie Lartey Olivia Swiatek Emily Hanson Jaspreet Nirwan
Year 9 Outstanding Effort Prizes
Olivia Aujla Emily Hanson Tavleen Kaur Sandhu Jaspreet Bains Rebecca Lloyd Evelina Ursu Paris Bhathal Hannah Miles Maya Walpole Shivani Bhoombla Justyna Nowak Frances Colclough Munachiso Nweze Vineet Dhillon Shreya Patel Min Jie Guo Simran Rai
Year 9 Subject Prizes
Art & Technology Music Physical Education Hannah Miles Hannah Runting Rebecca Lloyd
Biology Chemistry Physics Jessica Kallu Vineet Dhillon Holly Creed French German Spanish Frances Colclough Vineet Dhillon Frances Colclough
Year 9 Claire Camilleri Trophy Olivia Brian
Year 10 Achievement Prizes
Daria Bilkiewicz Ayobami Folorunso Annie Lane Maryam Bouteldja Dilpreet Khatkar Olivia Marsh-Williams Angilina Dhami Yana Khatri Mia Perrott Hannah Downs Lakshmi Lakha Chiara Serrone
Year 10 Progress Prizes
Maha Amer Vaneet Gidda Mithunaka Pakeerathan Sukhman Atwal Rachel Igwe Jazmine Parker Dhamaneet Bansia Gina Marwaha Anisha Sandhu Mia Barnett Fabienne Onyema Lidya Seabright Lucy Farmer Elizabeth Painter Jade Wilson
Year 10 Outstanding Effort Prizes Daria Bilkiewicz Lakshmi Lakha Imogen Peckham Maryam Bouteldja Annie Lane Mia Perrott Gurpriya Dhami Olivia Marsh-Willliams Lidya Seabright Lucy Farmer Lily-May Martin Kearney Harding Harleen Mudahar
Year 10 Subject Prizes
Art & Technology Music Physical Education Nayana Cornwell Louisa Halliday Isabel Lloyd Biology Chemistry Physics Hannah Wright Angilina Dhami Maryam Bouteldja French German Spanish Annie Lane Maryam Boute Mia Perrott
END