Heart of Herts The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College Summer Newsletter 16 July 2015 From the Headteacher Dear Reader, Jennifer Orchard both embark upon maternity leave. Our best wishes go to all departing staff. What a truly wonderful year we have had at Herts & Essex! Indeed, in this seventh newsletter of 2014-2015, you will see As the summer term draws to an end, may I take this that our students have been even busier and more active opportunity to thank all our readers, parents, carers and than ever. Those of you who have heard of our ‘Activities’ friends for your superb support of the school. I hope you Week’ will see that none of its wide range of inspirational and have a restful summer holiday and I look forward to the diverse happenings have been included in here; watch out exciting challenges of the academic year to come. for the special Activities’ Week edition available soon! Cathy Tooze The summer term always starts on a serious note, with Headteacher GCSE, AS and A Level public examinations looming. The whole school falls quiet during the critical six week period, Awards Evening during which time parents, friends and staff provide lots of support. We were delighted this year with the incredibly positive attitude of all our students, their superb work ethic Awards Evening and their resilience during what has become almost as much this year was a test of stamina as it is of knowledge and skills. We once again a anticipate our best ever A Level results. Watch out for good lovely celebration news on 13 August (A Level) and 20 August (GCSE). of student achievements. With public examinations behind us and summer days Stella Manzie, looming, learning resumed, fun and exciting times prevailed CBE and former and we looked forward to all the wonderful summer term Herts & Essex events: Sports Day, Awards Evening, induction of student, spoke newcomers, exhibitions, expeditions, charity events, music inspiringly of her and drama evenings, primary school pupil visits, overseas work in a variety staff, student visits and celebration assemblies in addition to of senior the infamous end-of-term Staff Entertainment. Details of positions in these and many more are included in this newsletter. public service, and of the excellent educational grounding It was a sad moment this year when we realised that the she received at Herts & Essex. She stressed the longevity of annual visit by teachers from our partner school in Uganda, things that she learnt at the school and the significance of the Eden High School, would not go ahead due to their visas friendships she made there, which still thrive 40 years on, having been declined. However, it has been interesting to telling students to ‘hold onto your friends’. It was practical host large numbers of and convincing advice for students emphasising how they Chinese teachers who can make a difference, take on leadership roles and in so have come to us to learn doing, make a significant contribution to society. about our teaching and The evening began with a round up of student achievement learning methodologies. in the past year: a wealth of successes in music, sport and Let’s hope that our drama both in and out of school, as well as a staggering Ugandan friends will be amount of charitable fundraising for local, national and more successful in their international causes. It was an amazing array of visa applications next achievements highlighting the broad breadth of student year. interests, experience and expertise. The end of the academic Students from all years received School Prizes, cups and year always brings news of departures: Year 13 move on to certificates for a variety of achievements: in individual the next exciting stage of their lives as young adults off to subjects, for contribution to the school community, for extra- university and the world of work. A handful of staff are also curricular activities as well as for overall academic moving on. Three have been with us a long time: Miss commitment and hard work. It was a chance for those Christine Bruce has worked at Herts & Essex for over 20 students’ achievements to be formally recognised and years as Assistant Head, Deputy Head and lately as rewarded. Parents and staff were suitably proud of their Professional Tutor. Mrs Dany Atkins has been with us for 20 success. years as part of our secretarial team, most recently as our Work Experience Co-ordinator. Mrs Marjorie Callander Prizewinners, guests and staff were treated to a variety of leaves us after 18 years service as a Teacher of Food and moving musical pieces during the event, and afterwards Textiles and Director of Student Progress. Mrs Sarah everyone was able to celebrate with drinks and canapés in Sharpe and Mrs Mary Minton both leave to take teaching the relaxed atmosphere of the school courtyard. It was a posts closer to home, while Mrs Natasha Jukes and Ms great way to round off a very enjoyable evening. Editor www.hertsandessex.herts.sch.uk Honour Roll Breakfasts Congratulations to all those students in Years 8 and 10 who were awarded certificates at the Honour Roll Breakfasts which have taken place since the last newsletter. Recognition was for progress, effort and achievement. Form Tutor and Year Leader nomination certificates were also awarded for special recognition within form and year group. Well done to all students involved. Year 8: Alice Bird, 8C, Olivia Bless, 8S, Lydia Butson, 8F, Katie Chimes, 8S, Molly Dew, 8S, Erin Evett, 8H, Jessica Gaynor, 8H, Chiara Gillham, 8C, Freya Griffiths, 8C, Alejandra Hooker-Niembro, 8L, Olivia Horrocks, 8H, Isara Howarth, 8C, Zaina Hussain, 8F, Emily Illston, 8L, Emilia Kings, 8H, Ella Piron, 8L, Harriet Playle, 8C, Josie Pretious-White, 8F, Isabella Prichard, 8S, Julia Sage, 8S, Rosalind Savage, 8H, Lucy Smith, 8S, Chloe Tippler, 8L, Ellie Trinnaman, 8F, Laura Winspear, 8S. Year 10: Emily Allen, 10C, Rebecca Allen, 10S, Isabel Brown, 10H, April Butchart, 10H, Jennifer Conen, 10L, Emily Dutton, 10C, May Fox, 10H, Aimee Gill, 10S, Elizabeth Hood, 10C, Victoria Keane, 10H, Nicola Keane, 10L, Joanna Lambert, 10L, Amy May-Brown, 10H, Chloe Nash, 10F, Deja Norman, 10F, Kathryn Odrich- Damallie, 10S, Lauren Ring, 10F, Imogen Robertson, 10F, Natasha Robinson, 10L, Maisie Rose, 10C, Kitty Smith, 10C, Josie Sortwell, 10S, Lucy Stauber, 10L, Sophia Walne, 10S, Lucy Webber, 10F, Abigail Weight, 10S. P A GE 2 16 July 2015 Farewell to Year 11 and Year 13 Year 11 Celebrate with pizza in the New Hall Year 13 celebrate with a barbecue and some sumo wrestling on the field! HEART OF HERTS P A GE 3 AS and A2 Art Exhibition Private View It has been an exciting year of intensive work and creativity for our extremely talented AS and A2 students Art students. In June, their combined successes were celebrated at a Private View of their exhibition, ‘Studio CM23’ at the Rhodes Gallery in Bishop’s Stortford along with staff, family and friends. Once again, the standard of work was hugely impressive and, as ever, we are very proud of all their efforts and achievements. Charlotte Smith Subject Leader: Art ‘Studio CM23’ On 11 June family and friends of current AS and A2 Art students were invited to the Rhodes Centre to view the coursework, exam work and sketchbooks produced by the two year groups. Many teachers and students were in attendance at the event and were impressed by the standard of work which was displayed throughout the Rhodes Centre gallery space. As guests walked through to the gallery they were able to view the Year 12 AS exam pieces which included portraits and still-life in a variety of media. Sketchbooks which showed the planning process which went into each of these pieces which was based on the title of ‘Relationships’, were also available for guests to look through. The Year 13 coursework exhibited in the gallery was based around a theme of students’ choice. The sketchbooks which accompanied each of these pieces enabled guests to read into the thought process behind each student’s work. Life drawing, an enrichment class taken by the majority of the Year 12 Art students - and a number of Year 13 students - was available to view in folders which further showcased the students’ drawing skills. The selection of Year 12 coursework was diverse and further demonstrated the amazing talent of the students and the work they were capable of producing. The Year 13 exam work was based on the theme of ‘Flaws, Perfection, Ideals or Compromises’ and was outstandingly impressive. It was unarguably a fantastic way of marking the end of their A Level art journey at Herts & Essex. Overall, the evening was highly successful and a rewarding way for students to celebrate their hard work and share their achievements with family and friends. Charlotte Hayden, 12D and Charlotte Ward, 12D Senior Prefects for the Arts Photography Competition Over May half term, we held a competition in the Library for students and staff to submit photos of themselves reading in usual places. We had some fantastic entries and the best ones have been used to make a display in the Library. Congratulations to Maya Summers, 7L, on her winning entry (we thought reading on a 3rd climbing wall was particularly impressive!) and to Katie Owen, 7H, and Amy May-Brown, 10H, for being runners up. The winners and runners up all received book tokens, so that they can continue reading in weird and wonderful locations! 1st Chloe Dash 2nd Librarian P A GE 4 16 July 2015 A, G & T Arts and Crafts Workshop As part of being gifted and talented in Art, ten students were invited to be involved in an Arts and Crafts Workshop on Thursday 14 – Friday 15 May.