May/June 2018 SPRINGWOOD ACHIEVES Congratulations to our students pictured on the front page who have danced, written, spoken, hiked, read and stepped out of their comfort zones. Well done to you all, please read on further to see all their achievements in this newsletter. news@springwood May-June 2018 magistrates@springwood MOCK TRIALS TEAM report My experience of being part of the SHS mock trials team so far, by Merissa Lawrence 8S1 Students accused of handling stolen goods and being in possession of a knife!... Eleven students from the junior mock trials team are heading off to nationals! Our newly formed 2018 you can’t strick to a junior team took part in script and have to the local heat of the come up with new Magistrates Mock Trial questions on the competition and came spot. Unfortunately home with first place, it is known for some (and also a Mcdonalds - witnesses to ramble shhh don’t tell anyone!) on as a tactic in THEN, on the 19th May, order to attempt we took part in the ruin your time limit, regional heat of the and therefore as a competition at lawyer I have to try Mansfield Magistrates and get the witnesse court where again, we to answer with a were lucky enough to yes/no by only win 1st place! I must asking them closed note that we felt the questions. Contrary regional heat was a close one, with other amazing teams; but, our to popular belief, lawyers cannot be sarcastic or hard work paid off and we made it out on top. I was shocked but aggressive to a witness otherwise you will get elated that we had just won a place at the nationals since it was marked down. my first year ever being on the team. Our team is a mix of students that took part last year (7) and those that are new to the Furthermore, there are lots of formalities that the team (4) so there were some déjà vu moments for the whole team has to remember. For example you have experienced students and even a few emotional parents! One to refer to those playing the Magistrates as ‘your thing that had caught my eye, was the shield. Not just the shield worships’, the other lawyers as ‘my learned friend’ itself, but the names on the shield. When I was handed the shield and if you’re a Magistrate talking to a fellow to hold for our team photo, I saw that Springwood High School Magistrate, you’d say ‘my colleague’. When entering had been engraved onto the shield as winners for every year but court for the competition, like in real life, we have to the first! The feeling of pride danced upon me when I knew we had dress appropriately and sit up straight and say just kept our consecutive record for our school, and our hard work ‘excuse me’ if you stumbled on a few words all to had paid off. show respect. The 16th June will be our national final which will take place at the The competition introduces the legal system to famous Victoria Law Courts in Birmingham. I’m feeling partly young people in an exciting way that has a lasting nervous for my first ever national final but also excited. We only impact on all those involved as it gives us skills that have 2 more weeks left before the competition and so far we’ve will be of used throughout our lives such as public been raising money from sponsorship to cover the costs of staying speaking. Being part of this team and taking on over in Birmingham the night before the final. We’ve also been these competitions has definitely taught me to be going through both legal crminal cases that we had to present in more time efficient. Rehearsals have taken place each round of the competition as for the final we have to present after school, lunchtimes and Sundays. This has them both! But not all of both of them, just one side of each meant many of us missing out on other clubs and (prosecution or defence) However we we won’t know the activities in order to prioritise this activiy becuase if selection until the day, so we have been revising everything! one person is missing, it can effect the people they directly work with. This has taught me how to I was selected as a lawyer back in the audtion process and playes balance different opportunities and schoolwork and a Lawyer in the first round and, a Lawyer and Magistrate in the how to make good use of my time. second. The first case was about a defendant being in possession of a knife and the second case was a defendant accused of As Miss Roberts is not in school everyday, we have handling stolen goods. Playing a Lawyer consists of either all comunicated and worked lots over email and representing the government (prosecution lawyer) or representing thereforew I’ve had to ensure I check my emails a client who has been accused of something (defence lawyer). It everyday. I have also learnt how to interact with involves performing what is called an ‘examination in chief’ where businesses (local and large corporate ones) when I have to ask my witness numerous, open questions in a specific gaining sponsorship. I have seen 3 different court time limit, trying to draw out the facts that are documented from houses (soon to be 4 after the national) and I have that witness in a statement. This happens with a students from learnt how to show respect in court and have met my own team. real magistrates and lawyers. However, then there’s the really hard bit which is a ‘cross We could not have got this far in the competition examination’ where I have to ask questions to a witness on without our teacher Miss Roberts. Miss Robert’s another team and try to discredit his/her statement, also under a expertise, knowledge and dedication were all key in strict time limit! Cross examining is difficult as don’t know what order to our winning. She has given up so much of answer to expect from the witness who is from another school. her time for us and we can’t thank her enough. You need to respond according to the witness’ response therefore Thank you so much for giving us this extraordinary opportunity Miss Roberts. news@springwood May-June 2018 english@springwood YEAR 7 AND YEAR 8 CREATIVE WRITING This year nineteen of our enthusiastic students decided to challenge themselves by entering the Rotary Club Young Writer's competition This was a very successful even, as all students who entered the competition (for the Kings Lynn and Wisbech area) were highly commended for their stories. Not only this, but for the area Springwood High School placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd! 1st- Archie Spindler (receiving a £25 Amazon voucher) 2nd- Olivia Harrod (receiving a £15 Amazon voucher) 3rd- Vinethmi Kulasingh (receiving a £15 Amazon voucher) As Archie's story was the winner, it was sent to the regional competition. Archie's story WON the regional competition for East Anglia! Congratulations Archie! The regional prize was presented by Mrs M Barwell news@springwood May-Jun e 2018 year8@springwood CULTURAL DANCERS AT RHS CHELSEA To celebrate the cultural theme, on Press Day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show eight students from Springwood joined the Iron Garden to perform a variety of dance routines to showcase a traditional culture as part of their extra-curricular activities, complete in traditional colourful dress and music. The girls attend the Taal-Ras-Bhava Dance Academy. WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED Pictured left are Diana and Chelsea from Year 8, with Mr Fitzpatrick they handed over a cheque for £115.50. They sold raffle tickets and ran a tombola. The proceeds were handed over to Mr Fitzpatrick for his charity Walking with the Wounded, he took part in the Worlds toughest footrace Marathon des Sable in April of this year. Well done girls. news@springwood May-Jun e 2018 dofe@springwood GOLD AWARDS On 17th May 2018, three students from Springwood High School travelled to London to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Certificates. They committed two years or more to complete this, while taking A-level exams. This is a fantastic achievement and their awards are well deserved. The five sections include volunteering, physical, skills and residential and a difficult expedition – in awful weather!!! So arriving at Buckingham Palace with their parents in glorious sunshine meant that the day was wonderful and a lovely change from the expedition phase. After spending time looking around the gardens and having many photographs taken it was time to get into groups for the presentations. Each group of 20-25 young award recipients then met the guest celebrity who presented the certificates. Our group was presented their awards by Alan Titchmarsh. After a photo shoot with him the Royals then arrived at the palace and walked through each group chatting to the award recipients and thanking the parents for their support. The Royals in attendance were The Earl and Countess of Wessex - Prince Edward and Sophie, and The Duke of York - Prince Andrew. The Springwood students receiving their certificates were Lucy Edwards, Alesha Jones and Jack Massingham. A great day to end a hard won award. RURAL CAREERS More than sixty Year 9/10 students from schools from across Norfolk spent the day on the 25,000 acre Holkham Estate to see what it is like to work on the land.