Cockermouth School Magazine Spring 2015 the last WOSWEENEYR TODD:D DR PETRIE STEPS UP LIGHTS, CAMERA, Dr Rob Petrie has been appointed Headteacher of Cockermouth School. Head Girl, Sophie Wilson, and TEAMWORK! Deputy Head Boy, Stephen Cole, caught up with him to find out a little more about the man who is our new Headteacher. How do you feel about your appointment as Headteacher? I am excited and honoured. It will be a privilege to lead such a great school forward into a new era. What changes do you think you will make to the school? I won’t change the fundamentals of the school – there are a lot of things we do very well. One thing I do want to change is the use of technology – integrating new technologies into learning. I also think we should be prouder of who we are as a school. What are your hobbies and interests outside of school? Sweeney Todd, the school’s annual Fell walking – my wife and I have set ourselves the target of walking up all 214 musical production, was a huge journey for me. It Wainwright fells in the next 5 years. I also love watching rugby and cricket, and was my first performance since playing a cow at primary reading. school. Who is your favourite band or singer? When I saw a poster advertising auditions last May I decided This is a really difficult one – if you go through the music on my iPod there’s everything to give it a go. I practised the audition song and, on the day from Beethoven to Black Eyed Peas! It really depends on what mood I’m in, as to what of the auditions, I was nervous with anticipation. I found music I listen to. out who I would play when Sam Weakley ran up to me with a look of euphoria on his face. “Sam, we are Tobias!” I What is your favourite book? looked blankly at Sam, wondering who Tobias was. “He kills I think it would have to be the Sherlock Holmes books. I read them when I was young Sweeney Todd!” I was ecstatic! I was to share the part with and I love the time period. I also think the TV series based on them is great. Sam. If you could have dinner with any person – alive or dead – who would it be? From the very first rehearsal the cast really worked hard, supported by Mr Ulyatt, Miss Mossop and Mr Durkan. It might not be the most obvious answer, but I’d say Richard Feynman. He was a Nobel At each rehearsal, the school hall was a hive of activity: Prize physicist, he played the bongos, and he really understood how the world worked. backstage crew hurrying around, actors learning lines, He could explain Physics in such a way that people could understand it. I think it’d be and chorus and cast muddling through words and songs, really interesting to have a conversation with him. accompanied by Mr Ulyatt who played the piano tirelessly. Are you a cat or a dog person? The immediate run up to the performance, as tickets went on I had a dog for 15 years, but now I have four cats – so you could say I used to be a dog sale, was nerve-wracking for us all. Are we prepared? Not person, and now I’m a cat person. They’re both great in their own way! sure! Is anyone ill? Yes! Will we persevere? Well we did and it was fabulous! And finally, to solve all the arguments… what colour is the dress? Working as a team with pupils from all school years was (Looking at picture) a boost for me. It has been great to make new friends and I’d say that’s white and gold… feel part of such a strong community and such a big team, all pulling together. The Music and Drama departments It’s supposed to be blue and black have worked constantly to deliver yet another fantastic Blue and black?! No way! Where do you get black from? Cockermouth School performance. And I was driven insane... If you saw the production, you will know what I mean. So there you have it – authoritative evidence that the dress is, in fact, white and gold! Thanks Dr Petrie – we wish you the best of luck in your role as Headteacher. Sam Moore, Year 8 Sophie Wilson, Head Girl Read Sophie’s review and Stephen Cole, Deputy Head Boy of Sweeney Todd on pg 8 Best of luck to all our GCSE, AS and A level students Pupils line up to celebrate HEAD’S ‘The Big Draw’ LINES What a busy term! As I write this, my first ever ‘Head’s Lines’ column for our superb school magazine, I am yet again astounded at how much one school can pack into a few short weeks. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the start of a new year and now we’re stepping into spring (hopefully!). From ski trips to Sweeney Todd, the sheer number of opportunities that our students have had in the last few weeks is quite incredible. As we go to press, we have just finished a hugely successful run of Sweeney Todd, this year’s musical production. When I first heard that this had been chosen and the ambitious set that was required, I admit that I wondered if it would come together. However, the sheer hard work and dedication of all Students and staff at Cockermouth School, those involved, from cast, crew, orchestra and the along with pupils from our feeder primary countless unsung heroes behind the scenes, ensured schools, took part in ‘The Big Draw’ in that this was a triumph and made me incredibly proud November, creating a visual timeline which to lead Cockermouth School. Well done everyone! was inspired by conversations with staff, parents, grandparents, as well as our Around the school there is a real energy and buzz as wonderful exhibition of the past 30 years we enter a new era for our school. All of the staff of Cockermouth School. The theme ‘Line’ have been busy defining our core values as a school, was translated into ‘A moment in line’ and clarifying what we stand for, and I will be asking provided us with another great opportunity students, parents and governors to share their views to celebrate our 30th anniversary. in the next few weeks. This is an exciting time for the school in so many areas: from rolling out a new The Big Draw is the world’s biggest WiFi system so that we can use new technologies celebration of drawing and this year to develop teaching and learning, developing a fourteen countries took part. A vast range new Virtual Learning Environment that will support of events took place across the UK, with students, staff and parents, to redefining who we are many of the nation’s community venues, as as a school and being proud of our identity, there is well as national landmarks, transformed progress in so many areas. A busy time lies ahead for into creative spaces, where people of all of us, whether it’s preparing for exams or shaping all ages and skills flexed their drawing the future of the school, I know that we’ll work muscles. together to support each other and face the future with confidence. After all, that’s what ‘A community where individuals matter’ means to me. Dr Petrie, Headteacher Verity Vies in Verse Coleridge said, ‘Poetry is the blossom and fragrance of all human knowledge,’ and our very own Verity Sharpe brought it into bloom when she represented Cockermouth School at the regional finals of ‘Poetry By Heart’ at Tullie House, Carlisle earlier this month. The competition allows students to perform three poems of their choice from memory to an audience and a panel of It was wonderful to see all generations share their stories about their time at school, judges, which included the poet Andrew Forster. The capturing both past and present. A huge thank you to Derwent Pencils for their kind donation competition was fiercely fought and, although she missed of drawing materials and to pupils and staff from All Saints, Bridekirk Dovenby and Dean out on a top three spot, Verity’s ability to project her primary schools for their participation. understanding of her chosen poems through an array of thought provoking and engaging styles was superb. Mrs Tinkler, Mr Ellis, English Department Art Department 2 Making Maths Count FUND RAISING in National Finals CHAMPS GIVE £1100 TO CHARITY Each year Cockermouth School pupils have stalls at the Cockermouth ‘Light Switch-on’ to raise money for charity. In 2013, Georgie Wilkinson Weir, Zoe Hannah and Sam Moore (then Year 7) chose to support the British Red Cross ‘Typhoon Haiyan’ Appeal. By holding a cake stall and a raffle, the trio successfully raised the wonderful sum of £500, the most any single group has ever raised at this event. This was the result of their extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit, the hundreds of cakes they made, the presentation of their stall and their sheer professionalism. On Monday 2nd February, Alistair Simpson, Alistair Martin, Annie Paine and I went to London with Mr Bradley to take part in the national final of the Senior Team Maths Challenge, having earned our place by coming first out of thirteen schools from the North West at the regional final. The final was held in the Royal Horticultural Halls and on the morning of the 3rd February, the venue was buzzing with around 75 teams from across the country, the majority of whom were from private or selective schools.