SPRING TERM 2019 SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM not to have more, but to be more Page 5 Page 6 Page 10 SPORTING SUCCESS LITTLE SHOP THE SKY IS A Day in the Life of an OF HORRORS NO LIMIT International Netballer This year’s School Production Our own Cheshire Flyer was great fun SPRING TERM 2019 SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM Contents School Vision Welcome from Helen Jeys 3 #1. DREAM Senior Sporting Success 4 To be loved and trusted as an academic school that nurtures girls Little Shop of Horrors 6 to be happy, confident and resilient and who reach their potential Lunch & Learn 8 in whichever field they choose. UCAS Success 9 Our own Cheshire Flyer 10 Mock Trial 11 #2. CHARACTER Alumnae 12 Happy Dynamic Academic Engineering 14 United Nurturing Ambitious Climbing Trips 15 Fun Committed Inclusive Friendly Aspirational #3. BELIEFS Providing an outstanding, educational journey to girls from the age of two to eighteen Inspiring girls to achieve and to be the very best they can be Giving every individual girl a truly holistic educational experience Embracing the very best in technology to provide a personalised approach to learning Welcoming girls of all faiths in a school with a strong Christian ethos Producing successful citizens for the future with global awareness, empathy and a strong moral compass Supporting girls with superb pastoral care; one which develops girls’ resilience, self-confidence and self-belief Working in partnership with parents to guide girls throughout their school life #4. SPIRIT “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” #5. FOCUS Confidence and self-belief Cover image: The cast of Little Shop of Horrors SPRING TERM 2019 SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM Welcome Welcome to the spring issue of our Senior School termly publication, Aspire. As always, our termly edition of Aspire reflects the huge array of activities going on in school. From our musical productions to extra-curricular engineering projects and from sporting prowess to university applications, our girls are always busy. This term has seen International Women’s Day and, as always, we spend time reflecting on the importance of gender equality as well as those women who break barriers and, by so doing, remind the girls that they can achieve in any area of life. The account of Lucinda Beeson and her flying success is testament to this and she together with our alumnae community, who come into school to talk to the girls, are a constant reminder that they can, too, have unlimited aspirations for their own future. Indeed, I often receive comments from staff about an amazing piece of work completed by a student and I see, first hand, their resilience and perseverance when faced with challenge. I enjoy, hugely, my daily break time conversations with girls. Whether we discuss GCSE preparations or their love of netball, such conversations are the highlights of my day. I have talked to the girls in assembly Mrs Helen Jeys about the ‘bad reputation’ their generation has as the so-called ‘Generation Snowflake’. This ‘Snowflake Generation’ or ‘Generation Z’, as they are known, are Headmistress stereotyped as lazy, narcissistic, ‘phone addicted young people who are too earnest to meet any kind of potential. This is not the experience, thankfully (!), that I have of this generation. In fact, much of the research suggests that this generation is the most well-behaved generation for some time! I also reassured them that, in 1988, Douglas Hurd (the then Home Secretary), commented that the generation of the 1980’s had “too little self-discipline and too little notion of the care and responsibility that [we] owe to others.” It seems, then, that the manner in which teenagers have been stereotyped has changed little over the last thirty years! So, all of my experiences in education leave me very hopeful about our leaders of the future; certainly if the girls who are just about to leave AESG in the Upper Sixth, have anything to go by. They are eloquent, personable and confident young women and we wish them and our Year 11 girls all the very best for their exams next term. They reflect what I feel that AESG does best and that is to teach girls their academic subjects alongside the nurturing of them and their talents. Martin Luther King taught us that “intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”; I think that the contents of Aspire reflect our aim todo just that. All the very best for a fabulous Easter break. Best Wishes Helen Jeys Headmistress ASPIRE ALDERLEY EDGE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 03 SPRING TERM 2019 SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM Senior Sporting Success! The Physical Education Department is celebrating huge success this term. The PE Department continues to enjoy U14 Results Double Silver Medals for District, County and even National the Year 7 and 8 Indoor success. Physical Education is at the U14 AESG vs The Queen’s School Chester Athletics Teams heart of AESG and I am very proud to 3-2 Win work in a dedicated department, with U14 AESG vs Tytherington School The Year 7 and 8 indoor athletics teams outstanding young athletes who show 5-0 Win competed in the Macclesfield and District the resilience, perseverance and competition, held at Poynton High School dedication needed to make all areas of U14 AESG vs Neston High School on Thursday 7 February. Both teams finished our sport so successful. Whether you 4-1 Win with silver medals, narrowly missing out play recreationally or competitively, U14 AESG vs Rudheath Senior Academy on first place. All girls performed to the sport develops confidence and builds 5-0 Win best of their ability and there were some excellent relationships with peers and fantastic team and individual podium staff. Thank you to all the parents, staff U14 Badminton Team positions. Thank you to Mrs Redfern for and coaches who play a pivotal role in her outstanding coaching and guidance. building the profile of sport at AESG. Lauren Hall (captain), Nia McKiernon, Jemima Bennett, Marnie Murrison Podium Positions Miss McConville, and Ruby Ogden. Director of Sport Year 7 U16 Results Mimi Rankin Four Lap Race: 2nd Badminton Success Speed Bounce: 2nd The U16 team won all their games and Standing Triple Jump: 3rd Double Cheshire Champions! were also crowned the Cheshire Champions. Seren Redfern Six Lap Race: 1st The U14 and U16 girls’ badminton team Vertical jump: 1st U16 AESG vs Ellesmere Port travelled to Ellesmere Port Sports Village Catholic High School to compete in the Cheshire Tournament on Year 8 5-0 Win Thursday 7 February. This followed on Helena Sykora Two Lap Race: 2nd from their success in the Macclesfield and U16 AESG vs Neston High School District round, where they were crowned 5-0 Win Libby Martin Six Lap Race: 3rd District Champions. Shot Put: 2nd U16 AESG vs Tytherington School 5-0 Win Beatrice Shot Put: 1st The U14 team won all of their games and Wilshaw they were crowned the Cheshire U16 Badminton Team Champions, enabling them to represent Sasha Smith Speed Bounce: 1st Cheshire in the North of England round in Vertical Jump: 2nd Ella Coulter (captain), Lara Coulter, March 2019. Maldini Simic and Emma Ferris. Constance Standing Triple Jump: 1st Gooda ASPIRE 04 ALDERLEY EDGE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SPRING TERM 2019 SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM A Day in the Life of an Strength and Conditioning at AESG International Netballer The Physical Education Department have In the latter end of 2018, a small group of welcomed Physiofit into School to work AESG’s Sports Scholars had the fantastic with our Scholars and sports stars to build opportunity to experience ‘a day in the robust, resilient athletes with the aim to life of an international netballer’, as part avoid injuries. The girls have just finished of the England Vitality Roses three-match their first block of training and have made series against the Uganda She Cranes. progress both physically and in their The first match in the series was held at educational awareness of movement, Liverpool’s Echo Arena, with the second and landing mechanics and core stability. third fixtures at the Copper Box in London. AESG have enjoyed the new working relationship with Physiofit and Director, The day started with the girls taking part Angela Jackson. in an energetic coaching session led by members of the England Roses coaching staff. This took place on the match-play U12 Hockey Team Reach court and involved fitness, passing and Semi-Finals of Cheshire! shooting drills. This allowed the girls a superb insight into professional training ideas as well as the experience of playing on the same area court as the international players. After the coaching session, the Scholars were taken on a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of the arena and players’ areas. They even got to sit on the same changing benches as the England Roses players! Continuing to follow an international player’s daily routine, the girls then moved from the changing area to the ‘media’ room, where they were taken through a briefing on the role the media have in promoting netball and wider womens’ sport. This included Sky Sports, the BBC and the off-court roles and responsibilities the players have. As part of the session, the girls took part in a role-playing ‘question and answer’ session. This was great fun – despite the pressure some of the girls felt! Following the media session, the girls got to meet and chat to the internationally Following on from the Year 8 U13 ISA renowned umpire, Gary Burgess (as seen on TV!), who introduced the rules of National Hockey success this term, the international netball as well as providing an insight into his professional job of U12 Hockey Team travelled to Queen’s travelling the world as an International Netball Federation (INF) Netball Umpire.