MARCH 2018 ISSUE 34 www.gms.bucks.sch.uk The arrival of the Easter break signifies the end of the second full term of the academic year and it looks like the warning of the return of the ‘Beast from the East 3’, for the Easter weekend, has abated, but there is still no sign of spring like weather. Let’s hope that the IMPORTANT DATES weather does improve at some point during the holiday before we return to school on Monday 16th April. School reopens on This latest ‘bumper’ edition of ‘The Voice’ national award this term from the Youth Monday 16th April showcases some of the school activities Sport Trust: Outstanding Secondary May Bank Hoilday - and events that have occurred since School of the Year Award for the quality of Tuesday 6th May the last edition. However, this is just a physical education and sports’ provision. flavour of the multitude of pictures and GCSE/GCE exams start - Monday reports that are on our school website, This Easter break away from school, for 7th May to 29th June so do please make sure you regularly our students, provides a very welcome visit the website. I would like to take this opportunity to recharge their batteries Half Term - Friday 25th May opportunity to publically thank all the before an action packed summer term. staff for their effort and commitment. The For our senior students, particularly Years Year 11 Prom - Friday 22nd June students at this school are provided with 11 and 13, this period must be used very productively for revision and examination Year 13 Prom - Thursday a vast array of learning opportunities that preparation. The exam season will be 28th June allow every student the opportunity to release their potential and achieve their upon us very quickly after our return. very own excellence. Many staff and students will be in school over the holidays, running and taking part There are a few events from this term that in revision classes and working to make I would like to draw to your particular sure that students are best prepared attention. Firstly, the very recent Friends for the public exams. I know that many of Great Marlow School (FoGMS) ‘Quiz parents and carers are supporting their KEY EVENTS at GMS Night’ which was a very enjoyable evening sons and daughters as fully as they can Please note all our important and raised a significant amount of money. with encouragement, positive support dates and events, including Thank you to the very hardworking FoGMS and the usual ‘taxi service’ to minimise Parents’ Evenings and Examination committee members and particular thanks any barriers. This help from families Timetables, are available on the to Mr Tim Ashburner who designed the website and are regularly updated. is invaluable as the pressure mounts quiz and hosted the evening. Secondly, towards the exam season. a group of Key Stage 3 drama students performed a powerful piece of work at the On behalf of the governors and the staff Wycombe Swan over the weekend of the of the school please have a very enjoyable 15th and 16th March entitled, ‘When Will Easter. We Ever Learn’, which looked at the futility of war. The cast performed their piece twice and this was seen by over a 1000 people. The students and staff received Kind Regards Don’t forget to view the online gallery for photographs high praise for their emotional and highly Kevin Ford skilled performances. Finally, we were relating to many of the Headteacher articles in this newsletter. delighted to a receive a very prestigious Art & Design GCSE AND A-LEVEL STUDENTS PREPARE FOR EXAMS Another very busy half term has passed in a flash! Coursework deadlines for GCSE and A level were at the end of January with some wonderful work produced. We have had outcomes produced in Glass, video, 6’ window dressings, 3D relief, paintings, metal work, paper cut sculpture and mixed media. The A-Level students have also been taking part in evening Life Drawing classes which run monthly. These classes have developed the student’s drawing and draughtsmanship skills. Please see examples of some of the students work. The department are also busy organising a trip Berlin which will take place in the October half term 2018. We will be taking 30 Year 11, 12 and 13 students to experience the art, history and culture of this wonderful city with the aim to inspire new project ideas and independent learning for our students. After the Easter break it is our busiest period of the year. The Y11 and 13 groups will have their ten and fifteen hour controlled test period to produce their final outcomes for their projects. We wish them well. Mrs Sillwood Head of Art Business predict the demand for their merchandise to make sure YEAR 11 STUDENTS HOST A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EVENT AT GMS they had enough produce for two days of sales; secondly, they had to become adept at varying their selling One word sums up the success of the techniques, as competition from their peers ratcheted- recent business event: “excellent”. up and seemed to take market customers away from their stall and wares. Finally, at the end of the selling In total 40 students were involved, working process, the in teams of four. Each team had a unique students had marketing idea, from selling leavers to cash-up hoodies, to some excellent homemade accurately. cupcakes, oreo biscuit milkshakes, (which Profit is the proved very popular) and warm samosas. amount earned over It was fascinating to witness how the students grew and above the in confidence over the two days. A real belief in their out-goings, so special product generated an engagement that was precise cashing up was imperative if they were to know genuine and heartfelt. how much profit they had made. It was a steep learning curve: first, the groups had to Mr Merreywether and Mr Wilson were delighted with the outcome of this initiative; delighted with the mature behaviour of their business students; delighted that all the effort has raised much needed funds for the One Can Trust. The students showed an ability to support each other, work in a team, be organised and above all show a professionalism beyond their years. GMS are proud of them. By Mr S Wilson Head of Business English Macbeth Trip to The National Theatre The 30 lucky students who attended the National Theatre’s production of Macbeth faced a blackened yet elevated stage meaning that none of the gruesome aspects of Shakespeare’s play were lost to them in the further reaches of the Olivier circle. A dark plot documents the rapid descent of “Brave Macbeth” to a “butcher” with Lady Macbeth fuelling their shared ambition. The modern dress, the dilapidated “The Year 11s buildings and the black hangings, containing decapitated heads on black poles, all realised that added to the post -apocalyptic effect. Interestingly staff overheard the students Shakespeare compare the play to dystopian fiction and the Mad Max films, something which has was completely been mentioned in this week’s press reviews of the production. accessible Staff commented on the marvel of Shakespeare, a playwright whose creations can once seen live be interpreted in so many different ways; the Year 11s realised that Shakespeare was completely accessible once seen live on a stage. We all agreed that hearing on a stage “ the lines spoken reinforced just how familiar the students are with the play - a real confidence boost. Macbeth is a GCSE text, the Year 11s lucky enough to see this production have been given an insight into the themes at the heart of the play: nothing can match a live performance. GMS thank the staff who organised the trip and gave their time to accompany the students. The students behaved impeccably both in the theatre and on the riverside stroll back to the coach: they were a credit to themselves and the school. By Ms K Bailey KS5 see “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” at the Young Vic. On the 22nd February, our A Level English Literature couple living in 1950s America where a world fuelled with students were given the opportunity to watch a National mendacity has left them trapped in a loveless marriage Theatre Live recording of the Young Vic’s production of with no hope of escape. Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. With the Year 13s facing their exams in the upcoming As an A Level set -text, this was a terrific opportunity to months, it was fantastic to see so many our students develop the students understanding of the characters and embrace this opportunity in order to push themselves plot and how they can be brought to life on the stage. that extra mile. Sienna Miller and Jack O’Connell perfectly depicted the By Miss C Bevan heart-wrenchingly tragic lives of Maggie and Brick: a Head of English English KS3 ‘Wonder’ Trip to the Cinema “On the 18th December 2017, the majority of Year 7 had a Christmas treat to the cinema. As we had been reading Wonder in class, the teachers thought it would be fun to watch. We rented out the whole cinema room; it was immense. Everyone was super excited (including myself). We were all so excited because of how much we’d enjoyed the book. As in most cases, the film was not as good as the book because they missed out some key moments. I would give examples but I don’t want to give you spoiler alerts! On the other hand, the film was still amazing as it was so funny but at the same time so sad.