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Children’s Laureate at HRS

Welcome to our Newsletter for Summer 2014. Here you will find just a flavour of the news and activities that have taken place since our last edition. We add school news items regularly to our new website: www.helena-romanes.essex.sch.uk. Parents can still access the Weekly New Bulletin and the link to the secure HRS Parents’ Cloudbase site. You can now follow us on Twitter @HelenaRomanes.

Award-winning author Malorie Blackman, visited the school, talked about her new novel and signed students’ books. Sarah Brooks, Year 9 student, submitted a review of the novel ‘Noughts & Crosses’ , along with fellow students as part of a competition organised by the charity Readathon. Winning the competition meant a personal visit by Malorie to discuss her book in the school’s Learning Zone. Sarah said, “i love reading; i read all the time. it was really cool to win and to meet an author.”

Malorie Blackman, whose latest book is ‘Noble Conflict’, told how her teachers and father told her she could not be an English teacher because of her background and colour. She told her audience, “i always had my nose in a book as a child. i had many non-fiction books, but my father told me fiction was a waste of time as it was not true and that i needed to live in the real world. At the age of 14, i got a Saturday job and was able to buy my own books,

but i could never find any books featuring a black child, like me.”

Malorie, whose books have been turned into TV series, told how she had eighty-two rejection letters before her first book, ‘Not So Stupid’, was published, inspiring children to keep pushing for their dream. She also advised aspiring writers to write biographies of their main characters before starting on a book, to write down all of their ideas for future reference and to write from the heart. She said, “We have imaginations for a reason so write about what you care about. if you care about

it, it will shine through when you are reading it. Write the stuff that makes you scared or angry or makes you laugh. Keep a diary for a while, too. My parents split up when i was a teenager and i put all of my anger and angst into a diary. That got me in the habit of writing about thoughts and feelings. But, the best piece of advice is, just don’t give up.”

Thank you to HARTS Booksellers, who were on site to sells the author’s works and gave the Learning Zone a voucher to purchase new books.

iN THiS iSSuE• SixthFormBusinessChallenge• MandarinCulturalDay• SummerBalls

Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman, visits the school to discuss her writing career and sign copies of her novels

Malorie Blackman and Sarah Brooks

SIxTH FORM BUSINESS CHALLENgE This term local businesses, 1Life, A-OK Care Monitoring, Bakewell, Esteem Health and fitness and Scene ii, set challenges for our Year 12 students and their week long competition produced some remarkable results. The teams had to work together to research and solve the business challenge before presenting their solutions to a judging panel.

The three finalists presented their solutions to the challenges set by 1Life Leisure Centre group, A-OK Care Monitoring and Bakewell a local bakery. The winning team were asked to help promote and set up a distribution route for A-OK Care Monitoring’s product. Within the week the group had encouraged Age Concern to endorse the product, Boots to distribute it and Superdrug to promoteit.RayHiggs,ManagingDirectorofA-OKMonitoring Limited said:

“i was so impressed with the attitude and ability of the students involved. i deliberately left them to come up with their own ideas and views on the product and how best they felt we should launch it. Their fresh approach has really made a difference. Bearing in mind they had just one week to research and prepare, it is a credit to them that they achieved so much in so little time - well done. it has been a pleasure working with them because of their genuine enthusiasm for the product and to helping the aged and vulnerable who are alone in their own homes. They have asked if they can continue to work with A-OK in their own time and this has been arranged, with the help from the school.

finally, i would like to congratulate HRS on this great initiative, providing students with the opportunity of getting involved with real businesses.”

it was a week of outstanding contributions by the Year 12 students, culminating in a spectacular presentation by the winning team: Mattie Bull, Rebecca Burnip, Lawrence Croxton, Rebecca Hayes, Ryan Kelly, Lilly Kelsey, Lauren Marshall, isobel Newman, Marianne Simpkins, Edwin Taylor, Joe Thrower, Matthew Wickham. George Askew and Sophie Beaton also received a prize for their personal development during the week. Congratulations to all the students.

Mrs Donna Wright, Assistant Head of Sixth Form

The winning Sixth Form Business Challenge team promoting A-OK Care Monitoring’s product

NEW PREFECT TEAM

Congratulations to the newly appointed: Head Boy: Luke Johnson

Head girl: Nicola Rose

Deputy Head Boys: Michael francis, Tom Bennett

Deputy Head girls: Chloe Searle, Lydia Elvin

Assistant Head Boys: Jake Thompson, Marcus Jacobs

Assistant Head girls: Caitlin Eacott, Olivia Watson

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THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

The new prefect team led by Head Girl, Nicola Rose and Head Boy, Luke Johnson

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THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

FUTURE SCHOLAR AWARDS AT THE UNIvERSITy OF CAMBRIDgE On Thursday, 19th June 2014, five students from Year 9 went, Mrs foley’ toaneventrunbytheRussellGroupandDepartmentforEducationatCambridge university. The aim of the day was for students to see the opportunities that are open to us and to show us what we should think about if we wanted to go to a Russell Group university. in the morning, we attended alecturebyDrAndrewBellandDrSamLucy,bothAdmissionsTutors,about A-Level choices and how they may affect to which undergraduate courses we can apply. Then, while the teachers went to a separate talk, we had the opportunity to ask undergraduate students questions about university life and why they chose Cambridge. Next, we went in small groups to different colleges around Cambridge. We went to Magdalene College where we had a very nice lunch before being given a tour of the beautiful campus. After that, we walked down to the river, where we boarded a punt for a peaceful journey past the colleges. i really enjoyed the day, especially the punting, and it has helped me to understand how university life works, and what i should do if i want to be a part of it.

Sarah Brooks, year 9 Year 9 students sample life at the University of Cambridge

PEER MENTORS – ANTi-BuLLYiNG LESSONSOn Wednesday 14th of May, ten HRS students from Years 8 and 9 attended an anti-bullying ambassadors training eventrunbyaschemecalledtheDianaAward.

The event was a chance for these students, who are currently peer mentors at HRS, to be trained in anti-bullying issues. Then when back at school to formulate an action plan that can be put in place to start new anti-bullying initiatives to develop the good work that already takes place.

The Peer Mentors work hard in HRS to support their fellow students and are already helping to reduce bullying to low levels. This training builds on the work that has already taken place this year, such as the purchase and renovation of a room which peer mentors run lunchtime activities, aimed at offering support to those students

who could become victims of bullying.

The trainers fromtheDianaAward run these courses all over the country and were particularly impressed with the hard work and imaginative ideas that the students from HRS came up with, so much so that HRS were declared winners of the ‘Best School Award’ at the mass training event held in Luton.

Mr C Wilkins, Assistant Director of Learning year 10

Peer Mentors receive the ‘Best School Award’ for their anti-bullying ideas

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ENGLiSHCreative students have had their poems published, in a national publication ‘The Power of Poetry’.

The students, aged 11 to 15, wrote their poems after exploring poetic techniques in their English lessons.

Nearly 75% of poems submitted by HRS for the Young Writers competition were chosen for publication. Congratulations to them all.

The annual HRS public speaking competition saw Year 7 students joined by Year 6 pupils from Rodings, Great DunmowandStebbingPrimarySchools.Speechtopicsincluded the power of social media, the effects of cyber bullying on teenagers and the harmful effects of computer games on young children’s minds. The Year 6 winners wereGreatDunmowPrimarySchool’steamandtheYear7winningteamwereYolandaPinto,EmilyDavisandfrancesca Pankhurst.

Our annual competition raises awareness of public speaking and gives students an opportunity to speak in front of a large audience of peers, parents and teachers. They were all brilliant. They had really done their research and we could see how the Year 7

students’ confidence had grown since taking part in the competition last year. Every student was given a certificate for taking part and the winners took a trophy back to their school.

Mr D Harris, Teacher of English and Key Stage 3 Co-ordinator

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THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL FACULTy NEWS

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MODERnFOREiGnLAnGuAGESAs part of the Sixth form Electives Programme, students could join an intensive Latin course i led. Seventeen students joined the nine-week course during which they learnt to read and understand introductory Latin texts. in addition, they studied key features of Roman civilization and architecture as well as the role of the Roman forum in supporting trade and business. The course was rounded off by a fun session of translating Harry Potter spells from Latin into English and creating new spells in Latin to try out on fellow students and teachers!

Mrs T green, Modern Foreign Languages Faculty

Students in print as their poems are published in ‘The Power of Poetry’

Year 7 team (left to right) Yolanda Pinto, Emily Davis and Francesca Pankhurst

Year 6 team (left to right) Holly McDonald-Marks, Sophie Taylor and Olivia Smith

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FACULTy NEWS THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

fRENCH TRiPin April, Year 9 and 10 students spent five days in Normandy and Paris as part of their KS4 french course. Having previously written to students of a local school near Rouen, HRS students spent a day in the french school, learning about the french education system and practising their language skills with their french counterparts. Students also used their language skills to navigate around Paris, visiting the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe,notreDame,leLouvreandtheSacréCoeur as well as mastering the Metro system! Everyone also thoroughly enjoyed the delights of french cuisine by visiting a snail farm, tasting samples at a chocolate factory and savouring tasty snacks at the crêperie.

Mrs A Slack, KS3 French Co-ordinator

MEDIA NEWSThe Media trip this year was to the BBC Broadcasting House and the O2 British Music Experience. This was to enhance their institutional knowledge (one of the media key concepts at Key Stage 4 and 5) and to allow students to see the impact of the music industry culturally, socially and historically. The 10 O’clock News will never be the same, as the iconic studio now represents to me a trip that was not only educational but also extremely entertaining. Tommy Booty said he enjoyed the hands on experience at the green screen weather news desk. Thank you Mr N Stewart for organising and as always, i look forward to the next one.

All media classes are currently in teams completing the school newspaper competition. Last year it was won by our current Year 11 students, edited by Luke Birch. This year there is stiff competition, particularly from Miss Platts’ dynamic Year 9 students. They have all worked with Kelly Clark, the school’s freelance journalist, learning from her expertise in the media. i hope my fantastic Year 10 students do me proud this year!

Mrs S Stewart, Head of Drama and Media

Students and staff experience news reading technology at the BBC Broadcasting House

Students sightseeing in Paris during their French trip

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FACULTy NEWS THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

DRAMAAfter i played the guitar in ‘Grease’, Miss BassingthwaightepersuadedmetoplaytheroleofDinahintheAS-levelDramaperformanceof‘BrightonBeachScumbags’ by Steven Berkoff. This is unusual for the HeadoftheDepartment.AsanEssexgirl,ifounditeasy to identify the loveable working class caricatures featured. The characters were reflections of “Berkovian” style connoting their own insecurities via their ideologies and values.

The interpretation lent itself to a hyper-reality. The characters were stereotypes, but identifiable within society(theformofDramaticTheatrewasthereforeused, props, costumes and sound effects. This also supported Berkoff’s ability to write in a self-reflective autobiographical manner). Their views were a reflection of 1980s British culture. Therefore, the historical context allowed the audience to distance themselves, accepting their ideas as extreme. Thus, they became humorous (the play’s genre). Our intention was to emotionally involve the audience and make them laugh; however, educating them on the ignorance of the past (DidacticTheatre).Thiswasagreatexperiencethatallowed me to relate to being a student. it highlighted the skills needed to perform, learning the lines and having the confidence to present yourself as another character - something our students achieved. it was stressful, nerve-wracking and exhilarating all at the same time (i especially enjoyed the burgers!). Therefore, i must take this opportunity to thank Miss B for the inspiration and creativity (and to students Mattie Bull and Beau Johnson for their enthusiasm and encouragement). The self-management, effort and time, it requires to create performances is appreciated by all of

the Creative Arts teachers.

Other performances that have taken place have been the final Year 11 exams – where this year we could also boast quite a few technical candidates. The Year 9 studentscompletedamockunit3examatDunmowStMary’sandGreatDunmowPrimarySchools(thankyou for organising Mrs C Pollard). They focused on active learning during literacy hour. Stimuli used were ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Cat in the Hat’ and ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ to name but a few. All students upheld their maturity and were a credit to the school(especiallytotheirDirectorofLearning,MrsAfoley). We wish the Year 10 students well when they complete their mock exams in June.

We have also had the Lower School Creative Arts Showcase that featured HRS dancers from the choreographic competition, local primary schools and theLowerSchoolDramaclubwiththeiradaptationof‘The Arabian Nights’. i particularly liked the use of physical theatre, cross cutting and the characterisations by Lucy Couzens and Lilianna fuller. Well done Mrs J Kramer-Cox.

We wish Miss Bassingthwaighte and Mrs Kramer-Cox lots of luck in their future endeavours it has been a pleasure to have you both as part of the drama/media team.

Mrs S Stewart, Head of Drama and Media

Miss Bassingthwaighte and Mrs Stewart join Year 12 Drama students for their AS Level exam performance

Year 9 students perform at local Primary Schools

Lower school students perform in their Creative Arts Showcase

THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL FACULTy NEWS

DANCE NEWSChoreographic Competition 2014Earlier this year an audience of parents and local primary school students enjoyed four evenings of our annual dance event. Our 23rd event saw dance students from all year groups perform their own choreographic pieces as well as demonstrate their performance skills. A whole school danceshow‘DancearoundtheDecades’broughttogetherlocalprimarydanceandgympupilsfromGreatDunmowPrimarySchool,DunmowStMary’sPrimarySchoolandFusionDanceCompany.

HRSDanceandGymstudentsLizzieCole,Hollie-MaeMackay and Morgan Sawyer gave up their own time toteachvariousroutinestothepupilsofDunmowStMary’s Primary School. Jordanne Hine, Megan Reynolds, Charlotte Rudin and Lowen Hall also gave up their own timetochoreographvariousroutinesforGreatDunmowPrimary School. The girls acted as excellent role models to the younger students, engaging them with inspiring choreography and the ability to learn new skills.

The Choreographic Competition is linked to the choreographyunitoftheGCSEDancecourseandYear’s9 to 11 students were assessed during the event. The event was an outstanding display of the student’s dedication and commitment to dance with energetic routines.

The winners were:Year 7 - Solo: francesca RoeGroup: francesca Roe and Lauren HooperYear 8 – Solo: Jeanri BurgerGroup:JeanriBurgerandEmilyDewarYear 9 – Solo: Sarah TaylorGroup: Sarah TaylorYear 10 – Solo: Rosie WadeGroup – Scarlett HookerYear 11 – (Joint first) Katie Hammond and Morgan SawyerGroup: Matt Kane

The Jinny Huizar Shield was awarded to Lowen Hall for her dedication and commitment to dance. Lowen is a keen, talented and enthusiastic gymnast who trains at Harlow Gymnastics. As well as her busy training schedule, sheassistsmeatGreatDunmowPrimarySchool,actingas an excellent role model to the younger years. Recently, Lowen took a group of Key Stage 2 gymnasts, from Great DunmowPrimarySchool,tothe‘KeySteps’competition.The team came second so the pupils are through to the regional finals.

This year we say goodbye to four talented performers who are taking their next step to stardom. We wish them every success in their bright futures. This year an award was dedicated to each of the dancers in honour of their achievements: the ‘Kane’ award for sheer determination, the ‘Hargrave’ award for grace and beauty when performing, the ‘french’ award for personality and the ‘Sawyer’ award for having the x-factor on stage.

Matthew Kane will start his new adventure at the prestigious dance college, Performers.

Bethany Hargrave will also take her next step to the West End stage, as she will commence full time professional dance training at urdang Academy in London’s Covent Garden.

Rebecca french will commence full time training at the Collins Performing Arts School.

Morgan Sawyer will commence her full time training alongside former student, Shaun free, at Masters Performing Arts College.

Good luck from all at HRS

Mrs L Judd, Head of Dance

Dance students perform at this year’s Choreographic Competition

Congratulations to our dance students who have gained places in performance arts colleges. LtoR: Rebecca French, Matthew Kane, Morgan Sawyer, Bethany Hargrave

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FACULTy NEWS THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

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EDUCATIONAL TRIPS AND vISITS SUMMER 2014Other trips this term include: a Sixth form trip to the Higher Education Superfair; a Year 12 trip to the Applying to university Conference at Anglia Ruskin university; a Year 10 Geography field trip for GCSE river sampling work; Year 8 History students will this term visit the WWi battlefield sites in Ypres and Normandy, take part in the WWiExperienceattheimperialWarMuseum,Duxfordand go to the local history WWi talks taking place at the MaltingsinDunmow;GCSEDramavisitstoLondontheatres to see ‘War Horse’ and ‘1984’; Year 7 and 8 drama trip to see ‘The Play that Goes Wrong’ in Westcliff; a Music trip to the musical ‘Wicked’.

SCIENCEThe school was pleased to host a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Networking Event on 26th June in the Learning Zone. We had over thirty guests including teachers from various Essex schools and STEM Ambassadors who work in STEM subjects and volunteer in schools. Two students also visited us from the Stewards Academy, Harlow and their teachers who have set up a club learning to program Raspberry Pi devices in Python. Mr iyase (iCT) and Miss fisher (Science) will set up a similar club to run at HRS from September and if any students (or parents!) are interested in being involved please contact either one of us in school.

Karen Fisher, Head of Science

BTEC PERFORMANCE ARTS NEWSThe BTEC students have just finished their external assessment for unit 1 - individual Showcase. The students had to prepare either a technical theatre presentation lasting ten minutes or two monologues/songs lasting two minutes each. The students did very well and we look forward to hearing their results next year. The students are now moving on to their extendedunitsfortheextendedcertificate(DoubleAward). Students will have thirty lessons to complete a piece of devised drama that they will perform to a Key Stage 3 group at the end of the year.

Miss L Bassingthwaighte, Drama and Media Teacher

BTECHEALTHAnDSOCiALCAREAteamofnHSschoolnurses,fromDunmowClinic,deliveredaHealthAwarenesssessionto the Year 9 BTEC Health and Social Care class. The students have been looking at health risks, particular to teenagers, as part of their Promoting, Health and Wellbeing module. They have been considering ways to promote healthy eating, road safety and raise awareness of the risks of alcohol and smoking.

Mrs B Curran, Health and Social Care TeacherNHS School nurses Julie

Hutchins and Martha Todd

Students from Stewards Academy share their projects with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths teachers

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On Saturday 12th April Twenty Twenty Learning transported the Beyond the Curriculum students back in time to Victorian England,courtesyofCharlesDickens.ThetriptoDickens’WorldwasdesignedtogivestudentsaninsightintoDickensianEngland; in particular, the rights and responsibilities of people living then and how different it was to today’s society.

ThestudentswereshownaroundthestreetsofDickens’WorldbyanactorportrayingayoungDickensianman.Theywere given a real insight into the sights, sounds and smells of DickensianEngland.TouringDickens’Worldwithsuchalarge group certainly made for an authentic feel of the cramped conditions.

As well as learning about life in Victorian England, students werealsoprovidedwithlotsofinformationaboutDickens’life.Students participated in a re-enactment of Sweeney Todd’s barbershop where one of our students was picked on to be shaved by Sweeney Todd and perfect his play-dead acting skills; as well as being sent out of a classroom for calling out of turn – children were to be seen and not heard in Victorian England! He was not alone however and another student found himself picked on to play an escaped criminal in the graveyard!

After the tour, there was the opportunity to explore the streets, look inside the shops and speak to some of the characters. The students clearly enjoyed themselves, with many of them talkingaboutembracingDickens’literatureandreading‘GreatExpectations’or‘LittleDorrit’onthejourneyhome.

in March, our students were required to complete the controlled assessment for their Citizenship GCSE. The first part of the controlled assessment comprised of an advocacy presentation that they delivered to parents. The presentations went brilliantly and students displayed very confident presentation skills – both individually and as a team. following the presentations, students sat their written controlled assessment in March. Students prepared for it thoroughly and approached it in a very mature way, highlighting how much they were developing throughout the programme.

The final step in this year’s Beyond the Curriculum journey has just been completed; our Year 7 and 8 students have recently sat their GCSE Citizenship examination, and our Year 9 and 10 students their GCSE psychology examination. The students worked extremely hard in the build-up to these exams and we have every confidence in their success.

Nathan Gilderson, Twenty-Twenty Learning“I was very well prepared for the Citizenship exam. From day one, I was supported and given the sufficient information so I could later on carry out the exam with the highest degree of knowledge behind me. Not once in the exam did I feel that I did not have correct amount of information.

I think the program is an excellent opportunity for any child. It gave me a sight into later life and how to deal with the pressure of revision and GCSE exams as a whole. I also feel that it is brilliant that children of my age get the opportunity to learn about the Government and how the country works.” Olivia Hall, year 8

“The Citizenship GCSE course was absolutely brilliant, I enjoyed the whole experience. I have furthered my knowledge and I am very pleased that I went on the course. The course is also useful because you can get some extra GCSE’s under your belt, one key thing that employers will be looking for in the future. The subjects are very interesting and pertinent for day-to-day life. Even though the whole purpose is to get a GCSE I still enjoyed the course, working with Alex and furthering my knowledge about the subject.”Max glen-Doepel, year 8

“I have been taking part in the Beyond the Curriculum programme for three years and it has been a brilliant experience to be able to learn new and interesting subjects that are outside of the normal curriculum. This year, I have really enjoyed Psychology and I felt that I could go into the exam with confidence as I had spent time at school improving my exam technique and overcoming my targets that I had set. Overall, I am really pleased at how the exam went after a year of hard work.” Luke Johnson, year 10

A student prepares to be one of Sweeney Todd’s infamous “close shaves”

THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

BEYOnDTHECuRRiCuLuM

Team HRS enjoy a well-earned rest in Dickens’ WorldA student prepares to be one of Sweeney Todd’s infamous “close shaves”

Science festival Year 8 students were able to get hands-on practical experience at a science festival organised by the university of Cambridge. They completed a treasure hunt through the city to look at different parts of buildings and their history, as well as looking at Braille maps to learn about diversity. The day also included a lecture on the science behind how your mind plays tricks on you.

The idea of the trip was to inspire our students with science in a different learning environment. The enrichment experience was a reward for their hard work in lessons and introduced the students to university life.

Mrs E Platts, gifted and Talented Co-ordinator

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THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

Lessons came to life for Year 8 students in Cambridge

MAnDARinDAYStudents from Years 7 to 10 learnt together about Mandarin Culture during a special day led by The Essex Jiangsu Centre for Chinese Studies. They had a go at the Mandarin language, learnt about travel in China, devised Shadow Puppet scenes and tried their hand at Calligraphy. All the students joined at the end of the day tosharetheirexperiencesandtakepartinaLionDance.

“It’s been a really interesting day. It’s been great to learn a new language and culture that goes with it.”Lara McKeown, year 8

“It’s been a great day. I’d really like to learn more about the Mandarin language - how to speak and write it”.Connor Jewiss, year 7

“I loved the shadow puppets session, it was great fun. It’s been fantastic to do something completely different”Isabel gower, year 10

Students take part in a range of activities on Mandarin Day

culminating in the Lion Dance

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SIxTH FORM BALL Over 100 students and staff attended the Sixth form Ball on friday 2nd May at Maiden’s Barn. Each year the students help to organise the event by fundraising a significant amount during the year to help subsidise the cost. After a delicious three-course meal there was an awards’ presentation.Theseincluded‘TheBestDressed’studentsthat was voted for by the staff, and went to Laura Baxter and Stuart Stanley.

Everyone thought it was such a great night and a really good way to end our studies. There was a brilliant atmosphere as the students and teachers could relax together. Many thanks to the Maidens Barn staff – the venue, food and service was excellent!

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Sixth Form students at their May Ball. Photography: David Lipson Photography

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yEAR 11 PROM On the 8th May, 190 students enjoyed a three-course meal, at their Prom, held at Parklands in Quendon.

P&A Wood kindly sponsored us to have a photo booth as entertainment for the evening, which was superb and the students loved it. The Prom committee of prefects and Head Boy and Girl, have been meeting with staff to organise the venue, fundraising, music, sponsorship, make favours, design invitations etc.

it was an absolutely brilliant night, with a fantastic atmosphere. i have never seen people on the dance floor between courses of the meal before! Thanks to the venue for making it such a special night. Thank you to the hard work that the prom committee and Mrs McCabe put in to help me organise such a wonderful event. i am sure the evening will remain with students for a long time to come.

Mrs Anna Bendall, Head of Business Studies Miss Lauren Baker, Assistant Director of Learning for year 11

Year 11 students enjoy their Prom. Photography: David Lipson Photography

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DuKEOFEDinBuRGH’SAWARDSCHEME)DuringMayandJune,fifty-twostudentstookpartinthelatestBronzeDofEexpeditionweekends,accompaniedbyeight staff. Of those taking part on 15th and 16th June, all have now passed the expedition section of the award. Both weekends involved walking with full rucksacks, carrying all their food, bedding, clothing and camping equipment for a total of fifteen miles over two days with a camp overnight. Walking in groups ranging from four to seven people, students also had to cook two meals; the final aim is to produce a presentation at the end.

Spirits varied along with the weather; a particularly heavy cloudburst on practice Saturday dampening their enthusiasm, but as always the rain was soon forgotten as the friendship and comradeship took over. A sense of achievement was all pervading at the end. The assessment weekend finished on the Saturday evening with a bonfire and toasted marshmallows.

it was heartening to see two Silver Year 11 students offering to help at the Bronze weekends. My thanks to all the staff that helped – seven teaching staff and science technicians are now helping with the training and monitoring at the weekends.

Mr J Pearson, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Co-ordinator

THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL ExTRA CURRICULAR

SPORT RELiEfStudents from Years 7 to 13 were involved in a number of activities that have risen over £700 for Sport Relief. On Wednesday 19 March, students took part in a mile swim. A Year 7 student, Mia Carter, completed the mile in the fastest time of 29 minutes. However, speed was not a requirement as some students, who were not strong swimmers, still wanted to take part.

On friday 21 March, further students took part in a mile run or walk. Sixth form students arranged various fundraising schemes throughout the week including a Tug-of-War, Penalty Shoot Out and second-hand clothes collection. A student version of the hit TVshow‘BlindDate’wasabigsuccess.

CLAY PiGEON SHOOTiNGHRS was named ‘School of the Year’ by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, at an awards dinner in Berkshire, after members across the country voted for our teams. The school’s shooting club was set up just three years ago, but has won the National Schools under 15 Championship twice, trained with World Champions and England shots as well as appearing in national press. it is fantastic recognition of the hard work the students, parents and sponsors have put in. it also repays the belief the school invested in the idea of a clay pigeon shooting club at HRS.

Neal Wilcox, Clay Pigeon Club Organiser

Under 15 Clay Pigeon Shooting Team – one of our award-winning teams

Student Blind Date with sixth form students (left to right): Ellis

Marchant, Ellie Miller, Emily Doncaster and Leigh Wraith. Mrs

Paula Barry played ‘Cilla’.

Photography by Jamie Lindsell, year 12.

Students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze expedition

•15•

SKi TRiP TO KiTZBuHEL On the evening of friday 4th April, thirty-five students and staff met at school in the early evening and headed off to catch our ferry to france. Within eighteen hours, we had arrived in the beautiful resort of Kitzbuhel and were surrounded by the majestic Alps. Kitzbuhel is famous for the downhill race that is held in January each year. We were soon unpacked and heading for the ski hire shop that is opposite our hotel and were kitted out with Ski, boots and helmets. Returning students were helping the younger ones carry their equipment to the hotel to be safely stowed for the next day. Our journey there had been so quick we even had time for a walk to see how the Austrians live. We walked past houses with wood neatly chopped and stacked ready for next winter.

After a good night’s sleep, Mr McLauchlan woke everyone and we were soon enjoying breakfast. Having chocolate cake is a real novelty for breakfast. Packed lunches were made and we were soon off on the bus to the gondola that takes us up the mountain. At the top, the group were divided into groups according to experience. At lunchtime we all met up in the mountain restaurant where we heard all about the morning’s progress before heading out for our afternoon ski.

Once back at the hotel we were off on our coach to go to the Aqua Arena where all relaxed in the pool and on the slides. it was then back for dinner and the evening activity. Every night was different and included bowling, a games night, a Tyrolean evening, a quiz evening, and a presentation evening. Teamwork was vital, for the students,

when they were building their towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows.

We were there for the skiing and yet again Kitzbuhel did not disappoint. The beginners made rapid progress from novices to confident skiers.

The development of confidence and skills amongst all the students is a joy to see. The advanced group cover a far greater distance over the week. Apps on iPhones were soon being studied by the staff to see how far we had covered during the day. We had good weather with extra snow arriving during the week. We all had a great time.

Awards are an important part of the trip and each day nominations were made for awards that included improvement, ‘stack of the day’, supporting and helping each other.

No sooner had the trip started than it seemed that we were heading home. All had progressed and the stories of their week were shared with parents and friends with questions being asked about when letters will be ready for the next trip. in 2015, we leave on friday 27th March and return home on the morning of Saturday 4th April. Letters are available from me in the iCT office. The cost will be £890.

Mr P graves, Head of ICT Faculty

ExTRA CURRICULAR THE HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL

The Helena Romanes School and Sixth Form CentreParsonage Downs, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 2AU • Tel: 01371 872560 • Fax: 01371 874632

Email: enquiries@helena-romanes.essex.sch.uk • Website: www.helena-romanes.essex.sch.ukyou can follow us on Twitter @HelenaRomanes

Students at the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbuhel, April 2014

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