Connect 43

ConnectPrincipal: Stuart Williams

www.catmosecollege.com

A newsletter for parents, students and the local community

6 NOVEMBER 2012 ISSUE 43

PAINTING WORKSHOP

3D WORKSHOP

COOKING MASTERCLASS

JAM FUNDRAISER

CATMOSE & OLYMPICS

ZUMBA TIME

OPAL COAST

SPORTS NEWS

CATMOSE OPEN EVENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .On 3 October we held our annual open evening, in many ways it was our most successful yet, with more visitors than ever before; it was a powerful showcase of just how rich the Catmose experience is. I always believe that the greatest strength of Catmose is the way in which staff, students and parents work as a team; it was never more evident than during the evening. A video of my presentation can be viewed by following this link: http://youtu.be/hnfyQntiqtI

We have had a huge positive response to our open evening and are already looking forward to welcoming the new year 7 in September for what will be another exciting year for the College. There has been much to celebrate this year, it was difficult to include everything in my presentation, and for staff in one evening to fully articulate the Catmose experience.

Stuart Williams

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INFORMED CHOICE – APPLYING TO A RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Many of our year 11 students are considering which A levels to study next year and where to study them. If you follow the link: http://bit.ly/UiYNTXyou will be able to view a video from the Russell group which represents some of the most prestigious universities and is a must watch in order that their choices of university and subject are not narrowed.

Stuart Williams

STUDENTS PAINT THEMSELVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Acrylic Self Portrait painting workshop with artist Paul WrightSaturday 13 October 2012 9.30am - 4.00pm

21 students ranging from year 8 -11 took part in the workshop producing their own original portrait inspired by Paul’s work and demonstration.

The workshop gave students an opportunity to work directly from observation and photos of their face as Paul does in his working process. Students worked in acrylic paint straight onto a canvas. The resulting work will be exhibited in College. Paul was impressed by the quality of the students’ work and their dedication and commitment to the project. The students all agreed that the day had been challenging but extremely enjoyable.

Paul Wright is an artist based in Leicester. He is primarily a portrait painter whose signature bold, rich palette, texture and thick brush technique have quickly earned him a reputation as an up and coming portrait artist, attracting well-known sitters including rugby hero Austin Healey. Paul has recently represented Thompson’s Gallery at the London Art Fair. He has also loaned works to the College, which are displayed to inspire our students.

Mr Pimperton

3D WORKSHOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Year 10 and 11 Art students attended a workshop run by Leicestershire sculptor Austin Orwin. Austin carves plaster, wood and stone to create his organic inspired sculptural pieces. The sculpture session introduced Catmose students to new techniques and materials. After an inspirational demonstration by Austin, each was given a block of plaster, saws, chisels, and knives with which to carve their own piece. Year 11 students based their work on the theme of nature to tie in with GCSE portfolio work, whilst the year 10 students continued with their hand theme.

The day was very intense with students, (and Mrs Spiers and Mrs Goddard,) becoming absorbed in their endeavours. From the initial blocks, forms gradually emerged: an owl, antlers, and a large thumb to name a few. As participants gained confidence using these new techniques, detail was added enhancing the final pieces.

Many thanks to Austin for running an excellent event, supporting all involved with patience and enthusiasm. It was a great day!

Mrs Spiers

Above: A selection of photographs from the Paul Wright workshop. Below: Photos from the Austin Orwin workshop

COOKING MASTERCLASS DAY AT CATMOSE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday the 15 October saw a group of students return to College to take part in a cookery workshop. The session took place over a full day and was run by a special guest chef, Sean Mason.

Sean is graced with an extensive career background which has given him the opportunity to work at some of Britain’s finest eating establishments, including Rick Stein’s Restaurant.

Sean led the students through the creation of two dishes with ‘Succulent Stuffed Chicken Breast Wrapped in Bacon with Butter Beans, Chorizo and Peppers’ in the morning, and Sticky Toffee pudding in the afternoon.

All students did a fantastic job, with every one of the finished products turning out to perfection.

The day was a phenomenal success, with all students commenting on how much they benefited from the experience.

In particular, the workshop allowed students to increase their food preparation techniques, as well as practicing a range of new ways to present food to a high standard.

I would like to extend a huge thank you to Sean for spending a day of his holiday to run the session, as well as to all of the students that took part for their fantastic behaviour and effort throughout the day.

Miss Warren

JAM MAKING - GHANA FUNDRAISER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .On October 10, seven students took part in the old art of jam making with the help of Miss Warren, Mrs Quinn, Miss Johnson and Miss Gonda. The cooking room came abuzz with the sound of knives peeling and apples being cored. The group had found a lovely recipe that combined the basic ingredients of apples and sugar to make delicious apple jam. It only took about two and a half hours for the jam to be made. Upon tasting it was found to be wonderfully tasty. The jam was made to help raise money for the Ghana trip which will be taking place next Easter. If you would like to have a taste of our yummy jam then please come along to the Zumberthon fundraiser on the 18 November for scones and tea (More details can be found on page 4)

Students who took part in the workshop pictured with Sean Mason

A Student making delicious jam

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ZUMBA TIME - FUNDRAISER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This Easter a group of year 10 students will be going to Eugomot, Ghana to help build permanent structures at the orphanage. To help raise money Miss Gonda is organising a Zumbathon on 18 November at the Catmose Sports Centre. The event begins at 10:00am and finishes at 2:00pm. Zumba sessions will be taught by Miss Gonda and other instructors from the area. If you are interested in attending a class or all classes, we are asking for a donation of £2. As well as Zumba classes, students will be holding a small market in the area around the sports centre where they will be selling everything from cakes to jewellery to second hand books.

If you have small children there will also be a Zumbatomic class for children aged 4 - 11, at 11:00am - 12:00pm at a donation price of £1. Face painting will also be available from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

If you are interested in attending just bring your trainers and a smile. All are welcome to join in the dance party. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Gonda. We hope that this day will be fun for you and your family. We look forward to seeing you!

Miss Gonda

CATMOSE AND THE OLYMPICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We are pleased to announce that films that students created from Catmose College were shown on the big screens in venues throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Twelve students met regularly with Miss Gonda and Ms Smith to create storyboards for sports rules including the spin/bounce rule in wheel chair basket ball, the handing over of the baton in relay races and the fencing refs hand signals.

Catmose College was one of a very small number of schools selected to take part in this unique opportunity by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). Catmose College have created 3 films with support from film experts that help to creatively explain some of the rules of 3 Olympic / Paralympic sports and they were showcased in various venues during the London 2012 Olympic/Paralympic Games to thousands of spectators. Well done to all involved.

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We left College at 8am on Friday morning and headed for the white cliffs of Dover; our ferry crossing was quite calm despite being a bit windy. We arrived at our destination Le Pré Catelan, an hour’s drive from Calais, around 5pm. Eager to explore, we set off down to the beach for some games.

The weather was not so kind to us whilst we explored the local town of Le Touquet, however undeterred by a bit of rain, the students set off on their challenge to purchase a group lunch on a budget from the local market. Many of the students took the opportunity to practice their French and some ventured into shops and cafés to escape the rain. Once back at the centre the competition was on, to see what each team had bought and who could present with the most style. One of the boys’ groups won, due to their effort in presentation, as judged by the centre’s chef. In the afternoon we visited Les Escargots du Bocage, a traditional French snail farm. Students saw where the snails were farmed and listened to a short talk from the farmer’s wife, before a mini 3 course tasting, including a snail pâté, garlic snails in a biscuit shell and snail shaped biscuits. The tasting was met with a mixed reaction, some asked for seconds and others couldn’t manage a mouthful!

For our second full day at the Opal Coast we visited one of the largest European aquariums, Nausicaa. Students were able to watch sea lion training, penguins and sharks! The sun came out and we were able to have our picnic lunch on the beach, before returning to the centre to complete a den building challenge.

Before returning to Calais to catch our ferry we stopped off in Boulogne at the Becasuc sweet factory to see how this traditional factory makes its 57 different products. Eva and Zac were able to have a go at putting the sweets into the moulds, before an all-important tasting session. Throughout the trip students were a credit to themselves and their parents, making the most of every opportunity to discover new experiences and practice their French. During several visits, students were commended for their behaviour and language skills. The trip would not have been possible without the support of the staff who gave up their time to go on the trip; I would like to say a very big thank you to them.

“I learnt things that you can’t learn from a book – what French people wear, how they live, talk, work and shop” India Hunnikin “In my opinion the French trip was lots of fun and gave us a good idea of French culture. I really enjoyed the snail farm, the snails were really nice and garlicky and it also gave us a chance to use our French. Did you know that the French eat around 14 000 snails every year?” Olivia Wilson“The trip was great, I loved every minute, I really enjoyed going into town to buy our lunch” Liam Hibbitt“One of the days, we had to go to a French market and buy our own lunch. We finished early and went into a lovely, warm café for a hot chocolate to get out of the rain. This helped us with our French and made me more confident to talk French with people in the public or a café” Josephine Geraghty

Miss Weightman

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OPAL COAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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SPORTS NEWSSECOND ANTHONY CLARK VISIT

Former Olympian Anthony Clark has been back in College this week to work with some of our rising Badminton stars. In the morning he delivered a second master class to 15 Key Stage Three students, focusing specifically on tactics which can be deployed during net and wall games. He then went on to deliver an inspirational workshop which focused on the Seven Olympic and Paralympic Values of: respect, friendship, equality, excellence, determination, courage and inspiration.

At lunch time he gave an assembly to students in Year 8 which began with him firing shuttlecocks around the theatre. This clearly demonstrated the speed, power and accuracy required to play badminton at international level. He then talked about the hard work, dedication and persistence needed in life if students are to realise their academic and sporting potential. He finished with a moving story which recounted how, at the age of 14, he saved his drowning mother from the sea in Spain. Anthony is sure that without her, he would not have been a badminton star. “It was because my mother tirelessly drove me to training and tournaments, that I was able to realise my dream”.

The overriding themes of both Anthony Clark visits have been: work hard, follow your dreams and be the best you can be. He is a true role model and a fantastic advocate for his sport.

Badminton Club starts this week on a Monday after College and on a Wednesday lunch time. Please check the extra-curricular timetable for more details.

O Teasel

CROSS COUNTRY

On Saturday 19, students took part in the Leicestershire and Rutland Cross Country Race at Rutland Water. The course was very uneven and for the juniors at times, hilly and very demanding. All students represented themselves well and showed determination to achieve their best positions. Best performances came from Alice Lucas and Emily Broughton who finished 13th and 20th respectively which was a wonderful achievement in their first race. In the Year 7 boys team, Ben Buckby came 27th and was unlucky not to overtake a few more runners close to the finishing line. Chelsea Lucas came 27th in the Junior girls race with Amy Saville 40th and Hollie Kirk 60th. On the demanding junior boys’ course Ben Boulton-Smith, Ryan Henderson, Will Cregan and Josh McAllister all ran well, supporting one another around the course and finishing under the top 65. In Year 11 Christian Brookes was our only competitor and his course covered 4.3km of hilly terrain. Christian finished 35th, a result he should be proud of in his first race for the school.

Many thanks to Sofie Whittemore and Emily Topping, two of our sports leaders, and the parents who helped to marshal the course. Year 7 TeamsAlice Lucas, Emily Broughton, Sophie Smith, Maisie Goddard, Thira Blackbourn-Warr, Emily Broughton, Holly Imison, Charlie Dalby, Ben Buckby, Jamie Robertson, Josh McAllister, Sam Conboy and Ben WrightJuniorsAmy Saville, Hollie Kirk, Chelsea Lucas, Will Cregan, Ryan Henderson and Ben Boulton SmithIntersChristian Brookes Future race datesLeague race 3 – 10 November – Lutterworth College/ High SchoolCounty Schools relays – 24 November – Thomas Estley Community CollegeLeague race 4 – 8 December – Long Field SchoolLeague race 5 – 19 January – The Robert Smyth School, Market HarboroughCounty Schools Championships – 2 February – Ratcliffe College Anyone else interested in competing, please see Mrs Powell for details. Anyone can come out training at College on Monday, Tuesdays and Fridays after school.

Mrs Powell

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NETBALL TERM 1

Catmose College netball teams have had a great first term. Out of twenty five games we have won 18 games, drawn 1 and lost 6 games. Year 7 have won four games and drawn one game. Well done to Lauren Gear, Eve Orton, Skye Bussingham, Emily Broughton, Millie Appleton, Emily Lemon, Samantha Carter, Tabitha Woolhouse, Zoe Chamberlain and Zina Cheikh.

Year 8 have won four games and lost one game. Well done to Alice Radford, Saskia Davis, Ione Halford, Chloe Chambers, Jasmine Woolhouse, Georgina Cramphorn, Eva Graham, Issy Quy.

Year 9 have won three games and lost two games. Well done to Laura Rhys-Williams, Samantha Waddy, Willow Spencer, Hannah Pepper, Emily Topping, Fern Spencer, Lydie Halliday, Sofie Whittemore.

Year 10 have won four games and lost one game. Well done to Jenna Charlton, Charlotte Bell, Penny Skipper, Beth Baker, Davina Patel, Francesca Kenard-Kettle, Phoebe Booth, Hannah Green, Amy Burditt.

Year 11 have won three games and lost two games. Well done to Poppy Spencer, Gina Boulton-Smith, Holly Newton, Issy Hawksworth, Hannah Cooper, Amber McAuliffe, Grace Price. Finishing places in the Melton and Rutland Varsity League Table to be released soon, as not published yet.

HOUSE DANCE OFF

In a memorable Dance Off competition, a nervous Chloe Furner of Barnsdale House emerged victorious. After a shaky start, the Year 10 student found her rhythm and managed to win over the large crowd who had gathered on the Hellerup to support the event.

The other three Houses were extremely close, but it was The Giant Yellow Chicken act from Hambleton which took second spot. Burley and Armley were given third and fourth respectively. Congratulations to all competitors for your bravery and enthusiasm, we all look forward to seeing your routines next year.

HOUSE SCORES AFTER TERM 1

After six events (Sports Day, Scramble, Ready Steady Cook, Football, Netball and Dance Off) the house scores are as follows:

Hambleton (yellow): 42Barnsdale (blue): 35Burley (red): 34Armley (green): 25

Year 7, 8 & 10 Netball teams

Top: Chloe Furner Bottom: Hambleton House