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1KGS Newsletter May 2016
staff and with the students in the School Forum. They are superb
role models and ambassadors, and I know that they will be able to
rely on each other to manage their various duties and
responsibilities.
MAY 2016 www.kgs.org.uk
NEWSLETTER
Attaining, adopting and wearing the mantle of leadership, in the
right manner, can be quite different things and it is with this in
mind that I congratulate and thank our new School Captain, Oliver
Cole, and Vice Captains, Ellie de Heer and Joe Hilty. I know that
they will make excellent student
SCHOOL CAPTAINS 2016/17As we thank outgoing School Captains
Holly Munro, Will Burden and Steph Semple, we introduce our
newly-appointed School Captains
AS DRAMA page 7 GB SELECTION page 15
The powerful 'After Mrs Rochester' is brought to life by our A
level students
Zoe Clark has been selected to join the GB U18 kayak squad
continued on page 3
leaders of the School and that the last few days may well have
proved to be a whirlwind of celebration and organisation as they
quickly got to grips with the enormity of their task.
I was proud to witness the manner in which they addressed their
first meetings with senior
JOE, OLIVER AND ELLIE ANNOUNCED AS SCHOOL CAPTAINS
-
2 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
Welcome
WELCOME
OUR UPPER SIXTH LEAVERSA REVIEW OF THE JUNIOR PLAY WILL FEATURE
IN NEXT MONTH'S NEWSLETTER
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3KGS Newsletter May 2016
Comment
continued from front pageThey have attained the mantle, clearly
adopted it with relish and vigour, and over the course of the next
year they will have to wear it with an equal measure of pride and
humility.
They will also be able to rely on their friends, many of whom
were also potential candidates for the top student roles at KGS. I
am delighted to say that I am also very proud of these students in
the way that they have handled the disappointment of not being
selected. They have demonstrated all of the resilience and
willingness to learn from any setback that we have come to expect
from the very best KGS student.
All of the students who take on the responsibility of
representing the School in a variety of forms, ranging from
Prefectship and Ambassadors to tour guides, athletes and
performers, do so with an understanding that the reputation of our
School is in their hands and, that for a moment of time, they are
the sole voice and persona of the School whilst performing,
guiding, speaking and assisting. We couldnt be in safer hands,
entrusting that which is so hard to gain and so very easy to
lose.
The First and Second Year students involved in the Junior Play
Alices Adventures in Wonderland have certainly enhanced their own
reputation and experience, demonstrating a stage presence and
confidence that belies their years. I know that everyone who has
enjoyed the performance has been bowled over by the set, costumes,
make-up and direction - but especially by the performances. Seeing
so many parents, staff, governors and friends enjoy this wonderful
production has been a fitting and enjoyable end to this half
term.
In recent days it has also been my especial privilege to
congratulate the coaches and performers in our cricket teams for
the wonderful and successful strides they are taking towards making
cricket the third
performance sport at KGS alongside rowing and hockey. With a
clean sweep of victories against Latymer Upper School last weekend
including 122 not out for Ronan Harvey-Kelly for the 1st XI and the
first 5-wicket haul of the season for Fred Mills of the U12A team,
they look set to have a great summer. This was added to in being
able to take 35 of our youngest female cricketers to see their role
model, Fifth Year Eva Gray, play for Surrey ladies v Middlesex.
Eva, despite an injury that wouldnt allow her to bowl, fielded
and batted well in an evening game that was slotted in-between her
Geography and Physics GCSE exams!
Another group of athletes who are squeezing in their
performances between exams, or vice versa, are our rowers, many of
whom are representing the School at this
weekend's National Schools Regatta at Eton Dorney. Good luck to
them all and our continued good wishes to all of our students
taking GCSE and A level exams. We know that they will all continue
to be successful and wear the mantle of being a Kingstonian with
pride.
Stephen LehecHead Master
Follow Mr Lehec on Twitter @KGSHEADMASTER
"Seeing so many parents, staff, governors and friends enjoy
this wonderful production has
been a fitting and enjoyable end to
this half term"
A REVIEW OF THE JUNIOR PLAY WILL FEATURE IN NEXT MONTH'S
NEWSLETTER
-
4 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
Activities included a house set where we learned about healthy
eating, fire emergencies and cyberbullying, a street set in which a
video explained numerous dangers such as knife crime, drugs and
alcohol, a room in which a video explained how to stay safe on
public transport, and a stunning video on the environment. What we
learned that day has really helped to enrich our PSHE lessons.
Thank you to all the teachers who came along as well as the staff
at the centre. Freddie Pflanz, 1LSK
LEARNING LIFE SKILLSOn Wednesday 11th May, the First Years
headed out to the Sutton Life Centre where they were taught about
life skills as part of the PSHE curriculum
Three Faiths Forum
The Three Faiths Forum introduced themselves by getting us to
understand what a safe environment can feel like and how they
believe all cultures should live in harmony by breaking down
stereotypes. We all stood in a circle and someone told us something
that was true to them to see if it was true to other people, to
recognize how similar we really are, whether the similarity was
speaking two languages,
BRONZE-LEVEL BOOKWORMSHuge congratulations to high achievers
Toby Jones (1LMJ), Matthew Harley (1LMJ), Lucas Richford (1ROP) and
Sebastian Rugina (1LMJ), the first students this year to complete
the fiendish Bronze level of the KGS A* Reading Mission by reading
six classic novels of their choice including Oliver Twist, White
Fang and the Inimitable Jeeves. They will be presented with a
certificate and prize in assembly after the exams. Not content to
stop there, Toby Jones and Matthew Harley have also completed the
Silver level, reading
and commenting on five poems by a poet of their choice. Their
mission continues with Shakespeare sonnets and a play-text. Many
First Year students have started the mission having completed the
Shooting Star Reading Challenge lets hope more finish the Bronze
level by the end of term. Any student who wishes to tackle the A*
Reading Mission should speak to me to find out how to get started
or what to try next if short on reading inspiration.
Mrs H Cleaves
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5KGS Newsletter May 2016
school life
SCOOT ON OVER!The Design and Technology Department invite
students, staff and parents to scoot over to the Finlay Gallery to
view the wide range of projects completed by this years GCSE and A
level students. The gallery is used to permanently display students
work and showcases their creative talents. They have worked
incredibly hard to finish coursework projects to an extremely high
standard of quality, functionality and finish.
The Head Master has given his full support and even suggested
the possibility of a new KGS sustainable transport policy by
testing the Off-Road Electric Scooter as designed and made by Aaron
Farr U6PAH. We wish all students success with their GCSE and A
level results and hope that first choice university places are
secured by all Upper Sixth students. Fifteen of this years U6th
cohort have chosen to study either Engineering or Design at
university, a testament to the popularity of Science, Technology,
Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects at Kingston Grammar School.
The Department is delighted that such high numbers of students are
continuing with this tradition.
The Finlay Gallery is always open and welcomes new visitors.
Parents are invited during parents evenings and social events such
as the Upper Sixth Graduation.
Mr D Farr
"What we learned that
day has really helped to
enrich our PSHE lessons"
being a Christian or even liking pickles.
Following that, we heard stories from three different speakers.
One woman, Joy, told us about her life with a Catholic mother and a
Jewish father and her experiences of people judging others on the
basis of their religion.
Another woman told us about how she thought she didnt fit in at
church but, after going through a divorce, finding religious
friends and attending university, she finally settled on being a
Quaker where she realised she belonged. Finally, Patrick talked
about how linking with his history back in Ireland had enabled him
to learn more about his personal history.
Overall, it was really interesting to learn about different
religions and hear peoples stories.
Isabel Morton, 1LSK
-
6 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
MASTERCLASSESOver three Saturday mornings in April and May,
nearly 200 children from local primary schools enjoyed a series of
masterclasses presented by various members of staff.On offer were
masterclasses in CAD, Cartography, Exploring the Ancient World,
Forensic Science, Fun with Clay, Have Your Say, History Mystery,
Lights Camera Action!, Playing With Your Brain, Shipwrecked,
Squeeze Words Hard, Tell Me A Story, Technical Wizardry, Wonderful
World of Maths and World Languages.
In Forensic Science participants learned techniques such as
splatter-pattern and finger-printing analysis, ballistics and
chromatography as they tried to work out who killed the three pigs,
starting on the first day by extracting living evidence (maggots)
from the remains!
In other sessions the children were soon planning, designing and
then making useful and decorative items they could take home with
them such as nature-inspired pots out of clay or bookmarks and key
fobs using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. Other pupils wrote
poetry or expressive literature, or even learned to use the
technology available to us in our Performing Arts Centre. Some made
a start on learning about classical languages and culture and
others discussed the moral dilemma of being shipwrecked - in order
to survive, they had to discuss which items on the lifeboats were
more valuable than others (for example, food, shelter, the Mona
Lisa), and therefore what to abandon. Whilst this class had
numerous fascinating discussions about values and moral dilemmas,
another delved deep into a mystery from history...
This year's masterclasses were hugely successful and lots of
fun, and we look forward to holding more again next year.
Mrs N Man
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
I have now been volunteering at Bedelsford School for about half
the academic year. I have really enjoyed it and have learnt a lot
from the experience. Bedelsford is a school which educates pupils
from the ages of 2 to 19 who have a wide range of physical
disabilities, including profound and multiple learning difficulties
and complex health needs. It has been a humbling experience to be
able to go in and see the amazing work that is done and it has been
a privilege to help out with different children in class.
Megan Nicholls, L6DEF
MUSIC NEWSJuliet Gray (1LSK) has been awarded a place in the
Young National Schools Symphony Orchestra for this year on flute.
She will attend a weeks residential course at Malvern College in
July playing a selection of English repertoire pieces.
Edward Jones (3VMW) achieved a Distinction in his Trinity
Guildhall Grade 2 Drum exam in addition to his Grade 2 Jazz Piano
taken last term.
Mrs T Watkins
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7KGS Newsletter May 2016
school life
'AFTER MRS ROCHESTER'On Friday 13th May the Lower Sixth A level
students completed their AS practical examination. The first
section was a closed performance of chosen monologues and design
concepts. Following this, the group performed an edited version of
Polly Teales 'After Mrs Rochester', which explored the life of
author Jean Rhys, and her obsession with the novel 'Jane Eyre'. The
production concept encompassed two key themes from the text: the
influences on her life, and the link between Jean Rhys and the
character of Bertha from Jane Eyre. Set within Jeans locked room,
the performance aimed to show Jeans feelings of isolation and
insignificance within the setting of a dream-like world where her
memories mixed with her present self. The edited text followed the
key influences in Jeans/Ellas life (with Ella being Jeans younger
self), her controlling mother, the gent who first made Ella realise
that her beauty was an asset, Lancelot who took advantage of
her
youth and naivety, and Ford, who tried to love her. Throughout
this, Bertha was always present and shared Jeans/Ellas feeling of
being out of place. Bertha was wild and passionate, everything that
was forcefully repressed within Jean. The actors involved were
Olivia Arnold, Jamie Bisping, Maddie Kelly, Charlotte Le Feuvre,
Lili Macleary and Finn Stammers, and all presented outstanding
control, emotional maturity and flair in the roles they had studied
and brought to life.
Students were also being assessed as designers and their
concepts aimed to respond to the production concept described
above. The lighting and sound (designed by Megan Nicholls and Joe
Underwood respectively) brought alive each memory and feeling,
guiding the audience to understand how time was being played with.
The claustrophobic set (designed by Alice Metcalf) became the
playground for Jeans memories and the safe space that allowed her
to hide
within her writing. The three designers created a quite stunning
design concept that demonstrated their technical capability and
artistic flair, whilst bringing alive the themes of the play.
The Drama Department were hugely impressed with the students
dedication to attaining the highest standards. We congratulate them
for a job well done, and look forward to the results in August.
Miss S Boulton
-
8 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
Fourth Year sailors had their skills well and truly tested
earlier this term on a two-day visit to Chichester Harbour. The
trip was planned in preparation for a second weekend away which
required the young sailors to demonstrate their abilities for their
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
The group were under the careful guidance of instructors from
the Cobnor Activities Centre in Chidham (as well as the watchful
eyes of Mr Forsyth, Mrs Corcoran & Miss Jenkins) and were
taught how to gybe in a bosun dinghy, widen their sailing
vocabulary and improve their performance on the water. Amongst the
various challenges over the weekend were developing Force 6 winds
and unseasonably cold weather! However, the group, particularly the
girls, showed great resilience. Despite the blustery weather a
sunny picnic lunch on Saturday in Bosham, toasted marshmallows
around the campfire that evening and a Sunday morning sail to
Thorny Island were some of the highlights enjoyed by all. We loved
this trip and cannot wait for the next one in July! remarked Clara
Lyckeus, 4PJJ.
Well done to Clara and her fellow Fourth Year sailors Jess,
Theo, Ellen, Daniel and Zain - and good luck for the next one
(which will involve a hike, too!).
Mrs S Corcoran
PICNIC IN THE SUN
SAILORS FEEL THE FORCE
-
9KGS Newsletter May 2016
school life
"We loved this trip and cannot wait for the next one
in July!"
-
10 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
This year was particularly varied and included performances by
the Lower Sixth AS students.The evening started with the
accomplished cello playing of Lucy Roberts, who performed Strausss
Nocturne. This was a poised, assured performance which beautifully
captured the pastoral nature of the music, and the musical
communication between cellist and pianist was evident throughout,
resulting in a performance of exceptional musicality and
refinement.
Lois Freedman then played Mozarts Sonata in G Major K283
followed by Chopins Waltz in A Major: this was a confident and
affectionate performance, the figuration negotiated with ease,
arabesques shaped beautifully with a singing tone, and rubato
applied tastefully to create a charming rendition.
The third performer was Alborz Farahati, playing Poulencs
Clarinet Sonata (Second Movement) with aplomb; what a haunting
piece this is, and Alborz captured the atmospheric effects with
soulful assurance.
Charlotte Samadys contrasting 'Youre no God', her own song,
where she accompanied her own voice on guitar, was spellbinding.
Her powerful voice, immaculate guitar playing, and particularly
well-gradated dynamics,
A MUSICAL FAREWELLThe Leavers Soire is always a delightful
occasion where we celebrate the achievements of our departing
musicians
contributed to an excellent, engaging performance.
Next up was Luke Hillier, whose accomplished tenor voice has
been entertaining KGS audiences for many years. He gave a dramatic
performance of 'Dormiro Sol' from Verdis Don Carlos. KGSs answer to
Pavarotti captured the
long, sustained lines with ease - what a treat to hear Verdi at
the Soire!
Lightening the mood, Theo Cons gave a measured, mellifluous
performance of 'Rio' by Night on solo guitar, transporting the
audience away from the English weather to a hot, sultry South
America; another charming performance.
-
11KGS Newsletter May 2016
school life
We moved from South to North America (Chicago) for Joe
Underwoods subsequent rendition of 'Luck be a Lady Tonight' from
Guys and Dolls, upping the tempo and capturing the smoky atmosphere
with bluesy thirds, as well as negotiating the fast words with
confidence, and earning a well-deserved cheer from the
audience.
Joe Malbons guitar solo, 'Andecy,' was an assured, subtly
impressive rendition with its lyricism just right for a summer
evening. The melodies had a vocal quality to them, and the overall
sound was just gorgeous. Really refined guitar playing is such a
treat for us music teachers!
Robert Bern followed Joe with a short jam, showing his guitar
playing to best effect: cool, funky, poised and powerful, with
smoky vocals.
To round off the evening, Nora Bajwa sang Whitney Houstons 'I
Have Nothing'. Noor has an exceptionally powerful voice, and her
confident and poised performances are always meticulously crafted.
It was an excellent end to a truly delightful evening, hosted by
the Music Society with their delicious food and wine which was much
appreciated by the audience. It is always sad to see our musicians
leave, but it is equally delightful to be able to see them perform
so well, and we wish them all the best, and much good performing,
in the future.
Miss P Hyde
TIME FOR TEAOn the 6th May, 2NHR hosted the Rosclare tea party
in Hawkes, the Sixth Form Cafe. A group of elderly residents of
Rosclare Care Home came for tea, cake, bingo and a chat. Roughly 12
students from our form attended and those who couldnt come provided
cake! Soon the atmosphere was brimming with exciting stories about
holidays, school and sports.
Many students made excellent cakes which were enjoyed by
everyone. Tea, coffee and squash were also passed around the room.
Around halfway through the tea party, a riveting game of bingo
started. We were all split into pairs and the game immediately got
competitive. The winners received a
fancy box of biscuits and the game ended with a lot of
laughter.
Penny, Josh and Nyah also performed some lovely music which went
down very well with our guests. Overall, it was a wonderful
experience which taught the form that it can be rewarding to spend
time with senior citizens. We were delighted that they all went
home with a smile on their faces.
Fran Chorley & Maya Dickens, 2NHR
VIETNAMARAMA TALENT SHOW
FRIDAY 10TH JUNETHIS SUMMER, A GROUP OF KGS SIXTH
FORMERS ARE OFF TO VIETNAM.
IN AID OF THE TRIP, SOME OFTHE TEAM HAVE DECIDED TO HOST
A TALENT SHOW TO INCLUDE SINGING, DANCING AND MORE!
TICKETS GO ON SALE ON MONDAY 6TH MAY AT THE
PRICE OF ONLY 5!
ON THE NIGHT, THERE WILL BE DRINKS AND SNACKS AVAILABLE.
DOORS OPEN AT 7PM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRE-ORDER A TICKET, PLEASE EMAIL
[email protected] WILL BE AVAILABLE TO COLLECT
ON THE DOOR.
-
12 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
Since early October, the 19 members of Seeko, the schools Young
Enterprise team, have met every Thursday with their business
advisers and teachers to discuss how to source, buy, market and
sell their product. On Thursday 28th April, our months of hard work
came to the fore as we arrived at St Pauls School for the Richmond
and Kingston area finals of the Young Enterprise competition. We
were competing with seven other teams from local schools to get to
the next stage of the contest where the winner would have the
chance to represent the Richmond and Kingston area in the South
London finals of Young Enterprise. Richmond and Kingston is one of
the most competitive Young Enterprise areas in the country and this
year was no exception. There was a wide variety of products on
show, from water bottles which told you when you were getting
dehydrated to customisable toys which promoted racial diversity.
Our product was no
SEEKO IN THE LOCAL FINALSOur Young Enterprise team made it to
the Richmond & Kingston Area Finals
less unique, a collapsible lunchbox which could become only
32mm-deep once empty and therefore took up less room in your bag
once your lunch had been eaten. The area finals consisted of two
main parts: the trade stand and the presentation.
The trade stand section consisted of four members of each team
taking position behind the stand which they had actually sold from
at school and at trade fairs in the local area. It was the perfect
opportunity for the judges to see how each company had presented
themselves while selling and it also gave them time to ask
questions of each team such as how the team chose their product,
what setbacks the team experienced and how they overcame them.
Next came the presentations. Each team had only four minutes to
explain to the judges why they felt they should be allowed to
progress in the competition. The pressure was on as this
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13KGS Newsletter May 2016
school life
took place in front of not only the judges but the seven other
companies and their friends, family and teachers too. Some of the
more impressive pitches came from our host school, St Pauls, whose
product was a phone charger that fitted onto a key ring and
Southborough Boys School who had an inventive range of shopping
bags to combat the 5p plastic bag charge. Our presentation began
dramatically with our Managing Director dumping two bin bags full
of rubbish on the ground in front of the judges to make the
audience think about how much waste is produced annually in the UK.
This tied in with our aim as a company of reducing food and
packaging waste.
After all the presentations were done, the judges went off to
deliberate whilst we were all treated to a small buffet and a talk
from 7 Billion Ideas founder David Harkin, which everyone found
very inspiring and informative. The judges then emerged and we were
told the results: 2nd place went to St Pauls and 1st went to
Southborough. Although we were all disappointed that we were not
going to progress any further, it was clear to see that, from the
level of competition, it was always going to be a hard decision for
the judges.
Ive learnt so much from this experience about business such as
how to fundraise so that I can reach the minimum order requirement,
how to source materials and speak to a supplier in another country
and how to perfect a sales script. I could never have learnt as
much as I have just in the classroom or by watching The Apprentice
and I would urge anyone lower down the school who gets the chance
to do Young Enterprise to grab the opportunity with both hands. Id
like to thank our business advisers, Coral and Mark, as well as Mrs
Rhys and Dr Kennedy for their help and encouragement throughout the
whole process.
Xander Chevallier, L6JMD
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 2016Kingston Library Service is looking
for volunteers aged 13+ to help run this years Summer Reading
Challenge, the national scheme that keeps primary school children
reading during the summer holidays and is vital for avoiding the
literacy dip. Based in one of Kingstons libraries, the role
involves a variety of tasks including joining up participants,
giving out rewards and helping children to choose a book, but its
really all about nurturing a love of reading. This years theme is
Roald Dahl to tie in with the centenary and features fabulous
artwork by his long-term collaborator Quentin Blake. Volunteers are
asked to commit to a minimum of 15 hours from July to September and
are
THE BBC MIRCO:BITFinally, after much media speculation, this
5x4cm device arrived in late April. What is it you, may ask. It is
a free (for First Years) pocket-sized computer gadget designed to
inspire the current generation of students to get involved with
coding and computer technology, whilst in and out of school.
Despite its small size it is packed with a huge amount of useful
technology such as: an ARM-based embedded system, a motion
detector, numerous sensors, Bluetooth LE, 25 LEDs, a compass and
five I/O rings. Technically, it is low spec with 32-bit ARM, Cortex
M0 CPU and 16KB RAM. It has a non-intimidating interface and has
been tested to be fairly robust. It also uses a range of platforms
to code on such as Python, JavaScript and a block editor. Its scope
is not solely for ICT/Computing as it can be used in other subjects
such as DT, Drama, Languages, Music, Geography, English, PE, Maths,
Art and Science.
The First Year students have all been sent an email encouraging
them to look at the highly user-friendly micro:bit website
(https://www.microbit.co.uk) in order to get a heads-up before
their first lesson
The website has a simulator to allow stu-dents to begin coding
straightaway and, if they have a smartphone, they are advised to
download the micro:bit app so they can code on the go.
Several regular First Year ICT Club coding students have been
the first to trial this gadget; Sebastian Rugina and James Sadler
have each made a naming game using its 5x5 LEDs. Matthew Mace took
it one step further and created a pong game. Who knows - this might
just give rise to the next generation of computer pioneers to
succeed the likes of Steve Jobs and Ada Lovelace.
Ms Y Greaves
invited to submit their availability so the rota can work around
them. Application forms are available from the library or Miss
Knight in the English office.
Mrs H Cleaves
-
14 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
On Friday 7th May all the KGS Language Leaders went to teach
five lessons at St Josephs School. We had the great opportunity of
being able to prepare a lesson in French or Spanish to present to
pupils aged 7-11. The experience was amazing. I was partnered with
Victoria and we worked on a French lesson about describing foods
and saying why you like or dislike them. I enjoyed everything about
our outing to St Josephs; all the children were so sweet and kind
and got on impeccably with the work. Also, as a bonus, the children
enjoyed giving compliments and brightened up our day with only a
few words. A little girl in Year 3 put her hand up and told me I
was beautiful!
For our next teaching trip, I have learnt to always prepare for
the unexpected. In our last lesson of the day with the Year 6
children, the PowerPoint didnt appear on the computer and Victoria
and I had to improvise the whole lesson with the worksheets and
games that we had created! Thankfully the lesson ran smoothly and
in my opinion it was our best one yet.
TEACHERS IN TRAINING
I was able to learn how hard it must be to be a teacher, as you
have to consider every pupil and their ability in the subject you
are teaching. After only a few hours of teaching I was completely
drained of energy. Between giving the lesson and helping
individuals I started to wonder how on earth all the teachers at
KGS manage to teach every day and turn up to school with smiles on
their faces!
I hope that my experiences encourage you to take part in
Language Leaders in Third or Fourth Year. Miss Pastore, our
teacher, was always ready to help with our presentations and gave
us many tips on how to present ourselves in front of a class.
To celebrate our successful day, we were all rewarded with an
outing to Creams after our lessons!
Thank you, Miss Pastore!
Camila Carbajal, 3KAB
"I was able to learn how hard it must be
to be a teacher"
-
15KGS Newsletter May 2016
school life
HOWARD CHARLES DROPS INOn Wednesday 25th May, actor Howard
Charles came into school to give a talk to the Third Year, Fourth
Year and Lower Sixth Drama students about his experiences at drama
school and his career in the theatre and film industry. Having
started a drama course at Kingston College (choosing it over a
football scholarship), Howard left after two years to study at the
prestigious Drama Centre London, where his mentor was Tom
Hardy.
Gaining representation by well-known agent and star maker Lindy
King, Howard described his time at DCL as intense and challenging.
Although many of his contemporaries were encouraged to drop out due
to the highly competitive nature of the industry, Howards first job
came before he even graduated. He has since gone on to appear in
many plays, films and TV programmes. His inspiring talk encouraged
us to be selfish when it comes to what we want in life, not
allowing ourselves to settle for second best. He answered our many
questions and shared his own experiences of working with directors
and what it is to be an actor.
We were all very grateful to Howard for giving up his time to
come and speak to us and we thoroughly enjoyed the insight he gave
us into the world of a professional actor.
Charlotte Le Feuvre, L6TMR
ZOE CLARK TOREPRESENT GBZoe Clark, 4LJS, who competes for the
Royal Canoe Club in Teddington, has been making waves! She has been
selected to represent the GB kayaking team at the Piestany
international regatta in Slovakia.
This is particularly impressive as Zoe normally competes at
Under 15 level and has been selected as part of the U18 squad. Zoe
will be racing in the 200m, K2 200m and K2 500m.
Everyone at KGS wishes Zoe the best of luck and we look forward
to hearing about her experience on her return.
Mr A Beard
PROBLEM SOLVED!Congratulations to our industrious team of Sixth
Form students for finishing in second place at the Surrey Schools
Problem Solving Challenge Final. This year, the students had to
design and make a model ski lift cable car system that could
transport polo mints as far as possible. As usual, they were
supplied with limited materials and given a 90-minute time limit in
which to complete the challenge. The final was held at ACS
International School in Cobham and was the culmination of five
regional heats with approximately 50 teams in each age category.
The best two teams from each heat progress to the final where there
were ten teams in
each age group. Team KGS kept their nerve during judging and
were amazed when their non-working lift actually functioned
perfectly at exactly the right moment. They had just elevated their
position from last to second in an instant and shows what can
happen with hard work, determination and, sometimes, a little
luck.
Well done to Alice Metcalf (L6LOC), Joe Underwood (L6DEF), Ethan
Samama (U6SRM) and Elspeth Birchall (L6JWS).
Mr D Farr
-
16 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
SPORT
The week starts off as busy as ever, with a decision to be made
about which training to attend. Theres the option of either 1st XI
cricket training with the boys or girls hockey fitness sessions
with Locker 27, a specialist fitness company who come in to help
get us all into shape. Cricket would usually consist mainly of
fielding practice, with the idea to catch as many balls as
possible. Early on in the season we look at catching and throwing
technique, which is often down to individual preference, but as the
season progresses we try to develop basic skills into more
complicated practices such as diving or tough catches on the
boundary. Fitness with the girls can be either running sessions on
the pitches or strength work in the gym. The aim here is to try and
keep up the fitness levels we achieved over the winter playing
season so we are ready to get going again in September.
On Tuesday its an early start at 7am in a strength and
conditioning session with Locker 27 in the Ditton Field gym. In
these sessions, we look at lifting technique in the first term, and
then start loading the bars with maximum weight later on in the
year. Whilst completing sets on the bars such as back squats and
push presses, we do other exercises such as glute bridges, single
leg RDLs, and press-ups to target different areas of the body.
On Wednesday its Games day, which usually means matches. If not,
we head to the nets to practise match scenarios which helps
everyone get used to playing under pressure in situations we may
find ourselves in. After this, at 6pm I go to Surrey Ladies cricket
training for two hours. This session is, again, mostly
fielding,
MY SUMMER TERMEva Gray, 5MEB, shares her weekly diary as she
juggles GCSEs with her Surrey Ladies cricket training
ROAD TO WIMBLEDON
Once again we held the annual KGS Road to Wimbledon U14 Tennis
Tournament at Ditton Field and this years event took place on
Saturday 7th May. Thirty pupils played in the event with good
representation across the First, Second and Third Years. As ever,
there were several close-fought matches both in the boys and girls
competitions, with the Thomas Skeates (2NHR) v Max Vokins (2HRL)
and Freddie Wilson (2RSS) v Jack Housego-Woolgar (2HRL) battles
being particular epics.
In the girls competition our defending champion Elizabeth
Stevenson (3MPW) held off all-comers once again, this time
defeating Sophie Morris (1ROP) in the final.
In the boys event, Jack Housego-Woolgar emerged victorious,
showing great fighting spirit in beating defending champion Lucas
Askeland (3KAB) in the final (winning in a tie-break decider). In
addition, Thomas Cutts (3HMN) and Matthew Wood (3KAB) won the boys
consolation events and Sophie Wood (1LMJ) won the girls consolation
event.
Congratulations to our champions and we wish the best of luck to
Elizabeth and Jack who now go through to the County Finals in
June/July.
Mr S Morris
EVA WARMING UP WITH SURREY
with an element of fitness as well. We often do shuttles, sprint
technique and then finish with a long run around the boundary.
Thursday is another potential early start with Locker 27 but, if
not, there are running sessions at lunch on the Fairfield to
prepare for a hockey tour to South Africa in July. In these
sessions, we look to complete either as many laps as possible in 20
minutes, or sprint for three minutes straight followed by a period
of rest. This is hopefully going to set the team up for a tough
international tournament whilst were on tour, where we play eight
matches in five days! After school, at 6.30pm theres Surrey U17
girls cricket training at Reeds. We start with a fielding drill,
and then move into the nets to work on batting against bowlers
after a long winter perfecting technique at the indoor centre.
Friday is a free day to do work which I cant get done over the
weekend. Saturday brings another decision. I am often playing a
cricket match for one team or another. If not playing for Surrey
(Ladies or U17), Im playing for school with the boys. On some
occasions, it is a travel day for Surrey Ladies before an away game
on Sunday. Surrey U17 games are 45 overs, which means it takes up
most of the day, whilst school matches are usually 20 overs when we
play on a Saturday.
Sunday is potentially a rest/work day, although there are Surrey
Ladies games every two or three weeks, with two games when its a
bank holiday. I turn up to the ground at 9.30am to start warm-up at
9.45am. The game
usually gets underway at 11am, and finishes (depending on the
game situation) at about 6pm, which makes it impossible to get
anything else done as its such a long day! Early in the season,
these games are 50 overs a side, although as we progress through
the season, the 20-over competition gets underway, which involves
two games on a Sunday.
-
17KGS Newsletter May 2016
sport
PAST vs PRESENT GOLF DAYEight pupils (two each from First,
Fourth, Fifth and Lower Sixth Years) did golfing battle against a
team of Old Kingstonians and current parents while eight staff did
likewise against a second team of Old Kingstonians (two of whom are
current staff). The weather was glorious and this seemed to inspire
the underdog pupils team. In an unusual format that included
greensomes, fourball and singles, the youth team prevailed with 20
points to 12, with three of the pairs winning outright. The marquee
pairing of James Hall and Sam Reid were one under par better ball
score for the whole round and sank a number of birdies during the
round to set the precedent for the pupils. Newcomers Ben Turner and
Luca Fielden were giving away a lot in experience but gelled nicely
to secure a second win. Old hands Clara and Ellen Lyckeus each had
a birdie on their way to trouncing a pairing that included their
mother in the third match and only the last pairing of Jake Cutts
and Matt Pugh failed to make it a clean sweep for the pupils.
In the second match of staff vs OKs, things followed a similar
pattern to the pupils match. The pairs format seemed to suit the
staff pairings of Mackay and Jackson, Rodgers and Sharpe, Benson
and Cooper, and Daly and Parry with the staff team jumping out to
an early lead in a match they would eventually go on to win, 16
points to 12.
The day was another overwhelming success and was enjoyed by all.
The next big KGS golf event is during October half term, a Texas
Scramble at Bletchingley Golf Club. Please contact me if you would
like to be involved.
Mr M Rodgers
ENGLAND U18Over the bank holiday weekend, Lottie Ross and Holly
Munro played as part of the England U18 in their three-day test
series against Scotland, in Glasgow. They played three games,
successfully beating the Scottish U18 side 7-2 and 7-1, with Holly
Munro captaining the side on the second day, followed by a
convincing 5-1 win over the Scotland U21 team to finish the
weekend. The weekend was a great experience and a fantastic way to
kick-start the international season. They look forward to the
upcoming fixtures against Belgium and Germany in the next few
months.
Mrs N Maclean
RONAN HITS A CENTURYRonan Harvey-Kelly scored his maiden 1st XI
century v Latymer on Saturday, scoring 122*.
In addition, Fred Mills (U12A) took his first five-wicket haul v
Latymer Upper School (5-17).
Overall it was an impressive performance on the pitch as we won
all nine matches, making it a very successful Saturday for the KGS
cricketers.
Mr D Reed
OUR GOLFERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN ACTION THIS TERM AT VARIOUS
COMPETITIONS
-
18 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
FROM THE ARCHIVES
In 1966 a Charities Committee was founded, presided over by the
Head Master, to meet the needs of an active and energetic group of
Sixth Formers. Their first venture, a sponsored bed-push from
Kingston to Brighton was a great success. The Committee provided
the following report for The Kingstonian.
The great day dawned and, still in nightshirts, pyjamas and
nightdresses (formal dress for the occasion) the team assembled at
school on Sunday, 3rd July, some people having been obliged to rise
at the unearthly hour of five o'clock. We were accompanied by a
police escort to the starting line in Kingston Market Place, where
at seven o'clock, as the flag dropped, the bed trundled away.
Thirteen hours, twenty one minutes, eleven seconds, and
fifty-four miles later we arrived at the finishing line in Preston
Park, Brighton. Throughout the day, the valiant team persuaded
astonished onlookers to contribute liberally to "The British
Empire
CHARITY BED-PUSH, 1966An account of a charitable activity from
the KGS Archives
Cancer Campaign for Research" and almost 40 was collected.
I was recently delighted to welcome to the School one of the
participants in the event, Robin Bloore (OK 1960-67). Mr Bloore has
retained some wonderful documents relating to the day including
press cuttings, a photograph and this wonderful Beatles-influenced
advertising poster. We are most grateful to him for providing
copies for the KGS Archive. Mrs J Halford
EXTERNAL ADVERT
Bring your friends and family down to the beautiful Ditton Field
to cheer on pupils, parents, staff and alumni as they compete in
the Sturgeon matches!
The tennis courts will be open for those who wish to play and
there will be a free BBQ, Pimm's, wine and beer laid on by KGS
Friends.
Book your place so we can ensure there are enough refreshments
to go around!
http://www.kgs.org.uk/events/feast-at-the-field-sturgeon-cricket
Feast at the Field & Sturgeon Cricket
Sunday 26th June, 12.30pm
-
19KGS Newsletter May 2016
COMMUNITY
NETWORKING AT WESTMINISTER
The Palace of Westminster provided a fitting and prestigious
location for the KGS Friends Networking Event on Monday 25th April,
when MP for Kingston James Berry played host to a diverse gathering
of alumni, staff, parents past and present, pupils and governors
representing all the constituent parts of the School community.
There were speeches of welcome from Mr Berry, Mr Lehec, and KGS
governor and KGS Friends committee member Duncan Combe, who played
a leading role in organizing the event, after which guests enjoyed
a light buffet and drinks and a highly useful evening exchanging
ideas and information, learning from each other and making new
contacts.
Mr Lehec commented afterwards: This was a very enjoyable
occasion, and we are very grateful to Mr Berry for hosting the
event and enabling us to meet at the centre of political life in
this country. There could not be a more fitting venue for a
networking event representing such a diversity of ages and
interests. I was particularly pleased by how well the Sixth Formers
acquitted themselves, working the room with a confidence that
belied their years and quite undaunted by the company and the sense
of occasion.
Mr N Bond
70KM ROW FOR CHARITYOn Saturday 10th September 2016 the rowers
of Kingston Grammar School will be rowing 70km from Henley to the
KGS Boat House in Thames Ditton. This is an epic feat and will test
all the rowers from Third Year to Sixth Form.
The money raised will be split between Young Minds and the KGS
Boat Club. You may recall Young Minds, a charity supporting young
people and their families with mental health issues, took park in a
conference here hosted by the Head Master before Christmas. The
charity has recently started a campaign supported by the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
The KGS Boat Club has set a target of 20,000to raise in
September and all donations are very welcome here: KGS Sponsored
Row 2016.
Also, if youre feeling particularly benevolent, you might be
interested to know that I am doing the Ride London 100-mile cycle
ride on July 31st and am looking to raise 600 for the NSPCC. Once
youve sponsored KGS for the row, which is the priority, please
consider a spare pound or two to help me up Leith Hill! My page is
here: Phil Simmons Ride London. Thank you!
Mr P Simmons
ELMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LINK
Elmbridge Community Link is a charity with the purpose to enrich
the lives of people with learning disabilities which three KGS
volunteers Evie Benincasa, Sofie Lloyd and Jess Murray enjoy taking
part in. Prize Bingo takes place on Monday evenings which includes
a general knowledge quiz and two rounds of fun filled bingo.
Tuesday evenings are dedicated to AllSports Youth Club, which as
the name suggests consists of a variety of activities from
badminton to hula hooping. The charity also offers a variety of
other weekly clubs from Music workshops to cookery classes creating
new opportunities. Evie particularly loves being part of a charity
that provides a wide range of fun activities week after week.
Carefree environments encourage the members to chat with new
people, providing the chance to build new relationships whilst
catching up with their existing friends. The AllSports Youth club
is available for 16-25 year olds as an animated activity to use up
some energy. There is a small break in the middle to have a rest
and munch on some nourishing fruit snacks to encourage a healthy
lifestyle. At the end, after all the running around, the members
take part in a relaxation period which gives them a chance to slow
down a little.
Learning and development is also a key value for this charity as
the members gain new skills from the new opportunities available to
them. As volunteers we are fortunate enough to help and aid the
members and it is really rewarding to see the progress they have
made from the start of our volunteering in September. Sofie enjoys
seeing this improvement in the weekly Bingo club specifically with
number and word recognition. I think it safe to say like all the
volunteers at ECL, we three have all thoroughly enjoyed working
with the charity and fully support all the great work it is
doing.
Jess Murray, L6JAD
OUR BOAT RAMP AT 5AM
-
20 May 2016 KGS Newsletter
school life
On Friday 7th May all the KGS Language Lead-ers went to teach
five lessons at St Josephs School. We had the great opportunity of
being able to prepare a lesson in French or Spanish to present to
pupils aged 7-11. The experience was amazing. I was partnered with
Victoria and we worked on a French lesson about describing foods
and saying why you like or dislike them. I enjoyed everything about
our outing to St Jo-sephs; all the children were so sweet and kind
and got on impeccably with the work. If any-one had any queries
they werent afraid to ask for help. Also, as a bonus, the children
enjoyed giving compliments and brightened up our day with only a
few words. A little girl in Year 3 put her hand up and told me I
was beautiful!
For our next teaching trip, I have learnt to always prepare for
the unexpected. In our last lesson of the day with the Year 6
children, the PowerPoint didnt appear on the computer and Victoria
and I had to improvise the whole lesson with the worksheets and
games that
duplicate
Standfirst xxxDoluptat utem asinctem utasautem asimaio. Ratecep
elenitionse none quaspel iat
we had created! Thankfully the lesson ran smoothly and in my
opinion it was our best one yet.
I was able to learn how hard it must be to be a teacher, as you
have to consider every pupil and their ability in the subject you
are teach-ing. After only a few hours of teaching I was completely
drained of energy. Between giving the lesson and helping
individuals I started to wonder how on earth all the teachers at
KGS manage to teach every day and turn up to school with smiles on
their faces!
I hope that my experiences encourage you to take part in
Language Leaders in Third or Fourth Year. Miss Pastore, our
teacher, was al-ways ready to help with our presentations and gave
us many tips on how to present ourselves in front of a class.
To celebrate our successful day, we were all rewarded with an
outing to Creams after our
CAPTION XXXX XXXX XXXX XXX
"Quote xxxxx xxx Doluptat xx utem asin xxctem utas aute m
asimaio"