Camden Friday News
Spring Term 1 - 9 January 2015 Issue No. 15
Wolfson Foundation awards the Camden School for Girls £25,000 for Science Laboratories refurbishment
I am thrilled to announce that the school’s funding bid to the Wolfson Foundation has been successful,
and we have been granted £25 000 towards the refurbishment of our science laboratories. This
extremely generous award has been made by the Trustees of the Wolfson Foundation, who are
committed to ‘supporting the teaching of A levels and GCSEs at high-achieving state-funded schools and
sixth-form colleges through the funding of capital projects’ (Wolfson Foundation website). I have
written to the Trustees and thanked them, and I am sure you will join me in celebrating the great im-
provements to the science teaching and learning environment that this kind gift will provide.
Thanks go as well to all parents, students and friends of the school, not least our Channel swimmers,
who have already donated towards the laboratory refurbishment. This combined effort will transform
our science teaching spaces.
Year Seven Christmas Concert
The Autumn Term ended with the Monster themed Christmas Concert, featuring all our Year Seven
students. We enjoyed some music traditionally associated with Christmas, such as ‘The Dance of the
Sugar Plum Fairy’ and ‘Personent Hodie’ as well as some items reflecting the monster theme, including
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and the theme from Dr Who. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I
was delighted to see so many parents in the audience.
Elizabeth Kitcatt
CASCA Parents' Forum presents
supporting our young people with their academic work and revision
What parents can do to help their children learn. What works and how to keep young peoplemotivated
ALL WELCOME
Tuesday January 27th 6.30 to 8.15 in the StudioBar, soft drinks and snacks available
TABLE TOP SALE
SATURDAY 31 JANUARY
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Dear Parents and Carers, The Table Top Sale is taking place in 3 week’s time. Tables are still available to hire for this event which is now less than 4 weeks away. Rails are sold out but it may be possible for you to bring your own. Please check with us first and please note you will be charged £5. You can sell almost anything you want and you will keep all your profits. Tables measure 6 ft x 2 ft 6 " and cost £20. To book your space please see details below. Some of you who have booked haven't managed to send your cheque in yet. It would be very helpful if you could send it in this week. Your place will be confirmed on receipt of your payment. Please can we have some homemade cakes for this event. We need them for our afternoon teas and for selling on the cake stall. If any of you could make some jam that would also be greatly appreciated. Could cakes be with us by 1 pm on the day. Last, but not least, if any of you would like to get involved with the running of the Table Top Sale you will be most welcome. Many thanks. Mary Kavanagh
email [email protected] 07873 339 705
SIXTH FORM NEWS
The Autumn Term in the Sixth Form ended on a very positive and exciting note. We had some
extremely compelling speakers which you can read about in the student reviews below. On
Monday 8 December, a group of staff and Sixth Formers’ merrily sang Christmas songs in
Highbury and Islington tube station for two hours raising a fantastic £350 for Crisis, a charity
for the homeless. In the last week of term, the Senior Prefect team put on an extremely
entertaining panto with a Camden sixth form slant entitled ‘Georgey Potter and the Prophecy
of Head Boy’. During our last assembly of 2014, I had the pleasure of handing out a huge
number of academic commendations from all subjects to our very worthy Year 12 and
13 students.
A happy New Year to all from the Sixth Form Team!
Olivia Camillo
Owen Jones – Political Journalist speaks in Sixth
Form assembly on 24 November 2014
Never before have the Sixth Form students left an assem-
bly filled with so much anger and yet so much hope. Owen
Jones, voted 7th most influential left-winger by the
well-known Marxist polemic The Telegraph last year and
the writer of the acclaimed Chavs and The Establishment, privileged Camden with his
passionate oratory. ‘One day we will look back in horror and disbelief at a time when you
could go out and work all day and still not earn enough to live.’
He powerfully communicated the message that British society ‘socialises the risks and
privatises the profits’. No longer should we be duped into blaming our neighbours for the
selfish actions of those at the top. It is the bankers, provided with the most generous
no-strings-attached benefit package in history after the crisis they created in 2008, who
should take responsibility for the state of society, not the Polish cleaner, the Lithuanian
fruit-picker or the Nigerian nurse. He reminded us of the vital lessons of history,
emphasising that Britain is a country built on people power, where change only occurs
when it is demanded by the struggle of movements like the Tolpuddle Martyrs, the
Chartists and the Suffragettes. The suffragettes were demonised and force-fed in prison
during their lifetimes, but today they have a very important status as worthy and
indomitable campaigners. He told us, we must look past the politics of envy, avoid being
seduced by that rare breed of privately-educated white male politician such as the
individual who runs UKIP, and build a society in the interests of the people who keep it
ticking. It was a truly memorable and inspirational assembly.
George (Head Boy)
SIXTH FORM NEWS
Frank Hewetson – Greenpeace International
On Monday 17 November our assembly speaker was Frank
Hewetson who has worked tirelessly for Greenpeace since
1989. Frank gave us some very sinister facts about what the
major oil companies are doing to the environment. He
focused in particular on the very dangerous drilling for fossil
fuels being undertaken by many of the major oil companies
in the Arctic. This is having a huge effect on the Arctic ice
sheet which is melting causing dire consequences for the
habitat and also contributing to global rising temperatures.
What was really unsettling was the very cynical attitude of the
oil companies driven by profits and their manipulation of the
public with cheesy campaign slogans like ‘Keeping the lights on’ to justify what they are
doing.
The second half of the talk was about Frank’s experiences in a Russian jail as a result of the
Arctic 30 mission protest against a Russian oil company drilling in the artic. We watched a
video shot by the team to record their experiences when they decided to stage a protest by
climbing onto a Russian oil tanker. It was terrifying to watch the response of the Russian
crew and police; the activists were sprayed by water canon and even had guns pointed
directly at them. Eventually the group, including Frank was arrested. Although Frank used
humour to recount his experience of being in the rat-infested prison it was obvious that
this had been a horrifying experience. But, although Frank missed his family and friends
desperately, he was never deterred from his views and refused to back down and
apologise for the protest.
It was truly an inspirational talk. We left full of admiration for someone who fought so
hard for what he believes in order to protect our planet.
Senior Prefect
SIXTH FORM NEWS
Year 9 Coding
Year 9 had the first of three sessions on Wednesday, participating in Coding Camden
(a unique partnership with the UCL Department of Computer Science and the Film &
Video Workshop). Students were off timetable and learned about the basic concepts of
programming hardware via the Engduino, which is a single device packaged with several
sensors, a processor, communication modules and 16 multi-colour LEDs. Students
learned how to write code to produce elaborate LED displays and produced code that
programmed the thermistor sensor to measure and display the current temperature.
The second session next week will see students building robots which they will then go
onto program.
Students with a keen interest are able to continue to develop their coding skills and can
loan an Engdunio device from Ms Man. For more information on Engduino devices:
http://www.engduino.org.
Ms Man
National Citizen Service (NCS) - Year 11 Year 11 students will have the opportunity to sign up to the NCS programme. Please see extracts from Amy Brown’s letter below. Ms Manas To Parents/Guardians
I am delighted to let you know that this term your child will be given the opportunity to sign up to NCS (National Citizen Service), a government-funded programme for 15-17 year olds. Working through physical, personal and creative challenges, this once-in-a-lifetime experience empowers young peo-ple to build skills and confidence to get ahead in work and life, whilst engaging with their local area. The Challenge, the country’s largest provider of NCS, is delivering 16,350 places in London in sum-mer 2015. It is a part-residential programme which begins with 3 parts that take place over 14 days in the summer, with breaks. The first two parts are residential, with all meals, kit and accommodation provided. First, teams develop their leadership and teamwork skills by working with some of the best outdoor instructors in the UK, enabling them to create friendships and build confidence. After a short break, young people return for part two where they stay in university style accommodation and gain new skills in an area they are passionate about. Finally, teams have the unique opportunity to design, pitch and deliver their own social action project. Then they graduate, receive a signed certificate from the Prime Minister and join the graduate programme, The Challenge Society. Delivering the programme costs hundreds of pounds per head, but they only ask for a maximum of £50. They also offer an early applicants’ discount of £35 if made online before 12 February, and financial support when needed. The application fee covers all accommodation, food, transport, and specialist kit for the residential parts of the programme. Representatives from NCS with The Challenge are speaking at a Year 11 assembly on 22 January, during which your child will have the opportunity to express their interest in the programme. For more information, visit www.ncsthechallenge.org. We highly recommend this unique and valuable opportunity and hope you will encourage your child to take part.
Miss Amy Brown
NCS
Music Department Reminder
Spring Term Orchestra Rehearsals and Concerts
This term is when all the work put into rehearsals pays off with our Orchestral Concert and
Founder’s Day. We will be performing works by Sibelius, Holst and Milhaud amongst other
pieces and ensembles. You will hear the level of hard work and excellent musicianship that
has gone into this challenging repertoire. Please ensure that all rehearsals are attended
(schedule below), and please contact Mr Byers if there are any problems.
Parents, carers, families and friends, we look forward to seeing you at both events.
Mr Byers
Rehearsal Schedule:
Rehearsals take place from: 15.35 – 17.00
Tuesday 13 January
Tuesday 20 January
Tuesday 27 January
Tuesday 3 February
Tuesday 10 February
Half Term
Tuesday 24 February
Tuesday 3 March
Tuesday 10 March
Orchestral Concert: Wednesday 11 March, 7pm in the Main Hall
Wednesday 11 March - rehearsals 13.00 – 17.00
Founder’s Day: Thursday 2 April from 9.30am in the Main Hall
Founder's Day Rehearsals: 15.35 – 17.00
Tuesday 17 March
Tuesday 24 March
Tuesday 31 March
(Other rehearsals will be taking place in the week of Founder’s Day. These dates are to be
confirmed nearer the time.)
Maths student
of the week
Maisie — 9M
P.E. CLUB TIMETABLE - Spring Term 2015
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
BE
FO
RE
SC
HO
OL TRAMPOLINING
All years; 50p
TRAMPOLINING
All years; 50p
LU
NC
H
DANCE
COMPANY
REHEARSALS
TRAMPOLINING
All years
AF
TE
R S
CH
OO
L
ARSENAL
BADMINTON
3.45-5.15pm
All years
ZUMBA-CISE
All years
4.30-5.30pm
Costs £1
In S18
YOGA 3.45-4.45pm
All years
CRICKET
For L.Y.G.
3.45-4.45pm
All years
ARSENAL
VOLLEYBALL
CLUB
4.30-6pm
All years
ARSENAL
NETBALL
3.35-5.35pm
All years
GYMNASTICS
3.15-4.15pm
All years
All coaching is delivered by England Squash & Racketball qualified squash and racketball coaches
Cumberland Lawn Tennis & Squash Club
25 Alvanley Gardens London
NW6 1JD
Free Squash
Coaching Sessions for Girls!!!
Starting Saturday 17th January 2015
For 6 weeks
10.15am – 11am (7 – 11yrs)
11am – 11:45am (12 yrs+)
A £10 deposit applies which will be returned after you have attended 4 of the 6 sessions.
Free places only apply to new participants, a fee of £60 for the 6 weeks applies for players who
have already received free sessions.
Learn the game, techniques and have lots of fun.
With Ivy Dieltiens Level 2 ES&R Squash Coach
Booking is essential; please contact Vickie Prow on 07796181286, email:
[email protected] and complete the booking form to secure your place.
_______________________________________________________________ Booking form: Girls Squash Coaching Sessions @ Cumberland Lawn Tennis and Squash Club: Starting 17th
January 2015. Please return with your deposit (cheques payable to Vickie Prow) Vickie Prow, 35 Ashfield Rd,
London N14 7LA.
Name : __________________________________ Time: 10.15am/11am Postcode: ____________
Email: ___________________________________ Age & DOB: _________________
Tel: __________________________________ Emergency Contact: ____________________
Please specify any medical conditions we should be aware of:
All participants are required to the appropriate clothing (preferably whites). This includes goggles for U19s, clothing suitable for sport (no jeans) and the appropriate training
shoes which must be non marking and no astros or muddy shoes. Participants wearing the incorrect clothing may be refused participation. The venue will be able to loan,
rackets goggles and balls, but you will be required to provide your own equipment after 6 weeks.
Forthcoming Dates:
January 2015
Thursday 15 Y12 Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 20 Y11 Art students - Day trip to Art Gallery
Thursday 22 Y12 Physics students - Physics Trip (venue tbc)
CASCA Committee Meeting (Founder’s Library) 18:30 - 19:45
Tuesday 27 CASCA - Parents’ Forum: Supporting our young people
with their academic work and revision - The Studio 18:30 - 20:15
Wednesday 28 Y7-Y13 PE students Cross Country, Parliament Hill Fields
Y13 Physics students - Day trip: Centre for Fusion Research
Friday 30 - 31 Y12 History students - Residential Trip to France
Friday 30 - 2 Feb Y12 Art students - Residential Trip to Berlin
Saturday 31 CASCA - Table Top Sale 2:30 - 4:30
February
Thursday 5 Y9 History and Theology students - Holocaust Cross-Curricular Day
Y10 Parents’ Evening
Thursday 12 KS3 Play (Hall) 19:00 - 21:30
Monday 16 - 20 Half Term
Please note that the dates/times noted above are subject to change
Wednesday 18 - 20 Y10 DT students - Residential trip to Disney Paris
Thursday 26 Y9 Parents’ Evening
March
Monday 2 - 4 Y12 Geography students trip to Sussex
Tuesday 3 Y8 History students trip to Museum of London
Thursday 5 Y8 History students trip to Museum of London
Bands’ Night - Main Hall 19:00 - 21:30
Monday 9 Y11 and Y13 group photographs
Thursday 19 Y8 Parents’ Evening
Monday 23 - 26 Y10 Geography students - Residential Trip to Wales
April
Thursday 2 Founder’s Day - Main Hall
Sixth Form Classics students residential trip to Greece (PM)
Friday 3 Good Friday