Summer 2016 Bulletin No. 5 / whole school

WEEKLY BULLETIN — 20 may 2016
From the Headmaster
Last Friday was the last formal day in school for Fifth and Sixth Form students before they take their GCSE, AS and A Level
examinations. In honour of the occasion, the Sixth Form organised a Superheroes Day. They all dressed up and had
arranged for a fairground to be set up on Broadfield Lawn for the whole school’s amusement. The atmosphere was super,
the sun was shining, there were ice creams and dodgems and children of all ages laughing. There are some wonderful
photographs (see later in this bulletin) which, for the first time, we are able to offer to students to download for free.
Hi-res images may also be purchased.
Of course, the purpose of the day was to say goodbye and good luck to this fine group of students. Lower Sixth Form
students return in a couple of weeks’ time and Fifth Formers will emerge in the autumn as our next group of Sixth Formers.
In the meantime, please join me in wishing them all every success in the coming weeks. I would also like to take this
opportunity to thank the RGS Parents’ and Friends’ Association for their kind and generous donation towards the cost
of the hire of the dodgems and slide—Thank you.
These last two weeks have been incredibly busy with many students involved in the Leatherhead Drama Festival and
the Reigate & Redhill Music & Drama Festival. See later in this bulletin for all the results and pictures. I am incredibly
proud of all students at Reigate Grammar School, but those who go above and beyond to follow their dreams and nurture
their talents do deserve a special mention. Comments from adjudicators throughout these festivals have been very
complimentary. The RGS Godfrey Searle Choristers came away with a cup and an ‘outstanding’ from the adjudicator
for the second year running after the boys sang For the Beauty of the Earth (John Rutter) and This Little Babe from A
Ceremony of Carols, a complex piece in three parts by Benjamin Britten. Sophia Herbert (saxophone) was a joint
winner in the grade 7/8 woodwind class—her fourth win in a row! In 2013, shortly after she'd started learning, she won the
beginners' class; in 2014 she won the grade 4 class; in 2015 she won the grade 5-6 recital class; now she's won the grade 7-8
class. Well done to everyone who took part.
On Monday, the First Form was involved in dilemmas and quandaries, thanks to a visit of The Happy Puzzle Company.
Puzzles were varied logical examinations of each team's teamwork and problem solving skills. The puzzles included putting
penguins on a precariously balanced iceberg, completing giant jigsaws with road networks on, connecting pipes, building
towers, arranging a tangram and many other challenges.
Student News
 Brockham Badgers U13 football team including Edward Sykes, Jack Grant, Alexander






Lawson and Tomos Knowles have, for the second year running, won both the Epsom and
Ewell U13 Premier League and Cup.
Niamh Brown is now the 1500m Senior and Under 20's County Champion.
A group of RGS girls has been selected to attend the Hockey Junior Regional Programme
Centres. They are: Ella Woods, Taylor Weber, Stephanie Weber, Amy Wickham,
Timea Culverwell and Ellie Heron. This programme is in-line with the England Hockey
Single System which is the pathway young players have to go through in order to gain England
selection. Having gone through Surrey County selection, the JRPC aspect brings together the
best junior players in the country to train and compete against each other for places to
represent their region. These take place at various venues across the
country and bring together England cream-of-the-crop hockey talent.
Florence Kirsten-Foster has been awarded a trophy for the Most
Improved Player this season for U13 Girls Rugby at Old Reigatians.
Maximus Sutton-Parker came third (U13) in the British Racketlon
Championships. Racketlon is a combination sport of table tennis,
badminton, squash and tennis.
RGS girls had a very successful time at the Surrey Track & Field
Championships recently. Katie Mackison won Gold in the U15 girls
javelin; Lily Grant had two PBs in two days finishing with the Bronze in
the 800m in 2.20.37—fast! Lucy Broderick had a PB finishing fifth in the
final of the 1500m with 4.54.09; and Emelye Kenyon-Brown came
seventh in the 1500m final with 5.02.18—it looks as though there is
another PB just around the corner for Emelye.
Roman Kedgley has been invited to join the Harlequins U13
Development Player Pathway following a trial of well over 100
players, was selected in the group of 22.
Please continue to email me via [email protected] with any
news items, questions or feedback.
With my Best Wishes, Shaun Fenton, Headmaster
Page 1
Reigate Grammar School’s Summer Concert
Thursday 26 May 2016 19:30-21:30
St Mary’s Church, Reigate
I am delighted to share with you the details for this year’s Summer Concert
featuring many First to Fourth Form students. Entry is free—there are no tickets
required—and refreshments in the form of Pimms, lemonade and juice will be
supplied.
All performers are required to rehearse in church on the day and students have
been asked to check times carefully. In addition to the usual weekly rehearsals,
they may also be involved in one of the following:
Rehearsals in Church on Thursday 26 May
16:00-17:00
ISO, Summer Orchestra with CB2, Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Voices
with Third and Fourth Form Singers
17:00-17:30
Guitar Ensemble and Clarinet Ensemble
17:30-18:15
Solos & Ms Stapel String Groups
18:15-18:40
Percussion Ensemble
18:40-19:00
Brass Ensemble & Junior Brass
19:00
All performers to be back in Church.
Student Dress Code
Boys:
Black shirt and black trousers; no t-shirts.
Girls:
Black shirt and smart black trousers or black skirt below the
knee. No t-shirts, leggings or sleeveless tops.
If there are any questions about arrangements, please email Mrs Green via
[email protected].
Superheroes Competitions
There were two superhero competitions last week linked to the Heroes and
Villains theme for Leavers’ Day. The first was a house competition getting
students to think of a global problem that needed solving and designing a hero to
help fight/tackle this issue. The top three were:
1st Place Lakith Gabrielsen for his superhero called Green Sword with a
superhero power of being able to fight global warming by controlling
the amount of gas and water in the atmosphere as well as powers to
give water to countries in need and create strong flood defences.
2nd Place Laura Hatch for her superhero design of Water Woman who has
powers to give clean water to people in need and help with good
sanitation.
rd
3 Place Bethany Ramsden for her superhero Pawson Woman who has
powers to help with animals from becoming extinct.
In the Bulletin this Week
British Racketlon Championships 1
Brockham Badgers U13
1
Choreography Slam
6
Diary Updates
DofE Notices
6
Epsom & Ewell U15 Premier League
and Cup
1
Harlequins U13 Development Player
Pathway
1
Harrison Catering—Street Food
6
Heroes & Villains
2
Heroes Within Academia
2
Hockey Junior Regional Programme
Centres
1
Leatherhead Drama Festival
1/5
Alzheimer’s
Best Actress Award
Sexism
Sir Michael Caine Drama Award
The Fire and Iron New Writing Award
Leavers’ Day 2016
3
Redhill & Reigate Music & Drama
Festival
1/4
RGS Cantata Choir: Come & Sing 6
RGS Godfrey Searle Choir
1
RGS Parents’ & Friends’ Association 1
Student News
1
Summer Concert
2
Superheroes Competition
2
Superheroes Day
1
Surrey Track & Field
Championships
1
The Happy Puzzle Company
1
U13 Girls’ Rugby: Most Improved
Player
1
Vacancy—Librarian
6
The second competition was
Heroes within Academia:
Students had to complete a
treasure hunt based on heroes
within an academic field. They
visited
departments to find
posters about people who have
made significant contributions
to academic life. The character
profile on the posters gave clues
as to the identity of the person.
1st Place Ernest Tan
2nd Place Thomas Boyden
3rd Place Dan Wigfield
Page 2
L E AV E R S ’ DAY 2 0 1 6
There are lots of fabulous photos available from the Leavers’ Day which you may view by using the following details:
Gallery 1: Parents—complete with print and hi-res purchasing. Link: http://rgs.to/parents-16; Enter your email address and
the password: rgs-leavers-2638734; Discount Code: RGS10 (10% off any orders placed)
Gallery 2: Students—free downloads of low-res images. Link: http://rgs.to/students-16; Password: rgs-leavers-78987253
Page 3
RGS Successes in the Reigate & Redhill Music & Drama Festival 2016
Name
Bernadette Cheng-Whitehead
Instrument
Trumpet
Class
Grade 7/8
Comments
Awarded the Reigate & Redhill Festival Arts
Council Shield for Brass; Invited to perform in
the Festival Concert.
Lauren Cockerill
Classical Guitar
Grade 7/8
Senior Recital
Mary Cruickshank
Solo Poem
Solo Harp
Harp Duet
Year 9
Grade 5/6
Medals for both Classes; Awarded the Senior
Guitar Cup; Invited to perform in the Festival
Concert
Honours
Honours
Shucksmith Cup
Lakith Gabrielsen
Piano
Sophia Herbert
Yasmin Herbert
Age 11-12; Own Second Place with Honours
Choice
Senior Woodwind Grades 7/8
Joint Winner. Honours and a Medal.
- Saxophone
Cello
Grade 8
Lucy Kerr
Woodwind - Flute Grades 7/8
Open Recital
Multi-School Group: Kushveer Dhillon and Woodwind
Intermediate
Gemma Tarrant
Ensemble
Outstanding and winner of the Cup
Honours
Honours
RGS Godfrey Searle Choir: Jacob Garcia,
Sam Kelly and Reuben Scaglione
Outstanding
Choral
Choral up to
Year 8
Honours for both students
Saxophone Ensemble: Madeleine Withers, Senior Woodwind Senior Ensembles Outstanding and Joint Winners of the Cup;
Ben Silverman, Sophia Herbert, Nicky
Invited to perform in the Festival Concert.
Johnson, Finlay Nasskau and Annabel Lloyd
String Quartet: Juliet Anderson, Lauren
String Quartets
Purves, Mary Cruickshank and Emelye Kenyon
-Brown
String Trio: Sophia Herbert, Ruby Eustace String Trios
and Yasmin Herbert
16 years and
under
Honours and a Cup
16 years and
under
Honours
String Quintet: Gabriele Brasaite, Anna
Anderson, Rachel Buchan, Yasmin Herbert
and Eleanor Medcalf
16 years and
under
Outstanding and a Cup; Invited to perform in
the Festival Concert.
Ensemble 5 or
more players
Page 4
L e at h e r h e a d d r a m a f e s t i va l g a l a awa r d s e v e n i n g
Reigate Grammar School’s Fifth Form was invited to the Leatherhead Drama Festival Gala Awards Evening on
Saturday, having been nominated in two categories. The Sir Michael Caine Drama Awards are named after the
famous actor, who is originally from Leatherhead. Two groups from RGS competed against outstanding local school
and youth theatre groups from across the county, including entries from Caterham, St John’s, Reeds and Epsom, and
were thrilled to be nominated for prizes.
The Fire and Iron New Writing Award went to Oliver Woolgrove, Tom Box, Nicole James and Goya
Verity for Alzheimer's , directed by Miss Hare. This powerful piece of physical theatre tells the story of two
brothers suffering from Alzheimer’s, and their wives who struggle to cope. The adjudicator praised the group for their
dynamic storytelling and their lyrical use of music—she was moved to tears by the sensitivity of the piece.
Goya Verity also won the prestigious Best Actress Award at the Festival: she is definitely a talent to watch in the
future.
Both RGS pieces submitted for this competition were shortlisted for awards including Olivia Burgess, Samantha
Wolsey, Jake White and Isobel Radford's punchy, hysterically funny and satirical attack on every day Sexism,
directed by Mr Jackson.
In addition, the RGS technical team of Joshua Packham and Andrew Mailer are to be congratulated for operating
the shows, with the support of Ian White.
Pictured clockwise from top left: Sexism being performed by Samantha, Jake, Olivia and Isobel; Goya Verity and Miss Hare picking up the
Best New Writing Award; Alzheimer’s being performed by Tom, Goya, Nicole and Oliver; Goya receiving the Best Actress Award.
Page 5
NOTICES
DofE Notices
With peak DofE expedition season here please check kit
list advice and training pages for help via:
https://rgsdofe.wordpress.com/training/
https://rgsdofe.wordpress.com/kit-list/
Harrison Catering—Street Food
Next week commencing Monday 23 May Harrison
Caterers will be providing pop up street food in the main
playground at lunchtime from the H-Van. NB: cashless
payment will be in operation.
Please remember that RGS DofE students must finish
previous awards to continue with the next. Students may
see Mr Collins in the DofE office at lunchtimes to get
Vacancy
help with any aspect of DofE.
We currently have a vacancy for a Librarian at Reigate
Grammar School. We are looking to recruit a qualified
2017 dates are now being put on the dates page here:
Librarian to lead the strategy for developing and
https://rgsdofe.wordpress.com/dates/
maintaining an innovative library community that is linked
to the life of the whole school and reflective of its aims
and values. The successful candidate will have a
RGS Choreography Slam: Tuesday 24 May
qualification in Library/Information Science and have or be
You are warmly invited to watch students performing
working towards chartered membership of CILIP. This
dance pieces in a plethora of styles, some of which they
may be a full time or part time role, term time only.
have choreographed themselves. We welcome the RSM
dance troupe and RGS Dance Club who will also be
Required: September 2016
performing routines. This is a competition and a
Closing Date: Thursday 26 May 2016
celebration of dance at RGS. Performance is at 6.30pm in
the PMH; entry is free and refreshments are provided.
For further details and an application form, please visit:
www.reigategrammar.org or email
Performers are to go to the PMH for a rehearsal at
[email protected].
4.30pm, they should bring a packed lunch. Performers
should wear suitable and appropriate costume.
RGS Cantata Choir
Come & Sing
Event
Saturday 11 June 2016
2.00pm – St Mary’s Church
5.30pm – Informal concert
6.30pm – Refreshments at St Mary’s Church
Centre
You are warmly invited to join the RGS Cantata Choir
for a choral Come and Sing day at St Mary’s Church,
Reigate on Saturday 11 June 2016.
No experience required. Suitable for anyone who
would like to enjoy some choral singing in a relaxed,
friendly environment. The music will be a selection of
movements from Haydn’s The Creation and The Armed
Man by Karl Jenkins. We’ll meet and rehearse for a few
hours then give a short performance to an audience of
family and friends. The day will finish with refreshments
at a social gathering at St Mary’s Church Centre.
RGS Cantata is a friendly choir, open to the RGS
community—parents, relatives, friends, RGS and RSM
staff, current and former pupils of the school.
In March 2017, the RGS Cantata Choir will join
with all school choirs to sing Fauré’s Requiem
with full orchestra and soloists at the prestigious
venue, St John’s Smith Square in London—an
opportunity not to be missed!
We are actively recruiting new members and would
love for you to join us. For more information about the
Come and Sing event, or about joining the choir, please
contact Tali Glynne-Jones, Head of Choral Music, via
[email protected]
Page 6
D i a ry dat e s
May
21 Sa Girls' Tennis v Woldingham:
U14A&B, U13A&B, U12A (A) 09:30
Cricket v Eltham College:
2nd XI, U14B, U13B (A) 09:30
U15B, U12B (H) 09:30
1st XI (H) 11:00
U14A, U13A (A) 14:00
U15A, U12A (H) 14:00
22 Su
23 M First Form Geography fieldwork
(River Tillingbourne) 08:40-15:50
Fourth Form Art exam (Art Studio)
Cricket v KCS Wimbledon: U14C (H) 14:00
Girls' Tennis v Lingfield ND: U14 (H) 14:30
Form Tutor Meeting 16:00-17:00
Drama: Much Ado About Nothing rehearsal 16:00-17:30
Governors: Governance & Risk Management Meeting
17:30
24 Tu Fourth Form Art exam (Art Studio)
MFL Mastermind 09:00-15:30
Upper Sixth Form Dram visit to V&A Museum
Archive (London) 10:00-16:00
Second Form Tadworth Court Run 12:30-15:50
Drama: Choreography Slam
Dress Rehearsal (PMH) 16:30
Performance (PMH) 18:30
25 W Second Form Spanish trip to Andalucía, Spain (departs)
Governors: Foundation Sub-Committee Meeting 13:00
House Swimming: Juniors 13:45-15:50
Drama: Much Ado About Nothing rehearsal 16:00-17:30
Girls’ Tennis v Notre Dame, Cobham: U13 (H) 16:15
26 Th Golf v Tonbridge (Wildernesse) 14:00
Girls' Tennis v Lingfield ND: U15 (A) 14:30
Music: Lower School Summer Concert rehearsals
16:00-18:00
Boys’ Tennis v Hawthorns: U12 (A) 16:30
Rounders v RAAS: U13AB&C (A) 16:30
Music: Lower School Summer Concert (St Mary's
Church) 19:30-21:00
27 F
First Form French trip to Château du Broutel (departs)
DofE: Third Form Bronze training expedition (by
invitation) (departs)
Foundation Golf Day (Reigate Heath Golf Club)
12:00-21:00
Term ends 15:50
HALF TERM
Changes from the published calendar are in BOLD
7 Tu Term starts 08:30
Fourth Form Language Oral Exams * NEW *
District Rounders: U13A&B (Oakwood School) 15:30
Golf v Epsom College: U13 (A) (Walton Heath GC)
15:30
Heads of Department Meeting (Rm15) 16:00-17:00
Drama: Lemons, Lemons, Lemons
Third & Sixth Form (DS) 16:00-17:30
Fourth & Fifth Form (DS) 18:00-19:30
Public Performance and discussion (DS) 20:00-21:30
8 W Drama: Much Ado About Nothing rehearsal
16:00-17:30
District Athletics: U12 (H) 12:00
Boys’ Tennis v St John’s: U15, U14 (A) 16:30
11+ Parents' Information Evening (PMH) 19:30-21:00
Cantata Choir (RR) 19:45-21:45
9 Th UCAS planning visit to Southampton University
08:30-17:00 * NEW *
Girls’ District Athletics League: U15, U14 (H) 16:30
Parents’ Forum: Drugs 19:00-20:00
10 F
UCAS planning visit to Bath University
08:30-17:00 * NEW *
Individual Swimming Cup: U13, U12 16:00-17:00
11 Sa County Athletics v Kingsmead (A) 09:00
Cricket v Christ's Hospital:
U15A&B, U13A&B, U12A (A) 14:00
U14A&B, U12B (H) 14:00
Cantata Choir “Come & Sing”
Rehearsals (St Mary’s Church) 14:00
Informal Concert (St Mary’s Church) 17:30
Reception (St Mary’s Church Centre) 18:30
12 Su Drama: Much Ado About Nothing whole cast rehearsal
(CH/Main School) 10:00-13:00
13 M Lower Sixth Form students return to lessons
Staff Meeting (PMH) 16:00-17:00
Golf v Charterhouse: Staff (RHGC) 17:00
Governors: Finance & Foundation Committee Meeting
17:30
14 Tu Junior Maths Challenge-follow on 09:00-11:00
Crimebusting Event for junior schools (BL) 16:15-17:45
15 W Primary Schools Drama Conference (DS) 12:30-15:30
Cricket v Churcher’s College: 2nd XI (A) 14:30
29 Su Second Form Spanish trip (Andalucía, Spain) (returns)
16 Th Trinity Group Heads of Chemistry Meeting (HW)
Lower Sixth Form UCAS Day (6FC) 09:00-15:50
European Union Referendum Debate (PMH)
16:00-18:00
30 M First Form French trip to Château du Broutel (returns)
17 F
28 Sa DofE: Third Form Bronze training expedition (by
invitation) (returns)
31 Tu Golf v Pedagogues: Ladies (RHGC) 14:10
June
6M
Staff Training Day: School closed to students
(except public exams)
Drama: Much Ado About Nothing cast Shakespeare
workshop (DS) 09:00-16:00
Golf v Staff: Juniors (RHGC) 16:30
Governors: Education & Welfare Committee Meeting
17:30
First Form English trip to Globe Theatre (London)
08:40-15:50
CCF: Climbing Weekend (Capel Curig, North Wales)
(departs) 16:00
First Form End of Year Disco (PMH) 19:00-20:30
18 Sa Music: Three Choirs Festival (The Minster, Croydon)
Cricket v Wilson’s: U12&B (A) 09:30
U13A&B (H) 09:30
PFA: Nearly New Uniform Sale (PMH) 10:00-11:00
Cricket v KCS: 2nd XI, U15A&B (A) 10:00
U14A&B (H) 10:00
1st XI (H) 10:30
For all sports news, fixtures, results, venues etc. please visit the RGS Sports pages: link.
Page 7