CHALLONER update - Bishop Challoner School

CHALLONER update
Challoner Update 605
@Challoner_head
13th November 2015
From the Headteacher…...
This has been a very busy week. On Monday I had the pleasure of meeting William, Rebecca, Emily and
Vivienne from year 5 who came at lunchtime to discuss life in year 5. On Wednesday and Thursday
lunchtime some year 7 talked about how much they are enjoying senior school and one of the biggest changes
for them has been the number of teachers and rooms that they are having to move to. All new junior pupils
who had joined in year 2, 5 and 6 met me on Monday morning and I am very pleased that they are happy and
feeling very settled.
We have introduced a number of new clubs after school and you will be hearing about these very soon. The
Big Knit campaign to support Age UK is taking place on Monday lunchtimes to knit hats for the innocent
smoothie drinks. It is in support of older people during the cold winter months and 25p of every drink sold
will go to Age UK.
Our Remembrance Evening was a very memorable occasion displaying a range of important events and
superbly performed by the students. Thank you to all of them for their contributions and to the History,
English, Performing Arts and Music Department.
Owing to the large number of applications for sixth form, the scholarship interviews will now be taking place
over a number of days and I will be contacting year 11 shortly providing them with further details.
We held a very successful Open Afternoon yesterday and met some new families looking for places in different
areas of the school. I even met a lady looking for a nursery place for her son; she was a pupil I taught at a
school in Somerset. A small world!
I have enjoyed observing a number of lessons this week and will continue to do this for the remainder of this
term. It is always fascinating to see a variety of lessons and to see how attentive and focussed the pupils are.
Their enthusiasm, motivation and enjoyment of the lessons are evident. Some students have commented that
they like the fact that the teachers make lessons fun.
Paula Anderson
Remembrance
2-minute Silence
Remembrance
Remembrance Evening
A poignant remembrance
evening was attended by
pupils, staff and trustees.
Sixth Form, Senior and
Junior pupils took to the
stage and impressed us
with their acting, musical
and dancing talents.
On 11th November at 11am a 2 minute
silence was honoured by the whole school.
Senior News
Senior Sport
Cats
Royal Stennick Fencing Challenge
4 November 2015, London Palladium
th
Ever since its opening in 1981, Andrew Lloyd
Webber’s Cats has been hugely successful, and has
been enjoyed by people of all ages. So, it’s no surprise
that its recent West End revival has left audiences as
dazzled as ever.
With a cast that included Hannah Kenna Thomas,
with her awe-inspiring performance in the role of the
white cat, Adam Linstead, as an endearingly paternal
Old Deuteronomy, and the stellar voice of Emma Lee
Clarke, in the role of Bombalurina, the standard of
performance was sky-high. Another member of the
cast worth mentioning is Mark John Richardson, who
captivated the audience with an astounding
performance as Mr. Mistoffelees. It was an afternoon
of truly remarkable theatre.
One element of the show that fell short of
expectations was the ‘updated’ hip-hop version of
‘The Rum Tum Tugger’, which felt completely
incongruous with the rest of the show. Despite a
strong performance by Marcquelle Ward, in the
song’s title role, the number still fell rather flat and
dragged on for a few minutes too long. The inclusion
of a rap piece perhaps seeks to pander to an audience
that was not present, and it leaves many Cats fans
wanting after a John Partridge-style rendition of the
classic, rock n’ rolling Rum Tum Tugger. Despite this,
the inclusion of ‘Growltiger’s Last Stand’, usually
omitted from performances, was hugely enjoyable.
The number incorporated intricate set designs and
extravagant costumes, leaving the audience
thoroughly entertained.
Overall it’s safe to say that Cats is still in its prime
after 34 years, and it looks as if the show really is set
to remain an immortal favorite amongst theatregoers,
‘now and forever’. Céline Nyssens, Y12
Congratulations to Amelia who competed in
the mixed girls and boys Under 14 age group
in Foil and won the Gold Medal. Amelia also
competed in the Adult Foil, which was mixed
men and women and won the Bronze Medal
Junior Sport
Royal Stennick Fencing Challenge
On Sunday 8th November, Reece, Josh, Jacques
‘I liked the music … and the costumes … and
especially the dancing’’ Ruby, Year 9
and Amelia represented Bishop Challoner
Fencing Club at the Royal Stennick Challenge
in Sandwich, Kent. Reece, Josh and Jacques
competed in the Under 11 age group in Foil.
This was a very popular mixed girls and boys
event, and all our young fencers did extremely
well - final result was Josh 12th, Reece 9th and
Jacques in 6th place.
Junior News
Junior News
Drama Workshop, Year 1 & 2
Junior Travel Ambassadors
On Wednesday, the ‘Perform’ drama company
visited for the morning and carried out workshops
with the children in the Nursery, Reception and
Key Stage 1. The theme was all about ‘King
Arthur’ and the children took part in energetic
games and dances in order to save the queen, who
had been turned into a cat.
Today was one of the best days in J2. We had
drama. The lady who was teaching us was very
funny. She was from Perform drama. She said
we could go on an adventure but we had to
prove we could go. She tested us on our
listening. We passed! Then she tested us on our
sight. We passed! So we all went on the
adventure. We had to scare the evil witch's
dragon so when he entered the room we had to
be a statue. Next the dragon put his cake in the
room. We all ate it up and the dragon was very
angry. That was my favourite part. It seemed
that everybody enjoyed themselves and I hope
they did.
by Amelie, J2 alpha
Diary Dates
Monday, 16th November

Years 7-10 Football vs The Priory
Wednesday, 18th November

KS4-5 Dance Performance, 1pm

Year 7 Parents’ Evening
Thursday, 19th November

Years 7 & 8 Football vs The Priory
Saturday, 21st November

Bromley Primary School Cross Country
Nursery News
PTA
A quick reminder that we are looking for raffle
‘Perform’ Drama Workshop
On Wednesday whilst half
of the Nursery children
were at Forest School the
rest of the children took part
in
a
Perform
Drama
prizes for the Christmas Fair on 7th December.
Any donations such as bottles of wine or items
to make up a Christmas Hamper would be
great. Or anything else that would make a good
prize.
a
We are having PTA drinks from 6:30pm at the
time
Shortlands Tavern on Friday 20th November.
pretending to be magical
You’ll find us in the far corner of the pub by
frogs and hiding from the
the wall skeleton. Come along and have a chat
wicked fairy and dragon by standing as still as a
and find out what we are planning for the year
statue. Here are some of the Nursery children's
2015/16.
comments:
Finally, our PTA noticeboard at the main
“I liked the witch” says Nixon.
entrance to the school is revamped with
Workshop.
fabulously
They
had
scary
“I was scared and the cake was gone” says Naa
“I liked being a statue” says Adam.
“I was scared of the witch too” says Sophia L.
“I ate the cake and it is all in my tummy” says
Abiodun. Ms Scicluna
Notices
655
targets. Do come and take a look.
All feedback, questions, etc welcome to
[email protected]
Fundraising
Movember
House points
St Denis
information about PTA news and fundraising
StSt
Edmund
Edmund
698
We would like to advise parents not to be too
alarmed by a sudden outbreak of facial hair. It is a
perfectly natural phenomenon for various, mainly
males to sprout this in support of Movember. This is
a charity that supports male health and in particular
638
657
male cancers. Badges will go on sale next week to
raise funds for this very worthwhile cause. Follow
your favourite moustache in this update each week.
Christmas Competitions
Christmas card design winners will be
announced next week.
Christmas tree decoration competition
details to be released next week.
Christmas cake-making competition
details to be released soon.
Do you Recognise this moustache?