FOCUS
Spring 2012
on Moulsham High School
Spring 2012
Dear Parents,
The purpose of the Focus magazine is to keep the
community informed of what has been happening in, and
around, the school and to celebrate all its successes. Sadly,
this edition must inform its readers of the devastating
news that one of our students has passed away.
Year 10 student Kayleigh Howell recently lost her battle
against her illness. The Moulsham community was deeply
shocked and saddened by this event, but came together
to support friends, family and each other. Kayleigh was a
marvellous student and one from whom others can take
inspiration.
Your body may be below us,
And your soul soaring up above,
But you’ll be etched in our memory forever,
And every second you will be loved.
Thank you for everything Kiwi,
For you, the stars will shine so bright.
We’ll love you always and forever,
See you soon angel, sleep tight.
Kayleigh’s closest friends in school were remarkable in
respect of their support for each other and in the tributes
they led, including the following poem by Abby Myers,
Brooke Esson and Hannah Foskett.
On the day of Kayleigh’s funeral, the school held a
service to celebrate her life. This was very well attended
and respectfully observed by all before students and
representatives of the school moved on to join family and
friends at Kayleigh’s funeral. Our thoughts and prayers
remain with Kayleigh’s family and friends at this difficult time.
We thought long and hard on how to start this poem for you
When all the things we’re feeling are so new
Oh Kayleigh Wayleigh, we love you so
That’s why we thought we’d let you know
Life in a school does go on, however, despite difficulties,
and this term has seen many wonderful events, activities
and achievements. Rather than going through them
now, I would encourage you to read on and discover for
yourselves what has been happening at Moulsham.
From the very first time that we met you,
You stood out from the crowd, your eye’s shiny blue.
You were always unaware of your flawless golden hair,
And you loved those dolphin hoop earrings you always
used to wear.
You were always so happy, your laugh music to our ears,
And sometimes it even brought us to tears.
Your goofy smile could light up a room,
Everywhere you went, you caused elation to bloom.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole
community for its support this term – it has been
appreciated by all.
Yours sincerely,
MR. M. FARMER, Headteacher
The only thinkable explanation for you being so sweet,
Is probably those spoonfuls of sugar you used to eat.
You’re the love to my heart and the sweet to my corn,
The stars started shining the day you were born.
Your beauty to some, is quite undefined,
But the past few years, we’d give forever to rewind,
To be able to laugh with you one more time,
Right now it’s impossible, but it will one day be fine.
Academy
Status
Specialising in English and Humanities
Moulsham High School
Art Enrichment
Lessons from
Auschwitz
Moulsham welcomes Mildmay students into the
Art Department!
Throughout the spring term,Year 5 students from
Mildmay School have visited the school’s Art department
on a Wednesday afternoon to participate in a number of
workshops and create unique pieces of work.
‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ is
a national programme aimed
at Sixth Form students across
the country. It is run by a government-supported
charity, the Holocaust Educational Trust, and comprises a
unique, four-part course that explores the universal lessons of
the Holocaust and its relevance for today. Two 16- to 18-yearold students from each school are invited to participate in
a visit to the former Nazi extermination and concentration
camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, preceded and followed
by half-day seminars, and a next steps project that involves
follow-up work in school.
The workshops have been run by Moulsham’s Sixth Form Art
students with the aim of enriching the experience of art for
local primary school children.
The Sixth Formers are hoping to continue to run sessions
during the summer term for a new group from Mildmay.
Many thanks to all our students for their input and especially
Billy Wallwork,Year 13, for his excellent workshop on ‘Wire
and ModRoc’!
As a school that has not taken part before, we were keen to
get involved in 2012 and I invited Sixth Formers who showed
an interest to write me a letter explaining why they should
be chosen to represent the school. After a selection process,
Samantha Giles and Nick Panteli, both in Year 13, were chosen
and we are waiting to find out if we are one of the schools
that will also be able to send a teacher to accompany them.
MR. HIGGINS, Head of Art
I have been on this programme myself and can guarantee
that it will be a valuable and unique experience. Our two
participants will also have the opportunity to listen to a
Holocaust survivor at the preparatory seminar on 11th March
before visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau on 15th March.
Look out for an article from Sammy and Nick in the next
edition of Focus detailing their experiences in Poland and the
follow-up work they will be completing in school. For further
information, visit the Holocaust Educational Trust’s website at
www.het.org.uk.
‘Hearing is not like seeing’
MR. BOUD, Head of Teaching and Learning (Specialism)
Easter Leavers
Finally, we say “au revoir” to Miss Keable. Not only will she
be missed for her excellent PRE teaching, but her coaching of
Netball will also be a loss to the school. Miss Keable has been
offered a professional central contract from England Netball – a
wonderful achievement and an opportunity that could not be
passed up. We say “au revoir” as we hope that Miss Keable
will return at some point to offer Netball coaching for our
community.
As we approach the end of the spring term, sadly we say
goodbye to those staff who will be leaving the school.
Mrs. Reid, who has been on maternity leave, will not be rejoining
us as she has chosen to spend time with her new family. Mr.
Lambert, who has been covering her maternity leave, will
complete his stay at Moulsham at Easter.
Mr. Monk leaves us as he is relocating to London and moving into
the Primary sector. His enthusiasm in all aspects of school life
– including, most obviously, Drama and the school productions,
Media Studies and the orchestra, not to mention his bright and
cheery shirt and tie combinations! – will be missed.
We wish all these staff well.
MR. FARMER, Headteacher
2
Spring 2012
Carol Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral
Having been part of the Music department for seven years,
taking part in the Carol Service at the Cathedral has become
an integral part of each school year and is an experience that
will be sorely missed by those of us who are leaving. As ever,
the ease and high standard to which the service is performed
belie the frantic preparations and the intensive last-minute
rehearsals beforehand.
Las Estrellas so awed the crowd with their rendition of O
Holy Night that it sparked an illicit round of applause from
the congregation. Not to be outdone, the Boys Vocal Group
wowed the audience with Calypso Carol, and the Senior Choir’s
Polish Carol similarly filled the Cathedral with glorious music.
However, it was not just the vocalists who were stunning;
the different musical ensembles were equally magnificent and
kicked started the beginning of the lead-up to Christmas.
From the gentle harmonies of the Guitar Group’s I Saw Three
Ships, to the festive medleys of the Reeds, the haunting and
vibrant melodies of the Flute Ensemble to the exhilarating
Sleigh Ride performed by the Orchestra, no two performances
were the same and each seemed to outdo the last.
The Carol Service is not just a way to celebrate Christmas
through music; it fulfils the message of Christmas as well. It
brings everyone together for a common cause, and together
we share something special. Every individual – whether a
Year 7 learning the carols for the first time, or a seasoned
Sixth Former who now knows the carols inside out – brings
something unique with them.
Our thanks go to the teachers who organised this event that is so looked forward to each year, not least for the doughnuts
at the end! Miss Ibbotson, Mr. Alford and Mrs. Pollard, as well as many more too numerous to be named individually, make the
Carol Concert such a worthwhile experience.
By Reann Radcliffe, Year 13
Moulsham Shares German Expertise
and thus unfamiliar to me, I soon learnt that teaching a
foreign language at this level can be fun too – especially the
pronunciation of sounds that do not exist in the English
language, such as ‘acht’ (eight) or ‘ich’ (I), which seemed to be
hilarious to the young learners!
I am the German Assistant at Moulsham High School and
I have been here since early October. I studied English
and History in Cologne in order to become a teacher at
secondary school in Germany. Apart from speaking to
students in Year 12 and Year 13, I have also been teaching
and running the German Club at Moulsham Junior School in
recent months – every Thursday after school I met with one
of four groups, each comprising around ten Year 5 students.
I hope that the children enjoyed the German Club as much
as I did. I would be happy to hear that they remembered
and practised some of the things they learnt – such as how
to greet and say goodbye, how to introduce themselves, and
how to talk about their family and hobbies in German.
The German Club turned out to be a teaching experience
that differed quite a lot from both my lessons at Moulsham
High and my teaching during internships at German higher
level schools. Not only were the students considerably
younger, but I also had groups of more students at the
same time and students who had no knowledge of German.
Even though these conditions at the beginning were new,
Finally, I would like to commend all the children at the Club
for their high level of attendance, attention and participation
at quite a late time of the day.
By Christian Rethmeier, German Foreign Language Assistant
3
Moulsham High School
The Creative Process
The Creative Process was a day with a difference. Year 12 and Year 13 Art and Photography students
spent the day at the Institute of Education as part of an exciting and visually stimulating programme
where they met with leading, internationally-recognised artists and learned about the context of their
work. There were 5 speakers – Chris Orr, Rebecca Wright, Emma Hardy, Kate Anderson and Perry
Curties – who all delivered very different and interesting presentations.
Christopher Orr is a painter and printmaker whose work is characteristically very intricate and
small in scale, influenced by elements of Romantic art and the Sublime, and often inspired from an
array of early to mid 20th Century books and manuals. His work features intricately detailed figures
within huge and ethereal landscapes. Chris boasts an extensive list of exhibitions and commissions.
Rebecca Wright is a freelance graphic designer, writer on design, and Course Director of graphic
design at Kingston University. She has a long love/hate relationship with language and letter forms, the
essential tools of the graphic designers’ trade. Through her fascination and frustrations, she combines
imagination with the everyday world to create letter forms out of anything from food to flowers.
Emma Hardy is a professional photographer with an ethos of ‘honesty’ portrayed throughout
her work. Her shots are characteristically captured in beautiful, soft, natural light settings. Her
commercial work has featured in, amongst others,Vanity Fair, the New York Times and Vogue. Her
solo exhibitions have included the BAFTA portraits 2010 and ‘The Road to 2012, Olympic Portraits’
in the National Portrait Gallery.
Christopher Orr
Kate Anderson is an award winning animator whose portfolio of work has a quirky style and
includes sketchy, 2D, hand-drawn characters that she usually creates digitally using Flash and After
Effects. Her first short film ‘All You Can Eat’ won several awards and since then Kate has worked for
clients such as BBH, Persona Films, Flora and MTV.
Perry Curties is a photographer specialising in fashion, portraiture and advertising. He is the
Editor in Chief of ‘125 Magazine’, which showcases new talent, and he is an Associate Lecturer at the
London College of Fashion. His clients range from fashion magazines, newspapers, fashion houses,
media, advertising, and stars such as Michael Caine and Mick Jagger. Young photographers should
check out the ‘125 Magazine’ website, where they can submit their work for publication
in forthcoming magazines.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the day and found it very informative; the talks were fun and engaging and gave
us lots of ideas to investigate in our own work. We learnt new techniques for print, animation, design and
photography, and what each speaker’s artistic career actually involved. We also gained an insight into the
artistic opportunities that are open to us after A-level. It was very helpful to see how different artists work
and the day was a real must for any Art students.” (Emma Cooper & Alice Preston,Year 12)
Emma Hardy
Kate Anderson
MRS. HEWLETT, KS5 Art Coordinator
Civil Hands Make Civil Blood Unclean - A Punch-up in Drama!
I was recently one of the 20 lucky students to be chosen to take part in a Stage Combat
workshop with an experienced coach. The workshop helped enhance our drama skills
and we were able to explore various approaches to stage fighting.
The experience was highly enjoyable and I have gained confidence from this exercise.
With an assessment approaching, I now feel I am fully prepared and the skills I have gained
will help me perform more realistically.
Following the workshop, I have also had loads of fun demonstrating the techniques to
the other girls in 92G Drama. We will definitely be using some stage combat in our
assessment piece on ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
By Sophie Murfitt, Year 9
4
Spring 2012
Creative Writing
As part of enrichment in English this year, 20 gifted and talented students in
Years 8 and 9, together with members of ‘The Word’ creative writing club,
all took part in a writing workshop on the theme of ‘Autumn’. The event
took place in the Chaucer Building, over the course of a morning, and gave
the students opportunities to write poetry and prose, centered on autumnal
themes of change, transformation, loss and renewal. A number of activities,
games and visual stimuli were used as starting points to begin extended
creative pieces, which tied in with this seasonal theme.
The event was organised in a way that provided our more able writers with
the experience of a workshop environment, where confidence, not only in
writing creatively but also in sharing work with other writers over a sustained
period of time, was fostered and encouraged. This experience, which is often
financially out of reach for many young writers, was extremely valuable and
enjoyable and many students grew in confidence about sharing their work
(which some can find nerve wracking) throughout the morning.
A wide range of original poetry and prose was created, some of which was
collated to form a Bi-annual Creative Writing Anthology, entitled ‘Last Leaves
Left’, which was distributed to students and staff to showcase the excellent
work produced during the workshop.
MR. HARVEY, English
The following are some examples of work that made it into the Anthology:
The Other Land, by Tom Ambrose (Year 8)
I have laid down in autumn leaves for two hours reading a book.
The woods were misty and I couldn’t see around me.
So I read.
I was separated from the real world
And led into another,
Unaware of my surroundings.
The ancient beings that overwhelmed the path, that led home,
The torches burning bright orange, letting embers fall from their grasp.
The trees.
The twinkling emeralds that I lay on don’t
Disturb,
Just sway. The grass.
The father burns brightly over his land.
The sun.
I have laid down in autumn leaves for two hours reading a book.
Flickering Flames, by Leyla Spratley (Year 8)
The tree is a fiery goddess slowly dropping
Her cloak of mist.
Her leaves are glowing hot knives forged in the
Steelworks of the Sun.
The tree is an arrogant Phoenix spreading its
Flaming wings.
Its leaves blazing boats floating through
An ocean of grey.
The Moors, (Year 9)
Out on the misty moors I stand,
With the cool breeze blowing through my hands,
The scene is dull, the air is wet,
Up another hill I trek,
The fog is sinking, to the ground,
I’m here alone – I hear no sounds.
Gifted & Talented Club
At Gifted and Talented Club students try new activities that usually they would never experience. So far they have had a go at sewing,
planning their own round-the-world trip, flower arranging and, most recently, baking cakes and selling them for charity. My favourite
activity was making the cakes as it was not only fun making the cakes but we also gave all the money raised to a good cause.
I enjoy going to Gifted and Talented Club – it is really good fun as we attempt new and different things that aren’t available to us as
part of the normal school day.
By Gifted & Talented Student
5
Moulsham High School
Dickens Comes Alive at the British Library
darkness in the narrative, seems genuinely uplifting rather then
saccharine and perhaps is the reason why it has remained so
ingrained in our consciousness and is his most popular work.
You can’t move for Dickens at the moment! Whether it’s
commemorative coins, the new, brightly-bound Claire Tomalin
biography in the bestsellers list, yet another television or film
adaptation of Great Expectations you care to shake a stick
at, or documentaries every other night, on the BBC, charting
the myriad obsessions, flaws and fabulous achievements of the
great man they called ‘Boz’, Mr. Dickens does indeed seem very
much alive and well in the 21st Century, even though he was
born two hundred years ago this year!
Students also visited the exhibition, in the British Library, that
included objects and texts related to Dickens’s beliefs in the
supernatural and mesmerism, and this opened up discussions
about how superstitious we are as a culture today, and
whether London is really a city now void of spirits and ghosts.
With the giant visage of Dickens looming over us, it was hard
to deny that there isn’t at least one spectre that is still, and will
continue to be, haunting London, for some centuries yet…
The Bicentenary of Dickens’s birth, has certainly allowed a
plethora of opinions to surface about his writings this year,
allowing us to see anew, the work of the first great English
novelist to chart the emerging industrial world that is so much
a part of our lives today. Whilst not everyone would agree
that Dickens is their cup of gruel, it is undeniable that many
of his works resound, resonate and speak to us directly today
about the world we live in: the financial sector, education, social
deprivation, the family, charity… with, in many cases, increasing
insight, poignancy and artistry.
MR. HARVEY, English
“The reason I love Dickens’s writing is because he brings characters
alive and gets you to sympathise with them. If you look at his novels,
he is always there supporting the underdog. That’s important. And
he mocks the ‘bluff and bluster’ of the absurdities of modern life!”
(Mr. McKeown)
To help engage A-Level students with Dickens once again, the
Year 12 English Literature group (currently studying Victorian
Literature) visited The British Library, in London, to attend
an exhibition and lecture on the writings of Charles Dickens.
The lecture, delivered by Professor John Bowden, of York
University, explored yet another interesting aspect of Dickens’s
writing, that of the ‘Gothic’ within his texts. Alongside a
fascinating discussion of the historical origins of the Gothic
genre, touching upon its relation to the elements consumed
by modern cinema goers in multiplexes across the country
today, Professor Bowden gave students an engaging insight into
how tinged many of Dickens’s characters, plots and settings
were with the key components of the Gothic style. Anyone
familiar with the sublime opening of Great Expectations, set
just the other side of the estuary from Essex in a Kentish
graveyard, masked in fog, will appreciate the importance of the
Gothic flourishes within Dickens’s writing. Whether it’s Miss
Haversham in flames, Bill Sykes’s death in Oliver, or Scrooge
being involuntarily dragged back into the past, by a Spirit, in
Dickens’s most popular work ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Bowden
argued that this sense of dark disturbance, demonic fear and
uncanny apprehension are at the heart of Dickens’s finest
work.
“At a time when Britain was the ‘workshop of the world’, Charles
Dickens was one of its principle wordsmiths crafting material
that would parallel the achievements of the great engineers and
industrialists and, indeed, his immense contribution would stand the
test of time.” (Mr. O’Leary)
“Although I don’t like much of Dickens’s writing, there are a few
moments that show his powerful insight into the social problems
of the day. The moment in Oliver Twist where Nancy berates Fagin
for forcing her into a life of crime as a child, is as powerful as W.T.
Stead’s writing on the issues of the vulnerability of children during
the Nineteenth Century. That moment is incredibly powerful.”
Mr. Shields)
“I love the names Charles Dickens invented for his characters and
settings: Ebenezer Scrooge for the old miser; M’Choakumchild
(Schoolmaster) in Gradgrind’s school (tough place) in the novel Hard
Times; Uriah Heep – slimy clerk in ‘David Copperfield’; Magwitch
the convict in ‘Great Expectations’; Fagin and Bumble in ‘Oliver Twist’;
Wackford Squeers, (only has one eye) who runs the terrible school
Dotheboys Hall in Nicholas Nickelby. Apparently he created 989
character names throughout his career!” (Mrs. Finnegan)
One of the most fascinating points Bowden made was
concerning two stories Dickens recounts as tales told to
him by his nursemaid, when young. The stories of ruthless
murderers and souls cursed by the devil seemed to have
formed his young imagination, and haunted his later work.
It is perhaps accurate to state that, precisely because of
these echoes of Gothic fear and uncertainty, Dickens’s well
known penchant for sentimentality and humour do not
seem sentimental or tiresome; Scrooge’s joyous redemption
in ‘A Christmas Carol’ in response to the Gothic flights of
6
Spring 2012
Great Season for Girls Football Teams
This year has proved very successful for our girls’ football teams.
Essex Cup Semi-Final Match Report
At the time of writing, the Year 7 girls have qualified for the
semi-finals of the MESSSA league, after losing only one game
throughout the season. Grace Fairbrace has been the star of
the team, scoring all the goals.
The U14 Girls Football Team faced St. Martins in the semifinal of the Essex Cup. At the end of the first half, and
following some bad mistakes, the girls were 3-0 down.
However, once the second half started, we began to push
ourselves and managed to level the score, with all goals being
scored by our striker, Chantelle Goodwin. The full-time
whistle blew and all of us were nervous as we then went into
extra time. After 10 minutes each way, in which neither team
conceded any goals, we realised the final score would be
decided on penalties. Louise Taylor, Chantelle Goodwin, Mia
Brisley, Imogen Riches and Hannah Mold took the kicks and
we scored 3 out of 5 goals. St. Martins, however, only scored
2 penalties, which meant that we had beaten our rivals and
qualified for the final against Great Baddow.
It is our Year 9 team (U14 including some Year 8s), however,
that has really stood out. They reached the semi-finals of the
MESSSA competition, which they will be playing soon, and are
also finalists in the Essex Cup (see semi-final match report).
They have put in some excellent performances and worked
very hard together as a team. MESSSA league results have
included some very high-scoring matches – 19-0 against Plume,
when Chantelle Goodwin scored 12 of the goals, and an 8-0
win against William de Ferrers. Their success is a reflection,
in large part, of the depth of play they possess, with all players
being of an exceptional standard.
All of the team played excellently and would like to thank Mr.
Johnston and Mrs. Mold for their support on the day, and Mrs.
Whitmarsh for all her help, even though she couldn’t make
the match. Well done to the whole team – Mia Brisley, Louise
Taylor, Imogen Riches, Hannah Mold, Emma Fagg, Mollie
O’Hare, Harriet Copping, Bethany Gurney, Chloe WalkerSmith, Louise Gann, Chantelle Goodwin and Megan Baker.
Special congratulations to Louise Taylor who was awarded
Player of the Match.
Well done to all the girls and good luck for next season!
MRS. WHITMARSH, PE
Everyone played fantastically and we hope to continue our
success in the finals.
By Louise Taylor and Mia Brisley
Jack Petchey Winners
Congratulations to the Jack Petchey Achievement Award
winners so far this academic year.
• Joe Mills (Year 13) who received the award for his quick
thinking and actions when faced with a medical emergency.
Player of the Year
• Phoebe Rutter (Year 8) who has raised a considerable
amount of money for Cancer Research UK.
Well done to Alfie Green who
was voted Player of the Year for
Chelmsford Water Polo Club. Alfie
is a real stalwart of the Club.
• Alfie Green (Year 10) who was nominated in recognition of
his contribution to school life and his outstanding attitude.
Alfie is also a valuable member of the school’s Cross
Country team.
The Water Polo Section at
Riverside aims to encourage
the sport across a spectrum of
swimmers and members need to
be reasonably proficient swimmers
in front crawl and backstroke and
be able to tread water.
• Chris Labinjo (Year 10) who has made great progress in his
German studies this year and has also become far more
confident, helping younger students with IT.
Nominations for the award are made throughout the year
by staff and students. A student committee then decides the
winner, who is presented with a badge, a certificate and £200
to spend wherever he/she chooses within the school.
MR. ONIONS, Head of PE
MRS. BACON, HLTA
7
Moulsham High School
The Role of Media in Society
A key idea that both Amber and David incorporated into
their talks was the aspect of ethics within the media and, with
similar themes in the news at the time concerning the phone
hacking scandal, this proved a very topical area of discussion.
In November, the whole of the Sixth Form was invited to
Chelmsford Cathedral to attend a conference entitled ‘The
Role of Media in Society’. Arranged by the Vice Dean of the
Cathedral, Simon Pothen, the event addressed many issues
surrounding the media and will be useful for our General
Studies course, as well as linking in with many other subjects,
including Media Studies and Philosophy & Ethics.
After we had listened to each speaker, we divided up into
discussion groups to consider issues such as the News of
the World phone hacking scandal, Ryan Giggs and other
ethical dilemmas, reporting our findings back to the whole
conference.
The first of the two keynote speakers was David Worsfold,
best known for his financial journalism and who has written
articles for most of the country’s top newspapers, as well as
being the Editorial Services Director for publishers Incisive
Media. Drawing on his successful career within the media
industry, David provided us with a lot of ideas surrounding
the dangers, as well as benefits, of media, plus many
interesting stories from his own career – including accounts
of MPs attempting to sue him!
The day concluded with a panel discussion in which students
asked a variety of questions to both David and Amber, gaining
an honest and clear insight into their world of work and
some excellent guidance about personal safety online.
The conference was a very interesting day for all and sparked
a lot of debate between each of the discussion groups. It
was a pleasure to be welcomed by the panel into the brilliant
learning environment of the Cathedral, for an experience that
was both educational and enjoyable.
The second speaker was Amber Melville-Brown, a senior
media lawyer at Withers International, as well as the longest
standing columnist for the Law Society Gazette, who advises
clients who have experienced interference from the media.
Having represented many famous clients, including Britney
Spears over an allegation in a Sunday newspaper, Amber was
a very interesting speaker, giving us lots of information and
ideas to consider about the media and maintaining privacy
within this field.
We would like to thank all associated with the Cathedral for
their hospitality and are sure that similar events will prove a
huge success in the future.
By Zoe Nicholson, Heather Matthews & Gaby Willis
(Year 12)
The Return of the Lemoncurd Kid
school to perform his own alt-folk and country tinged songs,
accompanied by Mr.Wilson on Harmonica and glockenspiel.
Last year Mark won the Panic Award for Best Solo Artist
and he has been nominated once again in 2012 (see www.
panicawards.com for details and to vote!).
In January, Mr. Wilson and students from Tutor Group K
arranged an ‘Open Mic’ Night, to raise money for Little
Havens Children’s Hospice – refreshments were provided
by Mr. Alford and his team to raise money for DofE Gold.
This is the first time such an event has be held at Moulsham
so we were very nervous about whether it would be a
success, but by 8.00pm the Common Room was packed and
the atmosphere was buzzing.
Everyone had a great time and we enjoyed the diverse
range of serious performers and comedy turns. The crowd
was particularly impressed with Gobind Channa (Year 12)
who did some incredible beat-boxing. Most of the acts had
planned to perform, but a number of students were so into
the spirit of the evening that we had plenty of volunteers
jumping up and doing a turn.
Over 20 people performed a variety of songs, ranging from
Bob Dylan’s ‘Make you feel my Love’ to Cee Lo Green’s
‘Forget You’. Not only did students take to the stage, but
staff also participated including Mr. Harvey, Miss Hemmings
and Mr. French.
In total we raised £120 for Little Havens children’s hospice
and £50 for DofE Gold – Mr. Greenaway even threw in an
extra £20 to get Mr. Wilson to repeat his ‘unique’ take on
Bohemian Rhapsody.
The night was
headlined by a former
Moulsham High
School student, Mark
Burnside aka The
Lemoncurd Kid, who
returned to his old
Thanks to everyone who made it possible. Look out for
the next one!
By Eleanor Smit, Year 12
8
Spring 2012
The Essex Book Award
The Essex Book Award is awarded annually to the writer of
an excellent book for young people. It was established in
2005 by the Essex Library Service and all secondary schools
in Essex are invited to join in by putting together a reading
group in each school. The reading group then reads all six of
the books on the shortlist, between October and February,
and gives each book a score out of 10. Each member of the
group then chooses his or her favourite and results are sent
off – the winner is announced in May.
shoes in as much detail as possible, maybe including a bit
about the person who had been wearing them. Then we had
to write a story using shoes as a big feature; this made us
think hard as it was difficult to think of a character in great
detail with just a single aspect of their make-up – what shoes
they wore!
In the drama workshop we were told to choose either of the
authors’ books and were given a scene to rehearse in groups
with students from the other schools that we would then
perform in front of Martin. We also did some exercises to
help get to know other students.
This year, Moulsham students reviewed Sky Hawk by Gill
Lewis, Trash by Andy Mulligan, Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel,
Flip by Martyn Bedford, A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master, and
Hidden by Miriam Halahmy. The Year 8 and Year 9 students,
accompanied by Mrs. Coupland and Mr. Shields, also had
an opportunity to attend a creative writing and drama
workshop at Great Baddow, as well as meet Martin Bedford
and speak to Kenneth Oppel in Canada through Skype.
Both exercises lasted an hour and then we took part in a
question and answer session, where some very interesting
questions were asked. Martin told us about his childhood
and his inspiration for the book, as well as talking about his
characters. He also read the first chapter of his book.
Just before lunch we had a chance to have our own copies
of Flip signed by the author and during lunch we had a great
opportunity to interact with students from other schools
and hear which book they had enjoyed the most so far.
By Lelyn Osei Atiemo,Tom Millernas, Helena Wood,
Caroline Stanley, Jade Forkings, Lauren Newson,
Molly Higgins and Leyla Spratley
In the afternoon we were grouped with students from
different schools to think of 3 questions we could ask
Kenneth Oppel, author of Half Brother, through a Skype
conversation, such as whether he had worked with chimps
and monkeys before, what his favourite book was, and
whether he had ever suffered from writer’s block?
We arrived at school early so that we could be at Great
Baddow by 9.00am and have our pictures taken with Martin
Bedford, author of Flip – he was really friendly.
We completed some puzzles on the books we had been
reading and then we were split into two different groups –
one group did a creative writing session led by Martin and
the other group took part in a drama workshop.
When our last activity was ended we walked back to school
and discussed the events of the day. We learnt many things
about reading and writing and overall everyone had a brilliant
day and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
For the writing workshop, we sat in pairs and put each
other’s shoes in front of us. We were told that you can tell
a lot from a person’s shoes and were asked to describe the
Olympic Gold Challenge
This term, the school entered the Olympic Gold Challenge with
the aim of raising £2,012 for charity and covering a distance of
2,012km by running, cycling, walking, swimming, etc. Teams
were set up within school to encourage some competition –
Years 7 to 10, the Sixth Form and a staff team.
trial event at the Olympic Stadium
has been planned for Sunday, 1st April.
Almost 70 of our students will take
part in a parade around the Olympic
stadium as well as watching some races
and helping to play a unique role in
preparing for the Games. This will be
one of the first competitive events in the stadium ahead of the
Olympic Games this summer and the students will be amongst
the 20,000 people,Team GB legends, celebrity ambassadors and
150 charities enjoying an afternoon of celebration.
Chinese Day
Some impressive distances were covered by students and
staff. From the team totals, the Year 10 boys came out on top,
covering a total of 10,453.20km, with the Year 9 girls completing
7,916.10km and staff achieving a distance of 5,088.90km.
In total, we raised £2,043.80 through sponsored tasks organised
by various staff and students and from our sport-themed NonUniform Day in February.
Well done and thank you to all staff and students who took part.
MR. MUGFORD, Deputy Headteacher
In conjunction with the challenge, a trip to a special Olympic
9
Moulsham High School
Berlin
is now the largest art gallery in the world. There are 106 artistic
paintings by international artists along the remainder of the
Wall. The most famous painting is of the two communist leaders,
Brezhnev and Honecker, who shared a kiss during 1979 to mark
the celebration of 30 years of the German Democratic Republic
(former East Germany). Everyone enjoyed having pictures taken
with the colourful artwork and we all signed the wall with our
own personal message of freedom (only afterwards did we see a
small sign telling us this was forbidden!).
By Hugh Pickering-Carter and Bethany Chumbley
The German AS trip to Berlin offers a wide variety of
contrasting experiences, from the deeply-moving visit to the
notorious Sachsenhausen concentration camp, to the worldfamous Checkpoint Charlie border crossing in Kreuzberg.
Die Weihnachtsmärkte by Frankie Bonafin
It seemed that around every corner there was a
Weihnachtsmarkt, or Christmas market. For me, however,
these were a major highlight of our trip All the stands were
filled with individual treats – from intricate woodwork to
pretty glass figurines – and the stalls were set out to look like
small, wooden huts with decorative roofs, almost like a small
Christmas village. The best part, arguably, was the constant
smell of food and, more specifically, the famous Bratwurst.
Another German tradition, which helps you warm up, is
Glühwein so, whilst in the cold Berlin air in a festive Christmas
market, we shared a mug between us to give us that ultimate,
German, Christmassy experience.
The city itself still contains many of its war wounds, for example
those from experiences it was forced to endure throughout the
dark days of the Battle of Berlin in 1945, and much of its Cold
War style remains in certain suburbs. On the other hand, if you
are after a fun and exciting place to be then Berlin has its hot
spots – such as the KaDeWe department store (the German
equivalent of Harrods) and the thriving Alexanderplatz.
During the 4 days we were in Germany (from 13th to 16th
December), we had an opportunity to wander around the city,
visiting different sites such as the cathedral and the university. We
also visited the Christmas markets where we were able to try
the delicious German cuisine. We enjoyed a guided tour, in both
German and English, around the Reichstag and the ZDF TV studio
– this was a great way to enhance our listening and speaking skills
and it was very interesting to learn about these places.
ZDF Hauptstadstudio by Zoe Nicholson
After an early start, we set off to Eisenacher Strasse U-Bahn
Station to start our journey to the ZDF Berlin studios – home
to one of Germany’s biggest TV networks. Upon arrival,
seeing one or two life-sized ‘Buddy Bears’ along the way, we
were taken up to the production room where live shows are
directed and where there must have been around a dozen
TV screens showing the shots from each camera. Afterwards,
we were taken into one of the studios, where the ZDF team
was setting up for a live show that night. The majority of the
tour was spoken in German so it took a lot of concentrated
listening to understand everything, but we all did well and
understood a huge amount, thankfully!
All in all, this trip was a great experience and we were able to use
our German and learn about different places. We all had a good
time and have come back with some great, and funny, memories.
Brandenburger Tor by Hannah Argent
On Tuesday evening we visited the Brandenburg Gate. The site
is a former city gate that separated the East from the West and
is one of the most well-known landmarks in Berlin. It is the
only remaining gate of a series through which Berlin was once
entered. As it was dark, the landmark was lit up and it looked
very magical. There was also a massive Christmas tree (Oh
Tannenbaum!) opposite, which gave a very festive look.
The Reichstag! By Nicole Du Preez
The Reichstag is the German equivalent to the Houses of
Parliament, headed by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.
We visited the Reichstag for a tour of the building and, as it is
such an important building, everyone had to undergo security
checks. We met our tour guide who took us on an extremely
detailed tour, which we ended up having to cut short. We
then returned on our last day to watch a short segment of a
parliamentary debate and to walk up to the top of the glass
dome located at the top of the building for a 360 degree view
of the landscape of Berlin and a perfect end to our visit.
Checkpoint Charlie by Joseph Dexter
Checkpoint Charlie was used during the cold war when the
Berlin Wall was erected to allow only certain people to cross
from East to West. It was the American border control and
only spies, OAPs and select people were allowed to cross.
In the museum there were lots of interesting posters and
pictures of people trying to escape. A number of people
were shot when trying to flee and reading the accounts of
their foiled escape plans was devastating. Overall, it was very
interesting and I would definitely go back again.
Sachsenhausen by Gary Parfitt
Our trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp was an
interesting and chilling one. We were able to get a first-hand
perspective of the conditions within the camp, and it was not
nice. We saw the living and working quarters, as well as some
less pleasant areas such as the gas chambers and the place
where bodies were taken to be cremated. Inside the camp
was a museum with facts about Sachenhausen and artefacts
from when it was in use during the Holocaust.
The East Side Gallery by Daisy Anderson
We visited the East Side Gallery on the second day of our trip
to Berlin. The gallery is a 1.3km section of the Berlin Wall and
10
Spring 2012
Duke of Edinburgh
Gold Award
The Doctor’s Show
In February,Year 10 GCSE History
students visited the Steiner Theatre in
London to watch the ‘Doctor’s Show’.
The first part of the show consisted
of an ‘Exam Workshop’, delivered by
the exam board, which gave us a feel
for what examiners look for in GCSE
answers and how to improve our
own answers. After marking previous
students’ work we learned how to
write A* answers to some of the
questions we could be asked.
Since September, a group of seventeen Year 13 students has
been working towards the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
As part of the Award, we need to complete 12 months of
voluntary service, 6 to 12 months of physical recreation,
and learn a new skill. In addition, throughout the course of
the year, many of us will undertake the required residential
experiences for which will be expected to spend at least five
days away from home, providing voluntary service, learning
new skills or a combination of both.
After a short interval, we watched a drama production that
took us through all the different periods of time and showed
us famous doctors and the methods they used to treat their
patients. The doctors ranged from Hippocrates to Louis
Pasteur, all of whom we are studying in lessons. Together
we rated and debated the best historical doctors and their
discoveries and how they have developed medicine through
the ages.
In preparation for our expedition to Slovenia in July 2012, we
completed a 3-day training weekend in South Wales where we
built on our rucksack-packing and map-reading skills, as well as
undertaking local walks to prepare us for the Slovenian terrain.
We will return to South Wales in April to complete a 4-day
practice expedition.
As well as completing the Award itself, we have been organising
and running a wide variety of events – including quizzes, race
nights, staff breakfasts, busking in the Refectory, and selling
Valentine’s Day roses – to raise funds for our expedition.
These have been very well supported by students, staff, parents
and members of the local community and we would like to
take this opportunity to thank everyone for their on-going
support for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
Overall, we all had a thoroughly enjoyable time and we all
developed our exam answering skills, as well as watching
some of the strangest doctors and techniques of all time.
By Harry Biggs and Daniel Garratt (Year 10)
Hinduism Day
By Robert Cashman (Year 13)
– during which we found out that whole towns are covered with
coloured dyes. We also found out a lot about the Hindu Gods
and Goddesses and what they all do to look after the world.
One of the main parts of the day, which many of us enjoyed,
was celebrating a Hindu wedding. Some of our classmates
dressed up as bride, groom and their families and it was very
different to the white wedding that most of us have experienced
in the UK. The wedding was great fun as all the girls wore a
sari and all the boys wore a turban. The day was very enjoyable
and we all discovered more about Hinduism.”
In February, the school’s hall was transformed, and filled
with colour, as some of our Year 7 students learnt, firsthand, about Hinduism.
Throughout the morning, students enjoyed a variety
of activities, including dressing up in traditional dress,
learning about some of the different Gods and Goddesses,
traditional Hindu dance, taking part in a Hindu wedding
ceremony, and learning about the story behind the festival
of ‘Holi’.
For the afternoon session, students prepared their own
presentations about all they had learnt, ready to feed these
back to students in their classes who had not been able to
participate in the event.
MRS. ELLEN, Head of PRE
All the students involved had a really interesting,
productive and enjoyable day – so much so we have had
requests to run similar, themed days again!
This is what Molly Reynolds had to say about the day:
“A group of Year 7s was lucky enough to spend a day finding
out more about the Hindu religion. We went through an
experience of celebrating ‘Holi’ – the Hindu festival of colours
11
Moulsham High School
National Portrait Gallery & Tower of London
As part of the History AS course, our Year 12 group and two
students from Year 11 (Gifted and Talented) had the chance
to visit the National Portrait Gallery and Tower of London,
accompanied by Mr. Flatt and Miss Baxter. Personally, the
trip was of great value, particularly in respect of providing an
opportunity to develop my analytical skills regarding historical
sources – we have been studying contemporary Tudor
portraits as evidence.
of the cell in which Sir Thomas More himself was eventually
detained, and Tower Hill, where, to name just a few, Sir
Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher were later executed.
Not that pleasant, but very interesting!
At the National Portrait Gallery we attended a lecture which
lasted approximately one hour and, to test us on just how
much we had really listened, we were then required to give a
presentation, in the public eye, on a piece of artwork of our
choice and which covered how to identify the real messages
and meanings behind the portraits. This was really daunting as
quite a crowd had gathered to listen to Moulsham students
explain what different colours represented and why Henry VII
was painted with grey hair and crow’s feet!
“It helped me to develop my analysis skills”
(Hugh Pickering-Carter)
Overall, the day was really enjoyable and helped us to
understand more about the Tudor dynasty.
Here are just some of the comments of those on the trip:
“It was really, really, really good, especially the National Portrait
Gallery” (Anastasija Majakovaite)
“It was cool!” (Tilly Morton)
“It was beneficial and helped me to develop my analysis skills”
(Dan Fazal)
“The trip helped me to develop a wider understanding of
the topic” (Perry Snooks)
Next, the group was rushed off to see the Tower of London
where we were given a guided tour of the buildings and cells
that held many of Henry VIII’s enemies and traitors. We
were able to see in person what we had already learnt from
a textbook, and attended a short lecture and guided tour
“One of the best trips I have been on” (Miss Baxter)
By Hugh Pickering-Carter, Year 12
International Week
On Wednesday, 7th March and Thursday, 8th March, a team of
students from various year groups visited Moulsham Infants
to help with their International Week.
We arranged ourselves into language categories and went
into different classes to give them a little flavour of a foreign
language – from Italian to Urdu, from Bengali to Spanish,
there were a large variety of languages on offer to the
students at the school. We had all prepared lessons for the
classes and both teachers and students alike had lots of fun
and really enjoyed learning and speaking the foreign lingos.
Everyone was very appreciative of the insight we provided
and it was also a very gratifying experience for all who helped
knowing that we had captivated the attention of the classes
and helped them learn a few phrases of a new language.
As well as this special international event, a selection of Year
10 students attend the ‘Language Leaders’ group and visit
Moulsham Infants on a regular basis, teaching French to the
Year 2 children and helping them master a lot of different
words and phrases.
Everyone really enjoyed International Week and we hope to
continue supporting the Infant School.
By David Eastham, Year 10
12
Spring 2012
A Taste of the
World of Work
By Hatty Jeffrey
For my two-week work experience placement, I shadowed
a Paediatric Consultant at Broomfield Hospital. I found
by work experience by ‘direct contact’, which meant that I
contacted the employer directly. Everyone I spoke to whilst
organising the placement was really friendly and helpful, so
direct contact is definitely a good route to try if you want to
apply for a specific placement.
By Laura Scott
For my work experience, I worked at both the Royal
Geographical Society and Allegro music shop in Chelmsford.
I found both of my placements myself.
My experience in the paediatric department included
neonatal (for the care of premature babies) ward rounds,
post-natal ward rounds and baby checks, paediatric ward
rounds and outpatient clinics, paediatric oncology clinics,
and shadowing junior doctors on the assessment bays. It
was really busy and there was always something to do and
observe.
I am really interested in Geography and wanted to do
something that related to this for my work experience. I
e-mailed the Society and, after a long wait, received a reply
offering me a one-week placement. This meant that I had to
find somewhere else for the other week and, as I also have a
keen interest in music, I chose to go to Allegro music shop.
Although a lot of my work was observational, it was
fascinating to spend time in such a big, busy hospital
environment. One of the definite highlights was when the
junior doctor I was shadowing was called to a caesarean
section and I was allowed to scrub up and go into surgery
for an amazing and unique experience. After the baby was
born, I took the baby’s observations, before watching the
surgeon stitch and staple the patient!
My first week was at Allegro, where I had a very entertaining
week. I learnt a lot about how a shop is run and the correct
way to treat customers, including argumentative types. I was
very much the ‘dogsbody’ for the week, making cups of tea
and coffee for staff and vacuuming in the mornings before the
customers arrived. One of the most entertaining moments
was when a woman came into the shop and insisted on
trying out both the cheapest and the most expensive pianos,
whilst singing opera!
During my time at the hospital, I also saw a lumber puncture,
which involved the extraction of spinal fluids to test for
such things as Meningitis, and this was also really interesting.
Having experience of these procedures is extremely valuable
if you want to go into medicine or nursing.
My time at the Royal Geographical Society mainly involved
office work, but with a geographical flavour. On my first day,
I was asked to help students who were studying Geography
at university with their lessons teaching Year 9 students, and
write up a report of how the day went. When I found out
what I had to do, I was a bit shocked as it was completely
different to the laid-back attitude in Allegro and I found
myself with a lot of responsibility. However, as the week
continued, I grew in confidence and was given many tasks and
deadlines to meet – including, leaflets for open days, replying
to letters, bagging-up geography ambassador t-shirts and
hoodies, and also sitting in on a staff meeting.
I loved meeting new people at work, and this is
something that really builds confidence and can help with
communication skills. There are definitely a lot of valuable
general life and work skills that you can learn wherever your
placement is.
Everyone learns something from their work experience –
whether it is how to manage their time, file paperwork, of
the discovery that working in an office is something that they
want to avoid at all costs in the future!. It’s a really good idea
to try and get a placement that you think you’ll enjoy as it
will help you to motivate yourself through the rest of your
GCSE studies.
I enjoyed my experiences and learnt a lot of new things that I
will take with me into the world of work once I leave education.
UKMT Senior Maths Challenge
Alongside 100,000 students from nearly 2000 UK schools and colleges, Moulsham’s Sixth Form Mathematics students recently
took part in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. The UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) is based at the University of Leeds and
was established in 1996. It is a registered charity whose aim is to advance the education of children and young people in
Mathematics, and as part of this it organises national mathematics competitions and other mathematical enrichment activities for
11-18 year old UK school students. Test your mathematical skills by trying the questions from the Challenge on the back page.
Congratulations to Alex Wiliams, Sarah White, Josh Gilbert and Richard Savill who were all awarded Silver certificates, and to
Chris Youell, Hayley Springett, Eleanor Mueller, Emily Axford and Harry Taylor who were awarded Bronze certificates.
MR. PURSE, KS5 Maths Coordinator
13
Moulsham High School
Cross Country Essex Schools Championships
Mid Essex Representation
The Turn of Years 7 and 8
In January, three of our athletes were selected to compete
for Mid Essex at the Essex Schools Cross Country
Championships over a tough, hilly course in Basildon.
Athletes knew that if they finished in the top eight they
would be selected to compete for Essex in the English
Schools competition in March and that the top 16 would
compete for Essex in the Inter Counties competition.
In early March, the Year 7 and 8 girls and boys took part in the
Essex Schools Championships at Hylands Parks on a very wet
and windy day. Students knew that if they finished in the top
16 they would be guaranteed selection for Essex, but each race
comprised over 200 athletes from across the whole of Essex.
Our Year 7 girls and Year 7 boys finished 5th overall – a very
impressive result given that at least 20 schools were represented.
Molly Bryan (Year 11) performed admirably and, considering
that she does not run for a club, did extremely well to finish
in 28th place. Chris Youell (Year 13) performed excellently in
this his last Essex Schools race, being narrowly outsprinted in
the final stages and taking the Silver Medal.
Outstanding individual performances of the day came from
Rachel Broome (Year 7) who finished in 3rd place to gain the
Bronze Medal, just fighting of the challenge from our own
Kate Etheridge (Year 7) in 4th position; Emma Perks (Year 8),
who showed a massive improvement over last year to finish
in an excellent 9th position this year; and Ryan Mogford (Year
7) 12th and Joe Wicks (Year 7) 16th, who put in excellent
performances considering that neither run for a club. Well
done to all on their guaranteed Essex selection.
The outstanding performance of the day, however, came from
Callum Charleston (Year 10) who despite being a year young
in his age group and only finishing in second position in the
District competition, timed his race to perfection to win the
Gold Medal – a remarkable achievement, especially given that
he was injured and out of contention at the beginning of the
season.
Maisie Welch (Year 8) 19th, Alex Hulme (Year 7) 18th and
Alice Ronn (Year 7) 22nd narrowly missed out on selection.
These results bode very well for the Year 7 and 8 District
Cross Country Championships later in the month.
Both Callum and Chris have been selected to run for Essex
in the English Schools Cross Country Championships – well
done to them both.
MRS. WHITMARSH, PE
Thriftwood Fundraiser
In the weeks leading up to the Thriftwood Fundraiser, groups
of willing Sixth Form performers dedicated their free time
to practising their routines in readiness for entertaining their
prospective bidders. Across two lunchtimes,Year 13 students
then performed to audiences in the Hall before being
‘auctioned’ off as helpers for a day.
a real air of excitement as the students from Thriftwood
arrived. The Sixth Formers helped the party get underway
with a game of Pass the Parcel, with a cuddly toy up for grabs,
and this was followed by a fine dramatic performance of Jack
and the Christmas Tree, before our guests dined on traditional
party-style food in the newly-refurbished Upper School
Cafeteria.
The show was presented by Jess Knights and Sam Wilson
who introduced acts such as the Dancing Nuns who
performed their own version of the Cha Cha Slide, a
Michael Jackson tribute of Thriller, an all-girl dance mix,
and a short-lived solo performance by James Murphy. The
show concluded with a finale featuring all the students, who
then split into smaller groups ready to be ‘auctioned’ off to
the highest bidder (maximum limit of £25 per group). The
fundraiser was a huge success and raised a total of £400 for
the Thriftwood Party in December.
The youngsters had a chance to relax after their meal,
taking full advantage of the new bean bags in the Common
Room, and played Pin the Nose on the Reindeer and Musical
Statutes, or decorated cakes. The moment that they had all
been waiting for then arrived – a chance to meet Santa in his
grotto and collect an early Christmas present!
The Thriftwood students thoroughly enjoyed their party – a
reflection of the time and effort put in by our Sixth Formers
to plan this excellent event.
On the day of the Thriftwood Party, the Sixth Form Common
Room was awash with Christmas decorations and there was
MISS BONNER, Deputy Head of Upper School
14
Spring 2012
The Big Apple
February half-term saw 44 students and 5 staff venture to
New York for a bit of high culture and obligatory shopping!
Over the course of four busy days we were treated to the
sights of ‘The Big Apple’ including its major landmarks and
galleries.
On arrival, and
after unpacking and
getting ourselves
ready for the long,
jet-lagged night
ahead, we set off to
the world-famous
Times Square where
we were faced with
the difficulty of
finding somewhere
to eat so most of us
seemed to end up in
the ‘very American’
McDonalds. After a
little wander around,
trying to take it all
in, we retired to the
hotel for a wellearned sleep.
Hollister. In the afternoon we made our way to the MoMa
(Museum of Modern Art) where we split up to look at
different art styles, exploring all the floors of this wonderful
museum, and enjoying the delights of Picasso’s ‘Demoiselles
d’Avignon’ and Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’. We finished the
day at Bubba Gump’s in Times Square for some fried shrimp
and good ol’ southern hospitality and, as there were two
birthdays whilst we were in New York, the staff had the whole
restaurant singing to George and Beth!
Day Four our last day in New York, came around far too
quickly. We packed our things before going our separate
ways – either for yet more shopping or to visit the aircraft
carrier ‘The Intrepid’ – taking it all in before we had to return
to reality. Bloomingdales was just as we had expected –
massive! We bought our Little Brown Bags before taking
the Metro to Times Square where we got our ‘15 seconds of
fame’ on the billboard of American outfitters! After popping
into the Hershey’s chocolate shop to get our free sample and
exploring the giant M&Ms store, we returned to the hotel
and the struggle of trying to cram all our purchases into our
suitcases. Tired, but content, we set off to the airport wearing
as many clothes as we could.
Day One and a guided tour of Manhattan, with our
exuberant guide Alan, was the best introduction to the
area we could have wished for and included the wonderful
city sights of Ground Zero (where we spent some time
looking at the amazing reconstruction of the site with
the new skyscraper ‘One World Trade’), Central Park, and
Grand Central Station (where we were all amazed by the
Whispering Gallery). After lunch, we scaled the magnificent
Empire State Building – the stomach-turning, 86-floor lift
journey to the top was well worth the nerves! We ended
the day with an evening meal at the Hard Rock Café.
New York was a trip that we are going to remember for
a long time, with amazing memories that we will never
forget. There are some things we learnt that will stick with
us forever – Fifth Avenue is very long; there are lots and
lots of McDonalds; the metro isn’t that confusing; there is a
Starbucks on every corner of every block; teachers are real
people and are really nice; and, most importantly, New York
2012 with MHS was one of the best trips we have ever been
on. The whirlwind tour of this great city left a wonderful
impression on students and staff alike.
Day Two and, as the sun rose, we walked to the nearest
subway, swiped our metro cards and journeyed to South
Ferry to take the Staten Island Ferry around the Statue
of Liberty and Ellis Island. Jumping back on the metro, we
visited the American Museum of Natural History – now famous
as the film set for ‘Night at the Museum’ – before heading
off, after lunch, to the Metropolitan Museum where we were
able to take in the work of a wide variety of different artists
and styles, helping us with our projects back home. We were
all extremely excited to move on to Madame Tussauds and
share photos with the likes of Elvis, The Beatles and even
Spiderman! By the end we were all tired, in need of some
shoe leather, but elated all the same.
The students would like to say a massive thank you to
everyone who made this trip possible and planned it brilliantly
– we were only there for a short time, yet we managed to do
so much.
Day Three was a day filled with art, shopping and a brilliant
last meal. We headed down to Fifth Avenue for some early
shopping, making our way to Abercrombie & Fitch and
By Becky Chivers and Molly Bryan (Year 11)
and Mr. Higgins, Head of Art
15
Moulsham High School
The Headteacher’s Book
One of the highest commendations at Moulsham High School is an invitation to sign the
Headteacher’s Book for achievement both in and out of school. The following students
received this honour during the autumn term. Well done to:
Name:
Reason for signing:
Lindsey Brehun
For an outstanding Model of a Nerve Cell in Science
Jordan Denyer
For outstanding contribution to school sports activities in Year 7
Miriam Wyatt
For an outstanding Model of a Nerve Cell in Science
Bonita Fitch
For producing GCSE answers that were incredibly thorough and of a Grade A standard
Bethany Greenyer
For running the Recorder Group at lunchtime
Cameron James
For being chosen to run for Mid-Essex in the English Schools Cup Cross Country Competition
Callum CharlestonFor finishing 2nd in the District Cross Country Championships and being selected to represent
Mid-Essex in the English Schools Cup
Sam Crossley
For his assistance with Cover
Alfie Green
For his assistance with Cover
Matthew Grint
For his assistance with Cover
Molly Bryan
For being selected to represent Mid-Essex at Cross Country in the English Schools Cup
Samy Wallwork
For being selected to represent Mid-Essex at Cross Country in the English Schools Cup
Sarah Morris
For outstanding Art coursework and for organising the Art Club
Christopher YouellFor winning the District Cross Country Championships and being selected to represent
Mid-Essex in the English Schools Cup
For qualifying for the National Finals of the English Schools Cup in Cross Country and finishing 16th on the day:
Rachel Broome, Kate Etheridge, Beth Harrington, Emma Perks, Alice Ronn, Maisie Welch
For winning the District U15 Football Tournament:
Mia Brisley, Emma Fagg, Chantelle Goodwin, Beth Gurney, Leanne Miles, Hannah Mold, Imogen Riches, Louise Taylor
For achieving 150 Merits in Year 7:
Jacob Brewster,Victoria Calder, Lucy French, Rosie Hovell, Beth Jefferies, Holly Richmond
Senior Maths Challenges to try for yourself…
1.Which of the numbers below is not a whole number?
2011 + 0
2011 + 1
2011 + 2
A) B) C) 1
2
3
D) 2011 + 3
4
E)
2011 + 4
5
2 of the water,
2. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Having filled the pail to the full, Jack fell down, spilling 2/3
3
2
before Jill caught the pail. She then tumbled down the hill spilling 2/55 of the remainder. What fraction of the pail does the
remaining water fill?
11
1
4
1
A) B) C) D) E) 1
15
3
5
5
15
3.The robot Lumber9 moves along the number line. Lumber9 starts at 0, takes 1 step forward (to No. 1), then steps 2 steps
backward (to -1), then steps 3 steps forward, 4 steps backwards, and so on, moving alternately forwards and backwards, one
more step each time. At what number is Lumber9 after 2011 steps?
A) 1006
B) 27 C)11
D) 0
E) -18
16