Dear Parents and Friends, Last weekend saw the start of the Croydon Performing Arts Festival, hosted here in Great Hall and in the Performing Arts Centre and I was delighted to welcome so many guests to the School. The Festival team will be here again this weekend and we look forward to another full programme of high quality performances. On Sunday, our teams of London Loop walkers were training, with Mr Rocca and Mr Moseley leading a 20 mile practice walk. On the same day Oxford and Cambridge boys were out in force running 10k back from Keston Ponds to School as part of their sponsored run/walk, raising funds for Teens Unite. These fundraising events continued at an amazing Hymnathon on Monday evening where staff, parents, pupils and members of the Choral Society gathered to sing 152 hymns in a very uplifting and inspiring event. On Sunday evening, Bishop David Atkinson of Southwark led our Confirmation Service in Chapel and I was delighted to entertain the families of those Confirmed at Headmaster’s House. The Service gave plenty of opportunity for reflection and was led by some high quality singing from the combined choirs. Art and Photography examinations have been in full swing this week and I have seen some excellent work in both areas. The fine weather has allowed our cricket fixtures to flow through the week and also gave an excellent backdrop to the senior athletics competition on Wednesday afternoon. Holly Haile and Louis Warren were victorious in the individual competitions with St Andrew’s and Buchanan winning the House events. Yesterday evening I was delighted to attend the ROSCARS event in a packed auditorium. This event celebrates the film making skills of the Media Department and last night’s presentation was of the highest quality. My congratulations to all those who were involved in both producing the show and in particular to those selected as winners in their category. It was great to see support from a number of successful Old Russellians at this event. In this afternoon’s assembly, our election candidates gave their speeches and next week we will all be voting in the Royal Russell election, with Hustings being held in the Library on Tuesday. The six speakers this afternoon gave a great account of themselves and we are looking forward to their campaigns increasing next week. I was also pleased to make some Sport Colours awards and to present ABRSM music certificates before Marianne Willis closed the assembly with an excellent performance of ‘I’d give my life for you’ from Miss Saigon. Looking ahead, Royal Russell Day will be held on Saturday 27th June. Further details and ticket booking information will be sent next week. Please hold this date in your diaries. With best wishes, Chris Hutchinson Headmaster Headmaster’s Weekly Newsletter 24 April 2015
Transcript
Dear Parents and Friends,
Last weekend saw the start of the Croydon Performing Arts Festival, hosted here in Great Hall and in the Performing Arts Centre and I was delighted to welcome so many guests to the School. The Festival team will be here again this weekend and we look forward to another full programme of high quality performances.
On Sunday, our teams of London Loop walkers were training, with Mr Rocca and Mr Moseley leading a 20 mile practice walk. On the same day Oxford and Cambridge boys were out in force running 10k back from Keston Ponds to School as part of their sponsored run/walk, raising funds for Teens Unite.
These fundraising events continued at an amazing Hymnathon on Monday evening where staff, parents, pupils and members of the Choral Society gathered to sing 152 hymns in a very uplifting and inspiring event.
On Sunday evening, Bishop David Atkinson of Southwark led our Confirmation Service in Chapel and I was delighted to entertain the families of those Confirmed at Headmaster’s House. The Service gave plenty of opportunity for reflection and was led by some high quality singing from the combined choirs.
Art and Photography examinations have been in full swing this week and I have seen some excellent work in both areas.
The fine weather has allowed our cricket fixtures to flow through the week and also gave an excellent backdrop to the senior athletics competition on Wednesday afternoon. Holly Haile and Louis Warren were victorious in the individual competitions with St Andrew’s and Buchanan winning the House events.
Yesterday evening I was delighted to attend the ROSCARS event in a packed auditorium. This event celebrates the film making skills of the Media Department and last night’s presentation was of the highest quality. My congratulations to all those who were involved in both producing the show and in particular to those selected as winners in their category. It was great to see support from a number of successful Old Russellians at this event.
In this afternoon’s assembly, our election candidates gave their speeches and next week we will all be voting in the Royal Russell election, with Hustings being held in the Library on Tuesday. The six speakers this afternoon gave a great account of themselves and we are looking forward to their campaigns increasing next week.
I was also pleased to make some Sport Colours awards and to present ABRSM music certificates before Marianne Willis closed the assembly with an excellent performance of ‘I’d give my life for you’ from Miss Saigon.
Looking ahead, Royal Russell Day will be held on Saturday 27th June. Further details and ticket booking information will be sent next week. Please hold this date in your diaries.
Jingxuan Yang (Ellen) – Theory with Distinction Queen’s
FOR GRADE 7
Verity Burcombe – Piano with Distinction Hollenden
Conor Copithorne Crainey – Alto Saxophone Keable
FOR GRADE 8
Chun Yiu Ma (Howard) – Piano Cambridge
Ignacio Vasquez Castro – Piano St Andrew’s
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Sport Colours for Football.
For Under 13 Football
Theodore Brown (Theo) Cambridge
Bailey Cooper St Andrew’s
Daniel PreFontaine Cambridge
For Under 15 Football
William Hundevad Madden
Nathan Whittaker St Andrew’s
1st XI Football
Harvey Jones Keable
From the Chapel
On Sunday, at 5.30 p.m., Nii (Year 8) was baptized by Bishop David Atkinson, who then confirmed Nii, Joshua (11), Arn-Fabian (10) and Jerel (9). Bishop David spoke well of the new life these young men are beginning. They received their first Communion alongside their families.
In Tuesday services we heard of the transformation of Simon Peter, who had thrice denied knowing Jesus before the cock crowed, as Jesus had foretold. After his resurrection Jesus did not condemn Peter. Instead he gave Peter the opportunity of declaring three times his love for him before instructing Peter to care for Christ’s people: ‘Feed my sheep… feed my lambs’. If only we could give those who fail us opportunities for greatness!
Reading 150 Psalms for Lent and the London Loop We are now over half-way, although mighty Psalm 11;89 still looms ahead!
Bible Quote of the week: 2nd letter of Paul to Timothy 2: 3,4
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. Paul encourages Timothy to face hardships. Yesterday the Church honoured St George, who was probably a soldier living in Palestine at the beginning of the fourth century and was martyred for his faith. The story of his slaying the dragon is probably due to his being mistaken in iconography for St Michael, who, with his angels, hurled down from heaven to earth the great dragon and his angels (symbols of evil) [Revelation 12: 9]. George replaced Edward the Confessor as Patron Saint of England following the Crusades. Perhaps today St George can both inspire the people of England to become soldiers for Christ and help Christians in Palestine and countries nearby who face persecution and martyrdom.
Answer to the last Chapel Quiz: The symbols on the Paschal
(Easter) candle are a cross, with 5 nails representing the 5 wounds in Jesus’ hands, feet and side, alpha and omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, the beginning and the end, Christ’s title in Revelation (21:6 and 22:13), and flames, representing the love of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3).
Chapel Quiz 41: Why did a white flag with a large red cross fly on the
School flag pole last Sunday? A prize to the pupil with the best answer.
Year 12 Assembly This week’s Year 12 assembly was conducted by Asif M Idris.
With an undergraduate degree in Economics and Information Systems and an MBA from Imperial College, London, Asif is an independent management consultant with 18 years experience in financial markets. He has worked for some of the top financial firms in the world, including: Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and Bank of America, specialising in investment banking, investment management and hedge funds.
He was therefore very well qualified to talk about the topic of finance versus technology. Although his presentation was very much orientated to an economic and business point of view, using some terminology that many of the Year 12s didn’t quite understand, it was still an interesting and informative assembly. Asif focused on recent developments in the banking world and shared his thoughts on the negative representation that bankers have got in the years following the global recession.
He also talked about the rise of technology and how its impact is re-shaping the economic world with the first trillion dollar companies being technology giants (namely Google, Apple and Facebook).
His talk finally concluded with words of inspiration and motivation. He believes that whether or not you studied economics or business you can become very successful in the financial world and the interest in this industry was evident amongst the pupils with many of them staying behind to ask Asif questions about their future in economics.
500 MILES! Year 12 raising money for Teens Unite This is your chance to buy a unique recording of “500 Miles” by our Year 12 students! This track was originally performed by The Proclaimers who have generously given us permission to use this recording to raise funds for Teens Unite. Every penny raised through digital downloads of this recording will go to this excellent cause! Minimum donation £1.00. Please contact Nicky Archer on: [email protected] Pledge your donation and Nicky will send you a link to the download. Help us raise as much money as possible!
LOS ADICTOS - Spanish Play
Jamie King’s "Los Adictos", was performed in front of Year 10 last week. It appeared to be a sinister play but was actually full of excitement, suspense and laughter. The main character was Fernando (Peter) who was caught up in this world of drugs and alcohol with no-one to save him. What great acting from Pedro! Lora, James, Mehul, Sam, Nimai, Rohan and Zubin were fantastic in their roles and they all spoke extremely well in Spanish. Max did a great job with the sound and overall, what an enjoyable Spanish lesson for all Year 10 Spanish students. I look forward to seeing Part 2.....!! An excellent play Jamie!
¿Qué tal? Hola Mañana mañana
Jajajaja
Muy bien Adiós Puntos
A View from a Bridge On Wednesday evening some Year 11 English
Literature pupils went to Oxted cinema to watch the
National Theatre’s screening of A View From The
Bridge. Having studied this over the past term, pupils
were able to see the script come to life and
understand how Miller develops character
relationships and raises tension throughout the
performance.
The theme of migrants was particularly prominent
and led to a later discussion on current European
crisis. The dramatic ending and use of special
effects provided a lot of conversation in the next day’s English lesson!
GCSE Art The students had 10 hours to produce their GCSE final piece based on their chosen theme. They had 8 weeks preparation time in which to research their theme thoroughly. This included investigations of artists and craftspeople who also used the same subject matter. Experimenting, developing and testing techniques, processes and materials before they embarked on the final art work. This year’s themes included; Water, Food, Strange and Fantastic, and The Human Condition.
I think you will agree, there is much creativity on display.
News From Foodland
Mrs Corcoran’s Year 9s produced their canapé products, just one of their assessment tasks for the unit. Some magnificent products were presented for
assessment.
Above: The Year 7s were asked to
design and make a salad which is
suitable to be served as a main meal.
ANZAC Biscuits
75g rolled oats, 125g sugar, 70g coconut, 110g wholemeal flour, 125g butter, 40g golden syrup, 40ml boiling water, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda. Preheat oven to 160oc. Line cooking tray
with cooking paper. Combine all dry ingredients, except
bicarbonate soda, in a large bowl. Melt the butter and syrup together over a
low heat in a small saucepan. Make a well in the dry ingredients.
Combine the water and bicarbonate of soda, pour into the butter and syr-up mixture.
Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Drop tablespoons of mixture onto trays (about 9 a tray) allow room for mixture to spread.
Bake at 160oc. for 12-15 minutes. Cool on a cake cooler.
Anna, Vincent and
Zain show us how to
crumb chicken
breasts ready to
make a Chicken
Parmigiana.
ROSCARS On Thursday night, a packed house of students, parents, staff and Old Russellians enjoyed The Roscars 2015.
Ellie Mackinlay and Emil Djemal hosted the evening in which highlights of the 60 videos produced by Years 12 and 13 were played and prizes awarded.
There was a mix of music videos, film trailers and adverts on display and, whilst Michelle Mak, Sam Hudson, Lewis Martin, William Skelton and Ellie Mackinlay took home the trophies, there were many other equally deserving productions on show.
The standard improves every year and it is no wonder that so many Royal Russell students are progressing on to the best universities in the UK for creative subjects and launching successful media careers. As such, it was great to see familiar faces from past year groups including Ivan Slobodin who recently graduated from Warwick, Pavel Kudinov who is currently studying on the best Film & TV Production course in the UK and Olivia Groves who took time out from her busy schedule working on a Channel 4 production, having recently completed a primetime ITV1 show.
The most prestigious award of the night went to Chloe Shirley, who was named Best Director. You may well have seen Chloe’s work directing MUN TV and Royal Russell Day 2014, and if so, will already know that her work really is outstanding.
You can see examples of the work using the links below, but please be aware that Media Studies is a Sixth Form subject and some of the content is not appropriate for pupils aged under 15 as it includes examples of bad language and adult themes.
Oxford and Cambridge London Loop Walk All of the boarders from Oxford and Cambridge, along with several members of staff, completed their first contribution to the London Loop Challenge on Sunday 12th April. Mr. Dear & Mr. Greaves were first to depart at 9am, running 10km from the school to Keston Ponds, which was to be the start point for the main group. Mr Jewiss and Mr Baron brought the rest of the boys and staff in mini-buses to Keston. There was then a staggered start from 10.30am - walkers setting off first (with Mr Greaves, Mr Dear and Mr Bird) shortly followed by the runners (accompanied by Mr and Mrs McKenna). There was an excellent atmosphere throughout the group during the next couple of hours, remarkable when you consider how reluctant boarders are to get out of bed on a Sunday morning. The runners arrived just ahead of the main group, after a breather for most of them at the Shirley Hills viewpoint and an alleged tram ride for some from Gravel Hill to Coombe Lane (a wrong turning somewhere?). The main pack of walkers arrived at school not long after at around 12.30pm. All those who started finished. The catering department had laid on a very welcome spread of steak, chips, coke and ice-cream for the return of the boys and staff. All in all this was a very successful morning out. A lot of the boys really challenged themselves and it has certainly inspired many to take up some more of the London Loop Challenges ahead.
www.londonloopchallenge.co.uk
Hymnathon On the evening of Monday 20th April, the London Loop Hymnathon took place in the Chapel. Our aim was to sing at least one verse of 152 hymns, one for each mile of the London Loop.
We did in fact sing 154, so our objective was achieved, in three hours! Tired voices all round, and a huge amount of piano and organ playing for Mr Millward – but we had a great time, and we are delighted to report that over £700 has now been raised by this event.
Well done to everyone from Choristers, Barbershop and Choral Society, and to the members of staff, who took part.
Word of the Week
Linguistic Exchange
This is the fourth year that Camille Claudel and Royal Russell have organized a linguistic exchange.
18 French students came to London via TGV and Eurostar all the way from Montpellier and stayed with Years 9-12 pupils’ families from Thursday 19th March until Wednesday 25th March. The French pupils were extremely pleased with their stay with us and I know that many British families visited London with their guests at the weekend.
Our return journey to Montpellier was due to depart on Thursday 9th April but due to a French air controller strike we only managed to leave British soil on Saturday 11th and return a day later than originally planned. We nearly did not make it! All of our flights had to be transferred and we returned from Marseille airport instead of Montpellier (an extra two hour journey).
It was worth all of the hassle though to wake up extremely early on Saturday (3am!) as we experienced Montpellier and its region at its best. The weather was marvelous with temperatures as high as 27 degrees. The French families were wonderful and organized a barbecue on the beach for our students on Sunday. Pupils communicated well, both in French and in English and gained invaluable confidence in the language as well as new friendships.
On Monday we went to the restaurant “le Phare” in Palavas les Flots and ate at this gourmet restaurant with a panoramic and rotating view. This was great.
Camille Claudel prepared a little reception for us on the last evening where all of our students received a Montpellier diary by the Headmistress. This was a very kind gesture and a very nice way to close our fantastic programme.
Some of the British students have already told me they want to return next year so, enroll soon for Montpellier 2016!
From the Sport Department
We are well and truly back into our sports!
The weather has been terrific and much of the activity a joy to watch and to be involved in.
We start with cricket where every team from 1XI to U12 have been out onto a square this week. Results have been mixed but with more practise (Wednesday night after school!) and more disciplined batting and bowling, Mr Jewiss is confident that better outcomes will arrive. “The more you practise the luckier you get!”
In House sport it has been an especially busy week. Senior athletics on Wednesday was a terrific event with some excellent races in particular.
Louis Warren was crowned Victor Ludorum, just in front of Lewis Martin and Deni Elmurzaev.
St Andrew’s were declared overall champions on 158 points, just in front of Cambridge on 153 and Oxford on 149, then Madden and Keable.
On Thursday we played Senior House tennis and Cambridge were unstoppable; only dropping one match across the entire tournament (due in no small part to the Murray forehand!), Keable were 2nd, St Andrew’s 3rd, Madden 4th and then Oxford.
So with only a few events to go, the overall table looks like:
Cambridge Keable Madden Oxford St Andrew’s
OVERALL POINTS 329 265 182 278 238
POSITION 1 3 5 2 4
The rearranged Junior indoor hockey competition went ahead yesterday. Buchanan played strongly and won all their games. Queen’s won the Senior tennis, just a few games ahead of Buchanan. Senior athletics was hotly contested; once again Buchanan came out on top.
Holly Haile (Year 13) was the best athlete of the day winning all of her events – the javelin, 1500m and 800m. Congratulations!
Netball News
Congratulations to Maya Linter and Libby Jones (both Year 9) who have won the Regional Club Netball Competition with their club Telstars. They go to the Nationals in a few weeks. Additionally Blythe Walker Sibthorp (Year 9) has progressed to the second round of the Surrey Netball trials.
Good luck to all three of you!
All our Sport news can be found at www.royalrussellsport.co.uk With an expanding fixture list to improve school sports, can parents please be aware that all pupils, including Year 11, 12 and 13, will need to be available for Saturday fixtures from next September 2015. Please check out our Sports Website, which you can see via the address below and also follow us on Twitter @RRS_Sport
As you may already be aware from the information sent earlier in the year concerning the various events being organised by Royal Russell to raise money for Teens Unite, the School is holding an 80s themed Dinner Dance on the evening of Saturday May 9th.
The evening will consist of a three course dinner with wine, served by members of the student body, duly trained for the night, followed by an 80s Disco in the PAC, complete with a bar where you may purchase drinks.
We would be delighted if you would like to hunt out your old ra-ra skirts and pixie boots for the occasion, not to mention re-visiting some of the more exotic hairstyles of the era, but this is certainly not a compulsory requirement for the evening! Otherwise dinner jackets and formal wear please.
I am also delighted to say that Mr Baron and his band The Diamond Hearts will be performing a set of 80s covers for us!
The total cost for the event will be £50, with all profits going to the Teens Unite charity. On return of the attached booking form the total cost will be added to your school bill. There will also be an auction of various donated prizes, for example a week’s free board and lodging in a holiday home in Jamaica and a home-cooked three-course meal, with wine, for six, courtesy of the Headmaster, in his home.
So, if you would like to join us, please complete the form below and return it to school by Friday 27th April.
I should point out that, due to the size of our Dining Hall, we are limited to 160 places on this occasion but you are welcome to block book a table of eight should you wish!
I look forward to hearing from you soon and thank you in advance for your support for this event.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
80s Dinner Dance
Saturday May 9th
2015.
I would like ________ tickets at a cost of £50 each for the above event, making a
total of _________ to be charged to my school account.
OR
I would like to book a table of eight under the name of ______________ at a total
cost of £400 to be added to my school account.
Name (PLEASE PRINT): ______________________________________________
Child’s Name _______________________________________________________
Child’s Year Group and House __________________________________________
Thursday 30 April London Loop Year 9 Cinema Evening. PAC. 7.00pm
Monday 4 May May Bank Holiday - School will be closed
1853 Society Uniform Sale
The next uniform sale will be held at the Coach House, Friday 1st May 3.00pm to 4.15pm If you have any good quality uniform that your child has grown out and that you would like to donate, this can be left at any time in the brown box opposite the Coach House door".
We welcome your feedback. Please send to Ciara Campbell, Marketing and Communications Manager
Royal Russell School Coombe Lane : Croydon : Surrey : CR0 5RF
www.royalrussell.co.uk 020 8657 4433
For all our latest news…….
Follow us @Royal_Russell and @RRS_Sport
Monday 1 June 2015 This will be a Staff Training Day as we make preparations for new syllabus changes in September. This will therefore be an additional Revision Day for all pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 ahead of their exam week which starts on Tuesday 2 June. Parents should make arrangements for Day pupils to study at home on this day.
Graham Swann to run his 32nd London Marathon Sports teacher Graham Swann will run his 32nd London Marathon on 25 April 2015 in aid of Demelza, Hospice Care for Children. Should you wish to support this amazing achievement, Graham has a Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/graham-swann32
