October 2011

Issue 77

The Christs Chronicles

Welcome to the latest issue of Christs Schools newsletter
Future events for your diary
2nd November PSHEE DayCitizenship Day 3rd November 4th November History Trip PTA Fireworks Special points of interest:
Reviews Coming

Events
Sports News Messages Requests Advertising

7th/8th/10th Nov. Academic Review Sessions school finishes early at 1pm. Sessions start at 1.10pm. 9th November Maths GCSE module

14th November Maths GCSE module 15th November Science GCSE module 16th November HPV VaccinationsYear 8 girls 17th November Year 9 Voice trip Music concert 23rd November INSET DaySchool closed 24th November Awards Evening at St Mary Magdalene's Church, Richmond at 7pm 28th Nov.to 2nd Dec. 5th December Year 9 Spanish trip Inside this issue:
GCSE Results New Building Jack Petchey School Council Xmas Child Alexandra Palace Sports News Olympic 2 3 3 4 4/5 5 6/7 8

Year 8 Parents Evening. 3.30 6.30pm

15th December Carol concert 7pm 20th December Last day of term

New Library
Ruths Message

8
9 10/1

Please check the school sports board for up to date weekly fixtures You can also check the school events calendar, which is updated regularly for more diary dates on our website at www.christs.richmond.sch.uk

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The Christs Chronicles

Record Results for Christs School

Year 11 students collected their GCSE results on Thursday, 25th August. Yet again our students had excelled and their GCSE results reflected their hard work and the dedication of their teachers. Our GCSE results for 2011:

93% of students achieved 5 A* to C grades 70% of our students achieved 5 A* to C grades including Mathematics and English

For more information on our results please go to our website at www.christs.richmond.sch.uk

Well done Year 11 Class of 2011!

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Completion of the New Building

Our new building project, completed on time and handed over on 19th August, has been deemed a huge success. We now have a much larger library space with designated study area, computer section and comfortable reading zone. School are making the most of this with dedicated library classes taking place throughout the week to promote reading and a love of books as well as a host of activities run in the library itself. Above the library, there is now a spacious but flexible area for the year 7s with a fully acoustic screen that can be used to create a break-out space for small group work. Part of the building project was a refurbishment of the old library space to create a new learning support area which comprises small tutorial rooms where learning can be one to one as well as a group space that is used for small classes and after school for homework support. Another area that was given a very successful face lift was the old PACE area. This room, a dedicated ICT suite for 30, is truly transformed and looks lighter and brighter. In addition to the areas that benefit students we have also gained a striking new frontage in the school colours and a spacious reception, medical room, and reprographics room. Numerous small offices have also been created which are invaluable in school for meetings, language tutorials and staff work spaces. Everyone was delighted to come back after the August holidays to find the place looking ready for action and most notably on open evening, the comments generally about the school and the quality of the facilities we now offer were extremely positive. Sarah Brown

Jack Petchey Annual Awards

The annual ceremony for all last year's Jack Petchey Achievement Award winners was held at Richmond Theatre in front of Her worship the Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Councillor Meena Bond and Tim Loughton MP, Under Secretary of State for Children and Families. It was a fabulous evening with loud support for all the award winners from the many friends and families present. Well done to all our winners.. (standing L to R) Emma Lawton, Matthew Redding, James Upton, Josie Gilchriest (seated L to R) Stevie hertz, The Deputy Mayor, Abigail Houghton-Brown and Brenda Andrasz

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The Christs Chronicles

Secondary School Council Conference at the Houses of Parliament 12/10/11

Following a fortnight of campaigning, our successful School Council candidates met for the first time on Tuesday 11th October. The School Council has elected Freya Holmes-Moorhouse as the School Council President and the Council look forward to having a positive impact on school life at Christs. The School Council will be working in three sub-groups: Integrity, Community and Achievement, focusing on diverse areas such as local charity initiatives, anti-bullying and how pupils learn in the Christs School classroom. The next day 6 members of the School Council attended the Richmond Secondary School Council Conference at the Houses of Parliament. Our visit began at Portcullis House with a Question and Answer session with our local MP Zac Goldsmith. Discussions ranged from a description of a Day in the Life of an MP to Academies and over-fishing of our oceans. After a light lunch, pupils were taken on a tour of the Houses of Parliament. Sitting in the galleries of the House of Lords and House of Commons gave pupils an insight into how Parliament operates. Further clarification was provided later in the day with a workshop on How Laws are Made. The pupils had a fantastic day and left both informed and inspired. We look forward to the next edition of Christs Chronicles when we provide you with a further School Council update.

Operation Xmas Child

This Christmas Christs will be once again supporting the Samaritans Operation Xmas Child campaign. We will be sending shoe boxes full of Christmas goodies to less fortunate children around the world. One of the items requested for the boxes are woolly hats and scarves. We felt this was an ideal opportunity to learn a new skill and spread some Christmas joy at the same time! A small group of Year 8 students have been giving up two lunchtimes a week for this good cause and these are some of the results. We will be asking every child in the school to contribute a small token to this good cause. Each year group will be asked to donate a different item for the boxes which we will then collate and pack.

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Issue 77

If you would like to offer some much needed help with the wrapping and packing of the boxes please email sperkins@christs.richmond.sch.uk. We are also in need of any Christmas wrapping paper that you may be able to donate. Information regarding which item your child will be asked to donate will be sent out soon. Many thanks for your support in advance! Ms Perkins

GCSE Trip to the Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching Show

This weekend the Year 10 Textiles class went on a trip to the Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching Show to gain inspiration for their forthcoming GCSE projects. The exhibition brings together all types of textile disciplines from felt making, embroidery, knitting, crochet to lace making, silk painting and hand dying. The students were very lucky to see a fantastic exhibition of Beryl Deans ecclesiastical embroidery as well as the breath-taking Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry. Created by over 250 volunteer embroiderers from across Scotland, the tapestry is over 104 metres in length. T The graduate exhibitions proved to be popular with our students, as they provided an insight into the sorts of carers that textiles can lead into. In particular the knitted cranes designed by one student were very popular!

After lunch the students visited The Upcycling Academy: Making Clothes Matter where they learnt how to create new garments from old and use scrap fabrics to make beautiful flower broaches. All in all we had a great day and we all came home brimming with ideas for our next project!

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The Christs Chronicles

Sports News Christs P.E. Department Department Extra Curricular Timetable Autumn 2011 Christs PE Extra curricular timetable Autumn 2011
Lunch Time Clubs 12.20-1.00

After School Clubs (15:00-16:15)

YEAR 9/10/11
Boys Girls Boys

YEAR 7/8
Girls

Other

Monday

PE DETENTIONS

Tuesday

GCSE BADMINTON

RUGBY UNION (9-ESI, MM, 10/11-SCO)

FOOTBALL (MGR,TRU) TENNIS (JCR)

Wednesday

AUSSIE RULES (SGO)

NETBALL (CNE)

RUGBY LEAGUE (HARLEQUINS)

NETBALL (KMO)

BASKETBALL (RICHMOND KNIGHTS)

Thursday

FOOTBALL (9MGR, 10/11SCO, JBU)

NETBALL (CNE)

RUGBY UNION (SGO, JCR, PRO)

Friday

FOOTBALL (RBU) CLIMBING CLUB (ALL PE STAFF) 1/2hr sessions from 3-4.30 sign up, first come, first served!

Sports Report
Lunch Time Football Competitions: In order to get those competitive juices flowing amongst the football lovers at Christ's School during the first half-term of the year, Mr Gosbell has been conducting a form group 5-aside football competition during lunch times, with each year group having their own week allocated to matches. Each match if played over 10 minute long matches, including rolling subs in order to get as many students game time as possible. To the boys credit, all matches have been played in good spirit and showcased some fine performances from all year groups and all abilities. Well done lads. Congratulations on your victories to the following winning form groups: Year 11 11A Year 10 10B Year 9 9A Year 8 8M Year 7 7E

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Champion Schools Rugby League Competition: Christ's School have often been the benchmark side across a number of year levels throughout the Richmond Borough over the last number of years, and the trend has continued at the beginning of the 2011/12 campaign. With only two competitions being held up to the half-term break, Christs have come away with both the Year 11 and Year 10 Borough Rugby League Trophies. Admittedly our Year 11 team was disappointed in the fact that their win came by default after our rival Teddington had misplaced the bus keys and were unable to make the journey. However this did not break the spirits of the Christs boys, who have taken out their first Borough Championship after an agonisingly close defeat in last years final, and another second place the previous year. We look forward to seeing the boys put their skills on show later this term. Rugby League in Year 10 at Christs has again shown their dominance over the rest of Richmond with their second title in successive years. The boys managed to go through the competition undefeated after three matches without conceding a try. It was another very impressive effort that should hold them in a good position for the regional carnival. Rowing: Congratulations to Deryn Esterhuyse on her selection to trial for Team Great Britain in the Under 18 rowing. We are very proud of Deryn and extremely pleased to see that all of her hard work and training has been recognised at such an elite level. All the best, Deryn.

Lennie Stevens Goal!

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The Christs Chronicles

Olympic Ambassadors
On Wednesday 12th October, three year nine pupils attended an Olympic Ambassador conference in Purley at the John Fisher School. The purpose of the event was to raise the awareness of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games being hosted in our City. At Christs we will establish the importance of the Games and the legacy following the closing ceremony. As pupils at this school, we will be trying to increase participation throughout all years of the school in collaboration with the PE department. By Esme Gritten, Freya Donnell and Karen Valle.

New Activities in the Library

This year sees the arrival of a new and excellent space for the Library and with it comes some new Literacy and Library initiatives. The Readers' Theatre run after school on a Monday is a great opportunity for year 7s and 8s to develop their reading and public speaking skills. The group read scripts as though doing a radio play and we hope, at some point, that we will be able record the play we have been reading this term. On Tuesday, the after school activity is a Writers Forum where the students can come with any creative writing ideas they have, whether its a novel, poem or a short article for a newspaper. It is an opportunity for budding writers and journalists to talk about what they are writing and be given some help and encouragement to develop their ideas. We hope as the year goes on to arrange for some guest authors to speak to the group. Thursday has the Film Book club that goes on for a little longer after school. Here we watch a film that has been adapted from a famous book and then discuss how it relates to the book, whether its a good adaptation or not. There are a couple of activities that are happening during lunch time as well, the main one being the Staff Book Day, which involves a staff member reading from their favourite book when they were a teenager and talk about why it had an impact on them. I am hoping this is the start of generating a new wave of young readers who are passionate about reading and being creative with words. If there are any parents who would like to help support any of these initiatives or have any ideas, please dont hesitate to email me at fblaxland@christs.richmond.sch.uk Frazer Blaxland

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Issue 77

Messages A Message from our Chaplain, Ruth Scott

Dear Parents and Carers, With the completion of the new building work at Christs we now have a Chapel. It is on the main corridor as soon as you come through reception. Please feel free to visit it when youre next in school. We were lucky to receive on permanent loan, church furnishings belonging to St Faiths Church in Wandsworth. The church has been made redundant. Some of the pieces fit perfectly into the Chapel and provide a lovely focal point as well as what we need practically for some services. With input from both students and staff I have been gradually furnishing the Chapel and providing meditative exercises to help students to be reflective or to pray. This week Year 8 students have spent part of their RE lesson learning about the purpose of the Chapel, how to be in that space and to engage with some of the meditations. Well continue to introduce students to the Chapel, and hope that when they need it they will find it a calm and calming sanctuary. The extension will be formally opened and blessed, and the Chapel dedicated by the Bishop of Kingston, the Rt Rev Richard Cheetham, on November 3rd 2011. Representatives of staff, students, parents/carers, school governors, local and diocesan education organisations and those responsible for the design and construction of our new building will join us for this special occasion. A couple of weeks ago we had our Harvest Whole School Assembly. Thank you to all those students who brought in Harvest gifts. Alex Major, Tiffany Rodriguez and Sufiyah Hashmi (Yr 11) helped take these to the SPEAR (Single Persons Emergency Accommodation in Richmond) Hostel. Thank you to all of you who encouraged your child to get sponsors for the sponsored walk, and to make sure they collected all the money and brought it to school. One of our teachers, Miss Taber will be spending part of this school year working in an orphanage in Peru. The money raised from the sponsored walk will be sent to her orphanage. We have a number of charity events planned for November. At present Yr 11 students, under the direction of Miss Taylor, are organising a Yr 7 disco to raise money for Children in Need. Miss Perkins is coordinating the Samaritan Christmas Boxes across the year groups. Thank you to those of you who have responded to the email she sent out detailing what each year group was being asked to contribute. Please encourage your child to bring in a contribution for those boxes. You will find a film clip about what happens to the boxes if you google Samaritans Purse, and then click on the Operation Christmas Child option. The boxes have to be ready to send off early in November so please help your child to bring in their contribution before half term or when they return after the half term break. On Open Evening there was a lovely feeling of community with staff and students working together to show potential new students and their parents/carers what a great school this is. As one of the non -teaching staff Im constantly amazed at the hard work teachers put in to their work with students and to the increasing number of extra-curricular activities. Until I came here I had no idea just what skill it takes to teach 30 students at a time. Have a lovely half term break. Every blessing, Ruth (Christs School Chaplain)

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Additional information:
To contact Staff by e-mail please use their first initial and then surname written as one word followed by generic ending: @christs.richmond.sch.uk

There is also a quick link via school website.

Christ's School Queen's Road Richmond Surrey TW10 6HW
Phone: 020 8940 6982 Fax: 020 8332 6085 E-mail: info@christs.richmond.sch.uk

Holidays:
Autumn Term Inset Days: Wednesday 23rd November 2011 Last Day of Term, Tuesday, 20th December 2011 Half Term 24th - 28th October 2011 Spring Term Wednesday, 4th January 2012 - 30th March 2012 Half Term 13th17th February 2012 Summer Term Monday, 16th April 2012 - Tuesday, 17th July 2012 Half Term 4th - 8th June 2012

Timetable for school day All students to arrive at school and be ready for registration at 08.30 Morning break 10.20-10.40 Lunch break 12.20-13.00 End of school 15.00

Winter uniform required: blazer, white shirt and school tie. To order uniform go to our website: http:// christs.richmond.sch.uk/ home

www.christs.richmond.sch.uk