January 16th 2012

General Letter from the Head Master

Dear Parents

Week 3 already!!

I have sent home by post your child's timetable along with some other start of term information. If you are still having difficulty (and I must admit I am a bit) getting to grips with the serco system then please do let Barbara my (PA) know so that she can send you hard copies of things.

Academic Options
Please see on the right the GCSE, IB and A level option block diagrams . The academic option booklets will be available within the next 10 days.

The outdoor challenge
Please click on the following link of the (new out door challenge program).

The Weekend activity program for the term
Please click on the following link for this (term's weekend activity program) - never a dull moment.

The Ladies program
Please click on the following link for this (term's ladies program)

Half term
I have extended the deadline for the half term sign up until this Friday – then that is it as I must book tickets.

The Winter Horse Health Evening
Please (click here)

A big thank you to Mr Hart-Jones for sponsoring the new 1st rugby shirt .

News from the Junior School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

What a fine, clear day it’s been in Bexhill. I’ve been watching scores of the super fit walking, jogging, cycling, and skating along the seafront this afternoon, enjoying the sunshine. Among them, astonishingly, was a chap not far short of sixty years of age, suitably adorned in all the “gear” to go with his new roller skates. Watched and encouraged in his endeavours by members of his family, he managed to cover a couple of metres in ten minutes by holding on to the railings on the seafront. If ever there was an accident waiting to happen! It was like watching a crab suffering from mad cow disease. Whose Idea was it to buy him roller skates for Christmas? Has no one in his family, I wondered, heard of handkerchiefs?

Junior School Assembly
We now stage junior assemblies on Tuesdays and Fridays in the new Debating Chamber and I must say that it is good to see all of the juniors sitting before us, each with their own chair, in a formal and impressive setting. The junior school form tutors and I sit like magistrates in an elevated position at the front so that we can see everyone clearly. On Friday, it was good to see so many Headmaster’s Commendations being distributed for a range of subjects at our assembly. At the Friday assembly, each week, we seek to praise publicly a good number of our students for a variety of good works.

Book Inspections
I have put Mr. Samson in charge of random book inspections on a regular basis. Each Tuesday, a number of children will be informed by him that their exercise books are to be inspected on the following Friday to ensure that the children are maintaining an acceptable level of presentation and that the books are marked by teachers in accordance with our marking policy. Any shortcomings will be reported to me. It is also an opportunity for children to be rewarded for excellent presentation and commitment if it is found that the exercise books are of a very high standard. On the same issue, I have advised all the juniors that the loss of an exercise book will no longer be treated as a minor irritation with a replacement issued without question. If we suspect that a book has been misplaced through carelessness or laziness then the child will be asked to copy up all the work that has been lost. We are trying to instil in the children a greater sense of ownership and responsibility. It is too easy for them to say, “Sir, I can’t find my book: I think it’s lost.” We need to nip this excuse in the bud.
I will be carrying out spot inspections from this week too when the senior managers commence a programme of visits to classes to observe lessons.

Fixtures:
Soccer
Monday 16th January.

The following boys have been chosen by Mr. Jim Colston, to play soccer against Beechwood School, Tonbridge. The coach will leave Buckswood at 2.30 p.m. and will return to school around 6.30 p.m. Jim has asked that boys to bring their trainers, blue shorts and socks. They will travel to the match in their school blazers and sports kit. Can you please ensure that they have some pocket money please as there will be a stop on the way back to school for some ‘fast food!’
Ryan Harffey, George Robertson, Yegor Nepomyashyi, Jack Woods, Oliver Yarnton, Ben Bosden, Arya Raieatkhaki, Harry Robb, Miguel Mirones

Netball
Thursday 19th January.

There will be a netball fixture against Helenswood School on Thursday 19th January, to be played at Buckswood. The fixture will involve girls from forms 1 and 2.
The matches begin at 3.30pm and will last about an hour. Please come and support the the teams if you are free. Girls will be required to wear their navy skorts, white polo shirts and navy socks.
The following students are involved : Maisie Goodsell , Victoria Gander, Katie Sills, Caitlin Harffey, Chloe Vine , Georgina McCarthy , Emily Hobbs , Delilah Osborne , Morgan Rooney, Lara McGuire, Lily Fisher, Charlotte Ede-Morely, Hope Neale, Albertine Kotting-Mcmillan, Sarah Moulvi, Danielle Hubert, Jordan Head, Orla Sims, Georgia-Faye Steele.

Netball
Saturday 21st January.

There will be another fixture next Saturday 21st January, away to Vinehall. The girls will leave Buckswood at 12.45pm and return at approx 4.15pm. It is an U12 and U13 fixture. The girls will be required to wear their white polo shirts, skorts, and navy socks for the match. We are playing 3 teams so have the opportunity to play most of our Form 1 and 2 girls. Please remember that parents are always welcome to attend any sports fixtures to support the teams. The following students are involved:
Maisie Goodsell , Victoria Gander, Katie Sills, Caitlin Harffey, Chloe Vine , Georgina McCarthy , Emily Hobbs , Delilah Osborne , Morgan Rooney, Lara McGuire, Lily Fisher, Charlotte Ede-Morely, Hope Neale, Albertine Kotting-Mcmillan, Sarah Moulvi, Danielle Hubert, Jordan Head, Orla Sims, Georgia-Faye Steele, Mia Mandry, Harley Tallantire and Olivia Streeten.

Bow-Tie Day
You may recall that Mr. Sutton sent the boys a bowtie for Christmas. On Thursday 19th January, the junior boys are asked to wear their bowties as a surprise for him. Don’t tell him! There will be a prize for the boy (possible more than one) who has the best tied tie and who manages to keep his bowtie intact for the whole of the day. There are about ten boys who failed to receive a bowtie, although every boy was sent one. We have the names of the boys who require one and they will be given a bowtie this week. There are some excellent “how to tie a bowtie” films on YouTube. I know that parents will assist the boys in this most delicate of operations.

Form 3 – advance notification of a trip to Tunbridge Wells
Mr. Lucas will be leading a trip to the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells to watch a performance of Romeo and Juliet staged by the company Shakespeare for Kidz! This is an excellent production company and will prepare the students for their controlled GCSE assessment in form 4 featuring this play. Details will be sent to you this week by Mr. Lucas.

Best wishes,

Sean Cassidy

News from International Admissions

Happy New Year from myself, Jana, Africa and Li in Admissions.

The returning and new students for the Spring term was hampered by the stormy weather which delayed and cancelled flights but we’ve just about got everyone in now. We are delighted to welcome a visiting group of students from Bogota, Colombia, who will be with us for 4 weeks, returning home fluent in the Queen’s English!

Applications for September 2012 places are pouring in and I fully expect the school to be filled earlier than ever this year, as Buckswood’s unique blend of academic excellence, sporting prowess and pastoral care prove difficult to resist...

Marketing trips for the main school and summer school are being planned now, so if any consultants have a good reason for us to visit a particular city, please do let me know.

Until next week.

News from Gilly Johnson, Head of Forms 4 + 5

What a wonderful week of winter weather it has been! Every morning as I drive to work, the sky is afire with gold, red and orange hues. I am reminded that we all work and study in an extraordinarily beautiful location.

On to business!

Mock GCSE examinations are now over and will be followed by our Form 5 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 18th January. This will begin at 5.15, in the Sports Hall.

I am very sad to have to report that our annual Spanish Study Trip has had to be cancelled. This is due to the very late confirmation of booking by some pupils. My unreserved apologies go to those students who did book in time. I hope we can arrange another trip, soon.

Next month we will be having our annual ‘United Nations of Buckswood’ day. Can I ask our international parents to start thinking about what you can give your child to bring back to school after half term for this event? It could be an (easy to cook) traditional recipe, or some maps, posters, tourist information brochures about your country or region, or some small artifacts that are particular to your country. This cultural event has become a Buckswood tradition, where our children cook, eat, learn, talk and trade their way around the world- without leaving the Sports Hall! All money raised by the event goes to charity.