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Chess Champions

 

The Essex Schools' Chess Tournament has been running for almost 20 years and this year was attended by 84 pupils from 10 Essex junior schools - a record number.

Friends' Junior School took part for the first time this year and succeeded in scoring enough points to win first place in the small schools section. (small because we only had one team competing)

The team members, Peter and Andrew Fernandes, Robert and Edward Cannon, Tim Wade and David Chapman, received a certificate and trophy for taking part and winning.

Andrew Fernandes won all five of his matches, something only one other competitor managed to do, and so he won an individual trophy as well.

Congratulations to all involved.

Friends and Families Day - Our Speech Day - 17 May 03

Click here to see the speeches made by the Head Andy Waters, and Andrew Holmes, Head of the Junior School.

Friends' School Saffron Walden celebrated Friends and Families Day last weekend - 17th May 03. This is the annual 'speech day ' of the school when the achievements of past and present students are recognised and the presentation of School Awards takes place.

However, not only was the achievement of the pupils recognised - but also that of the staff - Mary Mileson has been involved with the teaching of music at the school over the past 50 years and her contribution was formally recognised.

Andy Waters presenting Mary Mileson with a bouquet

Suzy Graham-Adriani was the guest speaker. She is the producer of the National Theatre Shell
Connections programme and spoke enthusiastically about why the National Theatre had set up
Shell Connections.

Andy Waters, Head of Friends' School, pictured with Suzy Graham-Adriani, producer of the National Theatre Shell Connections Programme

Helen Baker, Town Mayor, pictured with Andrew Holmes, Head of Friends' Junior School Year 6 pupils.

As a means of encouraging Youth Theatre, selected writers were asked to write their next play for teenagers to perform, but still to write to the same high level as they would for adults. One of the plays, 'Dust' by Sarah Daniels, was chosen by Friends' students as their entry in the Shell Connections festival. After several performances in the school hall the play transferred to the awe-inspiring setting of a real theatre, the Cambridge Arts, with tremendous success, at the beginning of May.

In the afternoon Helen Baker, Town Mayor, officially opened the new adventure playground in the school grounds. This has been achieved by a very successful Junior School sponsored swim, a donation from the PTA and generous funding from BP.

Local school children from Friends' Junior School and Saffron Walden County High School were in a Hidden Garden on the morning of Thursday, May 15th.

Bridge End Gardens in Saffron Walden were being used as the location of a television series produced by BBC Wales. "Hidden Gardens" is a series that looks at the process of restoring gardens to their former glory as faithfully as possible.

Year 5 pupils from Friends' Junior School joined students from Saffron Walden County High School to work with the programme's presenter, Chris Beardshaw, in planting some of the 1,600 tiny box trees which are being used in a topiary feature as part of the regeneration project in the garden.

BBC 'Hidden Gardens' presenter, Chris Beardshaw, with pupils from Friends' Junior School and Saffron Walden County High School working in Bridge End Gardens on Thursday 15th May 2003. Bridge End Gardens were specially chosen as it was created by Francis Gibson in 1840 and there is already a small team working to restore various parts of the garden. Francis Gibson was the brother of George Stacey Gibson who was the benefactor of Friends' School Saffron Walden. It is hoped that the programme will be shown on BBC2 early next spring. 16th May 2003

 

Inter-Schools Cross Country Meeting

Friends Junior School held their first Inter-Schools Cross Country meeting on 2nd May 2003.

"The idea came to us back in October" said Lisa Taylor, "A race we were due to take part in at another school was cancelled due to bad weather, so we thought we would hold our own. We have ample grounds with enough challenging areas for a good course"

"Unfortunately, the day of the new race arrived ... and with it the snow! So that event was also cancelled!"

"At the third attempt, after a damp and windy morning, the weather held for an enjoyable afternoon's running."

The first event of the afternoon was a race for the Under-9 ' s. The course was just under a mile long and this was won by Theo Isaacs from R.A.Butler School, with Ryan Waters of Friends' School in second place.

The course for the Under-11's was slightly less than two miles long and proved to be a very exciting race. Tom Bennington from Henham & Ugley School along with Pearce Staples from Friends' dominated the race right from the start. Tom finished in first place with Pearce taking second place. Bethan Waters from Friends' School was the first girl home.

 

Well Said

34 pupils from the school had been entered for the Associated Board exams and they achieved a 100% pass rate, with 10 students obtaining Honours Level.

Sarah McConnell, their teacher, said "These are very good results. Lei Yang, a sixth former from China, took his Grade Four Practical English exam and obtained an Honours pass which was excellent as this is a very difficult exam to do well in."

Andy Waters, Head of Friends' School said, " I am delighted that so many of our pupils, right through the age range, performed at such a high level."

 

As a Quaker School we are committed to upholding the Quaker Peace Testimony, and seeking to explore all avenues for peaceful resolution of conflict.

The current situation has had significant exploration, discussion and reflection in School, including consideration at assemblies and Meetings for Worship. At their own request, a group of Sixth Formers attended a peace rally in London on March 20th, with the support of their parents and of the School.

The opening lines of the Peace Testimony, declared by George Fox to Charles II in 1660, read as follows: 'Our principle is, and our practices always have been, to seek peace, and ensue it, and to follow after righteousness and the knowledge of God, seeking the good and welfare, and doing that which tends to the peace of all. All bloody principles and practices we do utterly deny, with all outward wars and strife, and fighting with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever, and this is our testimony to the whole world.'

 

We shall continue, as a School community, to uphold this principle during the current conflict and after it has ended.

Andy Waters

March 20th 2003

See Anna's poem

Shakespeare Workshop

 

(This hardback book can be purchased from the school or sections downloaded for personal use.)

Friends' School Assembly Hall became The Fillacavity Hotel on the 24th January 2003, when the Kinetic Theatre Company visited Friends' Junior School with their new show.

The company was invited to the school to perform their musical comedy "The Fillacavity Hotel".

This was done on two levels, once for Keystage 1 and again at a more complex level for Keystage 2. Through the context of the play, science work on the human body was covered in an enjoyable and fun way.

Keystage 1 learnt about the 3 main types of human teeth and the reasons for having them. Basic oral hygiene was included as was elementary nutrition. The Keystage 2 play covered the same material but in greater detail. Various main bones of the skeleton were introduced and nutrition was developed to cover vitamins A and D.

All the children - and staff - had a great time and the pupils learnt a tremendous amount of memorable science.

The Kinetic Theatre Company is a professional Theatre-in-education Company touring science-based musical plays to Primary Schools and theatres throughout the UK.

Checkmate Brothers

Peter Fernandes from Friends' Junior School celebrated winning joint First Prize at the recent Open Chess Competition held in Whittlesford Memorial Hall.

He took part in the Under-11 section and won 5 out of his 6 matches earning him his award.

His younger brother Andrew also took part in the competition. He was in the Under-9 section and came away with 2nd prize having also won 5 out of his 6 matches.

Both boys were awarded cash prizes and were delighted with their success.

Andrew Holmes, Head of the Junior school, said, "We have only just started a chess club in school this term and we are very pleased with this early success".

Tercentenary Pageant Saturday 28th September 2002

 

 

Click on the above picture to see more 

Year 6 Trip to Flatford Mill Summer 2002

 

Click here to see more

Music Tour to Belgium May 2002

Click here to see more photos of this combined Junior and Senior School trip.

Whole School Inspection Report February 2002

"Friends' School is a warm and supportive community that is very well led. Its pupils gain a rounded education and develop as individuals with an open outlook on the world. Its very good pastoral care and Quaker ethos underpin the achievement of sound standards."

Year 5 Taster Day at the Senior School

Queen's Golden Jubilee Party with the Mayor 

Click on the picture to see more

 

FRIENDS' PUPILS SING OUT FOR SONGS OF PRAISE

BBC 1 Sunday Evening 9th June

The Songs of Praise programme, which was broadcast on BBC-1, Sunday June 9th, is to commemorate the 350 years since George Fox founded the Religious Society of Friends (also known as the Quakers).

 

The production term and camera crew filmed the pupils during Morning Assembly and interviewed some pupils about their Quaker faith. They also filmed some of the schoolchildren taking part in a music workshop with former Friends' pupil and singer and broadcaster Tom Robinson, best known for his '70s chart hit 2-4-6-8 Motorway.

Tom Robinson put the children through their musical paces, teaching them about rhythm, breathing, and performance techniques as they learnt the song, "Faith In You", which they then performed for the TV cameras.

Presenter, Aled Jones and Tom Robinson discuss aspects of the filming with Head, Andy Waters

"We were delighted to welcome the Songs of Praise team to our school, especially as we ourselves are celebrating 300 years since our school was founded by the Religious Society of Friends," says Development Officer Sarah Westerhuis.

"The children who took part in the workshop with Tom Robinson had a valuable opportunity to learn from someone with great experience. They worked very hard over two days and produced a wonderful, enthusiastic performance."

 

Spring has Sprung!

Pupils at Friends' Junior School Nursery have been working hard on this term's topic of 'Pets'.

 Almost 30 pupils from the Nursery visited Lower Hall Farm in Dunmow last week where the owner Helen Stonham showed them several spring lambs, including two lambs that were only six hours old. Mrs. Stonham also introduced the nursery children to the rest of her animals on the farm.

"It was great", said Samuel, "I liked holding the lamb but I liked looking at the combine harvester best of all!"

This farm visit was followed by a visit to Duck End Farm Cattery and Kennels owned by Martin and Vivienne Menhennick. After a picnic lunch the children were given a guided tour of the kennels and cattery followed by what seemed to be the highlight of the visit - the chance to see a dog being groomed and bathed. Perhaps it was being showered with water when the dog shook himself that made this so popular!

Geography Project - Year 1 at the duck pond.

The Early Years and Infant Departments of Friends' Junior School produced their annual Nativity Play this week in the Drama Studio.

This Nativity story centered around a grumpy sheep, who is not only cross, but lazy as well, and has totally the wrong idea of what to expect about Baby Jesus. She sees the error of her ways when she eventually gets herself to the stable to meet the little boy king. She even learns to smile and never grumps again!

Olivia Johnson played the part of the Grumpy Sheep and, in total, over 70 pupils were involved in the production which was staged on two occasions at the beginning of the week.

Year 3 had a treat in store for them on Tuesday afternoon when Satoshi Kitamura visited.

He is a very well established illustrator of children's books. Born in Japan, he has lived in London since 1979, illustrating for Anderson Press from 1981.

He talked to the pupils in Year 3 about his work. They were very interested in the process between drawing the pictures and the actual publication of the finished product.

Satoshi Kitamura spent quite some time patiently answering all the questions the children had prepared for him. We now know that his best friend is David McKee, of Elmer fame and that his greatest influence was his big brother who was very much into art.

Satoshi Kitamura rounded off his session with Year 3 by actually showing them how he draws his characters and they now are the proud owners of an original illustrated page, signed and dated by the illustrator himself.

"Me and my Cat", "Goldfish Hide and Seek" and "Sheep in Wolves' Clothing" are some of his published books.

Bangs and Bounces Start Science Year

300 pupils and staff at Friends' School Saffron Walden and Gibson House celebrated the beginning of Science Year on Friday 7th September with a 'Giant Jump'.

The 'Giant Jump' was organised as a national initiative to celebrate not only the launch of Science Year but also the roles of creativity and experimentation in science. The Jump took place at thousands of locations across the UK where those involved had to jump for one minute starting at 11.00am.

Dr. Len Mead, who teaches Chemistry at the school said, "We are hoping that there were sufficient numbers of people jumping throughout the UK today to set two world records: the first for the Largest Simultaneous Jump ever undertaken and the second for the Largest Mass Participation Experiment."

The Science Department at FSSW not only organised the school's involvement in this national activity but also had already started with school day with an 'explosive' assembly.

Julie Anderson, Science teacher at Friends' School, said, " Dr. Mead wanted to ensure Science Year started with a BANG so with the aid of some of the sixth-formers he made sure that it did!"