Head News
I am delighted to report some fantastic individual and team achievements in this eNewsletter. On top of a busy exam term, Felsted pupils continue to achieve in all areas. The Felsted Polo Team will be competing at the National Schools' U16 and Intermediate Tournament at the Longdale Polo Club this Sunday and we wish them success in this prestigious event.
This Friday, 18th June at 10.20am, Lower Sixth pupils and parents are invited to attend three presentations in the Music School entitled 'How to make a successful University application', 'American Universities', and 'UCAS Issues'. These will be extremely informative for all concerned.
Last week, I attended a lunch in honour of Dr Slack, the School Doctor, who retired after nineteen years at Felsted. I thanked him for all his support in looking after the health of our Felsted boys and girls over this time and wished him well in his retirement. Dr Tee is the new School Doctor.
Speech Day will soon be upon us and you should have received your invitations in the half term mailing. Speeches and prize giving will begin at 12pm on Friday 2nd July. The Guest of Honour will be Mr Christopher Hunter, European Director of the Round Square Organisation.
Programme of the day:
10.45am - *Chapel Service
11.30am - Coffee in Houses or the Cromwell Centre
11.30am - Cricket on the Front: 1st XI v Felsted Robins (OFs)
12.00 - 1.00pm - *Speeches and Prize Giving in the Lord Riche Hall: Guest of Honour: Mr Christopher Hunter, European Director of the Round Square
1.00 - 1.45pm- *Reception in the Marquees and the Lord Riche Hall Courtyard
1.15pm - Art and other exhibitions open
1.45pm - *Luncheon in Houses
2.30pm - Prizewinners' Concert in the Music School
* indicates tickets are required for these events. As you can appreciate there is some pressure on space so we would be grateful for the prompt return of the attached form. I look forward to seeing you all on this special day.
Head Commendations
Awarded to: Acting Drum Major Ben McFadzean, Chris King, Hugo Chaplin, Grant Polkinghorne, Robert Keightley, Thomas Lee & Dan Benson, for their commitment in playing at the Headmaster's Garden Party for the Alms Houses and at the RESCu charity event, both of which took place in the village recently. Music News
Music for a Summer's Evening
This event is always a wonderful way to summarise a year of musical achievement and success at Felsted and also to say good bye to musicians leaving the school. The concert celebrates all of the School’s many ensembles and performers and is an amazing showcase for the talent that we have here.
This year we began with a ‘call to order’ from the Corps of Drums, who performed outside as guests arrived at the Lord Riche Hall. The concert began with a performance by the Symphony Orchestra of music by Tchaikovsky – ‘Dance of the Flowers’ and the Finale of the Second Symphony, and Britten – ‘Five Courtly Dances from Gloriana’. These were accomplished performances, led brilliantly by John Li. As guests were served their dinner, we had music from the Wind Band – a particularly rousing contribution from Ben Gibbon in ‘The Muppets’ theme, the String Ensemble, Pyramid Men, Choral Scholars, Saxophone Group and Steel Band. Their performances as an accompaniment to dinner did not detract in any way from their unswerving commitment to high quality performance.
The second part of the evening began with solo performances from our departing Upper Sixth Form musicians, who over the course of two, five, seven or even fourteen years, have all contributed greatly to Felsted music. Vocal performances from Emma Hilton and Ali Marshall, saxophone works played by Alex Manley and Conor Turner, a piano work from Lena Krohmer and a violin solo from John Li demonstrated that all the various vocal and instrumental departments at Felsted are in fine form. This section of the concert was wrapped up by The Twenty with the glorious ‘Sanctus and Benedictus’ from the ‘Mass in Blue’ by Will Todd, of which we will we hear more next year.
After this, a new departure for ‘Thunder’ saw an almost entirely electronic set – ‘Summertime’ was given a new lease of life by Bill Yeomans playing the EWI, and Emma Nicholson’s ElectroFiddle was a triumph, both a CDT coursework and as a musical performance. The evening concluded with dancing to the Jazz Band set, with vocal contributions this year from Lucy Hendrick, Lucy Dunn, Gabby Crisp, Lizzy Woods and Ben Gibbon.
Many thanks indeed to all who contributed and to all the guests who enjoyed the great spirit of the evening and who so regularly and enthusiastically support what we do.
Vocal and Instrumental Competitions
The first of the Vocal and Instrumental Competitions took place in the Barbara Karan Auditorium and the Chapel on Sunday 13th June. These competitions provide a great opportunity for feedback from professional musicians, and the pupils who took part gained a great deal of benefit from what the adjudicators had to say. We still have the piano competitions to take place, but congratulations to the following winners:
Woodwind Competitions
Intermediate: Jun Hwan Kim, Senior: Julius Werk
Strings Competitions
Intermediate: Isabelle Moore, Senior: John Li
Vocal Competitions:
Junior Classical: Camille Brien, Junior Show: Lydia Carrington
Duet: Pip Keir and Lydia Carrington
Intermediate Classical: Gaby Shanahan, Intermediate Show: Izzy Speight
Senior Classical: Ali Marshall, Senior Show:Andrea Smith Valls
Written by Mr James Lowry Junior Duologues & Monologue Competition
This years' annual Duologue competition was enhanced by the addition of the monologue category. In total we had 14 entries involving 15 pupils from Yrs 9 & 10. This year’s judge, Ian Mann, who is an actor and drama examiner for three UK examination boards, had a particularly difficult challenge to determine who should be ranked top three in both categories. He found the standard to be extremely high and the students extremely well prepared.
I would like to thank all pupils, parents and common room who attended the event and encouraged the nervous participants on stage. Your presence really aids and gives confidence to pupils by enabling them to present and perform their chosen texts. Thank you for all of your support this year.
Duologue Winners
1st: Esme Smith & Eliz Peck
2nd: Brogan Ball & Lydia Carrington
3rd: Iona Vignoles & Pernilla Craig
Monologue Winners
1st: Isabella Speight
2nd: Brogan Ball
3rd: Hugo Chaplin & Sara-Jane Horne
Congratulations to all those who took part!
Written by Miss Hannah Grace Year 9s are Romans for the day!
On Thursday 27th May, Year 9 pupils discovered what life was like as a Roman soldier when Legion XIIII visited the school. Pupils learnt about the Roman army’s tools, weapons, and training. They were able to try on their clothes and armour, were shown the sling, a simple but effective way to propel little balls of lead into the air towards the enemy, and the javelin, which was thrown towards the enemy as they advanced towards the army. On landing, the tip of the javelin would bend so that they couldn’t throw it back. The teachers then picked out 20 pupils to learn how to stand like a Roman soldier and how to follow orders. The winner got to try on a chain mail vest, and soon learnt why the Roman army stopped using it!
Written by Charles Hoile - Year 9 Guy and crew win yachting championship
Over the bank holiday weekend Upper Sixth pupil Guy Warry and three other crew members took part in The East Coast IRC Yachting Championships.
This race is open to all sizes of rated yachts, ranging from 45 feet to 22 feet. Guy was part of the winning crew racing his family's boat, a Limbo 6.6, called Blue Movie, and, despite being laid flat by a gust, they won the Mini Tonner Class and the overall Championship. This was quite a feat, as they sailed the smallest boat in the fleet and all the racing was in very windy conditions. Please click on the link for further information on this great win! Follyfield Pyjama Initiative raises money for Macmillan
Follyfield girls presented a cheque to Keith Snow, Essex Fundraising Manager of Macmillan for £2984.59. The money was raised through sales of pyjamas as part of the Lower Sixth Business Enterprise Competition.
Over 8,000 people are diagnosed in Essex each year with cancer and the money which they have raised will help to fund nurses and provide cancer sufferers with a freefone service to advise on benefits and other issues. Keith Snow said " We are able to achieve our ambition to improve the lives of everyone living with cancer with the fantastic support from groups such as Felsted. It will make a huge difference to the service we can provide in Essex."
Alisdair Thomson's Retirement - Sports Activity Day
Alisdair Thomson arrived at Felsted in the Autumn of 1976 and on Saturday 12th June 2010 Old Felstedians, former Masters and their families joined current pupils and staff to celebrate Alisdair’s 34 years at Felsted and his imminent retirement.
The warm summer’s day welcomed guests to an afternoon of fun, and, in some instances, very competitive sporting activities, including Steeps, a Swimming Gala, Water Polo, Rugby and Family Rounders. The beautiful grounds of the Bury provided the backdrop for an informal buffet and drinks reception where Alisdair took time to deliver a few anecdotes and to thank his colleagues and pupils for making his time here at Felsted so memorable.
It is a testament to Alisdair’s popularity that among the ninety plus guests, some had travelled from other countries, including China, France, Libya, the USA, Norway and Switzerland, especially to give their former teacher the send off he so deserved. We would like to thank Alisdair for the many years he has dedicated to Felsted during which time he has not only inspired so many to achieve sporting excellence but has left an indelible mark on all who have had the good fortune to get to know him.
Written by Miss Gina Evans
Spanish Exchange Opportunity
Mrs Garcia, Spanish teacher in the Preparatory School, is looking to help set up an exchange between her niece (on Mr Garcia's Spanish side of the family) Céline (Yr10, turning 16yrs in Dec 2010), and a native English-speaking girl of similar age.
Céline would like to come to England for two weeks in July. In return, her exchange is invited to Céline's for the last two weeks of August, to her family's holiday villa on a private estate above Corunna (La Corunya - Northern Spain), where some or all of Céline's broader family also congregate: she has a younger brother and five first cousins her age and younger, as well as two married aunts and an uncle on her mother's side, and her two grandparents!
It is a lovely place to holiday and they are a lovely family: generous-spirited and anglophile, and indeed cosmopolitan in other ways too. Céline is good at languages, loves the piano, is sporty, creative and 'theatrical', although not extrovert. Céline's exchange would be well cared for, and would easily be understood in English if her Spanish failed her! If the August dates did not suit, Céline's exchange is invited instead to join her for two weeks in Frankfurt, her 'winter residence'!
A great opportunity! Please share this information with any interested parties, and contact Mrs Garcia on rfg@felstedprep.org or 01371 821220 if you would like to know more. Pease note that this is a private initiative, independent of the MFL Department! Correction
Toby Green played for the Essex U17s in the JAC Finals in May and not the Old Loughtonians as previously stated. Apologies for any confusion that this may have caused. Email Problems
Please accept our apologies for any emails that have not been answered promptly. We experienced a problem in our hardware which resulted in delays in the receiving and sending of emails last week. This situation has now been rectified.
The next eNewsletter will be sent at the end of term. For any errors, omissions or additions, please email marketing@felsted.org. |
Abi Claydon
Lower Sixth pupil, Abi Claydon, competed in the U18 Ipswich Toyota Junior Open, a Grade 3 competition, during half term. She won in the final 7-5, 7-5. Well done Abi!
Felsted success at Essex Athletics Schools Championships
Congratulations to James McLeod on securing second place in the Boys Intermediate 1500m final and for breaking the School Inter-Boys record in a new time of 4 minutes 18.6 seconds. This record was previously held by Stuart Deacon (1989) and Nigel Cairns (1986). James has outstanding talent and I hope he continues to go on to break Felsted's Senior 800m and 1500m records.
Rob Dennis, Yr 11, competed in the Inter-Boys 100m but went out in the heat stage. Max Paulin also competed in the Junior Boys High Jump, coming third with a height of 1.66m.
This is one of the most prestigious sporting competitions in the county with literally hundreds of competitors taking part. The support and commitment of teachers, officials and parents was heartwarming to see.
James pictured in 2nd position
Written by Mr Alisdair Thomson Kieran Norris
Yr 9 pupil, Kieran Norris, travelled up to Glasgow during half term to compete in the British Indoor Grand Prix Series where he secured 2nd and 3rd places in the Junior 1 category. Well done to Kieran on his continued success, hard work and determination. Junior House Athletics
This competition took place on Wednesday 9th June. Stocks's won the Girls' House Competition with Manor coming 2nd and Follyfield 3rd.
Girls' athletics records have only been kept since 2008 but new records were set by Manor in the 4 x 100m relay and Stocks's in the 4 x 400m relay. New Yr 9 records were set by Madeline Smith in the 100m, Lizzie Cole in the 800m, Amy Harding in both the long and high jumps and in Yr 10, Alicia Wilkinson equalled the high jump record.
The Boys' House Competition was very competitive with some excellent performances. Deacons narrowly won the competition followed by Gepps, Monts and Elwyns.
Written by Mr Alisdair Thomson Sports Results
Cricket
The block fixture against Oundle saw the 1st XI win by 3 wickets and the U14A by 2 wickets. The U14B team lost by 3 runs.
Tennis
The U14A girls team had a strong win against Culford last week, winning 8-1.
Please click on the link to view all recent sports results on www.felsted.org.
1st VI v OFs Tennis Match
On Saturday the Boys 1st VI lost their final fixture of the year 3-6 to an Old Felstedian team, organised by OF Simon Bastin, in a great encounter. The Old Felstedians commented after the match that this was the best school team they had played in many years. Governor v Parent v Pupil v Common Room Tennis
On Sunday Felsted hosted the annual Tennis Tournament of Governors, Parents, Pupils and Common Room. The Parents and Offspring won the Tournament with 49 games, with Common Room coming 2nd, Governors in 3rd place and the Pupils taking fourth place.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable day in the sunshine followed by a BBQ by the chapel lawn courts. A special thank you to the Felsted 1st team captains, Henry Holme and Emma Hilton, who did a great job in helping to organise the tournament.
Comedy Night
Monday 28th June, 8.00pm, Hunt Theatre
We are delighted to welcome Greg Davies to Felsted. He is best known for his television appearances on Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week and as Mr Gilbert, Head of Sixth Form, in E4's The Inbetweeners.
Tickets are £12 and are available from the bookroom on 01371 822635 email: bookroom@felsted.org. The show lasts 70 minutes and contains adult themes and strong language, so please do not book if easily offended. Charity Swishing Event
Sponsored by Benefit Cosmetics and raising funds for Magic Bus, India
Friday 25th June, 7.30pm, Grignon Hall, Felsted
The first Swishing Event to be held at Felsted will take place on Friday 25th June to raise funds for the Magic Bus Charity, run by OF Matthew Spacie in India (www.magicbusindia.org).
Each lady must bring along at least one good quality item of clothing, a pair of shoes or accessories that she would be proud to pass on. They need to be dropped off at 6.30pm. In return you may leave with as many items as you wish. Drinks and nibbles will be available until the doors open at 7.30pm.
Swap your old mascara (any make) for  a new Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara for £1!!
£5 Adults / £3 Children which includes drink and nibbles. Click here for more details. Tickets available from the bookroom on 01371 822635 email: bookroom@felsted.org
Magic Bus Sports Dinner and Auction
Saturday 18th September, 7pm for 7.30pm in the Courtyard Barbara Karan Auditorium and the Lord Riche Hall.
The evening is in aid of the Magic Bus Charity (established by OF Matthew Spacie OBE). Tickets are £49 per person which includes pre-dinner drinks, 2 bottles of wine per table of eight, a 4 course dinner with an Indian theme, entertainment, raffle and auction.
All the money raised will be donated to Magic Bus during the school trip to Mumbai in October.
Come and enjoy a magical evening with a few surprises along the way! For further information or to reserve your ticket email cmp@felsted.org. Summer Courses
You should now have received a copy of the Summer Courses Booklet which includes our rugby/ hockey camps, our popular swim school and other interesting courses. For those that did not receive a copy, please find a version here.
Our adult learning courses running in July include:
Chalet Chefs and Improvers Cookery Week - Monday 12th-Friday 16th July at a cost of £475.00.
Sumptuous Cakes - Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th July at a cost of £185.00
Perfect Pastry - Wednesday 21st & Thursday 22nd July at a cost of £185.00
Delicious Sauces and Dressings - Friday 23rd July at a cost of £85.00
For further information please contact our Courses Officer on 01371 822634 or email courses@felsted.org
Summer Tennis Camp
Braintree Lawn Tennis Club are running their popular Summer Tennis Weeks again in July and August, Monday to Friday 10-4pm at a cost of £95.00 per child, which includes a BBQ lunch on the Friday. Children will have the opportunity to improve their tennis skills and fitness levels while enjoying time with friends. The camps are run by Rob Hardy, who is Felsted's Elite Tennis Coach and Head Coach at Braintree. Please click here for further details and a booking form. Book early as places fill quickly.
Talent Expo - Changes to the Schedule
Talent Expo, scheduled for June 24-27th, has been postponed until the Autumn. This has a huge impact on The Ascension Eages as up to 400 performers have worked hard to prepare and need to perform. I appreciate that some students have signed up to gain event management experience through the Talent Expo, but this has changed completely. If you still want to come, this is the revised schedule I can offer you.
Thursday 24th June: Depart Felsted 7am. Go to Talent Central to load equipment. Set up venue for Showcase. Registration 9.30am, Competition starts at 10am. Awards conclude by 2pm. Take down equipment. Load vans, deliver back to Talent Central, re-set gym. Stay over Thursday evening (Travelodge, London City Airport), observe gym classes.
Friday 25th June: Help inventory equipment/uniforms at Talent Central gym. Help move items from Ascension Church to Talent Central. Visit Garden Cafe. Return to Felsted Friday evening, in time for Swishing Event.
Please let me know if you still wish to be involved on director@ascensioneagles.com
Mrs Shara Brice
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