newsletterIssue No 12 | 2014-15 | Friday 24 April 2015

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Dear Parents

An invitation to write a piece for the Upper Sixth Leavers’ Book was a delightful and indeed challenging opportunity to capture the spirit of an exceptional cohort. Schools and colleges are the sum of their individuals and nothing better describes a year better than the Year Book which they produce. Year Books last. Those who contribute will no doubt leaf through it in years to come and find themselves as they were when they left the Stephen Perse. Have they remained true to their values and beliefs at eighteen? It seems to me that one’s sixth form years are very much a journey. Yet each time the word journey is mentioned in this way, the speaker seems to have a destination in mind rather like a train heading to a certain station. “Real” journeys, we know, are different and reading through Homer’s Odyssey reminded me that journeys can be a lot more exciting, a lot more terrifying, a lot more difficult and a lot more uncertain. Sixth Formers’ journeys are more like Odysseus’ journey- they have met “monsters”, made new friends and faced hardships together and individually. Most importantly, they are not followers, trudging along a well-worn path, but innovators and wanderers full of creativity and adaptability, facing the unexpected and unplanned. Just as Odysseus sometimes forgot his home, even forgot it for years, he could never quite prevent his compass being pulled towards it. So their direction, in an age of rapid change in education, has been towards shaping character as well as intellect. And that sense of character has been shaped as much outside the classroom as within it. Trips to Ladakh, Cuba and Berlin along with the fearsome Gold D of E expedition have shaped their outlook and experience of many. The Cyclops in The Odyssey represented the view that we should live entirely for ourselves and our own goals and always be asking what we can get or take out of our community rather than what we can do for it. It is to their enormous credit that our students have put so much back. The fact that so many have been involved in outreach activities and developed an on-going long term relationship with Friends of Whitworth House has created personal as well as institutional legacies. Through their creativity and community spirit, the Cyclops has been undoubtedly defeated. This week marks the last day in College for the Upper Sixth IB cohort. We thank them for all they have done and wish them well for their examinations.

With kind regards,

Stuart JackDirector of 6th Form

Introduction - Director of 6th Form

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Over 6,500 students from around the UK participated in this year’s competition with the top 501 of these being awarded Gold certificates. I am delighted to be able to announce that Aoife McCaul (U6) is one of that number.

Congratulations to her and to our other participants: Upper Sixth students Yanni Du, Chris Wong and Chalukya Wijewardena who all achieved silver awards and Amelia Brasnett and Anna Wang who achieved Bronze awards.Congratulations should also go to Catherine Oxley, Kristie Leung and Man Si Cheng of the Lower Sixth who have also achieved Bronze awards in the competition which is primarily aimed at Upper Sixth students.

Additional praise should also be given to Leonie Woodland of the Lower Sixth who has achieved a Silver award with a mark that places her in approximately the top 25% of all candidates. That 4 of our Lower Sixth students have achieved such excellent marks at this stage is quite remarkable and I look forward to seeing how they get on in the forthcoming Cambridge Lower Sixth Challenge in June and in next year’s Olympiad Competition.

Jacq Paris, Head of 6th Form Science

Chemistry Olympiad Results

We very much look forward to welcoming parents and students from Years 9-13 to our annual University Guidance Event at the Senior School on Wednesday June 17th, 7.00-8.30pm. This year, the theme explored will be “ Entrance to Competitive Universities”.

With A level reform from September 2015, we hope that the event will be both topical and informative. The evening will take the format of questions to a panel of leading figures in the world of university admissions. We are delighted to welcome:

Eleanor David, Student Recruitment Officer, University of OxfordMike Nicholson-Director of Student Recruitment, University of BathMike Sewell-Director of Admissions, University of CambridgePaul Teulon-Director of Admissions, King’s College, London

SAVE THE DATE Competitive Universities Event on Wednesday 17 June

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During the Easter holidays 11 sixth form students and a group of year 10’s went to Cartagena in the Murcia region of Spain. We spent 4 hours each day attending a Spanish immersion course at the University of Cartagena as well as enjoying a large variety of cultural sites and activities. We each stayed with a host family, allowing us to further practise and gain confidence in our Span-ish while also being able to try typical Spanish food which was delicious! The trip was a lot of fun and gave us an invaluable experience of the Spanish culture and language.

One of our year 12 students returned to Munich to visit her partner again and undertake a work experience in the European Patent Office, attending oral proceedings and discussions

regarding a chemical process patent. This was a unique opportunity to apply her German in a different context.

German and Spanish Exchanges return

Election 2015 - Julian Huppert visits 6th formOn Wednesday 22nd April, Dr Julian Huppert MP visited the 6th form centre to talk to an audience of a mix-ture of Year 10 representatives and 6th form students on what it is to be an MP.

A group of 6th formers organised the event, with the aim being to spark an interest in politics for the members of the foundation. The majority of the talk was spent with Dr Huppert taking questions submitted by members of Year 10. Some examples of the questions posed to Dr Huppert were “Why the Liberal Democrats?”, to which Dr Huppert replied “I am fundamentally a liberal”. On the subject of the most important issues for Cambridge, Dr Huppert spoke very passionately and convincingly on the subject of the lack of funding Cambridge schools have received in recent years, his passion for his work being reflected throughout the talk.

On the whole, Dr Huppert spoke in a very captivating manner, connecting very well with the audience and answering all questions fully and directly. He invited aspiring politicians in the office to come and volunteer in his “election hub” on the corner of Hills Road and Coronation Street, and also said that he would be happy to have people come and shadow him on one of his working days.

Bobby Edge-Partington, L6th

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The Visual Arts, Drama and Economics departments are offering the opportunity for 21 students to attend a trip to New York during the October half term of 2015 (23rd-28th).

Students will be travelling to experience the unique culture and economic heritage of this iconic city and to visit its world-class galleries, theatres and the headquarters of the United Nations. In addition they will have the opportunity to attend a Broadway show, a backstage tour of the Lincoln Centre for performing arts on Broadway, view the New York Federal Reserve Bank gold vaults, and attend exhibitions at the Guggenheim and MoMA museums.

The residential trip will last for 6 days, with 4 nights at the Hotel Wolcott in the shadow of the Empire State Building. Shared rooms will be allocated once students have signed up. The suggested itinerary includes:

Entry to Museum of Modern ArtEntry to GuggenheimGround Zero MuseumUnited Nations TourFederal Reserve Bank tourBroadway show Tour of Lincoln Centre for Performing ArtsEmpire State Building Observatory evening tourStatue of Liberty cruiseGuided tour of the Highline Park and Chelsea Art gallery sceneShopping on 5th Avenue

USA trip launched!

Sleep-out for Whitworth House - we need your support!Our annual sponsored sleepout in aid of The Friends of Whitworth House has been launched to L6 students. This year we will be sleeping out on Saturday 27 June at our Latham Road field.

As part of our long term partnership with Friends of Whitworth House, staff and students at SPSFC are organising a sponsored sleepout. Now in its third year it is becoming a well-established and well-supported event in the College. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for The Friends of Whitworth House, but also to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness in Cambridge. Students will be sleeping ‘rough’ on the sport field to experi-ence what life might be like without secure accommodation. Our hope is that students will both raise money for the Friends of Whitworth House and gain an insight into the issue of homelessness in our local community.

The Friends of Whitworth House is a registered charity, formed to provide support for vulnerable, homeless young women in Cambridge. The Friends of Whitworth House fundraise in order to support the work of the house, improving the facilities and supporting its residents with living costs and grants towards costs associated with vocational train-ing, education or moving on to independent housing. www.friendsofwhitworthhouse.org More details about signing up and supporting the event will be published at a later date.

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Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 21st April, at 8pm (contact Leonie Hyde, 01223 842727). We will discuss ‘An Englishman in Madrid’ by Eduardo Mendoza and ‘The Hourglass Factory’ by Lucy Ribchester.

We always have a lively discussion and are keen to welcome new members. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Martha Crouch for details (07768311015 or email marthann.crouch@gmail.com).

Book Club

Great success at the Finals Concert of the Cambridge Competitive Music Festival

We are delighted to report considerable success for our students in the Finals Con-cert of the Cambridge Competitive Music Festival which took place last Friday.Valeriya Kopanitsa (L6, piano) was awarded the Gavin Richards Cup for the most promising performer, Charlotte Lane (Y8, clarinet) was presented with the Gillian Mason Salver trophy for best woodwind under 15, and Juliette Richards (Y7, piano) won no fewer than six prizes: the Kathleen Freeman Trophy for the most outstand-ing 18 year and under performer; the Agnes Heron Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding pianoforte performer; the Bernice Young Cup for the best 12 and under performer; the Mr and Mrs Denis Harrison Cup for Piano Sonata one movement any age; the Hayden Challenge Cup for piano romantic one movement any age, and a cup for the piano own choice 12 and under. The Kathleen Freeman Trophy, which is for the overall winner of the competition, has now been won for two years in a row by a Stephen Perse student.

We would be delighted to hear of any further success in this or other musical com-petitions.

Choral Concert at St John's College Chapel, Wednesday 29 April, 8.00 pm

A reminder that the Singers will be performing Vivaldi's Gloria in the magnificent setting of St John's College Chapel on Wednesday evening. The programme will also include solos by three members of Upper 6: Sophia Abbasi (Adagio from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto), Amelia Brasnett (movements from Telemann's Suite for recorder and strings) and Harriet Aspin (solo songs by Purcell). The concert will last about an hour, and everyone is welcome - no tickets are needed.

Music News

Choral Concert at St John’s College Chapel

Friday 15th May 20157.30pm at Senior School Hall

Teams of 6-8£10 per head to include supper

Bring your own drink--------------------------------------------------------------Order Form

Team Name: ...............................................................................................

Number in team: .......................................................................................

Supper Choice (number of each):

Grilled Chicken: …………………. Moroccan Meatballs: ……………..

Sweet Potato Falafel (V): ……………….

All served with super slaw and Italian brown rice

Please make your cheque payable to: The Stephen Perse Foundation PFAand hand this form along with your cheque to your child’s School Office

or the Senior School Reception

The Stephen Perse PFA warmly invite you to a Quiz Evening on all things food & drink, on Friday 15th May 2015 at the Senior School Hall from 7.30pm. Teams are to be 6-8 people and the ticket price of £10 includes a delicious supper of

either Grilled Chicken, Moroccan Meatballs or Sweet Potato Falafel - all served with super slaw and Italian brown rice.Please feel free to bring any liquid refreshments.

Please return the form below to your school office by WEDNESDAY 6th MAY. We look forward to seeing you there,The Stephen Perse Foundation PFA