Contents

Page No. 1-2 Head’s Address 3 Special Announcements Mobile Phone Contract Road Safety 4 School Uniform 2004-5 5 Reporting Absence 6 Science News 7 Psychology 8 Art News 9-10 Modern Foreign Languages 11 Platform 15 Magazine 12 Connexions Direct After School Study Support 13 Recycle that Paper! 14-15 Wessex Walks 16-17 Girls vs. Boys Netball 18-21 Sports News 22 A Tribute to Angela Vivian OBE 23 Kings’ Notice Board 24 School Diary + Detachable Mobile Phone Contract

THE KINGS OF WESSEX COMMUNITY SCHOOL A Specialist Technology College

Issue 55

Also available in colour on our website: www.kowessex.co.uk

THE KINGS’ MESSENGER

June 2004 Dear Parents, This is the time of year when examinations loom large. Students in Years 11, 12 and 13 are all sitting important public examinations over the coming months. The GCSE and ‘A’ Level exams are the culmination of a lot of hard work by students and staff. Students have worked very hard to prepare for these exams, not only in class, but also with coursework and revision. We wish all our students well in these examinations and can only ask that they do their best. On the subject of examinations, Year 9 recently completed their SAT’s exams and Year 10 undertook their internal exams. Year 10 parents will receive a report later in the term and Year 9 parents will be sent details of the SAT’s results in July. Earlier this term we celebrated Ascension Day. Since the 1880’s, the school children of Cheddar have marked Ascension Day by climbing the church tower and receiving a currant bun. In

keeping with this tradition, a church service was followed by students in Year 13 climbing to the top of the tower where they sang the Ascension hymn, “Hail the day that sees him rise.” Students in Year 9 each received a currant bun in the Vicarage garden. It is a lovely link with the past, but at the same time symbolic of the Ascension. You will recently have received a letter informing you of changes to the timing of the school day. From the start of the new academic year in September, school will be starting and ending five minutes earlier then at present. Although this represents a small change, it will enable us to hold a ten minute morning registration from 8.50am to 9.00am and to commence learning at 9.00am, which is twenty minutes earlier than at present. We believe that the earlier start to teaching will help to improve learning for our students. In response to the warm weather we have relaxed one aspect of our uniform requirements to the end of term. Students are required to wear their blazer to registration and assembly, but may remove their blazer at all other times.

On the subject of uniform, you will find enclosed details of school uniform from September 2004. Please take time to read through these requirements and ensure that your child has the correct uniform for school. Just recently some girls have taken to wearing tight-fitting shirts, which are not able to be tucked in and in some cases do not meet at the waist. These are not acceptable and I would be grateful if parents could check to ensure that their child has a traditional white shirt as required. Thank you for your continued support. Some good news on our IT Facilities. We now have an additional nine computers in the Learning Resource Centre, bringing the total in the Centre to 39. These computers are available for Sixth Form to use throughout the day and for all other Years at breaktime and lunchtime. We are also continuing to invest in IT for teachers and from July all our staff will have a laptop computer linked to a Wireless Network. This is an extremely exciting development, which will mean that we can improve our monitoring of attendance, lesson planning, assessment and reporting. On a sports note, you will read later on in this edition of The Kings’ Messenger about our recent triumph when our U.16 Boys Hockey team won this year’s Somerset Cup. I am sure you will agree that this is a tremendous achievement and we congratulate our team and also Mr Bell for all their hard work. Our Year 10 Girls’ Hockey team and Mrs Roberts are also to be congratulated for earning the title as joint holders of the County Cup. Well done everyone!

Best wishes,

Chris Richardson Headteacher

Some of our Sixth Form enjoying a leaving picnic in the May sunshine!

Special Announcements! At the end of Spring Term, Robert Baker 9RDW gained the Platinum

Certificate, which represents a staggering 50 merits! Robert is the first student ever to achieve this outstanding award and it is particularly

impressive as Robert gained Platinum within only two terms!

Also at the end of Spring Term, Clare Ratcliffe 9NO and Sam Jones 10CG gained the Gold Certificate, which represents 25 merits! Recently, Benjamin Flood 9SPC, Philippa Ivens 9SPC, Lisa Robson 9NO, Sara Taylor 9EHE and Matthew Warder 9SPC have all been awarded their Gold Certificate! Watch this space for further announcements about our awards. You will recall in our last Kings’ Messenger, we reported on our Chess competition as part of the LRC’s 10th anniversary celebrations. We can now inform you that Dan Barritt 11RA won the Lower School contest and in the play-off between Dan and Sam Hancock 12LM - winner of the Upper School – Sam was the overall winner!

Mobile Phone Contract 2004 - 2005 The latest edition of mobile phones now has the capacity to take photographs. This facility, if misused, can cause anxiety and distress. Students are not allowed to take photographs within school without the permission of the person who is being photographed.

Please note that all Year 9 to 11 students who bring mobile phones into school need to renew their contract for the beginning of the new school year.

You will find a copy attached in this edition of The Kings’ Messenger.

Please complete and return to the school office.

Road Safety Students travelling to school, either on foot or by public transport, at some point in their journey cross roads. It is very important that your child is aware of their personal safety on the roads and that they are clearly visible, especially on dark winter evenings. Ideally, they should wear reflective arm bands or fit a reflective strip to a school bag or garment.

These dangers, of course, equally apply to cyclists who, as well as, needing to be visible should wear the appropriate protective headgear. Thank you for helping to ensure the safety of our students. Barbara Marshall Deputy Headteacher

School Uniform Requirements 2004-5

For All Students in Years 9, 10 and 11:

Black Blazer with Embroidered School Crown* Blazers without the embroidered School Crown are not acceptable.

Plain Traditional White Shirt with Collar and Buttons No fitted shirts, undersized shirts, logos or frills.

Shirts must be tucked in at all times with top buttons and cuffs done up.

Black Traditional Trousers/Skirts Skirts should be plain and around the knee in length. Trousers/skirts should not have fashion zips, buckles, patch pockets or be frayed and must be worn around the waist. Any belt must be plain black. Trousers must not be flares, hipsters or floor scrapers.

Please note: we do not allow denim, canvas, corduroy or similar materials. Black Socks or Tights These must be worn from September to April. Plain Black Shoes No trainers, sandals, open backs, boots, high heels or platforms. School Tie* No frayed ties, or ties with Tippex or graffiti on them. Jewellery Students may wear one small stud or plain ring in each ear, plus one small ring on their finger. Please note: we do not allow any other items of facial jewellery, necklaces, bracelets or bangles. Make-Up This should be worn discreetly. Nail varnish is not allowed. Hairstyles Extreme hairstyles and brightly dyed colours are not allowed.

Coats A plain dark coloured outdoor coat may be worn. Not denim or leather.

*These items of uniform can only be bought from our suppliers, Deane & Sons of Cheddar. Students are also required to wear the correct uniform on the journey to and from School. Any student who fails to attend school in the correct uniform or who does not wear their uniform correctly will be subject to disciplinary action. Items of incorrect uniform will be confiscated. Where footwear is incorrect, the school will provide plimsolls for the student to wear. Where there are significant and/or persistent infringements of the uniform policy students may be withdrawn from normal lessons pending the correct uniform being worn.

Reporting Absence

THANK YOU to all our parents who continue to use the Absence Hotline this school year

A reminder to all those parents who are not…

Illness or any other absence should be reported on the first and every day of absence by telephoning:

01934 745304

(This telephone number is available 24/7 )

Your child’s name, tutor group and reason for absence should be given.

Alternatively, absences may be reported by email to:

ABeesley@educ.somerset.gov.uk

Please note: absence should be reported for all students, including the Sixth Form.

Thank you

Anita Beesley Attendance Secretary

Science News

All students have been working incredibly hard preparing for their exams. They deserve to do well!

Louise Meldon left at the end of last term and we are lucky to have Teresa Chilles, an experienced teacher, join us for this term. Hannah Lelts, from Bristol University has returned for a short visit to complete her school based training.

During this half term there will be lots of fun activities taking place for Science students of all levels, including a visitor due to bring animals into school – we are all very excited!!!

Finally a reminder to students:-

Year 9 Revision Guides should have been returned already. Please ensure that they are returned as soon as possible. Thank you!

Year 11 Revision Guides and text books need to be returned straight after exams (incidentally it’s Biology first, then Chemistry, then Physics). Bethan Riddick Head of Science Faculty

Pumps and Vibrating Machinery!

The select group of ‘A’ and AS Physics students sat in P1 awaiting the arrival of Michael Dearden. The students all study ‘A’ level Physics and Technology and are interested in Engineering as a possible future career. Michael is a retired engineer with many years experience in the navy and the oil industry. He had written to the school offering to pass on some of the practical technical knowledge that he had acquired.

There followed a very interesting and informative talk on the many different types and design features of pumps which are used extensively in industry and the home alike. Vibrati ons are the cause of most failures of equipment, so Michael reliably informed us, and he showed us how vibration monitoring could prolong the life of a machine and also give information on impending failure of specific items.

The students found the talk very interesting and it gave them a wealth of practical background information that you cannot get from books, only from the experience. Just handling and looking at bearings was an insight to them all as bearings were just names before.

Many thanks to Michael for coming in and we hope that he will come back again. Eric Holdsworth Physics Co-ordinator

Psychology On Friday 2 April 2004, Psychology welcomed Jane Isaac to give a talk on Music Therapy. Jane is a music teacher and Music Therapist who lives and works in Somerset.

Jane told us that Music Therapy is used to build a relationship between the client and the Music Therapist to encourage physical, social and emotional well-being. It is totally independent of the client’s musical ability, but taps into the natural tendencies we all have to be moved and interested by rhythms and sounds. Even in the womb, the developing foetus is surrounded by the rhythmic beating of the mother’s heart.

Jane went on to show us some clips of her work over several years with a young autistic spectrum boy who was initially very uncommunicative and inattentive, but who, over a period of several years, came to learn to play the guitar and listen and talk about it. A major and unusual advance in that particular child’s development. Music Therapists work usually with adults and children who have learning difficulties and emotional problems; but in fact, we decided that we all use music therapy at time to enhance our moods or reduce stress or even help us to do our homework. We thank Jane very much for being so generous with her time and for sharing some of her experiences with us. Margaret Marsland Psychology Co-ordinator

Art News The examinations at GCSE/AS/A level have now been concluded, and the yearly marathon of marking all the Units is done. The good thing about this time of year is the chance to see students’ work in its entirety. GCSE Students have three Units of Coursework, and one unit of examination or controlled test (done over10 hours). It is very pleasing to see the individual students’

progress from the start of Year 10. The range and quality of work across the subject areas are rich, and varied, showing each individual’s creative response. At AS/A2 the work is of a particularly high standard in all subject areas. Photography is an extremely popular subject, and there has been much use made of the Colour Photography processing equipment. Year 11 Art student Laurie Reynolds has been selected as a ‘runner up’ in the Digital Photography Competition run by the Royal Photographic Society, and Cannon (we are awaiting confirmation as to the nature of his prize). University Destinations of ex-KOW Art Students:

o Sam Hiscox and Lloyd Williams are to study Photography, and Film Making at Newport.

o Libby Parker and Rosina Bennetts are going to study Fashion at Falmouth. o Chris Taylor is also going to Falmouth to study Art. o Michael Green is going to take 12 months out and is going to work in New York

to further develop his skills in the area of Animation. Three members of staff visited the UWE Art Foundation Exhibition. A number of our students had their work on display, and it was interesting to see how they had developed in their chosen subject areas. The Exhibition was really very exciting, and innovative. UWE is a very popular destination for our students, with keen competition for places. The Kings of Wessex Art students have been taking part in a Hewlett Packard sponsored initiative called @rt exchange. Kings Art Students have had the opportunity to work at Sidcot School with their machines, and programmes based on shared themes, which have been displayed on the @rt exchange website along with other schools from across Europe in order “to build a cycle of inspiration, communication, exploration, support and feedback.” (Ross Wallis, Head of Art at Sidcot School). You can view at: www.art-exchange.org Miss Thorogood is organising a visit to the V and A Museum to see the Vivienne Westwood retrospective Fashion Show on Tuesday 29 June. This visit is open to Year 10/12 students. Clive Hammond-Lovatt Art Co-ordinator

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Modern Foreign Languages

French Study Trip 2004

This year, Mrs Bottomley, Mrs Donovan and Mr Hitt accompanied 29 Year 10 students to Fougères in Brittany on the annual French Study Trip which has been running now for over fifteen years. Each year we return to the same family-run hotel in the delightful town of Fougères with its beautiful Mediaeval castle and our students really enjoy the assignments they are set and the challenge of communicating with “real” French people as well as the opportunity to experience French culture first-hand. For the past six years our Course Tutor has been a charming gentleman called Harold, a retired teacher of French who comes out of retirement to act as tutor to our students: his level of energy and enthusiasm is quite amazing considering he is 82 years old!

The trip is always a great success, thoroughly enjoyed by staff and students alike. Our students return speaking French with much greater confidence and with an appreciation of some of the cultural differences between France and Britain.. Over now to Mr Hitt:…

The French Study Trip to Fougères was one of the few school trips that I had not been on! Like so many trips abroad the start and finish times at Cheddar were in the early hours!

Student participation in the lessons and assignments was excellent. Whether buying a packet of sweets at the services on the autoroute, questioning shoppers in Fougères or asking questions about the production of goat’s cheese, the students took part enthusiastically and during the week there was a noticeable improvement in their confidence and ability to speak French. The expertise and enthusiasm of Harold was the catalyst of much of the work: I just hope I can do the same when I’m 82 years old!

French life was experienced at Rennes railway station when one of our students had his crêpe stolen and we then witnessed the subsequent arrest of the culprit: the gendarmes don’t mess about!

All in all, the expectation of students was high and I was impressed that some evenings Year 10 students were still working at 10.00 pm!

Over now to some of the students:

And now, Gemma Tidman and Jenny Jezzard ….

On the first day of activities we visited a market in a small town near Fougères.

Our assignment involved buying food in the market for our evening meal, which we had to prepare. The thing that made going round the market interesting was the challenge of speaking understandable French to shopkeepers: this kept us on our toes and allowed us to put all the French we had learned into practice. We all had a beneficial and enjoyable time in the market and there was a good atmosphere to the place.

People were selling ducklings and chickens at the market really cheaply but it would have been hard to cook them and we couldn’t bring ourselves to slaughter them! This is just one example of what is different in French markets in comparison to British ones. It was all good fun!

Matthew Dickson and Alexei Bygrave

On the Thursday morning it was another early start to prepare for our morning out in Fougères. After breakfast we had a classroom session in which we practised some questions to ask people in Fougères: although this took quite a long time, it was useful in the end! We sorted out our groups and got on the bus to travel into the centre of Fougères. First of all we visited the “jardin public” (park), which was very pretty, and then we made our way through the town to the main square. Here we split up into groups and went off to practise our French on real French people – this was very interesting! The first lady we spoke to was very friendly and talkative and, after bluffing our way through a conversation, she told us that she’d lived in Surrey for several years and could speak almost fluent English!

We then took a stroll around the town and went into various shops along the way. The streets in Fougères are much cleaner than those you find in a town in England, with hanging baskets and water fountains. After our little exploration we went back to the main square and looked for another victim. This one seemed less enthusiastic but was polite and answered our questions, which is a good thing really! After a successful morning we made our way back through the town to the coach.

Platform 15 Magazine

Personality

As you walk by innocent looks up, a tear trickles down her face. Her large blue

eyes filled with confusion. A weak sense of existence burns in her chest. Her long

black hair falls around her smooth neck. Pale skin, soft to touch, ruby lips pulsing.

A broken window lies before her, shards of glass around her ankles. She rests

against the cold stone wall and peers through the hole. Only to sigh and feel a

longing to disappear. Destruction follows in her wake but still she stays true,

pure. A hand reaches out and strokes her cheek, a wound seers across her

perfection. But instantly heals, no scar, no remnants of any disfigurement. Her

lips are cold as you kiss them, again, caring not for being judged.

By Fraser McQueen

The Platform Team are currently collecting any poetry, prose, art work and photography for the school arts magazine, Platform 15, which will go on sale in September. There is still time for your work to be included. Please submit your pieces either

into the box in the LRC or to your English teachers.

We are also looking for sketches and drawings to accompany the written work. If you are interested, please contact a member of the Platform Team or submit your sketches to the box in the LRC. The Platform Team: Laura Morgan, Annika Pugh, Hannah Ratcliffe, Daisy Nicolaou, Laura Mayes, Amanda Baker, Laura Jewell.

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What is Connexions Direct? Connexions Direct is a new service for young people aged between 13-19 that offers quick access to information and advice on a wide range of topics through one easy to use website. You can also speak to a Connexions Direct adviser by telephone, webchat, email or text message. They are here to listen to you, but can offer confidential advice and practical help too. And if you need even more specialist help they know all the right people.

Connexions Direct advisers are here to take your call from: 8.00am to 2.00am seven days a week.

Call on 080 800 13-2-19 Text on 07766 4 13-2-19

Web chat or email www.connexionsdirect.com

All advice is confidential and you don't have to give a name and address if you don't wish to do so. Information will not be shared with anyone outside the helpline unless you or another young person are in danger or at risk of serious harm. If so, only those who need to know will find out and they will discuss it with you first and offer you lots of support.

If you want to arrange to speak to a local personal adviser face to face, then go to www.connexions-somerset.org.uk for details of your local centre. Barbara Taschimowitz Work Related Learning Co-ordinator

Just to remind you about…

After School Study Support Every Tuesday and Thursday from 3.50-5.00pm

In the Learning Support Department

ALL students WELCOME!

Recycle That Paper!

Mr. Holdsworth and several environmentally-aware members of his tutor group 10EH have set up a paper recycling scheme.

Sedgemoor District Council have been very helpful in providing the school with 25 green collection boxes which have been located at 25 sites around school. The Council have also arranged for the paper to be collected once a fortnight as part of the community collection scheme.

The first collection was on Monday 10 May and was very successful due in no small part to the efforts of Emma Jewell, Steph Flinders, Ashley Jones, Frances Rabbitts and Felicity Pople.

They have provided A4 collection boxes for classrooms and offices, sited the larger green boxes in key areas and coordinated the collection of the paper and the return of the green boxes.

The initiative has received tremendous backing and support from staff and pupils alike and it would be good to consider extending the scheme to other items in the future.

Mr Holdsworth and some members of 10EH

Wessex Walks for The Save the Children Fund Sunday 2 May 2004

It is 7.15 a.m. on a sunny Sunday morning. Dr Ellis and I are meeting all the intrepid walkers who are starting from the Bleadon Hill checkpoint.

We have a varied crew of people walking today under The Kings of Wessex banner. This includes five girls from Churchill school, one boy from Brymore college, another from Wells Blue school and Mr Aung’s son from Fairlands school. I must not forget those stalwart parents, Mrs Paterson and Mr Allen who also started the walk. Only two teachers were brave enough to attempt the walk, Mr Kelly and Mr Holdsworth . Mr Aung, Dr Ellis, Mrs Ireland and myself provided backup for our walkers, keeping them supplied with water, or chocolate, in Mrs Ireland’s case.

We could not have wished for a better day for the walk. The weather was glorious, so we could drink in the clear air and admire the bluebells that carpet the woodlands and verges at this time of year.

The best part for our walkers was arriving at the Bishop’s barn in Wells to register their completion of a 24-mile hike. Then it’s home for a well-earned rest and a full day to recover on the Bank Holiday.

If you sponsored anyone on this walk please make sure you pay them as soon as possible, it’s all in a very good cause . Ian Smith Science

Girls Vs. Boys Netball – A competition! One much-debated question that has been knocked back and forth more times this century than the blame for creating lawn bowls, was satisfied once and for all on Thursday 13 May. Two teams of opposing schools of thought finally got in ‘the ring’ (that is, the boys challenged the girls to a netball match) to put this eternal issue, and cause of many broken bones, to rest. The victors being, of course, the superior gender.

The boys led by captain Jim Hewlett, and donning what can only be described as the crème de la crème of pink sports skirts designed by fashion extraordinaire and part time librarian Mrs Jones, jogged out to the tune of ‘Chariots of Fire’ and quickly began practising bounce passes and roundhouse kicks.

The girls led by captain Katy Rossiter, sidled out in a much more disorderly fashion, with Hannah Williams not disguising the fact that she had just sharpened her nails. Mrs Tibbs, obviously suspecting trouble as she had brought out her six zillion decibel whistle, started the game off.

At the beginning it seemed the girls were clear winners, it becoming increasingly apparent that the rumours of them having trained together for the last eight years weren’t lies after all, but soon the boys began to acclimatise to the girls’ nimbly primbly-ness and delivered the kind of opposition that such a serious event requires.

Soon enough the girls became the underdogs, with admiral defence from Jo Burkinshaw and Mary Bradley not enough to contend with the slickness of Adam Fotheringham and Will ‘Girls Legs’ Higginbottom. Is there any girl who could match the lankiness of ‘Runner Bean’ Randall? Not even the obvious bias of Mrs Tibbs could turn the tide of victory from the boys.

The final score of 14-6 in favour of the boys, proved beyond reasonable doubt what many of us already knew.

For those impartial to such petty quarrels, the event provided an enjoyable lunchtime, made all the better by the excellent commentary by Mr Clark. Dave Garley Head Boy

Sports News from our Kings (and Queens!)

An error at print saw the reproduction of the boy’s sport news section of the February Kings Messenger in the last edition of the April Kings Messenger. Apologies all round;

however, it means there is now even more sport news to catch up on!

RUGBY – Year 9 Team Somerset Cup Runners Up! Soon after the last Kings’ Messenger went to print the Year 9 Rugby team travelled to Burnham R.F.C. to play Churchill School in the final of the Somerset Cup. They had reached the final in magnificent form having lost only one game all season to local rivals Churchill. The Kings of Wessex eventually lost to a convincing performance by the Churchill side that came away worthy champions. However, more can be taken away from the fact that this is the first season that the players from the Middle Schools have joined forces as one team in Year 9 of The Kings of Wessex and to reach the final and be second best in all of Somerset is a tremendous achievement. Well done boys, we look forward to going one better next year. BOY’S HOCKEY- U16

KOW Boys Somerset Hockey Champions Again! The Under 16 Boy’s hockey team successfully made their way through to the final stages of the Somerset Cup to defend their title and they became worthy cup winners when they demolished Whitstone school 8-0 in the final.

The team, made up of a number of boys from Year 9, 10 and 11, have played all their games in tremendous spirit and have honestly outclassed all the teams they have played against this year. Well done to all the players and thank you Mrs Riddick for helping to umpire fixtures throughout the year.

The Kings side score another!

The Kings of Wessex U16 Somerset Cup County CHAMPIONS!

FOOTBALL It seems ages since the football season finished although the majority of the football season weather remained with us for the majority of this term. You missed out on the team news after the final stages of the season due to the error in the last Messenger but I would just like to bring you up to date on one notable team success which has yet to be included in the Messenger. It concerns the achievements of the Year 10 football team. The Year 10 football team had a fantastic season winning the majority of their games. For the second year in a row they had reached the last four of the Somerset Football Cup. They had to travel to Broadlands School, Keynsham, for their semi final match and led 2-0 at half time. The Kings of Wessex were looking like they had secured their place in the final. However, Broadlands scored from the penalty spot in the later stages of the second half, but the Kings side still managed to hold the lead with one minute left on the clock. Disaster struck when the opposition scored again and with little over 20 seconds remaining Broadlands forced the game into extra time. There were no further goals and the game was decided on penalties. The Kings of Wessex lost 3-1 on penalties and came away with their second semi final exit in two years after penalties. Luck must be due a change for next year, but to get to the last four schools in Somerset for two years in a row is a notable achievement.

The Kings side successfully defend a short corner

CRICKET

With test cricket starting well in the West Indies we now look

forward to our campaign for Year 9 and 10 cricket team success this summer, not forgetting the best of luck to all the athletes representing the school this summer.

The Year 9 team got their Somerset Cup run underway two weeks ago with an away match to Churchill. Churchill were put into bat by Kings of Wessex and made a respectable 86 runs on a slow and wet wicket after their 20 overs. Kings then batted and suffered a top order collapse that put the visiting side under much pressure. Eventually the Kings side would lose by 9 runs after they batted out their 20 overs. So out of the cup in their first outing but concentration now turns to all the remaining friendly fixtures. The Year 10 team won their first round of the Somerset Cup tournament away to Wells Blue. The Year 10 side won convincingly and will soon face King Alfred’s, our local Sports College, in the next round. Well done and good luck for your remaining matches. Rod Bell Head of P.E.

U.15 COUNTY CUP HOCKEY Congratulations to the Year 10 Girls’ Hockey team who are joint holders of the County Cup. They met Holyrood in the final on 20

April at Chilton Trinity School. Holyrood started as possibly favourites, having beaten Kings 1-0 in an earlier pool round.

Holyrood took the lead within 10 minutes but Kings equalised

before half time with a goal from Matilda Eriksson. The second half was frantic with Kings getting stronger; however, Holyrood took the lead for the second time and were still 2-1 ahead with three minutes of full time left. A fantastic well marked penalty corner saw Matilda score for the second time to bring Kings level. After extra time and golden goal with the score still at 2-2, it was decided to share the trophy.

Well done to all players! Squad Players:

I. Higgs (Captain), E. Jewel, M. Eriksson, E. Wilkinson, L. Fisher, C.Macauley, J. Jezzard, A. Grant, H. Barkus, H. Rossiter, L. Binning, R. Edwards, K. Nicol, H. Duckworth and A. Bjorkstrand.

U.15 ROUNDERS

There has been excellent attendance at Year 10 Rounders so far this term. Two fixtures have been called off due to poor weather. However, the teams have played three games – losing to Churchill (15-6), winning against Sidcot (26-16) and losing to Rossholme (26-10).

SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Athletics practice takes place every Wednesday lunchtime. Students in Years 9 and 10 took part in an athletics competition against Rossholme School. It was close in both track and field events with Kings winning the track competition and Rossholme winning in the field events. Overall, Rossholme won by two points. There were some early season notable performances:

Natasha Gowan winning the 100m (13.84) and Long Jump (4m.24); Naomi Taschimowitz 800m (3.00.22) and Rebecca Rolfe winning the 300m (53.09). Students also performed well in the Mendip Area Championships held on 26 May 2004 – we’ll update you in the next Kings’ Messenger. Sue Roberts

U.14 ROUNDERS Has got off to a good start with many Year 9 girls hoping to play in the matches. About 18 girls have attended the first two practices but, unfortunately, the weather has been poor and the first two matches were cancelled. The U.14’s have played one game at the point of writing against Churchill, which Kings won 15-11. Practices are on a Thursday lunchtime for any Year 9 girls interested.

U.14 TENNIS

U.14 tennis has yet to get started again owing to poor weather.

Practices are on a Tuesday lunchtime for anyone interested.

Tracey Tibbs

A Tribute to Angela Vivian OBE It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Angela Vivian on Sunday 2 May 2004. Over the last four years Angela had been working in partnership with The Kings of Wessex School in the implementation of its Specialist Technology College Community Plan. In practice this meant that she had worked to extend the “IT for the Terrified” approach to learning computers amongst the community of the Cheddar Valley, in our First Schools for parents and friends of the schools, in sheltered housing and in the homes of individuals who were isolated by virtue of age, disability or rural location. More recently, Angela extended the work of the IT for the Terrified Centre in Wedmore to include a “networked games” café for young people in the area, most of whom are our students. In typical fashion, Angela coerced Microsoft to give software and a large computer company to donate the computers. For Angela it was the people who mattered not the technology and her main purpose in this activity was to see the young people have a productive outlet for their energies and an opportunity to develop their social and management skills. Angela will be sorely missed, but the inspiration of her vision, energy and commitment remains. Simon Williams Assistant Headteacher (e-learning)

Kings’ Notice Board

School Lockers Please ensure that all lockers are emptied by the end of term as any items remaining will be removed. This will allow the lockers to be cleaned during the school holidays. Year 11 students will transfer to lockers in the Sixth Form area.

Amended locker numbers will be allocated on Induction Day for use from the first day of the Autumn Term.

Here’s your chance to clear out those cupboards and lofts!

The introduction of board games in the LRC at lunchtime has been a resounding success, so much so that we now need more sets. If you have any games you no longer use and are willing to pass on to us we would be very grateful.

Obviously, because students also come in to study and use computers, we can only play quiet games such as Chess, Draughts, Scrabble, Dominoes, Upwords, Connect 4 and Battleships or anything similar. Many thanks, LRC Staff

Can you help ?

Term-time accommodation - as a "Paying Guest"- needed for a very pleasant, well-mannered, quiet 16 year-old Sixth Form male student, from the Autumn

Term 2004 for approximately two years.

Please contact Jude Owens, Head’s PA at school to discuss further details if you can offer Sam a room.

William Cray Foundation The Cray Charity exists to provide some financial assistance to students living in the Parish of Compton Bishop and who are engaged in a course of further or higher education. The Charity is prepared to contribute towards the cost of essential books or equipment, or other educational expense.

The amounts involved are not enormous, compared to the total cost of a University degree, but they might make the difference between being able to buy essential items and spending hours in the library.

If you live in the Parish of Compton Bishop, which includes the villages of Cross, Webbington and Compton Bishop, and you need help financing your University degree or College course, please request an application form from:-

Jim Warner, Highways House, Old Coach Road, Cross, BS26 2EQ Telephone: 01934 732735

Your application will be treated in the strictest confidence by the Charity’s Trustees.

24

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Important calendar dates for the remainder of the academic year 2003/2004:

June 2004 Year 10 Work Experience Monday 14 – Friday 18 June 2004 New Parents Evening Wednesday 23 June 2004 at 7.00pm Sixth Form Induction Day - tbc Thursday 24 June 2004 Sports Day Part 1

Wednesday 30 June 2004 - 9.30am–1.00pm

July 2004 Sports Day Part 2 Thursday 1 July 2004 – 9.00-11.00am GCSE & A level exams conclude Friday 2 July 2004 Staff Training Day – School Closed to Students Monday 5 July 2004 Year 10 Totleigh Barton writing course departs Monday 5 – Friday 9 July 2004 Transfer Day (new September 2004 Year 9 students)

Tuesday 6 July 2004

Swimming Gala Wednesday 7 July 2004 at 9.30-1.00pm Year 10 Citizenship Conference ‘Crime’ Thursday 8 July 2004 Year 9 Citizenship Conference ‘The Environment’ Thursday 15 July 2004 Year 10 Reports Issued Friday 16 July 2004 End of Summer Term (and the school year)

Friday 23 July 2004

September 2004 Autumn Term commences Thursday 2 September 2004

PARENTS’ EVENINGS will be held on the following dates: New Parents Tutor Evening Wednesday 7 July 2004 at 5.00-8.00pm

THE KINGS’ MESSENGER will be published on the following date: Thursday 22 July 2004

Year Co-Ordinators: Please do not hesitate to contact your Child’s Year Co-ordinator if you have any concerns or wish to discuss their progress.

Year 9: Mrs M Sammonds Year 10: Mr T Clark Year 11: Mr A Hitt Sixth Form: Mr M Hayward