E-weekly Issue 206

Message from Miss Beary

This week has been a momentous one, as we marked the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II: a great figurehead and a role model for women of faith and reason. It was a moving occasion, offering time for pomp and circumstance, for prayer and reflection, but also for celebration. I think the late queen would have been against over-sentimentalising and very much in favour of looking forward and life going on. One of our most important tributes to her, I think, is to continue to educate global citizens. 

This year we are a School community of girls from 30 different nationalities: from Europe, the Commonwealth and beyond. Over the coming weeks and months we will build up a bonds of shared experience, made stronger and enriched by the variety of cultural experiences each individual brings. Eating together has always been an important part of Mayfield life and as each girl takes her place at the table, and is tempted to try new dishes - literally and metaphorically- I hope she will feel sustained and inspired by her peers and teachers, and be confident that her contribution is valued. 

This week saw us welcome Debbie and Carol, representatives of the Sandra Jones Centre in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, our Whole School Charity for the year. Their testimony on the work of the Centre was both heart-warming and heart-breaking; I know many girls listening were moved: I hope this engagement will be reflected in our fundraising over the year. It is always good to have a personal link with a charity and to know exactly where your money is being spent. I am confident that every penny we raise will be accounted for and we will be able to see how we are helping to make girls’ lives better. 

Our 150^th anniversary initiatives continue and I hope that we can find some way of including parents and friends… I look forward to hearing from you. Are you up for the Sr Jean challenge?! 

Michaelmas Fair next Saturday

We look forward to seeing parents, pupils and staff at the Michaelmas Fair next Saturday, 1 October, from 10,00am. Please come and support this event, organised by the Friends of Mayfield, with proceeds going towards school projects. We have a lots of stalls ready for you - we do hope you can make it.

V&A visit

48 pupils studying Ceramics and History of Art visited the V&A museum last Saturday, providing a fantastic opportunity to find artefacts to influence their own project work.

A level Geographers head to the coast

Last Friday our A Level Geographers investigated sediment budgets along the Sussex coast between Newhaven and Seaford. Field data was collected to test a range of hypotheses. The girls also undertook flood risk mapping and interviewed residents about their perceptions of coastal flood risk.

Steve Gough, Geography Department

Inspiring a future generation of saxophonists

This term in Music, the girls in Year 7 are learning how to play the jSax! Through learning an instrument, they are also learning about pitch and rhythm in a fun and practical way. We hope that it might inspire some future saxophonists. Could you be the next Charlie Parker or Candy Dulfer?

If you are interested in music lessons here at Mayfield, please contact our Music & Arts Administrator, Miss Allen; rallen@mayfieldgirls.org

Hopefully, we can showcase their work at the end of this term!

Mrs Le Riche, Teacher of Music 

Year 12 Teambuilding

At the start of term, we took all the Year 12s to Bowles Activity Centre so that the students could get to know each other better. Working in tutor groups they tried climbing, archery and high ropes. Some were a bit apprehensive, but they got lots of encouragement from fellow tutees to go outside their comfort zones. An enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

Thank you to all the staff at Bowles and the Year 12 Tutor team, and a special thanks to Year 12 Liv for being chief photographer.

Mrs Rachel Davies, Deputy Head of Sixth Form

Sister Jean’s 150 Questions Challenge

The Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that Sister Jean's 150 Questions Challenge started last week with Round 1. The Challenge comprises of ten rounds of 15 questions each, designed to inspire and challenge our girls from Year 7 to Year 10 as they celebrate Mayfield’s 150th Anniversary mathematically!

In the first round, our Year 8 girls did particularly well, showing great enthusiasm and excellent number skills. The results can be found on the Maths department board next to room 9.

Mrs Carpinato and Mrs Motoc

The return of Hockey Saturdays

On Saturday the senior squad played a training game with Kent College Pembury, in what was originally meant to be a 1XI and 2XI game, with girls playing together across the squads for 6 blocks of 12 minutes. The focus was on implementing the strategies we've been working on in practice, and it was brilliant to see them all in action. The hard work that the girls had put in was evident and they played good hockey, creating opportunities in front of goal and defending calmly, working as a unit.  A big shout out to Maddie, Tilda, Darcey, Helly and Cesca in year 11 who were selected for the 1XI Squad for the first time this week and finally, a congratulations to Tilly who has been named 1XI Captain and Poppy Vice-Captain.

Miss Imogen Jones, Teacher of PE

Football news

Lower School will be kicking off their Football campaign next Tuesday. We wish them the best of luck as they travel to Skippers Hill for a 5.15pm start. Parents are welcome to come and watch. Please check SOCS to access the team sheet and let Mr Walser know if you will be picking them up from Skippers Hill. 

This week we took 16 Year 7 and 8s to train over at Crowborough Football Club. This is part of continuing commitment to build the Girls’ Football programme as well as maintaining links with the local community.

Crowborough Football Club offer a variety of sessions to girls that are of a ‘turn and play’ nature, and as a local community club are building their presence in local leagues from U10-U13 age groups. This is in line with their plan of having a ladies first team in 5 years’ time. For more information please ask Mr Walser for a point in the right direction.

Jordan Walser, Head of Football

Sunday Skiing!

On Sunday 18th September three of the Mayfield Ski team travelled to Chatham to take part in the English Schools Skiing Championship qualification round. Emilia in Year 7, Imogen in Year 8 and Darcy in Year 11 have all raced before at Chatham so should have found some confidence in the familiarity. It was an early start with 08:30 registration, and after a short opportunity to practise the course, the races began. Darcy led out first in a fast run but was unfortunately disqualified due to a missed gate. Both Imogen and Emilia followed with solid runs of 27.14 and 22.09 respectively. All 3 girls improved on the second run. Their times were: Darcy 20.02, Imogen, 26.73 and an impressive 21.90 for Emilia in Year 7. Congratulations to all 3 and thanks for the support from the parents!

Georgina Fletcher

Welly Walkers go blackberry picking

This week the Welly Walkers set off to find the last of the blackberries, we managed to fill half a basket and ate quite a few too. Milo and Pickle were not so keen...

Next week we are conker collecting!

Mrs Gibson, International English Teacher

Yaa attends National Youth Theatre

Yaa in Year 12 tells us about what she got up to in the holidays. “This Summer, I had the privilege of attending a national youth theatre summer intake course. The course was two weeks, located in Northampton. I attended the Royal and Derngate theatre every day with a group of 29 other 14-17 years olds. I worked with an amazing course director and assistant director, and they, along with the students I was working with, made it highly enjoyable. We would play games, partake in physical theatre, and devise pieces. At the end of the course, we created a heart wrenching final piece and presented it to the other groups, around 250 students and parents. It was demanding, nerve wrecking and stressful at times, but overall, rewarding. An amazing community was established within my group. Everyone was so kind and being around such talent taught me so much and I really grew as a performer. It was an incredible experience and one I will never forget. Now I am an official member of the national youth theatre, and I cannot wait to get involved with all the opportunities they have on offer, such as auditions, open mic nights and more”.

Sixth Form Charity Day next Friday

Please bring some change in to school next Friday to support the Sixth Form Form students who are raising money for Young Minds and the whole school charity, The Sandra Jones Centre, which is a home for abused and abandoned children in Zimbabwe. 

Girls are encouraged to wear yellow in support of Mental Health awareness and pay £1. House Points and prizes will be awarded for the best yellow outfits! You will also have the opportunity to buy cakes, sponge the teacher, try space hopper races, colour run and lots more!

Thank you for your support.
Rachel Davies, Deputy Head, Sixth Form

The Sandra Jones Centre's visit to Mayfield

Ronan reflects on their visit
I was truly humbled by Mayfield’s response to Debbie and Carol’s visit last week. Students, staff and parents were incredibly welcoming, and very keen to help this vital and life-saving mission. Sissy, our amazing charities prefect, shares some more details below. You can also watch the short video to hear, in Debbie’s own words, just how affirming their visit was. Thank you also to everybody who reached out to me with offers of help, fundraising or sponsorship. Your generosity is phenomenal. Together we can save the SJC!

Ronan Lavery, Lay Chaplain

Message from Sissy, Charities Prefect 
After the amazing visit from Debbie and Carol last week there have been a lot of questions about what can be done to help the Sandra Jones Centre.  Just to remind everyone of what they do, Debbie and Carol are part of Singabantwana, a private voluntary organisation which aims to help end child abuse and exploitation in Zimbabwe.

There are some great ideas being put forward and combining these and the upcoming charity days we hope to raise as much money as possible. Debbie briefly mentioned in the assembly about the opportunity to sponsor a child and a few people have come forward asking how they can do this - so I thought would send out some more information for those interested!

To sponsor a child it is $50 a month (this is around £30-£40 per month). This offers multiple benefits to the child you sponsor, as it’s regular funding that the SJC can rely on to ensure that the needs of the child are met, as well as an opportunity for you to let a child know that they are a part of your family - you can write to them and send them gifts etc.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child you can email Debbie at debbie.brennocks@gmail.com where she can help you with all the details. If you decide to do this we would love it if you could email myself or Ronan to let us know!

If anyone wants to know any more about Singabantwana they can have a look at the website singabantwana.org where you can see all the incredible initiatives run such as Kids Kan, Malibongwe Primary School and She Can.

This is truly such an amazing organisation and every little helps.  We all have the chance to make a huge difference to a child, by contributing whatever we can.

Thank you,
Sissy

Message from Debbie, SJC
Hear from Debbie

Reminder to parents re School photos

The deadline to order your daughter’s individual photo is Tuesday 4^th October.  If you have lost your ticket please just email support@bentleyphoto.com and they will be able to help. 

Order your photo

Hear from Polar Explorer Alex Hibbert

 Our first Cornelian lecture of the academic year is on Tuesday, 27th September and is by Alex Hibbert, the polar explorer. Alex is the world record holding polar traveller who has skied further on an unsupported Arctic journey than anyone in history. Alex is also a successful writer and photographer and we are very much looking forward to hearing about his inspirational experiences and adventures.

The talk will take place in Gresham Conference Room starting at 19:00. All are welcome, to register please click on the link below by Monday, 26th September.

Register your place

Musical Party at Mayfield

A Ghost, A Devil and Jean Harlow Too – A Celebration of Young Classical Musicians

On Saturday the 15^th of October the School will be hosting a celebration of young classical musicians in the Concert Hall, starting at 7.30pm. The concert is being presented by the Mayfield Festival and the performing artists were all finalists at this year’s Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, which was held at the School in late April and early May. This is therefore another great opportunity to experience a live performance by these very talented young musicians who are in the early stages of their professional careers and who are on track to become the stars of the future.  The repertoire for the night includes works by such titans of classical composition as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Liszt and the second half of the concert will start with a ghost, end with a devil and also feature Jean Harlow!

Book your place