E-weekly Issue 228 - 21 April 2023

Our girls and staff exploring Dubai during their recent Cricket & Netball Tour

Welcome

Cricket and Netball Tour to Dubai

Over the Easter break 24 Mayfield girls and five members of staff ventured out to Dubai for the much-anticipated Cricket and Netball Tour. The trip was a resounding success with two teams in each sport training and competing against a mixture of local teams, clubs and other touring school sides. The sport was demanding, highly competitive and a real opportunity to learn and develop. Pairing such a sporting opportunity with some fantastic excursions and opportunities to appreciate all that Dubai has to offer made for an exceptional ten days. We even got the chance to travel to Abu Dhabi for a netball festival! 

A huge thank you from the staff who attended for how exceptionally the girls performed and represented Mayfield whilst we were away, and the parents for their support of the tour both at home and out in Dubai. A special mention, of course, to Miss Starr for all her efforts over the past few years in ensuring the tour finally was able to go ahead and was such an amazing experience for everyone involved.  

Mrs Georgina Fletcher

History of Art, Schola and French Trip to Paris

On the final morning of the Spring term 21 Sixth Form students (plus two younger members of Schola) left School for St Pancras International in London to catch the Eurostar and encounter art, music, language and culture in Paris. They were accompanied by Dr Weddell, Head of History of Art, Dr Ward, Director of Music, Mme Testa, Head of French, and Mr Benians, Music Tutor and organist.

We stayed just near the Marais, at Hotel Alhambra, close enough to walk down shopping streets to our first destination, the Musée Carnavalet, to study the history of Paris. On Thursday after a somewhat cramped journey on the Metro, and a more pleasant walk through the Tuileries Gardens and across the Seine, we visited the converted railway station that houses the Musée d’Orsay. Here there were many 19^th century paintings studied for History of Art A Level, including Monet’s ‘Poppies’. We lunched at a typical Parisian brasserie where, as well as the usual ‘frites’, the girls tried snails or escargots de Bourgogne for French A Level students

In the afternoon we walked to the Musée des Arts Decoratifs to see collections of jewellery and design from the medieval to contemporary period. There was time for shopping in the wonderful Grande épicerie de Paris for food gifts as we walked to the Eglise Notre-Dame de Grâce de Passy. Here Schola Cantorum conducted by Dr Ward gave a splendid charity concert in aid of refugees. The Church had very good acoustics for their beautiful voices and for the organ, ably played by Mr Benians. On Friday morning, to avoid rush-hour on the Metro, we walked to the Musée du Louvre, enjoying the sights and sounds of Paris. Here we went first to view Leonardo’s ‘Mona Lisa’ – with varied reactions from the group. Then we viewed the huge 19^th century history paintings studied for History of Art A Level – even more impressive seen at first hand. We were lucky with the weather which was fine throughout our trip, and we managed to avoid the threatened riots which deterred the King!

Dr Joanna Weddell, Head of History of Art

Health and Wellbeing Centre Update

The construction of the Health & Wellbeing Centre is progressing well, with the project due for completion before the end of the calendar year. The foundations were finished over the Easter break ready for installation of the Cross Laminated Timber frame that is arriving next week. The frame will take under a month to assemble, after which work on the stone brick facades will commence.

The Centre will offer a welcoming, safe and discreet environment supporting students’ physical and mental wellbeing. It will house treatment and consultation rooms, a four bed dormitory, as well as space for lessons on health and wellbeing, and a courtyard garden to the rear. This long, low-lying building will create a new northern boundary to the school campus which rises up the hill behind it.

Lower School Social

Yesterday, the Lower School community enjoyed their social event at Hollywood Bowl in Tunbridge Wells. Games of bowling were played in a competitive but joyful spirit. After enjoying dinner, the girls won themselves some sweet prizes! Many thanks to Mrs Baker, Miss El Adel, Mrs Fletcher, Miss Keoghane, Mr Marshall, Miss Starr and Mr Walser for accompanying the girls. I promised not to mention Miss Starr's bowling score so I won't...

Mr Dan Smith, Deputy Head of Lower School

University Challenge
 

Yesterday evening a Sixth Form team from Mayfield took part in a 'University Challenge' style competition, based on the well known TV programme, competing against teams from other local schools. The girls did very well, winning their first heat against Skinners'. They just missed out on a place in the final after a very hard fought semi final. The students really enjoyed taking part and meeting students from other schools in the area in a fun and intellectually stimulating environment.

Brianna wins Golden Boot award

During the Easter break, Brianna in Year 7 went to The Netherlands with the West Kent District team, playing in the U13 International Youth Football Tournament against teams from The Netherlands, Denmark and England. West Kent won 2 games, drew 2 and lost 1, and Brianna got the ‘Players’ player’ trophy for her contribution throughout the tournament, which is a fantastic achievement.  

Tennis update

The U13A team travelled to St Andrews on Wednesday for their first Aegon Tennis match of the season. The girls played well and had some close matches, however St Andrews came away with the overall win. Well done to Anya, Martina, Lily and Kitty, an exciting season ahead!

Imogen Jones, PE teacher​

Upcoming Cornelian Lecture

Save the Date – Music Scholars’ Evening

Thursday 4^th May, 19:00 - Gresham.  Please email Rebecca Allen on rallen@mayfieldgirls.org if you would like to attend.

News from the Library

We have had some new books arrive in the Library over the Easter break. There are some great new fiction titles for the main Library, adding to the fantasy/mythology genres, as well as some new murder mystery titles for those of you who enjoy crime and detective stories.

Interested in upcycling your wardrobe and helping to beat ‘fast fashion’ with sustainability? Take a look at the ideas in Fix Your Fashion. For those studying or interested in psychology, the Library now has titles from the Psychology recommended reads. Natives by Akala, charts the history of race and class in late 20^th century Britain, from his personal perspective. A very accessible read on social history.

There is also a selection of new titles for the Lower School Library, the long awaited Scarlet & Ivy, voted for by the pupils as a title they wished to have added to the collection, and from Imperial College London, an inspiring book of stories demonstrating the wide ranging application of engineering.

Jan Blagden, Librarian

New Head Chef

Congratulations to Jennifer Munnery on her appointment as our new Head Chef. Jennifer has taken over from Unity Harrison – thank you Unity for all your amazing food over the last few years and welcome Jennifer.

Ronan’s Reflection

“And they recognised Him in the breaking of bread.”

At Mass this Sunday, the third Sunday of the Easter season, we hear the familiar story of Cleopas and his companion walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35) Despondent and hopeless, they were joined on the road by a stranger, who greeted them, and then for the next seven miles, broke open the scriptures and explained them to the pair.

On arrival at Emmaus, they asked the stranger to join them for a meal. And at the table, Luke tells us, “he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him.” He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and shared it, just as he had done at the Last Supper. And in that action they recognised him. Not once did he demand, “don’t you know who I am?” Instead, his identity was revealed in the gentle action of Holy Communion. Jesus offers himself to us. He waited for Cleopas and his companion to invite him in before joining them for the meal.

And so it is when we attend Mass. The dialogue on the road, exploring the scriptures (Liturgy of the Word), leads us to the climax of the story- the Eucharist. We can say that Scripture lights the path, and that path leads to the Eucharist. To Jesus gently and undramatically becoming present to us- not symbolically, or as a memorial, but in person, in the flesh, albeit in the form of bread and wine.

And it is precisely because he comes so quietly to us that it is so easy to miss him, to fail to recognise him. To fail to be moved by the privilege of participating in the Eucharist. To fail to appreciate the offer of Life, abundant Life, in the celebration of the Mass.

When, however, we do recognise him in the breaking of bread, we cannot help but be moved. The disciples, on recognising Jesus, jumped up and immediately hurried back to Jerusalem to share the Gospel, the Good News. For that is what Holy Communion is: spiritual food for the journey. It is an encounter with Christ, in Word and in Sacrament, which sends the Christian out to witness. We come to Mass to be renewed, to rest and to find encouragement, and to recognise Jesus Christ, once again, in the breaking of the bread.

This weekend, perhaps we might make a special effort to attend Mass, to listen to the readings in the Liturgy of the Word and ask how they might light our path to the Eucharist? Then we might try to participate in the Eucharist, to look again with fresh eyes, as Christ, ever so gently, invites us once more into his loving presence.

Mass this Sunday is at 11:30am in the School Chapel, and on Tuesday at 6pm. All members of the Mayfield community are welcome to join us.

Mr Ronan Lavery, Chaplain

News from The Friends

Year 13
We thought it would be nice to celebrate the end of our time at Mayfield with a delicious raclette evening at The Old Auction House in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 11th May, 7:30pm. The cost is £20/head plus drinks.

We hope that you are free to join us, it would be lovely to all get together to bid farewell to school life.  Please RSVP Meredith (portermeredith@hotmail.com) & Sheenagh (sheenagh68@yahoo.co.uk)

From the School Shop

Welcome back, I hope you have all had a lovely Easter break.

New In
Sister Jean’s homemade marmalade is now available from the School Shop. It Is delicious and made from 100% natural ingredients, with all proceeds donated to Mary’s Meals charity, a very worthwhile cause. If you want a pot, you can either just pop in with your £2.50 (cash only please, we cannot accept credit cards or on account) and pick one up or send the money in with your daughter.

Sister Jean asks that if you have any empty jam jars and lids please bring them to the School Shop and I will ensure they get to her. If we can recycle this will help to keep the costs down as well as help the environment.

Revision
I hope we have revision aids to suit everyone, but if there is something you think we should carry please see me or email sbowles@mayfieldgirls.org.

We carry the clear pencil cases required for the exams and some button batteries for calculators as well as a full range of stationery and math sets etc. If you think your calculator needs a new battery, please allow at least 24 hours for me to change it. PLEASE NOTE – not all the calculator backs are easy to get off and in the past we have been unable to un-screw the tiny screws from a few of them.

Lost Property
There is a huge amount of un-named lost property on the bench opposite the school shop and in a plastic box on the floor by the side. All girls were emailed at the start of term with pictures. Items left at the end of next week will be disposed of.

Named lost property is in the School Shop and all girls with those items were emailed at the start of term - please remember to check your emails.

Mrs Susan Bowles, School Shop Manager