E-weekly Issue 251 - 15 December 2023

Merry Christmas!

Welcome

Dear Parents and Guardians,

By the time you receive this newsletter, you will, no doubt, be settled by your fireside, perhaps with a glass of festive cheer in your hand.

As the new boy last April, I quickly caught up with the joyful spirit of Mayfield. I was immediately impressed by the girls’ communication skills and sense of fun. From “Muck Up Day” in the Summer to Live Crib at the end of this term, the girls take the lead. Their organisational abilities are well honed by the time they leave school, superbly prepared by the teachers and tutors for the adult world after Mayfield.

It’s been a year of sadness too, and the school came together to honour the memory of Miss Beary, who for 17 years led Mayfield with such energy and commitment.

A new year will herald the announcement of a new Head, but we in the Senior Management Team, will continue to lead this great school until a newly appointed person takes up the reins.

So, back to the mulled wine and mince pies! We here will raise a glass to you and your daughters and wish you all a very happy family Christmas.

With very best wishes,
Jonathan Forster

Live Crib

Congratulations to Head Girl Lizzie, and the Sixth Form Prefect team, for organising Live Crib this week. Thank you to everyone who gave their time to ensure a successful event and also to the Mayfield Community, who came in their hundreds, with the Chapel full to the brim every evening. I’m not sure how we can top this next year!

Book your tickets for The Addams Family

Book ticketsNOTE: Please use the code 'mayfield24' to book

Nourish Community Foodbank

I am so proud of Year 10 girls Cece, Alex, Honor, Alice and Anna for organising a whole school food bank appeal for Christmas. The fruits of their labour and the generosity of the Mayfield community can be seen in the following photographs. I am also delighted that Mayfield will continue to support Nourish Food Bank throughout the year - making this a sustainable act of charity and kindness. A food bank collection point will be up in the school for when people feel able to donate.

Deborah Bligh, Senior Deputy Head

Update from Deborah Bligh

Cornelia Quote of the Week
We will begin our new term with the following Cornelian Quote as our reflection point:

“Gentleness, kindness and great patience may keep all in peace”

Responding to the Parental Survey
Each week I shall report on an item raise in the survey and our subsequent action.

Staff emails - a good idea to end letters with the staff member's email address was raised and is being adopted in the New Year. A list of all staff can be found on the website.

Catering - whilst there were many positive comments about Mayfield School food, there were a few around choices for vegetarians. This has been passed on to our Director of Hospitality, Christopher Moore, who will be seeking the views of girls in the New Year and taking on board recommendations. He will report back on developments.

Christmas Music Concert

On Thursday 7th December the Concert Hall was packed with parents, students and staff for our annual Christmas Concert. As always this was a festive atmosphere, with a variety of musical performances from various of our School ensembles. The Concert opened with the Schola singing Dr Ward’s setting of ‘Love Came Down at Christmas’, which was followed by an excellent flute ensemble performance of Mike Walton’s ‘Static Rag’ and the ‘Carol of the Bells’. The Guitar Ensemble were next with engaging versions of Bacharach’s ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head’ and the Christmas favourite ‘Walking in the Air’. Duets for strings (Trinity and Charmeine, Y11) and flutes (Annabel, Y13 and Katie, Y12) framed the Session Band’s cover of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ which showcased Harriet’s (Y13) vocals and Joyce’s (Y13) guitar. The Orchestra gave a lively performance of Mozart’s Overture to ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ before the world premiere of Y13 student Clare’s A level composition ‘Arrival’. This piece featured horn solos from the composer, with an atmosphere inspired by the music of Bruckner and film composers such as Hans Zimmer and John Williams. It was very warmly received by the audience. The Orchestra rounded off their act with a medley of numbers from the Christmas classic film ‘Home Alone’, complete with sleigh bells. The concert was brought to a typically festive close with two carols sung by the Lower School Choir.

All the girls should be proud of their participation in this varied and accomplished concert. Thanks to all the music tutors for their hard work this term preparing the girls for concerts and examinations, and to Miss Allen for all her hard work behind the scenes.

Dr Ward, Director of Music

Watch the Christmas Music Concert

Some parents had trouble accessing our St Cecilia’s Day concert, so please find a revised link below:
https://youtu.be/_mCNH9WbnVU

Portrait of Antonia unveiled

On Monday night, prior to the first evening of Live Crib, we unveiled a portrait of Antonia, who will forever be in our hearts. The portrait was commissioned by the school to celebrate her tenure as headmistress of Mayfield and the painting, by artist Jane Allison, will go on permanent display in the Courtyard.

Inter-House Song

Today saw the much anticipated Inter-House Song Competition take place, with Stein getting the judges' vote with their fantastic rendition of ELO's Mr Blue Sky. Congratulations to everyone took part. It was a fitting end to the term.

Getting Technical at Christmas

This week, Year 9 have been busy constructing their circuits for light-up Christmas decorations. The girls completed their decorations by creating and printing 3D Christmas tree designs, with some girls adding flashing LEDs too!

We have also had a busy term in Computer Science with our first GCSE group starting in Year 10.  Staying on the Christmas theme, Year 8 have used Python coding to create Christmas cards, while Year 9 have been experimenting with a 3D design web app to create fantastic Christmas trees and 3D Christmas scenes.

Christmas Jumper Day

Yesterday, the girls and staff wore Christmas jumpers in order to raise funds for the Lourdes Fund for the Arundel and Brighton Diocese. There were some impressive jumpers on display, and even the dogs joined in the fun!

30 Mile Christmas Lunch

Yesterday, our wonderful catering department created a delicious Christmas lunch for everyone to enjoy, with all the ingredients sourced locally. Jennifer, our Head Chef, has worked tirelessly over the last few months, sourcing all the ingredients within a 30 mile radius of School and picking up ingredients in her own time from smaller suppliers who don’t deliver. We are very grateful and would like to thank Jennifer and her team of talented and dedicated chefs for a Christmas lunch to remember!

Festive Food

There has been much festive baking in Food and Nut this week!

• Year 12 Culinary Skills girls had fun decorating their Christmas Cakes.
• Year 10 created some beautifully decorated gingerbread and Year 9 made Chocolate Crinkle Cookies.
• Year 7 made chocolate crispy puddings.

Sue Smeaton, Head of Food and Nutrition

Year 9 Festive Round Up

Over the past week the six Year 9 Forms (and tutors) have been busy preparing their Form Rooms for the annual Christmas Competition. This year saw even more fun, with the introduction of new categories for Inter-Form Christmas Song, Best Snowflake Display, and Most Joyful Christmas Spirit Competition. The competition was extremely tight, and I was very impressed with the effort shown by all. The results are as follows:

• Best festive Spirit -  9IGJ (Miss Jones)
• Snowflake Display winners - 9AFK (Miss Keoghane)
• Best Decorated Winners - 9EKW (Mrs Woodfield)
• Best song and Dance and the 2023 overall winners - 9RWM (Mr Meek)

A huge well done to every pupil in Year 9 for completing their first term in Middle School! It has been an exciting, rewarding, busy, and joyful time.

Merry Christmas 🎄

Year 13 Trip to Sam Wanamaker Playhouse to see 'I, Malvolio'

Here is a description of the evening by Sophie W, Year 13:

This production was a one-man-show where the man played two parts: himself as the actor, and his character Malvolio from 'Twelfth Night'. This was an interactive piece where he effortlessly switched between these roles as needed to give the audience instruction, and then to react to them as his character. For example, the actor would tell us to act rowdy, and then as the strict steward Malvolio he would tell us off, all whilst giving a subtle but humorous thumbs up to let us know we’d responded in the way he wanted.

Year 9 Poetry Slam

This term Year 9 have been learning about the importance of form in poetry. We have read and studied a range of different classic poetic forms from around the world, and challenged ourselves to write within the strictest rules of each. In this way we have composed sonnets, odes, villanelles, rondeaux, ghazal, and a sprinkling of haiku. Girls respond to the difficulties of these restrictions with vigour. The necessary compression of language to fit a form led to more powerfully distilled ideas.

This all culminates in a Poetry Slam at the end of term, in which girls read or recite their best compositions before an audience of peers, and some poets are awarded small prizes. Chiefly inspired by the works of Neruda, Bishop and Shakespeare, this year we heard poems exploring the passing seasons, getting older, fleeting loves, dreams of distant galaxies, and the extraordinary beauty of fruit, both exotic and familiar. Poets and audience were all glorious participants in this festival of literacy, oracy and creativity.

Joanna Staunton, Head of English

Mental Health First Aiders

A couple of weeks ago 13 staff members completed their Youth Mental Health First Aid England training. This accredited course empowers adults working with children to act positively in the event of a mental health crisis. Additionally, the girls can approach our First Aiders for advice if they have any worries about mental health. We now have 30 qualified mental health First Aiders in School, with a list containing even more who'll be trained in the next year! Girls can look out for yellow lanyards which signify that the staff members wearing them are trained in youth mental health first aid.

Dan Smith

'Mayfield on Ice'

Last weekend, the PE Department ran the annual ‘Mayfield on Ice’ trip and took over 70 boarders to the Tunbridge Wells ice rink.

Despite the melting ice causing what can be only be described as a flood, the girls still managed to pull out their best moves. We had skating on one leg, skating backwards, speed skaters, pirouettes, along with the more tentative skaters who were seen gripping on to friends for their dear lives (and of course the girls somehow acquiring multiple seals to push around the rink).

A lot of festive fun was had by both skaters and spectators.

Christmas Hockey

Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, the Middle School Hockey Players (Year 9 and 10) responded to the call out by the Seniors of filling the Senior Hockey Squad’s big 'Santa Boots'.

The Year 10s came with even more inflatables, this time in the form of a giant Christmas Tree and Santa Claus. We also had 'eco friendly' Christmas presents, elves, reindeer and even a Christmas unicorn.

Whilst the weather prevented the Year 9s from getting on the pitch, they demonstrated a more unified - and some may say 'practical' - approach by responding to their themed Christmas themed teams. A huge shout out to Team Elves for winning best dressed team.

So, who did Christmas Hockey best? Well, we will let you decide!

Eventers Challenge Qualifier

Last Sunday, Mayfield’s Eventing Teams were competing at Coombelands in the Eventing Challenge Qualifier. Congratulations to the 80 team – Anya, Eliza, Isla & Mimi – who won their category, and also to the 70 team – Eliza, Isla, Anya & Ava – who finished in 2^nd place. Both teams qualified for the finals at Hickstead, which takes place over May half-term 2024.

DofE Update

The Autumn Term has been a very busy term for Mayfield’s DofE staff.

The Bronze DofE Programme has proved to be as popular as ever with over 65% of the Year 9 cohort signing up for the Bronze DofE Programme.  We were really pleased that many girls decided to continue with their DofE journey and signed up to the Silver and Gold DofE programmes. We also welcomed some new participants who came straight into the Silver and Gold DofE programmes as direct entrants. The Bronze and Silver girls have been working very hard in their A1 sessions on a Thursday afternoon learning all about maps and navigation skills, what kit to take, how to walk safely in the countryside, and how to deal with different types of hazards. 

We are all looking forward to seeing them put in practice everything they have learnt at the Practice and Assessed Expeditions which all take place in the Summer Term. 

9 New DofE Award Holders
9 girls were awarded their DofE certificates and badges at the presentation assembly on Monday.

Congratulations to Matilda (Y13), Sabrina (Y11) and Scarlett (Y13) for completing their Silver DofE Award.

And to Canice (Y10), Grace (Y10), Fiona (Y10), Sofia (Y10), Sammie-Ann (Y11) and Pippa (Y12) for completing their Bronze DofE Awards.

Finally, congratulations to OC Charlotte Norris whose Gold DofE Award was approved by the DofE HQ this week. Charlotte will be receiving her Gold DofE Certificate and badge at a celebration event at a Royal Palace next year.

Dog Agility

This week, we held a Christmas Dog Agility competition at our Equestrian Centre. The resident dogs rather than horses competed in both dressage and jumping rounds!

Winners of the Maths Competition

Thank you to everyone who took part in the two Maths Christmas Competitions.

The mathematical name for the Christmassy tissue box is Rhombicuboctahedron.

Well done to Greta from Year 12 who gave the closest answer.

Here are the answers to the Christmas Dingbats
There were several correct answers and so prize winners were pulled from a hat.

Congratulations to the following winners:

• Years 7&8: Tabatha
• Year 9: Udochi
• Year 10: Cheryl
• Sixth Form: Angela
• Staff: Mrs. Curran

Sally Howie, Deputy Head of Mathematics

Message from Ronan

A Christmas Prayer

Not gold, nor myrrh, nor even frankincense
would I have for you this season,
but simple gifts, the ones that are hardest to find,
the ones that are perfect,
even for those who have everything (if such there be).

I would (if I could)
have for you the gift of courage,
the strength to face the gauntlets
only you can name,
and the firmness in your heart to know
that you (yes, you!) can be a bearer of the quiet dignity
that is the human glorified.

I would (if by my intention I could make it happen)
have for you the gift of connection,
the sense of standing on the hinge of time,
touching past and future
standing with certainty that you (yes, you!)
are the point where it all comes together.

I would (if wishing could make it so)
have for you the gift of community,
a nucleus of love and challenge,
to convince you in your soul
that you (yes, you!) are a source of light
in a world too long believing in the dark.

Not gold, nor myrrh, nor even frankincense,
would I have for you this season,
but simple gifts, the ones that are hardest to find,
the ones that are perfect,
even for those who have everything (if such there be).

- Rev. Maureen Killoran

My thanks to the Mayfield community, students, families, staff, for your warmth and support during this past term. I wish you all a happy, holy and above all- restful- Christmas break.

God bless,
Ronan Lavery