E-weekly Issue 272 - 5 July 2024

Welcome

What a fantastic end to the term! This week has been full of excitement with our Activities Week, featuring many trips and activities. Highlights included the Year 7 Bushcraft residential, the Year 9 Battlefields Trip, and the Silver DofE assessed expedition. Read all about these trips and many more below.

Despite the rain affecting today’s plans for the sponsored walk and colour run, we still enjoyed a fun final day. We kicked off with a rewards assembly, followed by the exciting announcement of our new musical, The Sound of Music, before finishing term with a special liturgy.

Adding to our celebrations, we’re delighted to announce that Mayfield has been shortlisted for Independent Girls’ School of the Year in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2024, which celebrate excellence in education.

Wishing everyone a joyful and restful summer break!

Warm regards,

Deborah Bligh, Headmistress

In the News This Week...

Year 9 Battlefields Trip to France and Belgium

Year 7 Bushcraft Residential

Year 8 Trip to Bewl Water

Year 10 Trip to Thorpe Park

Silver DofE Assessed Expedition

Year 9 Geography Trip to Eastbourne

Year 7 and 8 Shakespeare Day

Year 10 MFL Day

Year 8 Psychology Day

'Actions Not Words' Day for Year 10

Mayfield Dog Show 2024

OC Shares University Advice

Outstanding Proficiency in English

Law Society Welcomes OC Guest Speaker

Scholars' Year Ends on a High

Year 12 Boarders Enjoy Go-Karting Trip

Chaplaincy News

Sports News

News From the Library

The Wellbeing Hub - What's On This Week

Year 9 Battlefields Trip to France and Belgium

At the time of writing, 39 Year 9 girls are enjoying some well deserved rest and relaxation at Talbot House in Ypres, Belgium, just like the soldiers of the First World War used to do. They have spent the morning learning more about the conflict at the Passchendaele Museum and its recreated dugout and trench experiences, followed by poignant visits to the British and German cemeteries at Lijssenthoek and Langemarck. A particular highlight was a talk from a visiting contingent of Sikh soldiers currently serving in the British Army who explained how they had come to recognise and commemorate the contributions and sacrifices of the thousands of troops from India who had fought for Britain. This evening, after the obligatory visit to the Belgian chocolate shop, we will attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate to pay our respects to the fallen and missing, and lay a wreath on behalf of the School. 

The rest of the trip offers a chance to enjoy some outdoor pursuits (although I think the staff may sit these out after our humiliating defeat to the girls in the tug of war on the first night!!), before a tour of the Somme battlefields. We have been very impressed by the positivity, engagement and curiosity the girls have shown so far and are sure the rest of the trip will be a success. Special thanks to Mr Meek, Mr Ferguson, Miss Auer and Madame Testa for their invaluable support and good company. 

Mr David Warren, Head of History

Below is a poem written by Emilia, of her experiences on the trip:

I have to say I was a bit alarmed
Visiting the once war fields that are now farmed
The physical remains all cleared up
But emotional memories still stuck
The thousands of graves lying unknown
Full of stories and decaying bones
Wasted young daring to run
Into a mouth of forest and guns
How can an early release of shell bombs
Lead to a deadly battle like the Somme
The monuments to remember the dead
Now lying where the soldiers once bled
We only appreciate the bravery they had
For leaving siblings, friends a Mum and Dad
To fight in what is now the Great War
With many quickly becoming a corpse
It leaves you speechless there is nothing to say
So just remember this for today
Each soldier was a growing stem 
So we will, we will remember them.

Year 7 Bushcraft Residential

For Activities Week, Year 7 spent three days at Penshurst Place with The Bushcraft Company. This was an enriching camping experience to remember! Upon arrival, the girls were taught fire-making methods that rewarded them with flame-grilled burgers for lunch! Further fun activities included SOS First Aid, Camouflage & Concealment and ‘Tribes got Talent’. Many thanks to Mrs Demetriou and Mr Walser for accompanying the girls on the trip.

Mr Daniel Smith, Deputy Head of Lower School

Year 8 Trip to Bewl Water

Year 8 had a fun-filled day on Tuesday. They began with laser tag in the morning where they were split into two teams and played a number of games. It was difficult to see who was more competitive – the girls or the staff! They then spent the afternoon out on the aquapark, running around the obstacles and jumping from some impressive heights. Despite the rain, the girls were great sports and thoroughly enjoyed their outing. Well done all!

Year 10 Trip to Thorpe Park

Year 10 girls had a trip to Thorpe Park to end the school year. They enjoyed going on a range of rides, with Colossus, Nemesis Inferno and Saw mentioned as favourites. They also enjoyed socialising and the lovely weather.

Miss Clare Vardon, Head of Mathematics

Silver DofE Assessed Expedition

Last Tuesday, 16 enthusiastic Year 10 students embarked on an unforgettable journey to the picturesque Surrey Hills for their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Assessed Expedition. This adventure was not just about earning their awards; it was a chance to bond, learn, and have a lot of fun along the way!

From the moment they set off, the girls embraced the spirit of adventure. They navigated through the lush landscapes with impressive skill, honing their map-reading and problem-solving abilities. Their determination and teamwork shone brightly as they faced various challenges on the trail, proving their resilience and adaptability.

But it wasn't all hard work! There were plenty of laughter-filled moments that made the trip special. One of the highlights was when the girls took a break from hiking to teach Mr. Smith, Dr. Turner, and Mr. Glazebrook how to do handstands and cartwheels! Their infectious enthusiasm and playful spirit brought smiles to everyone's faces, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come.

The expedition was a tremendous success, showcasing the girls' growth in both skills and confidence. They returned with a sense of achievement and a deeper connection to nature and each other. It was a testament to their hard work and the supportive environment fostered by their teachers and peers.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 10 students for their outstanding effort and positive attitude throughout the expedition. Their journey in the Surrey Hills is a shining example of what can be achieved when we step out of our comfort zones and embrace new experiences. Well done to all the girls and a big thank you to the staff who guided and encouraged them every step of the way!

Year 9 Geography Trip to Eastbourne

On Wednesday the Year 9 students who did not go on the Battlefields trip went to Eastbourne for a Geography-focused day. We were dropped off at Beachy Head for a walk down into Eastbourne and then onto the beach. We did various mini activities to help us experience the places we passed through. These included listening to the sea, making pebble towers on the beach, questionnaires and considering how different people would perceive the same place in different ways. We ended up on the pier, but not before the rain forced us off the beach!

A reminder about some Geography competitions (you don't have to be doing Geography to enter these)...

Royal Geographical Society Young Geographer of the Year

Young Geographer of the Year - RGS

We had the overall winner for the Y12/13 category last year so it would be great to see some of the girls following in her footsteps. They encourage us to hold a school competition first if we expect a lot of entries so please tell me if you plan to enter. Open to all years.

Geographical Association Physical Geography Student Photo Competition

Physical geography student photo competition

Perfect for those who like to get out and take photos. This year's theme is 'The Power of Physical Geography'.

Geographical Association Model Making Competition

Geographical Model Making Competition

For Year 7-9 (and primary age). 

Mr Christopher Adams, Head of Geography

Year 7 and 8 Shakespeare Day

Year 7 and 8 had a brilliant day on Thursday celebrating all things Shakespeare! In the morning the girls learned about the history of The Globe theatre (including the fire of 1613 during a performance of 1613!) and then had a fun workshop exploring 'The Tempest'. The girls also designed programmes for their 'Shakespeare Off By Heart' performances in the afternoon - I'm sure you will agree there was some amazing creativity on display! Finally, we rounded off a great day with our 'Shakespeare Off By Heart' competition. We had performances from 'The Taming of the Shrew', 'Macbeth', and 'Much Ado About Nothing' - to name just a few. Thank you to Mrs Junemann for judging the competition for us and offering valuable feedback on the girls' performances. We are so proud of all the girls who performed so magnificently.

Best duologue (Year 7): Isla and Aurelie 

Best duologue (Year 8): Blanca and Layla 

Best group (Year 7): Amaya, Katya, Emily

Best group (Year 8): Amelia, Amenze, Flo, Emmi

Best comic performance: Isabelle

Best dramatic performance: Charlotte

Best performance overall: Emilia

Mrs Laura Parrett, Second in English 

Year 10 MFL Day

Year 10 enjoyed a celebration of France and Spain for their Modern Foreign Languages Day on Wednesday.   

They enjoyed learning to dance flamenco steps, such as the”marcaje” and the 'llamada' steps with Ana Dueñas from Academia Flamenca in Brighton. The teacher was passionate about flamenco and an inspiration to the girls. As well as the dance steps, she taught them the importance of good posture and of having confidence in themselves. The girls loved this activity, and they felt a great sense of achievement when they put the steps together in a choreographed dance to traditional flamenco music at the end.  

 The girls had fun cooking a traditional Spanish tomato and vegetable dish, Pisto Manchego. They all showed great culinary skills and needless to say that they also enjoyed eating their Pisto on toasted bread, in true 'tapas' style!  

  The girls also took part in a Boules tournament (also called Pétanque in France.) This game is popular in the south of France and was very much enjoyed by the girls, who attempted to place the boule as close to the 'cochonnet' (the jack but literally translated 'piglet') as possible. It was so much fun seeing the groups getting very competitive and trying to hit their opponent's boule away from the jack. The best teams were entered in the quarter and semi finals and chocolate prizes were awarded for the podium!'  

In the afternoon teachers and students gathered together in the Hub to watch the French film “Les Choristes”. 

It was an enjoyable day for all! 

Year 8 Psychology Day

On Wednesday Year 8 pupils enjoyed Mayfield’s first Psychology Day. Morning sessions included an exploration of the brain including explanations of optical illusions, a debunking of myths of the brain and information on the importance of sleep for healthy brain function. Pupils also became participants in a memory experiment learning the importance of deep processing for effective learning and how this knowledge has real life applications for revision. In the carousel sessions pupils could analyse their handwriting, discuss moral dilemmas, discover how we taste with our eyes (and nose for many) and challenge their brain through mirror drawing, solving brain teasers and completing the Stroop Test.

The highlight of the day was our special guest, the illusionist Adam Smith (not to be confused with Mayfield’s Head of Physics!). Explaining the psychology of illusion and misdirection, Adam generously shared the secrets of his cup tricks but left us completely bamboozled by the rest. Most of us are still trying to solve the mystery of the invisible card trick!

Many thanks to Year 8 for their enthusiasm and excitement throughout the day – looks like we may have some budding Psychologists in Lower School…

Miss Charmaine Noyes, Head of Psychology

'Actions Not Words' Day for Year 10

Cornelia Connelly’s motto for her community, “Actions Not Words,” captures her understanding that living the Gospel is the best way of preaching it. For her, the love of God extends itself through a loving embrace of God’s people in ways that are responsive to the needs of each new age.

Year 10 girls enjoyed an Actions Not Words day themed on this Motto. The day began with the girls getting involved in a textiles project to make a banner of the motto and a breathing workshop. This was a very calm and restful activity to begin Activities week.

Then after lunch girls were split into groups for an experience of "Action Not Words".

Some girls went to Holy Cross care home and so many lovely people and enjoyed a grand tour of the beautiful site. Sr Delsiya introduced us and warmly welcomed us. The girls really enjoyed themselves and are keen to go back soon.

A group of nine girls visited Colkins Mill Church to spend the afternoon entertaining a group of ladies and gentlemen with Mayfacs. Between cups of tea, sandwiches and cakes, they gave musical and dramatic performances in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. The girls performed everything from Shakespeare sonnets to Disney songs, with original compositions in the mix and even a couple of Flanders and Swann numbers sung by Dr Ward. As well as performing the girls enjoyed meeting the guests and chatting over cups of tea. Great fun was had by all, and both guests and girls are keen to repeat the experience!

Another group of girls collected and sorted the food bank donations that had kindly been donated by the school community over the past week. They then used some collected money to purchase some toiletries and cleaning products, rice and pasta. Mrs Fletcher and the group of Year 10s delivered their collection to the local foodbank, with help from the Crowborough Community centre arranging a special collection. These donations will go towards helping local residents who are struggling.

Finally a group worked on clearing the St Dunstan's Church graveyard. Armed with rakes, shears, secateurs and litter-grabbers, girls spent a busy afternoon cutting, pulling and scraping at a wide variety of weeds. They worked very hard and made a real difference, revealing plenty of previously-overgrown headstones, disposing of single-use plastic and generally tidying up the graveyard.

Mayfield Dog Show 2024

We had a very successful dog show on Saturday and raised over £400 for the equestrian department. Lots of girls, parents, staff and dogs took part!

The Sausage Challenge proved to be the most hotly contended class and tested dogs' trainability, but there were great results in the dog agility and showing classes too. Requests have been made for this to become an annual equestrian feature!

Many thanks to staff, girls and parents who helped to make it a success.

Jill Barker, Director of Riding

OC Shares University Advice

Outstanding Proficiency in English

Kseniia in Year 12 achieved a remarkable Grade A in her Cambridge Advanced Examination in English this term, having moved here from Ukraine when she was in Year 10. This result is equivalent to C2 level on the Common European Framework and indicates a native speaker level of English. It is the highest level possible and enables people in many countries to teach English and work as professional translators.

"I have enjoyed studying International English at Mayfield during the last 3 years. Even before I came to the school, I thought it was a great language to learn and when I moved to England, I understood how many opportunities it can provide. International English department is really welcoming, and all the teachers are helpful. The best advice for international students who are to planning to take their English exams is to commit to studying and turn the challenges associated with learning the foreign language into opportunities. I would recommend any such student to get involved with as many clubs and societies within the community. I have participated in MUN(Model United Nations) club and conferences which taught me public speaking, debating and communication skills, enhancing my knowledge of English. In addition, I got into the habit of watching and reading almost everything in English, which may seem unusual or challenging at first but it does make a difference in the end." - Kseniia

Two Year 13 students, Pia and Paloma also achieved their Cambridge Proficiency (C2) Examinations this year, having continued their English studies beyond their university requirements. These are qualifications that provide a lifelong validation of language ability and are recognised around the globe. While studying, students also learn a lot about global issues and current affairs while boosting their university study skills set. We strongly encourage all of our international pupils to take advantage of having the International English Department on site and to come and talk to us about different options.

Kasia Kilvington, Head of International English

Law Society Welcomes OC Guest Speaker

 

Scholars' Year Ends on a High

Ivana in Year 10 has been highly commended for her Classics essay on the legitimacy of the British Museum keeping the Elgin Marbles in the Minds Underground essay competition.  This was a super achievement as it is aimed at Year 12 students. Ivana, who is not studying Classical Civilisation, did the essay to explore the issue out of interest.

Ivana's success follows Breanna's recent prize-winning entry for Bloomsbury’s national competition ‘Lit in Colour’. Breanna is a Year 12 Scholar and Academic Prefect. She also recently organised the Scholars’ Stall for Mayfield Day. Sales of postcards showcasing artwork and poems from Year 12 Scholars Iulia, Katie, Charlotte and Lydia, raised £150 for Maggie’s, our whole School charity.

The scholars have had an amazing year and have lots of plans and ideas of things they would like to do next year. 

Kasia Kilvington, Director of Scholars

Year 12 Boarders Enjoy Go-Karting Trip

On Sunday afternoon, seven boarders from St Dunstan's enjoyed whizzing around the track in go-karts. Some were very keen to beat their times from last year! The girls all thoroughly impressed the audience looking on from the café, and indulged in some delicious waffles and milkshakes between races. Back in the boarding house in the evening, the girls and staff all enjoyed some ice cream as a last treat for their final weekend in Dunstan's for the year. 

Chaplaincy News

It was a privilege, at Monday’s assembly, to announce that we have raised almost £11,000 for charity this year, for a number of incredibly worthy causes - Cafod, the Cardinal Hume Centre, the A&B Lourdes pilgrimage, Warming up the Homeless… This year though, our primary recipient was Maggie’s who - to date - we’ve transferred roughly £4,800.

This morning, our girls were due to walk eight miles on their sponsored walk, but sadly this was called off due to the wet weather. However, if you still wish to donate then please click the link below and help us get over the £5,000 mark for Maggie’s!

Donate Here

Also on Monday, Coco, our Charities Prefect, gave us an idea of the direction she would like to take our charitable giving in next term, and it was exciting! As a girls’ school, Coco is passionate about the empowerment and dignity of women.

She is committed to working towards alleviating period poverty, both at home and abroad (and she is right to be, as a recent poll showed that 21% of women in the UK struggle to afford period products). Her vision is that Mayfield School will manage to collect and donate a whopping 2 metric tonnes of period products next year!!! (I’ve done the maths. It’s ambitious, but not an impossible goal!) Look out for more information in early September, and details on how you can support us!

Speaking of empowering women, we are delighted that Debbie and Carol (and possibly even Clemmie!) from the Sandra Jones Centre are returning to the UK in September for another round of desperately needed fundraising. They’ll be spending a few days in Mayfield, speaking to our students - and our parents as well- about the work of their home for Girls in Crisis. We hope you’ll be able to join them, and if you can think of a speaking engagement or fundraising opportunity for them while they’re here, please get in touch!

We are also finalising the details of one or two other charities we are eager to partner with next year, and look forward to being able to share the details of them with you in September - and get speakers in from all of the above, so we can understand the impact our fundraising has on the lives of many people - those next door to us, and those halfway around the world.

Thank you all for your generosity over this past year, and we look forward to offering you many opportunities to contribute to our school charities (and get good value for money while you do it!).

Have a wonderful and restful summer break, and I leave you with the prayer with which we finished our closing liturgy earlier today:

Christ, Teacher and Lord,
Bless all at this school
As we seek to end our year
With the grace you so generously provide.

We give thanks for the students
And the faculty, the administrators,
And all who have contributed
To this year of nurturing and growth.

We affirm all the positive moments,
Of insight, of the excitement of learning,
Of accomplishment, of creativity,
Of laughter, of a sense of community.

We recognize the times of struggle,
Of difficult work, of misunderstanding,
Even of failure–we give these
To you for transformation,
So they can become seeds
That will find fertile soil.

As we leave for the summer,
May we take with us
The knowledge that
You will keep us all
In your embrace so
We may rest and be restored
And so we can continue in
The ongoing discovery
of your Love.

Amen

Mr Ronan Lavery, Chaplain

Sports News

Inter-House Tennis
Well done to those in Year 10 who completed the final Inter-House competition, especially those who have not competed in a while. It certainly made for a fun afternoon! Well done to Team Assisi, Elaine and Fiona who took the win, and a shout-out to Cece for orchestrating the event so well!

Internal Doubles League
We saw the return of the Mayfield Doubles league where 10 girls from Middle School and 12 girls from Year 12 have been battling it out. The Year 9s fell one match short, meaning their league was concluded without a winner. Maybe we can see a final show down in September between Anya & Katya and Emilia & Kitty to see who can claim the top spot. On the other hand, the Year 12 league came right down to the wire, where we saw Zoe & Rikki and Edie & Pippa come joint first! Well done to everyone involved, especially those who have helped with the scoring and have kept the morale high throughout. They know who they are!

Returning in September 2024
Finally looking ahead to next year, we see the return of Hockey Term. Please ensure your daughter has the necessary kit and equipment (stick, gum shield, shin pads) and that her gum shield has been moulded before returning to school. 

In the first few weeks back we have a variety of training sessions and matches happening:

August 31^st - September 1^st Senior Pre-Season 
Thursday 5^th September 1XI vs Cranbrook (5:30 start)
Saturday 7^th September Hockey Training Sessions open to all . Seniors 8:00am -10:00am, U14 & U15 10:45am - 1:15pm, U13 & U12 1:45pm-3:00pm 
Saturday 14^th September Sutton Valance Block, 1XI, 2XI, U15 A & B, U14 A & B

Please find full details for fixtures on SOCS.

As a department, we would like to thank all the girls and parents/guardians alike who have made this such a fantastic year of sport. We wish Miss Starr and Miss Jones well as they move onto pastures new and look forward to what the new academic year will bring. We wish you all a glorious summer break.

News From the Library

First a big 'Thank You' to all the girls who have helped in the library this year, it is such a great help to have you.

The Main School library is being re-organised and the fiction will be on genre-themed shelves from September. Following feedback from the Year 9 & 10 students the genre titles are; Dystopian, Supernatural, Crime, Mystery (including thrillers), Romance, Historical, Teen Romance, Classics, General Fiction, Fantasy (including magic), Sci-Fi, and Give it a Go (including books from adult book awards).

The Yoto Carnegie Book Award winners were announced in June and the winning titles can all be found in the library.

Looking ahead to September and the Southern School Book Awards, please join the Pageturners Book Club if you are in Year 9 or 10 and enjoy talking about books, and would like to be involved in reading and voting for these. We will be joining the Excelsior Book Awards for new graphic novels in the Spring term.

Ms Jan Blagden, Librarian 

The Wellbeing Hub - What's On This Week