E-weekly Issue 296 - 21 March 2025

Welcome

This week, I had the pleasure of hosting, alongside Mrs Aherne, a supper for our wonderful Prefect Team. It was a delightful occasion and a chance to express gratitude for their outstanding work this year. They have been fantastic role models for our younger girls, and the evening was filled with laughter, great conversation, and a significant amount of joyous dancing!

Tonight, I am very much looking forward to our Dance Show 2025! It’s always a highlight to see so many girls taking part, and activities like dance provide a fantastic opportunity to unwind, express creativity, and share special moments with friends. We are excited to share that we intend to expand our dance offering further—watch this space for more news soon!

As we head into the final week of term, there is much to look forward to. Our skiers set off for Italy, Schola heads to Vienna, and our sportswomen embark on their trip to Dubai. We also have the much-anticipated Muck Up Day and Inter-House Drama to round off the term in style.

Wishing everyone a wonderful final week!

Deborah Bligh, Headmistress.

In the News This Week...

Launching the Cornelian 150^th Anniversary Competition!

On Monday, we launched this year's Cornelian Competition, set up in 2013 to celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of the founding of the School, on the theme of 'Hope'.  Open to all year groups, entrants are invited to respond to the prompt in any creative way that they would like to; previous years' entries have included ceramic and textile pieces, film, poetry, paintings, photography and journals.

This year, we'd like to make it even more interesting by inviting parents and/or grandparents to enter in a separate category and we will also be setting up a staff competition to run in parallel. There could be an entry from more than one family member, for example a parent and a grandparent. While there will only be one cup to be won by a pupil entry on Mayfield Day, all shortlisted entries will be exhibited and celebrated, and all entries will be awarded house points. This is a great way to introduce a bit of healthy competition at home, lots of discussion around the theme, while also contributing towards your daughter's house point count. 

Competition Brief
Any parents or grandparents who would like to submit an entry should complete the entry form (see link below) and then send their entry to kkilvington@mayfieldgirls.org by Thursday 1^st May. Please also feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the competition in the meantime. It is optional for pupils to enter but Academic Scholars in particular are strongly encouraged to do so. The more entries we have, the better and more interesting the competition will be!

Entry Form

Mrs Kasia Kilvington, Director of Scholars

Year 10 Debating at Bede's

Our Year 10 debaters had a great time on Thursday morning at Bede's Senior School. They were invited to a stimulating debating seminar and competition with other schools in the Wealden partnership.

The girls debated challenging motions including 'This house would allow NHS services to use trained AI bots to give mental health treatment plans to patients' and 'This house believes that a plastic tax should be levied on every product packaged in or containing plastic'. They were introduced to the fast and furious 'British Parliamentary Style' of debating and worked in teams of four to propose or oppose the motions. Debating alongside three other schools, the girls had to think on their feet, respond to points of information and wow the judges with their oracy skills! Year 10 told me that 'it was fun to come together as a debating club and use our skills against other schools'. Thank you very much to Bede's for hosting such an enjoyable morning of friendly competition! 

Mrs Laura Parrett, Second in English

Assisi Feast Day

On Wednesday, Assisi held a feast day to raise money for the 'Bright Ideas for Tennis' charity. The day started with a liturgy in the chapel where Assisi students learnt about the life and work of St Clare of Assisi. This was followed by a sweet sale in Lower School and a bake sale in Middle School.

The highlight of the day was the Sponge the Teacher event, run in combination with the Charity Committee, which raised a large amount of money in a very short time! Approximately £800 was raised on the day and will help bring local venues and Special Education Needs and Disability schools together to provide access to free weekly tennis coaching for local children. Thank you to all those who took part and donated to such a worthy cause.

Mr Meek, Head of Assisi

Girls Undertake LAMDA Exams

This week 29 girls took LAMDA examinations in our designated LAMDA studio (Drama Studio 2). These exams heralded the debut of the new LAMDA syllabus with some really exciting new monologues and duologues. Girls performed a fantastic repertoire of texts, from Shakespeare to Restoration to contemporary pieces. 

In the photos below we have Annette & Emma from Year 10 performing the roles of two teenagers experiencing love and loss in Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini's play 'Sleepova'; this was part of their Acting Grade 5 examination. Also included are Laura & Bebe from Year 13 in their final ever LAMDA performance: 'You Stupid Darkness!' by Sam Steiner, a play set in a post-apocalyptic call centre, performed for their Acting Grade 8 Gold Medal examination. 

Results will be released in a few weeks' time so watch this space! LAMDA is a brilliant way to further your passion for drama and/or public speaking. You can take solo lessons, or work with a friend as a duologue, developing skills in vocal technique, confidence building and exploring different roles. The higher grades also provide UCAS points, and our LAMDA results at Mayfield are consistently high. If you are interested in taking LAMDA lessons, please contact Miss Allen (rallen@mayfieldgirls.org).

Mrs Jen Junemann, LAMDA Teacher

MESSy Car Boot Sale for Charity

Many thanks to all who supported MESSy's car boot sale on Tuesday. We're still waiting for the final figures for money raised, but there was plenty of interest in the array of clothes, cakes and other things for sale. The fire alarm went off half way through, but this was turned to our advantage as cakes were taken down to the assembly point and sold as everyone returned into school! The money raised was split between Folly Wildlife Rescue, based near Tunbridge Wells, and Books2Africa. Well done to Chloe and the rest of the team for publicising and organising this so effectively.

Mr Christopher Adams, Head of Geography

Sports News

Kings Canterbury Block
Last weekend there was a block fixture against Kings Canterbury with teams from Years 9-13 turning out to play. It was a very successful weekend, with three wins, one draw and only two losses - Mayfield took the victory overall. It was brilliant to see the progress all year groups have made, with strong Netball being played by all. This coming weekend we have the final block fixture of the term against Worth School. 

Upcoming Fixtures and Events
Friday 21^st March - Scholars' and Invited Performers' Dance Show
Saturday 22^nd March - Netball vs Worth
Monday 24^th March - Swimming vs Benenden U13,U15,U18

After Easter:
Wednesday 23^rd April - U13A Cricket vs Bede's
Saturday 26^th April - Cricket vs Eastbourne College, 1XI, U15B
Saturday 26^th April - Athletics Diamond League U15, U18

Kit Reminder
As we come to the end of term, all kit and equipment should be taken home. For the Summer term the girls should be prepared with athletics shorts, polo and trainers, cricket trousers for matches with polo, a tennis racket for Tennis & Racket skills lessons and a water bottle for all sports lessons. Layers, hats (available from the school shop) and sun cream as needed with the weather should also be a part of their Summer term kit bags.

Super League Netball Trip

On Sunday, 38 girls headed up to the Copper Box Arena in London to watch the Super League Netball, with London Pulse playing against Nottingham Forrest. We enjoyed fantastic courtside seats that included complimentary snacks and drinks! It was great to be so close to the action, where London Pulse triumphed against Nottingham Forest 73-51.

Post-match, the girls had the opportunity for a meet and greet with the players, asking questions and taking selfies with the team, including England Roses' Funmi Fadoju (GD), Liv Tchine (GS), Halimat Adio (GK), Zara Everitt (GD/WD) and Alicia Scholes (WA/C).

Players Tyler Orr and Nichole Breedt had visited Mayfield to deliver a workshop for the girls a couple of weeks prior, so it was great to be able to watch them in action on the court demonstrating the skills they had taught the Mayfield players. Tyler and Nichole also returned this week, to deliver a second workshop with the girls heading on the Dubai trip next week, and another workshop with Year 10 & 12 students. 

A huge thank you must go to Miss Isaac for organising such an inspiring trip!

Miss Sophie Auer, PE Teacher

Library News

On Wednesday, we welcomed performance poet/rap artist Karl Nova to Mayfield. Karl captured everyone’s attention with his personal approach, honesty and enthusiasm for the written and spoken word. The girls were gripped as he explained his journey into rap and how important poetry became as a medium for self-expression. Reciting his poetry received much applause from the audience!

During A1 some Year 9 girls enjoyed a workshop discussing the links between songs and poetry, then were given a structure, some tips and tricks, and eight minutes on the clock to create a quatrain on any subject that was personal to them.

This was a wonderful visit, enjoyed by staff and girls alike. Feedback included:

“It was fun!”

“I loved it, he was really great.”

“I really enjoyed listening to Karl Nova talk to us about what rap really is.”

Ms Jan Blagden, Librarian

Chaplaincy News

Next Week's Daily Prayers

Daily Prayers 24-27 March
News from Mayfield
We are very grateful to Canon Jonathan Martin for coming to Mayfield twice this week from his parish in Lewes, to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or even a sympathetic ear) to the entire school community. 

The boarders' Reconciliation service on Tuesday evening reminded us that sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. But as sons and daughters of God, loved for all eternity, we are invited to hand over our sorrows, struggles and pain to Jesus Christ. Let us pray that this Lenten season be a journey of healing and reconciliation for all who seek it. 

Mass on Sunday is at 11:30 in the school chapel. We look forward to welcoming the choir of the Friary, Crawley, who are keen to learn the St Anne's Mass setting with our choirmaster Dr Ward. Holy Half Hour - the last one of this term - is on Tuesday at 6pm. All are, of course, most welcome.

Mr Ronan Lavery, Chaplain

Easter GCSE Revision Courses - Last chance to book

Our Easter GCSE revision courses are fast approaching! Five courses are available to book - Mrs Parrett will be leading the English course, Mr Taylor the Chemistry course, Mrs Lewis the Biology course, Mr Clark the Maths course and Mr Smith the Physics course. These courses will take place from 7th - 11^th April and are open to Year 11 Mayfield students, as well as those from local schools.   For more information please see the booklet below or visit the school website.

Revision Booklet

Mayfield School  - GCSE Revision Courses

Curry & Quiz Night - Friday 9^th May

Book your places here

From the School Shop

Last Call for Sister Jean's Marmalade
We now only have 16 pots of Sister Jean’s marmalade left. Once they have gone, sadly there will be no more. If you would like a jar, it is £2.50 (cash only please) and all proceeds go to Mary’s Meals.

Upcoming Exam Period
As we start the run up to exams, we have enhanced the revision materials we have in the school shop. We carry page markers, highlighters, sticky notes, whiteboards and revision cards in various colours and sizes, as well as note pads and jotter books. If you can think of anything else you may need to aid you, please email me your suggestions to sbowles@mayfieldgirls.org.

We also have math equipment, pens, pencils and clear pencil cases for the exams. We carry calculators too, and we have some batteries for calculators. Please note that often the back must be removed using screw drivers to get to the battery compartment, so if you think your calculator needs a new battery, leave plenty of time if you need these changing.

We are usually open from 7:30am to 3:00pm from Monday to Friday.

Lost Property
Please remember to come to the school shop to collect your lost property when you are emailed.

There is also an accumulating amount of un-named lost property on the shelf opposite the school shop. Please go and look if you have lost anything. This includes a dressing gown, a jacket, an un-named sport bag containing shoes, trainers and swim gear, and several water bottles. All un-named lost property will be disposed of at the end of term.

A polite reminder that if you have expensive items such as electronic gadgets, please mark them with your name, so there is no dispute over who those items may belong to. All uniform (and home clothes for boarders) must also be named.

Mrs Susan Bowles, School Shop Manager

Photo of the Week

Yet more photos this week celebrating Mayfield in all its glory - in the daylight and in the darkness!

We would love to receive submissions for future 'photo of the week' stories. Please send your chosen photos to jtompsett@mayfieldgirls.org.