E-weekly Issue 300 - 9 May 2025

Welcome

In the News This Week...

Mayfield Marks the 80^th Anniversary of VE Day

Introducing Our New Head of Careers

Year 10 Biologists Tackle Ecology Project

Claudia Publishes Her Own Book

Year 7 Explore Ancient Green Theatre

St Michael's Mass This Sunday - May Crowning

Development Meetings - We Want to Hear from You!

Chaplaincy News - Habemus Papam!

Save the Date - Michaelmas Fair 2025

Mayfield Marks the 80th Anniversary of VE Day

Thursday 8^th May 2025 saw the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, when World War Two came to an end across the continent. Mayfield marked the occasion with a special assembly explaining the history of the final years of the war, and how the day was celebrated back in 1945. This included details about local celebrations in Mayfield village, including street parties, bonfires and plenty of homemade parsnip wine, and also about the festivities Mayfield School girls organised, as outlined in the following extract from the 1945 edition of the Mayfield Review, the old School magazine:

The next day came the glorious and long-expected news that the War in Europe was over and that the next two days were to be public holidays. This had an added delight for the Fifth Form, because it meant that their School Certificate Oral French examination was put off!

On the first VE-Day each class gave some entertainment for the school. The Lower Fourth organised a paper chase, won by Susan Liston. In the afternoon, the Third Form held a fair in the School Hall, and the Lower Fifth produced a Radio Drama, a blood-curdling parody of " The Nian in Black." Then there was the Fifth Form ping-pong tournament, won by R. Bede Cox and B. Glass. In the evening, as soon as it was dark enough, we had a bonfire on the field beyond the hockey pitch. It was an excellent bonfire and we sang around it till nearly 11 p.m.

The chief feature of the second VE-Day was removing the sandbags from Mother Foundress' tomb, a more difficult and arduous task than we had expected, as the bags were all rotten.

Schola performed a wonderfully poignant rendition of the wartime classic 'We'll Meet Again', and after a period of reflection, silence and a prayer for peace in the world today, we gathered on the Chapel lawn to relive the jubilant feelings of May 1945 with a fantastic dance performance by some of our Year 10 dancers.

Mr Warren, Head of History & Director of Teaching and Learning

Year 11 Celebration Liturgy

On Wednesday in a touching ceremony held in the school chapel, Year 11 students gathered for their final liturgy, marking the end of their middle school journey and the beginning of their study leave for GCSE exams. The event was beautifully led by our Chaplain Ronan, who delivered an inspiring message on the importance of light, encouraging the students to reflect on their time in middle school and to look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Following the liturgy, a celebratory tea was held, where tutors presented "Little Miss" certificates to each student. This light-hearted moment was filled with laughter, smiles, and a few tears, as the girls celebrated their achievements and the strong bonds they have formed over the years.

As the Year 11 students prepare to move on to their Sixth Form tutor groups next year, the occasion was a joyous celebration of the wonderful young women they have become. The event was a perfect blend of reflection, celebration, and anticipation for the future, leaving everyone with a sense of pride and optimism.

Mrs Georgina Fletcher, Head of Year 11

Stein Charity Day

Stein’s Charity Feast Day on Wednesday was filled with generosity, fun, and reflection. The non-uniform day and bake sale saw excellent participation from across the whole school community, and students in Years 7, 8, and 9 enjoyed using their uniform passes for a little extra flair on Friday.

The highlight of the day was the beautiful liturgy, which offered a powerful moment to reflect on the life and legacy of Saint Edith Stein. Her story reminded us of the importance of courage, compassion, and staying true to our values — inspiring us to be more like her in our everyday lives.

Thank you to everyone who took part and made the day so special!

Mrs Emily Woodfield, Head of Stein

Sports News

Athletics
The Athletics season has started with some tremendous performances at the Sussex Independent Schools Diamond League (SISDL). This set of four events takes place during this half of term, with us now having had three of the events at different venues in the county.

With fantastic results across a range of track and field events from the first week, Gigi (Year 9) has demonstrated her strength in the 100m, 200m and long jump with consistent performances to place her in the top three each time. This has led her to breaking the SISDL 200m junior girls' record, running 27.18sec! Deborah (Year 10) has been excellent in the high jump, achieving 1.50m which is among the highest heights for her age group. Yesterday at Hurst, we saw Cece (Year 9) continue to perform very well in the shot putt, which she has never done before this year, and is achieving some of the furthest distances for her age group! Siana (Year 12), an outstanding 100m runner, dominated her race running an excellent 12.7secs, and we look forward to seeing her compete in future events. Emily (Year 8) continues to show her distance running prowess in the 1500m, achieving a personal best of 5:26mins last weekend at K2 Stadium, Crawley.

We are delighted to have now had over 30 athletes from Years 8 to 12 compete across these competitions and can’t wait to see how the girls perform during the final event next Saturday.

Introducing Our New Head of Careers

Our very own Mrs Davies, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, has also taken on the mantle of Head of Careers! She discusses her excitement for her new role below:

Careers Q&A

Careers Q&A

What motivated you to take on the role of Head of Careers in addition to your teaching and Sixth Form responsibilities?

I have watched many of the girls on their journey from Year 7 through to Sixth Form and I am passionate about helping them achieve their full potential as they take their next steps. When this opportunity came up, I was really drawn to this role and jumped at the chance to take on this new challenge where I feel I can really make a difference.

How do you see your experience as a teacher and Deputy Head of Sixth Form informing your approach to careers education?

Guiding the girls on careers is somewhat an extension to the work I am already doing as Deputy Head of Sixth Form. This new role will allow me to be more effective in directing our amazing students to a broad range of fulfilling careers that are available to them.

What are your key priorities for developing the careers programme this year?

I am really excited about our new-format careers evening which we will be running as a Careers Fair on 1^st October 2025 (Save the date!). My first priority is to get as many different careers represented at this as possible. I will also be setting up a new careers library in the Sixth Form Centre and I would love to see lots of girls from across the school using this.

How will you support students in exploring the wide range of pathways available after school?

There are so many fantastic opportunities out there for students to try different routes to achieve their goals. They are all at an important crossroads and I am looking forward to discussing pros and cons of each of the options with them. I will also call upon the network of OCs who can give advice from different perspectives.

What advice do you have for students who are unsure about their future direction?

Don't panic - you are not the only one! Talk to as many people as possible to find out about their careers, shadow people and let's have a look at what work experience we can find for you to try out different things. We will start with what they are good at, and enjoy, and what motivates them.

What’s the best piece of careers advice you’ve ever received — and how has it shaped your own journey?

Actually, it was the fact that my careers advice from school was really poor that has driven me to want to make a difference here. However, a very wise person did tell me "If you really want to be a teacher, do something else first." My years of experience working in the corporate world gave me an opportunity to work with a very diverse range of stakeholders, travel, be interviewed for BBC 6 O'Clock news and even attend a meeting at 10 Downing Street!

Was there a particular role model or mentor who influenced your career path or outlook?

I had a manager at Sainsbury's who was an amazing networker and she taught me how to work a room to make as many contacts as possible. This skill will certainly be invaluable in helping our students find work experience.

Year 10 Biologists Tackle Ecology Project

Year 10 Biologists have been researching human influences on the environment for their Ecology topic. Each group worked together to look into the key issues and then created videos to show off what they had found. Each class watched them together and scored each other based on presentation, scientific content and use of data. This is the winning video from 10DH created by Michelle, Eva, Imogen and Francis. Well done, girls!

Mrs Lewis, Head of Biology

Claudia Publishes Her Own Book

Claudia in Year 10 has published her own book! She shares her reflections below on why she wanted to bring Lamar to life and the impact she hopes his story will have on readers.

'Lamar is fifteen, tired, and already carrying the weight of a world that keeps trying to break him. His dad is lost in addiction. His mum finds escape in partying. School is hell. And the streets outside his door whisper danger with every breath.

But Lamar keeps going—one quiet step at a time. Until the day it all crashes down.

Bullied, broken, and misunderstood, Lamar is forced to face everything he’s been trying to hide—from the trauma the police left behind, to the truth he’s never said out loud. This is not just his story—it’s the story of too many teens trying to survive when no one is listening.

Lamar is a powerful short story about the weight of silence, the need for support and the courage it takes to speak up.'

“Lamar’s story is fiction. But it’s also the truth.”

Available on amazon and in the school library. Age 14-18.

Q&A - Lamar's Story

Q&A - Lamar's Story

How long have you wanted to write a book?

I've been writing stories since I was little, and ever since my teenage years, I've dreamed of having a physical book of my own.

How long did it take to write?

I planned it in a day and then I started to write it over the course of three days.

How did you get it published?

I researched and used new skills such as getting a type set copy and getting someone to design my cover. Then when I had everything, I sent it to Amazon Kindle Publishing and they created a physical copy just a week later. Overall, if anyone wanted to write a book or a short story, I would recommend using Amazon as they do a great job.

Do you want to write any more books?

As my GCSEs are coming up, I don't think I will be writing more stories anytime soon. But after GCSEs, I would like to start writing and publishing more.

Why is Lamar and his story close to your heart?

Lamar's story is close to my heart because it includes many social issues happening in the world right now. Through Lamar’s journey, the reader gets to step into his shoes and understand the feelings teens are going through, which can be quite devastating. Overall, the reason Lamar's story means so much to me is because it’s real and opens people’s minds to what the real world can consist of.

Year 7 Explore Ancient Greek Theatre

This term, the Year 7 Drama students have been exploring Ancient Greek Theatre. Our focus over the past two lessons has been communicating the story of Theseus and the Minotaur through chorus work. The girls used physical theatre to mark key moments from the myth. These included the journey to Crete, Theseus' suspenseful navigation through the Labyrinth and, of course, the climactic fight with the Minotaur itself! The girls collaborated very well and produced some highly creative work. Well done!

Mr Daniel Smith, Teacher of Drama

St Michael's House Mass This Sunday - May Crowning

St Michael’s House are facilitating Mass this Sunday, 11^th May. May is the month of Mary and we are having a Marian procession and crowning. We will start inside the Gatehouse with the Parish and collect boarding houses on our way to the Chapel. We will be starting a little earlier than our usual Mass time; 10:45am, instead of 11:00am.

We would like to invite you to attend the procession, crowning and Mass, and celebrate with our boarding and Parish community. The procession will end in the Chapel where Mary will be crowned and we will celebrate Mass.

Mayfair - Saturday 10^th May

Tomorrow, Mayfield village will hold their annual Mayfair, and lots of the boarders will be getting involved. Leeds House will be dancing around the maypole, and have been working very hard for a number of weeks to perfect their routine. Boarders from St Gabriel's, St Michael's and St Dunstan's will have stalls at the fair, offering games (with sweet prizes!) and delicious baked goods.

It promises to be a fantastic event, please do come along and support the girls if you are able to.

Development Meetings – We Want to Hear from You!

We value your thoughts on how we can continue to make Mayfield the best it can be. Parents are warmly invited to share their views at one of our upcoming development meetings—either in person or online:

Thursday, 15 May 2025 at 7:00 PM (online via Microsoft Teams)

Friday, 16 May 2025 at 9:00 AM (in person at Mayfield School)

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to Luciana Frangella-Cramp at lfrangella-cramp@mayfieldgirls.org

Can’t make it? Don’t worry—we’ll be sending out a short survey soon to ensure everyone has the chance to have their say.

Thank you for your continued support!

STEM Hero - May 2025

Chaplaincy News - Habemus Papam!

Habemus Papam!
For most of yesterday, while at my desk, I had the Vatican live feed playing in the background on my computer- more in hope than expectation, it must be said. At fairly regular intervals throughout the day, I would hear cheering and flick over to the tab, to be momentarily distracted by the seagull family, who seemed to be making the most of their fifteen minutes of fame...

At five o'clock, I stopped putting off the inevitable, and began to write a (relatively boring!) piece for today's e-weekly. A few minutes in, I heard cheering in the background yet again, and flicked over to see my wee seagulls. It took me a few seconds to realise what I was actually looking at. White smoke! Habemus Papam! And so began one of the longest hours of my life...

Gradually, staff and students began to congregate in my office, as we anxiously waited to hear who the next Vicar of Christ would be. We speculated and agonised and the tension built. And of course, when the announcement finally came, we had no idea who Cardinal Robert Prevost was...

More information about Pope Leo XIV

More information about Pope Leo XIV

Frantic googling taught us that he's an American (wasn't expecting that!), 69 years old (very young for a Pope, we thought), and a member of the Augustinian Fathers- a religious congregation- making him the second religious Pope in a row, and coincidentally of the same order as our new parish priest, Fr Raymond Tumba.

He had spent many years in Peru as a missionary, before being elected head of the Augustinian order for two terms. In 2014, he returned to Peru, and in 2015 ordained bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo. For his episcopal motto he chose “In Illo uno unum”—words pronounced by Saint Augustine in a sermon on Psalm 127 to explain that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”

His recent curriculum vitae is varied but impressive. Called to Rome by Pope Francis in January 2023, he was elevated to Cardinal in September of the same year. Since then, he has served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (a big deal!), and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He also served as a member of the Dicasteries (departments) for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the Eastern Churches, for the Clergy, for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, for Culture and Education, for Legislative Texts, and of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.

All of the above simply means that, on paper, he is very well qualified to hold the title of Pontiff. His first appearance on the balcony in St Peter's Square went some way to reassuring the nervous group gathered in my office that he also possessed the personal qualities we hoped to see in the new Pope- humility, as his tears threatened to overtake him, kindness("He looks kind, doesn't he? He has a kind face..." - Mrs Bligh), and an overwhelming desire for peace in the world. Indeed, his first words as Pope Leo XIV were "Peace be with you." He spoke over and over about peace, unity and building bridges.

Even his choice of name is comforting. Pope Leo XIV, a nod to Leo XIII and his ground-breaking encyclical 'Rerum Novarum', published in 1891 and addressing the dignity and rights of the worker. It was the forerunner of the Catholic Social Teachings 'the preferential option for the poor', and 'the dignity of the worker'. This would suggest that Leo XIV will exercise a preference for the poor, the abandoned and the marginalised. (Also, I promise you - I had already written next Thursday's prayer slide by this point!)

We pray for Pope Leo XIV today, the first day of his papacy. At a time of great global uncertainty, we pray for discernment and conviction. Also, at a time of great excitement for the Church, as she continues to grow in Africa, Asia and South America, and as we witness an unprecedented return to the faith, especially among young people in Britain, we pray that he is welcoming, unitive, and continues to live out his episcopal motto: "In illo uno unum".

May Almighty God bless him,
May the Holy Spirit guide him,
And may Jesus Christ walk with him.
God bless Pope Leo!

Next Week's Daily Prayers

Daily Prayers 12-16 May

Mass on Sunday will be preceded by a Marian procession, beginning at the Gatehouse at 10:45am. On Tuesday evening, at 6pm in the school chapel, we will have Mass for the repose of the soul of Antonia Beary, on the eve of her birthday. All are welcome to both.

Mr Ronan Lavery, Chaplain

Library News

Henrietta Branford Writing Competition 2025

The prestigious Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is an annual writing award is open to all writers under 19 years old. Entries may be short stories, poetry or song/rap lyrics.

More information
Hurry, the closing date is 30^th May 2025!

Book of the Week
Book of the Week in lower school has been chosen by Leonie. 'Pax' by Sara Pennypacker is an animal story with an emotional punch, illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Book of the Week in main school has been chosen by Izzy. 'This Book Kills' by Ravena Guron “Is so good! It keeps you guessing until the very last moment” It was also the winner of the SSBA 2024 awards.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Monday 12^th - Sunday 18^th May is Mental Health Awareness Week. We have a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction titles that explore this topic - how to understand it, recognise when you may need support and how to maintain your own positive mental health. Fiction is a great way to understand another perspective and life experience, building empathy and resilience.

Save the Date - Michaelmas Fair 2025

Are you interested in showcasing your offerings at this year's Michaelmas Fair? If you'd like to reserve a stall or know someone who would, please reach out to Narelle at nmorson@mayfieldgirls.org. We look forward to a fantastic event!

Photo of the Week

Our photo of the week comes from Lower School, where yesterday the girls were eagerly watching the live stream from the Vatican to hear the announcement of the new Pope!

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

Calendar

Date	Start time	End Time	Event
10-May-2025	09:00	15:00	New Prefects Bonding Day
10-May-2025	13:00	16:00	Mayfair - Mayfield Village - road closed from 11:00-17:00
10-May-2025			Hadlow - Grass Roots Show Jumping
11-May-2025	11:00	12:00	Mass (Organised by St Michael's House)
12-May-2025	08:20	08:55	Assembly - New Prefects
12-May-2025	08:30	12:30	Y8 Vaccinations - Gabs Common Room
12-May-2025	15:30	19:45	Y9 English Performing Shakespeare - Weald of Kent Grammar School
13-May-2025	16:30	18:00	Inter-House Ready Steady Cook
13-May-2025	18:00	18:45	Memoriam Mass
15-May-2025	16:45	20:40	Y12 Parents' Evening
16-May-2025	08:20	08:55	Y9&10 Summer Exam Briefing
16-May-2025	09:00	10:00	Parents' meeting re Mayfield's development plans

Mayfield Social Media Accounts

Instagram:
Mayfield School - www.instagram.com/mayfieldschool
Mayfield Sport - www.instagram.com/mayfield_sport
Mayfield Equestrian - www.instagram.com/mayfield_equestrian
Mayfield Food and Nutrition - www.instagram.com/mgfoodandnut

Facebook:
School - www.facebook.com/mayfieldgirls
Alumnae - Old Cornelians | Facebook

Twitter:
Mayfield School - @Mayfieldgirls