Easter Concert
The Music Department presented the Easter Concert on Friday evening, 23rd March. The Symphony Orchestra, pictured, got the proceedings underway with "Star Wars" by John Williams.

The Rock School group gave a very impressive performance of "Hotel California". A group of Year 7 pupils performed Supersonic, a song about the orchestra which they had all performed at a recent concert they had attended at the Barbican where they had listened to the London Symphony Orcestra. All the children attending had been rehearsing this song at their schools, prior to performing it during the morning. There were many other excellent performances from pupils across the year groups.
 
Masterchef Spring Heat

This term's Masterchef heat took place on 22nd March. The Chef School students' task was to prepare a plate of food for a family party on Easter Sunday.




The heat was judged by local professional chef Gordon Malcolm who specialises in private dining and cookery lessons (www.gordonmalcolm.com), along with Mr Dorey.
 
The judges were impressed with the students' focus and attention to detail and the winner will be announced at the end of term assembly on 29th March. 

Duke of Edinburgh Award News

 

Chris Perry from the Upper Sixth is pictured presenting a cheque for £325 at the Leonard Cheshire home in Staplehurst. To raise the money Chris organised an own clothes day at Bethany. He has been helping out at the home for the Service part of his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, socialising with some of the younger patients and keeping them company.



35 pupils from Year 10 took part in their first Duke of Edinburgh Award practice expedition during the weekend of 17/18 March.

They followed a route of some 18 miles and for some it was their first night under canvas. Their actual Bronze expedition will take place in June.

Those taking their Gold Award leave for their final expedition practice in the Lake District at the end of this term before they travel to Chamonix at the end of the Summer term.


Red Nose Day

Friday, 16th March was not a typical School day. Staff and pupils were encouraged to come to School in fancy dress, or dressed in red to raise money for Red Nose Day.

Donations of £1 were requested from those in fancy dress, £2 from those wearing red and £3 for those in their ordinary clothes. The greater the effort, the less you had to pay.

In total just over £1000 was raised, which includes money from the Arts and Crafts raffle organised by Mrs Kelly. A number of the staff dressed up too, Ms Bicheno, pictured below, kept her costume on all day and carried on collecting money from parents who attended the Scholars evening.

   

Camp Pepperoni

Over the weekend of 10th/11th March, 23 pupils from Years 7 & 8 spent a weekend at Carroty Wood in Tonbridge. Apart from having the opportunity to all get to know each other a little better, they took part in an "Alpha" weekend away programme as well as adventure training. They had a treasure hunt, watched films and sampled Reverend Battersby culinary skills. Apparently the teachers put on a special X Factor peformance but strangely enough, cameras were banned!

Netball in Torquay

Eleven girls from Years 10 & 11 spent a weekend in Torquay competing in a schools' netball tournament. They played six matches against schools from across the country and did very well considering they had never played together as a team before. Between matches they joined in with the activities on offer at the PGL centre and of course managed to find a little time for some shopping!
 
Charities Group supports Vision Rescue

No, Mrs Vince, our School Secretary, doesn't have a new assistant, she won this huggable Tigger in a raffle organised by the Charities Club to raise money for Vision Rescue, a charity supporting street children in Mumbai. The club has been working hard this term and so far has raised just over £160. They held a cake sale on Open Morning and organised a raffle of Disney cuddly toys.


A Level Geographers cross the 2012 100m finish line!

17 AS level Geographers spent a weekend in east London looking at regeneration. Having first visited the Docklands, an example of regeneration from the 80's, they went on to the site of the 2012 Olympics and toured 14 sites including what will become the warm-up track, the athletes' village and the 100m track. All that was missing were medals for crossing the line first!

The pupils spoke to local residents in Stratford about the impact of the Games.  Further research and interviews were carried out in Canning Town and the weekend ended with a visit to the Excel Centre in the Royal Docks.

The Geography Department plan to return to the area next year and in subsequent years to watch the development of the Olympic site and the effects of regeneration on the surrounding area.