The Fortnight That Was … 25 April - 6 May 2016 T H E

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SPORTS CENTRE OFFICIAL OPENING Pitsford School’s new £2 million Sports Centre was officially opened by Colin Jackson CBE, World Champion Athlete on Friday 29 April following a 24-hour inter-house Cyclothon involving pupils and staff. “It’s absolutely fabulous to join you today and I’m very pleased as a former international sportsman to see Pitsford School’s new sporting facilities. “The key thing about being a role model is helping make that dream happen by being motivated. I looked after Usain Bolt when he was just 15-years old and he asked me what it was like to be a champion? I thought about what inspired me every day to be the best I could be. It’s important to learn by your mistakes, not everything you do is perfect. “When I was trying to win an Olympic Gold Medal, the qualifying round was easy and so I didn’t bother warming up for the next round. As I hadn’t prepared, I got injured and although I got through to the final, I finished in seventh place. It was important to learn from that and ask why it happened. “Preparation for anything you do in life is key. Remember to prepare well and deliver what you are capable of. Use good role models around you and ask them what it was that got them to the top of their game. Many of you will be fantastic at whatever it is that you set your heart and mind to. Be the best that you can be and enjoy what you do; that is the most important thing,” said Colin Jackson.

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YEAR 5 TAG RUGBY TOURNAMENT Pitsford School was delighted to welcome children from five local schools on Wednesday 27 April for a Year 5 Tag Rugby Tournament. The visiting children joined us for a morning of Tag Rugby coaching by Next Generation rugby coaches, followed by an afternoon of matches. The day was great fun and enjoyed by everyone. Special thanks to the Next Generation rugby coaches for their expertise.

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SENIOR ENSEMBLES CONCERT A fantastic evening of soul, pop, Baroque, classical and world music was enjoyed by parents and staff on Thursday 5 May in Pitsford School’s annual Ensembles Concert. All of the Senior School music ensembles took part, as well as some smaller groups of pupils who had decided to put something together especially for this concert. The first half of the concert began with the “Pitsford Ensemble”, which involved musicians from the string, woodwind and percussion ensembles, performing Saint-Saens Danse Macabre. This was followed by the senior woodwind ensemble, directed by Mr Godfrey, who gave a rendition of the well-known theme from The Simpsons with determination. The string ensemble, slightly depleted due to illness, performed the famous Can-Can by Offenbach with grace. The School’s clarinet quartet, assembled especially for the concert performed the challenging 1st Movement of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music). The first half concluded with a toe-tapping performance of Time Is Tight given by the joint winners of the House Music Competition, Hesketh. A number of solos and duos were performed in between the ensemble numbers and these soloists included a performance of Vivaldi’s Vieni, Vieni given by Libiana Kimbell (Year 9), Lin Marsh’s ballad, Believe, performed by Lilly Hagenberg and Connie Westaway (Year 10) and an impressive virtuosic performance of a Mozart flute duet by Upper Sixth pupil, Alexandra Crook and her teacher, Mr Godfrey. After a short interval, where parents enjoyed refreshments in the evening sunshine, the second half opened with a performance from the ever-growing guitar ensemble. Their first piece, Habenera, was performed with delicacy and this led onto the tense theme from Mission Impossible, complete with guitar drumming! The Girls’ Barbershop then performed “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair with humour and great skill. The lower school percussion ensemble took part in an exciting improvised piece of Brazilian drumming, Samba Batucada, led by percussion teacher, Mr Butler and this was followed by the Senior Choir performing three contrasting pieces. The first, Adele’s recent hit, When We Were Young, enabled Year 10 vocalist Connie Westaway to take centre stage, with the choir providing an atmospheric backing. Bring Him Home, from Les Misérables, was sung with tenderness and the choir finished with Ed Sheeran’s Photograph. The finale of the evening was given by the School’s Soul Band, led by Mr Dean, who gave a polished performance of Midnight Hour. The band featured the powerful vocals of Alexandra Smith, Oscar Powell (electric guitar), Mr Dean (bass), Sam Gibbs (keys) and Christopher Leeke (drums). Huge congratulations to all of the many pupils who took part in this concert and enabled it to be a real success.

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PARENTS’ NOTICEBOARD If anyone has a school skirt for sale (to fit a 14-year old), please contact Mrs Kimbell on 07813 308301. If you have a message for Pitsford School parents please email skendrick@pitsfordschool.com

24-HOUR CYCLOTHON Congratulations to Wake House who were the winners of the inter-house 24-hour Cyclothon which took place between Thursday 28 and Friday 29 April. There was also an excellent performance by the staff cycling relay team at last week’s Cyclothon. The team cycled the exact distance (as the crow flies) from Pitsford to John O’Groats! The winning margin was so small that everyone’s contribution was vital. A special thanks to the non-cyclists and everyone who pedalled through the pain. It was quite amazing that the total kilometres cycled during the 24-hour relay marathon was 2842.9km. Not as far as Timbuktu but not far off!

COFFEE IN THE CAFÉ Pitsford School’s new Sports Centre Café area is now open for great, morning coffee. The Café will be open between the following times: Monday 8.00am - 9.30am Wednesday 8.00am - 10.30am Friday 8.00am - 9.30am This is a great way to start the day, so why not come along and enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee in our Café area when dropping your child off at school. Please park on the gravel area and not on the Quad as this area is needed for emergency vehicles and school buses. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Menus As all our produce is sourced locally, menus are subject to change and older pupils will be offered additional options which are not shown here.

Monday 9 May Meatball marinara and pasta with green beans (V) Quorn pieces in herby tomato sauce with pasta Strawberry whip Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Tuesday 10 May Minced beef and onion pie served with new potatoes and sweetcorn (V) Vegetarian fajitas with feta cheese Chocolate and orange brownie Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Wednesday 11 May Roast pork loin with Yorkshire pudding, oven roast potatoes, gravy, carrots & peas (V) Vegetarian parcel Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Thursday 12 May Chicken myers served with boiled rice and sweetcorn (V) Quorn and mushroom supreme Apple and blackberry crumble with custard Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Friday 13 May Sausage twist in puff pastry served with chips and wholewheat spaghetti hoops (V) Macaroni cheese bake Fance Cake Friday Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Monday 16 May Chicken, bacon, tomato and basil penne pasta served with sauté potatoes and salad (V) Cheese and onion quiche Homemade flapjack Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Tuesday 17 May Minced beef chilli con carne served with boiled rice and peas (V) Mushroom and vegetable stroganoff Ginger sponge with custard Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Wednesday 18 May Roast chicken with Yorkshire pudding, oven roast potatoes, gravy, carrots and peas (V) Cheese, sliced potatoes and onion plait Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Thursday 19 May Waffle beefburger stack with cheese served with croquette potatoes and salad (V) Waffle vegetable burger Apple pie with custard Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts Friday 20 May Jumbo cod fish-finger served with chips and baked beans (V) Vegetable ravioli topped with cheese Mandarin strawberry jelly and ice cream Selection of fresh fruit pots or yogurts

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What’s On Looking Ahead?

Monday 9 May J1-J6 Football Club (Lunchtime) J3-J6 Rounders 8.00am-9.30am Coffee in the Café 3.00pm U9 Cricket v Quinton House (h) 4.20pm Senior Choir

Tuesday 10 May Recorders - Beginners (Lunchtime) 4.00pm-4.45pm Squirrels-J2 Gardening J2-J3 Kwik Cricket J3-J6 Athletics J5-J6 Sailing 3.30pm U14/U15 Rounders v NSG (a)

Wednesday 11 May Junior School Council (Lunchtime) 3.30-4.15pm Squirrels-J2 Tiny Tag Rugby

J3-J4 Drama J5-J6 Running A Level Art Exam 8.00am-10.30am Coffee in the Café 8.00am Year 9 trip to Hunstanton 8.30am Parents’ Pilates class - JS Hall 10.10am Senior String Ensemble 4.00pm-5.20pm Fishing Activity 4.00pm-6.50pm Pinnacle Climbing Centre

Thursday 12 May Recorders (Intermediate - Lunchtime) 3.30pm-4.10pm J1-J2 Tennis 4.10pm –5.10pm J3-J6 Tennis J4-J6 Cricket Junior Swimming (J6, J5 and J4) A Level Art Exam 1.20pm Senior Guitar Ensemble 3.45pm U13 Cricket v Caroline Chisholm (h)

Friday 13 May J3-J6 Dance (Lunchtime) J3-J6 Knitting (Lunchtime) Junior Swimming (J1, J2 and J3) 3.00pm-3.30pm J1-J2 Choir J4-J6 American Football 8.00am-9.30am Coffee in the Café 10.10am Senior Woodwind Ensemble 5.20pm Lower Sixth Exam Leave starts

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Practice Blue text denotes Junior School events

Monday 16 May J1-J6 Football Club (Lunchtime) J3-J6 Rounders 8.00am-9.30am Coffee in the Café 3.45pm U15 Cricket v Leicester Grammar (h)

4.20pm Senior Choir

Tuesday 17 May 8.40am Strings (violin) Assembly Recorders (Beginners) Lunchtime 4.00pm-4.45pm Squirrels-J2 Gardening J2-J3 Kwik Cricket J3-J6 Athletics J5-J6 Sailing 8.45am Yr 7 Coventry and Kenilworth Trip Year 8 Depart for France Year 9 First Aid Training

Wednesday 18 May School Council (Lunchtime) 3.30-4.15pm Squirrels-J2 Tiny Tag Rugby J3-J4 Drama J5-J6 Running Speech and Drama Exams 8.00am-10.30am Coffee in the Café 8.30am Parents’ Pilates class - JS Hall Senior ISA Athletics at Alexander Stadium

10.10am Senior String Ensemble 3.00pm U11 Cricket v Lincroft (a) 4.00pm-5.20pm Fishing Activity 4.00pm-6.50pm Pinnacle Climbing Centre

Thursday 19 May 8.40am J5 Class Assembly Recorders (Intermediate) Lunchtime 3.30pm-4.10pm J1-J2 Tennis 4.10pm-5.10pm J3-J6 Tennis J4-J6 Cricket Junior Swimming (J6, J5 and J4) Speech and Drama Exams 1.20pm Senior Guitar Ensemble 3.00pm Sixth Form Leavers’ Service, Pitsford Church

3.30pm U12 Cricket v Moulton 3.30pm U12/U13 Rounders v NSG (a)

Friday 20 May J3-J6 Dance (Lunchtime) J3-J6 Knitting (Lunchtime) Junior Swimming (J1, J2 and J3) 3.00pm-3.30pm J1-J2 Choir J4-J6 American Football Year 8 return from France 8.00am-9.30am Coffee in the Café 10.10am Senior Woodwind Ensemble 5.20pm Year 11 and Upper Sixth Exam Leave starts 7.00pm Sixth Form Leavers’ Dinner

Tickets available from the School Office Book early to avoid disappointment

www.pitsfordschool.com

Saturday 18 June, from 5pm

Rounders, cricket and outdoor fun

BBQ

Marshmallow toasting round the campfire!

Ticket price: £6, concessions £4. Children under 5 free

Camping available: £10 per tent

Family Fun and Sports Afternoon