No.  50

22nd January 2010

SPORTS REPORT WEEK ENDING 22^nd  JANUARY 2010

Tuesday 19^th u13 Football 'v' Chilton Cantello

A water logged pitch at Chilton Cantelo and half our team in Bulgaria meant this match was cancelled.

Wednesday 20^th u13 Netball 'v' Ansford

This proved to be an exciting close encounter with Ansford just edging the result.  Everyone played very well, with Lucy Turner giving 100%.  Just after the start of the fourth quarter Kate sustained an injury which meant that Matilda had to play two positions at the same time.  We swallowed the inevitable increased pressure and Tabitha found her range with some super long shooting.  Unfortunately, it was not quite enough.  Player of the match – Matilda Tulett.

Wednesday 20^th u16 Netball 'v' Ansford

This match was played at a furious pace, with really slick passing and some great shooting by Cinta, ably supported by Jade.  Freyia and Samantha fought hard in defence, with Abigail and Lucy keeping width on the wings.  Super fit Felicity never stopped running the length of the court, but, alas in the end we fell victims of our own speed as Ansford were just a little more steady and pulled away from us.  Player of the match – Lucy Gifford.

Thursday 21^st u15 Football 'v' Sherborne International

Too many of our players were away in Bulgaria and this match had to be cancelled.

Thursday 21^st January u13 Netball 'v' Huish Episcopi

Our opponents were just too good and too tall.  We tried really hard but just could not reach the ball and so lost. 

Player of the match – Lucy Whitfield.

Fixtures for next week are:

Monday u13 Netball, Monday u14 Netball, Tuesday u13 Netball, Wednesday u13 Netball, Wednesday u13 Boys Hockey, Thursday u16 Football, Thursday u14 Football, Friday South West ISA cross-country.

Team lists for the above fixtures can be found on the school website under 'Events'.  They are all subject to the current weather conditions; any cancellations or postponements will be published on the site as soon as they are known.

All pupils selected for representative matches must travel in a school tracksuit and wear the correct match strip; shin pads are compulsory for football and hockey; mouth guards are also strongly recommended for hockey.  Black shorts for boys continue to be available from the uniform shop, as do black skirts for girls and the latter item has the school sports logo on it.

Any queries regarding fixtures should be directed to Mr Tulett – PE Office 01935 414613 or by email to larry.tulett@parkschool.com

SENIOR CAKE SALE

Thank you to everyone who supported the cake sale on Tuesday.  We managed to raise over £50 for the appeal in Haiti.  Although many students brought in money to spend, unfortunately, not many cakes were donated.  Because many students forgot or were not aware that the sale was happening we are going to have another sale on Tuesday next week.  If everyone contributes I am sure we can make a good contribution to the appeal.

Mrs Hopkinson

BRONZE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD

As training begins after school on Tuesday,

2^nd February, time is running out for the return of application forms to join The Award.  Please return forms on Monday if you still wish to take part.

Thank you.

Mrs Shillito

YEAR 11 PARENTS EVENING

Year 11 reports will be given to parents on Friday,

5^th February, 2010.

Year 11 Parents Evening has been moved to

Tuesday, 9^th February.

SKI TRIP

On Sunday 16 pupils accompanied by Mrs Briggs and

Mr Stevens set off for 3 days' skiing in Bansko, Bulgaria.  With 12 hours of tuition everyone made fantastic progress (even Mrs Briggs!) and I am pleased to confirm that they are all able to ski very well with most of them demonstrating a high level of proficiency and competence – well done, everyone!

I am sure our parents would like to know that members of the public came up to us at the airports, hot chocolate cafes and in the hotel and, together with our ski instructors, said that all the children were a credit to the school and to their parents!  Indeed, their behaviour, compliance with instructions, enthusiasm and energy were exemplary!

Thank you to Mrs Stevens for all the administration and organisation which ensured that we had 5 wonderful, safe, blessed and unforgettable days – here's to next year!!

 PUBLIC SPEAKING

It has been a very successful week for The Park School's Public Speaking Club and its participants.

On Monday, the Intermediate Competition of the

Rotary Club's Youth Speaks took place.  The victors were Ellen Bazley, Jessica Whittick and

Laura Coppard who talked about Valentine's Day.  Second place was taken by Natasha Dennington, Charlotte Cartwright and Ross Mangles who discussed the amount of money we spend on our pets.  Both these teams will progress to the Intermediate Semi-Finals next month.

On Tuesday, the senior round of the Rotary Club Competition comprised three teams, one from

The Park School, one from Westfield and one from Chilton Cantelo.  The winners of this round were Thomas Sankey, Aaron Newbury and Adam Coppard who spoke on the unusual topic of when boys turn into men.  They will now progress to the Senior Public Speaking Semi-final at Beaminster School.

On Wednesday it was the turn of the English Speaking Union Competition at Queen's College, Taunton.  Two teams from The Park School were

Aaron Newbury, Thomas Sankey, Adam Coppard, Tamsin Eddey, Alice Barnett and Hannah Law who fought valiantly against competitors from six other local schools: Wells Cathedral, Taunton, Queen's, King's, Wellington and Chilton Cantelo.  Our teams talked about whether children have too much education and exams and whether mankind needs a religion.  Tamsin Eddey won the Best Chairman Category.  Her calm and measured organisation of the team won her great praise from the Judges.

Tom Sankey was the unanimous choice as

Best Speaker for his convincing speech and

Aaron Newbury was commended for his persistent, probing but polite questioning, winning him an award also.  The team of Aaron, Tom and Adam won the best overall presentation and will progress to the next round in Exeter.

It was, without doubt, the most successful week we have ever had and congratulations must go to all participants.  They were a pleasure to work with and excellent representatives of the school.

DEBATING CLUB

There has been something of a hiatus since the Club last met at Leweston in early December: end of term activities, examinations and the Public Speaking competitions got in the way.  However, we will be back in action on Thursday (28^th January) when we meet at 4pm (in the Drama Room or the Dinning Hall) to debate the motion,, "This House agrees with Horace (the distinguished Roman poet rather than our distinguished Year 11 pupil) that 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'" (roughly, 'Dying for your country is a sweet and proper thing to do'; Latinists normally pronounce the first word "Dool-chay").  Everyone is welcome, even just to listen, and if you decide to join in (even on the spur of the moment) we would be delighted.  Remarks from the floor can be as short as 5 or 10 seconds, but you are encouraged to prepare proper floor speeches, up to 3 minutes long.  That's something to do this weekend, or at least to think about!

The first 2010 meeting of the inter-schools Debating Society will probably be on Thursday, 4^th February, again at Leweston or Chilton Cantelo.  Once the motions have been decided we will let you know.  If you would like to speak, either from the platform or from the floor, please tell Mr Pender-Cudlip.

We are hoping to enter two or three teams in the International Competition for Young Debaters run by the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Oxford and St Andrews.  The competition is open to pupils born on or after 1^st September, 1994, normally in Year 7 to 10.  The regional heats will be in Bristol, on a Saturday or Sunday in February or March, and the Final will be at the Oxford Union Debating Society on the 15^th May.  If you are interested and eligible please contact

Mr Pender-Cudlip.

On Saturday, 20^th March, The Park School will be hosting the Regional Final of the ESU Mace Debating Competition.  It is an all-day event, with 18 schools taking part, and we need volunteers to help run it. 

If YOU could help, please tell Mrs Scannell and

Mr Pender-Cudlip.  Thank you.