Friday 2nd November 2007

CURRENT NEWS
 
Kate Goodridge – Griffiths
 
Kate’s singing has enjoyed more success over the past few weeks. Just before half term her singing act was awarded 3 cups at the local Bridgwater Carnival Concerts and she has also been invited to sing and be interviewed on BBC radio. Well done Kate!
 
Joe Marsh
 
Congratulations to Joe who enjoyed another outstanding weekend of swimming at the Newport meet recently. He was awarded ‘top boy swimmer’ at the meet following several first place performances over a variety of strokes, the most notable being the 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly where Joe broke the U17 national qualifying times.
 
Girls Hockey Update
 
This half term has produced a good start for all the girls’ hockey teams.  I was particularly proud of the 1st XI at the U18 county tournament.  They have progressed very rapidly since I first took them to Seaford College and having beaten both Bruton School for girls and Kings Bruton comfortably in their section of the county tournament, they then beat Kings Taunton in the semi-final.  To lose 2-0 to Millfield in the final was a bitter pill to swallow but an incredibly solid performance from the girls. 
We certainly had them rattled!  Notable 1st XI performances have come from Connie Schumann-Plekat (our reverse stick specialist), Kristy Martin (our deflection specialist) and Lizzie Hebditch (our most solid defender).  We hope Lizzie will soon recover from her recent knee injury.
 
The senior 2nd & 3rd XI’s are beginning to gel together as teams and to produce some consistent performances.
 
The U15s, although continuously bribed by chocolate (!), have yet to achieve their potential. The U14As have the best record so far –only losing to Millfield.  I wish them every success in the forthcoming U14 county  tournament to be held at Millfield on Wednesday 7th November.
 
May I thank all the parents for their continued support and hope you all enjoy a successful second half of the season.
 
Ms Harvie
 
International Independent Schools Public Speaking Competition – Queen Anne’s School, Caversham
 
Over half term, our team, Hannah Plant (BS), Katie Roberts (WD) and Felicity Nixon (JK) competed well with very strong schools from Canada, America, Cyprus, Bermuda and the UK. Overall, the team was placed 21st out of 47 schools. Hannah Plant reached the final of the Interpretive Reading category and all three girls spoke better than they had ever done before. One cannot ask for more.
 
Next year’s competition will be held at Trinity College, Port Hope, Canada. In the meantime, however, the school has been invited to send two students to The World Debating and Public Speaking Championships, held in Stuttgart next March.
 
Senior Inter – House Debating and Public Speaking Competition
 
Congratulations to the following who all won their individual categories:
 
Interpretive Reading: Will Grove (EV)
Impromptu Speaking: Ryan Jeffries (ML)
Persuasive Speaking: Katie Roberts (WD)
Debating: Hannah Plant and Phyllida Bluemel (BS)
 
And further congratulations go to Besley who were the overall winning house.
 
SPORT RESULTS
 
Rugby:
 
13th October. TS v King’s Bruton
 
1st XV                                     Won 22-5
2nd XV                                   Lost 20-21
3rd XV                                    Won 35-0
Senior Colts A           Won 37-0
Senior Colts B           Won 36-10
Junior Colts A           Won 27-7
Foals A                       Won 71-0
Foals B                       Won 39-0
 
13th October. TS v Queens
 
Foals C                       Drew 19-19
 
13th October. TS v Wellington
 
4th XV                         Won 45-29
 
Girls’ Hockey:
 
13th October TS v. Sherborne
 
1st XI                                     Lost 2 - 5
2nd XI                        Drew 0 - 0
3rd XI                                    Won 4 - 1
U15A                          Lost 1 - 2
U15B                         Lost 0 - 2
U14A                          Won 6 - 2
U14B                          Lost 0 - 4
 
OTHER EVENTS:
 
U8 Rugby and Hockey Festival
 
Recently, over 140 Year 3 girls and boys from Kings Hall, Wellington , Queens
Junior School and Taunton Prep joined at Taunton School to play together and show their skills in hockey or tag rugby. The initiative, the first of what is hoped to be a termly festival of sport, was enjoyed by many supporting parents who watched the children play in teams which integrated the schools together as well as teams from their individual schools respectively. The children were awarded stickers for effort and sportsmanship and each school went home with a small trophy at the end. A great afternoon was had by all. 
 
International Cuisine Evening
 
Another splendid event was organised by Mrs Treseder recently, ably aided and abetted by Mlle Dubois and Sra Diaz. There were all types of international cuisine lovingly prepared by students from all over the world and a quiz with an international flavour. However, the best part was seeing all the students, who often arrive at T.S. not knowing anyone, laughing and enjoying themselves with their new-found friends. Long may this type of activity be held because it really shows international relations at their best. We'll look forward to next year.
The Big Draw
 
On Monday 29th October over 800 people came to the Centenary Hall to take part in The Big Draw. It was a very enjoyable day bringing together students, staff and parents from all parts of the school. We filled seven large rolls of paper with exciting drawings which are now on display in the hall. The overall effect is amazing - like a giant Guernica. Please pop in and admire the outcome of our drawing extravaganza. We hope to repeat this successful event next year.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
 
Debating
 
Our two next school evening debates will be held on Friday 9th November (a topical motion) and Friday 30th November (balloon debate). Pupils and parents are always welcome.
 
Furthermore, the school is holding a ‘speakathon’ on Wednesday 6th February 2008. To highlight the importance of speaking in public we shall have students, staff, governors and parents speaking throughout the day. If you would like to speak please contact Roger Priest.
 
School Concerts
 
The music department has a busy few weeks ahead and invite all parents and pupils to join them at the forthcoming concerts. There will be an informal brass, woodwind and percussion concert on 5th November followed by the Popular Music Concert on 7th November. The Popular Music Concert will be held in the Arts Centre and features performances from the Wind Band, Orchestra and Boys Barbershop.
 
Rugby
 
This Saturday, 3rd November, the School's 1st XV rugby team are playing at Plymouth Albion's ground having been invited to play in the Presidents Cup.  In total three teams will be travelling to Plymouth, the 2nds & 3rds will be playing at other grounds in the City.  County stars and TS pupils Jack Conway and captain Robbie Debenham hope to lead the 1st team to victory against Plymouth College in this exciting warm up match at the Plymouth Albion Brickfields Ground. The game kicks off at 12.30 and is followed by Plymouth Albion’s national league match against Rotherham. The players and any supporters are all welcome to come along and watch.
 
NOVEMBER
 
Saturday 3rd November: 9.40am-10.55am U6 L6 Horizons Lecture: Mr Tim Emmet ‘Top Gear and Beyond’
1.00pm 1st XV Rugby v Plymouth College (Plymouth Albion RFC)
Rugby v Plymouth College (H) JCA JCB FA (A) 2 3/SC
Girls’ Hockey v Sherborne (H) 3 4 U15A U14B (A) 1 2
 
Monday 5th November: 4.00pm-8.00pm Shakespeare Rehearsal (Arts Centre)
6.00pm-8.00pm Boys’ Indoor Hockey League v King’s College (H)
6.30pm-7.30pm Informal Concert – Wind, Brass and Percussion (GWR)
 
Tuesday 66h November: 8.00am –
9.00pm U6 L6 IB Art Trip
 
Wednesday 7th November: 5.00pm – 7.00pm Shakespeare Rehearsal
6.30pm MFL Society
7.30pm-9.30pm Popular Music Concert (Arts Centre)
 
Thursday 8th November: 9.00am - 1.00pm F4 Careers Morning (Bath and West Showground)
Rugby v Mark College (H) SCA
7.30pm – 9.30pm Parents’ Choir
 
 
Friday 9th November: 10.00am Visit by Navy Liaison Officer
10.00am Governors and Management Day
1.00pm OT Western Club Lunch
7.00pm The Burke
7.15pm Governors’ Supper

 
 
CLASSICAL MUSIC AND CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT
2007
 
All parents are invited to come and sing in the parents’ choir who will perform Jenkins’ The Armed Man with a professional orchestra at the Classical Music and Choral Society Concert, which takes place on Sunday 25th November.
 
You need to have good reading skills to join as the music is performed on very limited rehearsals.  You must be able to make two of the three rehearsals listed below and the rehearsal on the day is very important.
 
Thursday 8h November 7.30 p.m.
Thursday 15th November 7.30 p.m.
Thursday 22nd November 7.30 p.m.
 
All rehearsals take place in the Gwyn Williams Room.
 
Sunday 25th November – 2.30 p.m. rehearsal – Chapel
CONCERT – starts at 7.30 p.m. – we sing in the second half.
 
A large glass of wine at the interval helps the vocal chords!