Claires Court Bulletin
SIXTH FORM
Bulletin 10| Autumn Term 2016
Email: kyh@clairescourt.net
Website: http://www.clairescourt.com/news-and-media/bulletins
Location: SL6 6AW, United Kingdom
Phone: 01628 411489
Facebook: facebook.com/clairescourt
Twitter: @clairescourt
FROM THE HEADS OF SIXTH FORM
Dear Parents,
The Sixth Form did a fantastic job on Sixth Form Open Evening. We were hugely grateful to all the students who gave up their time to help out last night. We could not run this evening without their help. We had over 110 students visit us and 100 sets of parents. Please see more on this in our bulletin below.
Best wishes
Andy Giles
Stephanie Rogers
FORTHCOMING DATES
Tues 29 Nov - Visiting speaker, Marc Jones, from Turbeville Solicitors. HM4 3.30pm
Fri 2 Dec - Rachael Williams will be speaking about strategies to combat pre-exam stress and anxiety. All Sixth Form welcome. In the Chapel, 2.15pm -3.45pm
w/c Mon 5 December - Christmas tests for Sixth Form
Fri 9 Dec - Christmas lunch and Christmas jumper day - £1 donation to charity
Wed 14 Dec - Sixth Form Christmas Party, Magnolia Park, Hughenden Valley 7.30pm -11.30pm
Sat 7 Jan 2017 - Swimarathon 2017 at the Magnet Leisure Centre. 6-7pm
Whatever the weather….
As the weather gets colder, may we take this chance to remind our parents of the School’s Emergency Closure Guidance in case we need to close the School due to adverse weather conditions.
URGENT Social Club subs - Deadline Monday 28 November
The deadline is Monday 28 November. Please send in a cheque made payable to Claires Court Sixth Form Social Club or bring in £45 cash - exact money only please - to the Sixth Form Office.
Absences and medical appointments
Christmas Lunch REMINDER
This year our Christmas lunch will be served to Transition, Junior, Senior Girls and Sixth Form on Friday 9 December.
REMINDER: If your child does not wish to have Christmas lunch, or has a dietary requirement please complete this form by 30 November. The menu can be viewed on the school website.
Sixth Form lanyards
Copas Turkey Offer
A Few Thank yous
Fright Night Disco
Many Sixth Formers stayed behind to help at the Juniors Fright Night Disco on Friday.They were, from Year 12, Lily Palmer-Moore and Laurence Pennant-Jones and from Year 13, Vicky Saunders, Kamini Khindria, Callum Perera and Chris Rayer. They all were a great help to the staff and managed not to get slimed! A big thank you to all of them.
FoodShare
Ed Axtell and Zara Khan also very kindly gave up their Saturday morning lie-in to help at the FoodShare food bank in Maidenhead. The staff there are always very grateful for any help from our students. We have a rota for helpers on a Saturday morning. Volunteers, please see Mrs Rogers.
Sixth Form Open Evening
It was our annual Sixth Form Open Evening last night and there were a huge number of Sixth Formers who helped to show case the Sixth Form to the Boys and Girls in Year 11 at Claires Court, and to many other students who visited us from different schools. Our students are truly our best Ambassadors for the Sixth Form - they took students and parents on tours, eloquently explained all our courses, and Tom and Lauren, our Head Boy and Girl, articulately spoke about their experiences in Sixth Form. Every one of them was extremely welcoming, did not stop smiling all evening and as ever, we were very proud of them.
Winter Concert
Dr Rebecca Williams - STEM talk to Year 12s
Dr Williams spoke about her education so far, including studying astrophysics at Cambridge university, and her experiences outside of education including cycling across America.
Hattie Thomas Year 12
Mayor's Reception for Borough Rowers
Living Tennis Apprenticeship Programme
Gold
This is for individuals who aspire to be full time coaches. There will be in-house training and funding is provided for coaches to take their LTA Level 1/2.
Silver
This is for those who prefer to work on a part-time basis and take LTA Level 1. This is a great opportunity for students to gain work experience, coaching and communication skills.
Bronze
This is designed for students looking for their first experience of coaching tennis. Apprentices work alongside a coach and receive training.
Further information at www.livingtennis.co.uk
SPORTS NEWS
Rugby Report
Claires Court v Reding Blue Coat - Saturday 12 November
Claires Court came up against a very strong Reading Blue Coat on a cold and rainy November Saturday morning. The Claires Court side were coming off a large win against Chesham Grammar school, whereas Reading Blue Coat were coming off a 2 game losing streak. Reading Blue Coat have historically been the better side, playing in leagues and competitions higher than Claires Court, however, this only fired up the players more.
It's fair to say Claires Court shocked Reading Blue Coat early on, with hard tackles and ball carries from the likes of Number 8, Todd Muil, and Centre, Connor Thomas. The first try came from Captain Owain Griffiths, slicing a hole in the Blue Coat defence, and running in from the Claires Court 10 metre line. Connor Thomas followed up soon after, converting a 40m penalty to take the home side 8 - 0 in front of a packed Maidenhead stand.
Poor discipline let the team down, conceding penalty after penalty, allowing the large Blue Coat forwards valuable field position to drive over the line for two tries in the second half, despite the tough Claires Court defence. Claires Court refused to give up, stringing together a massive amount of phases in the final play, trying to get the winning try. A small handling error, most likely due to the slippery conditions, led to an intercept try from Blue Coat. The game finished 19-8 to Blue Coat, an unfair result in terms of the way the Claires Court team played.
Honourable mentions to Matthew Hine, who injured his shoulder in a tackle early in the first half, putting him out for a while. Owain Griffiths also suffered a blow in the final play, resulting in a detached retina, putting him out until the end of the season.
Owain Griffiths
Rugby Captain
Claires Court v Gordons - Wednesday 23 November
Owain Griffiths weekly update: Owain’s surgery went well, no complications in the surgery. He came to school for half a day and everyone was pleased to see him and glad he was well. Sadly the first operation was not enough and he required a second one. The second operation ran smoothly, not according to him though as he was only on local anaesthetic....… The whole of Claires Court rugby, players and staff, wish him a smooth road to recovery.
Claires Court played away this week against Gordons. After the bus trip Claires Court were not left with much time to warm up. Claires Court won the coin toss and chose to play with the wind, suiting our kicking game we have developed this season.
First Half Claires Court received the ball of the kickoff and cleared the ball out of our own half well . Claires Court were looking good with ball in hand but discipline was letting us get pushed into our own half. We then gave another penalty away resulting in a yellow card from an illegal tackle. Down fourteen men and still in our own half, Gordons then converted a penalty to make the score 3-0. Claires Court, adamant to not give away more penalties, started playing much smarter rugby. Some great phase play that Gordons could not defend against, saw strong carries by Max Kenchington, Toby Yate and Teo Gaster. Toby Yate then had a strong ball carry and scored. Connor Thomas converted to make the score 7-3. Claires Court having much better discipline were playing great rugby in Gordons half, going through great phase play. Gordon conceded a penalty, that Connor Thomas converted making it 10-3. Claires Court now confident in their ability were playing much better rugby so that Gordons were struggling to keep up the pace of attack and gave away another penalty 30m out. Connor Thomas converted again making the score 13-3. Last play of the half, Claires Court had a scrum and a good flat pass from Kieran Grey set up Max Kenchington to score in the corner. Connor Thomas converted to make the score 20-3.
Second half, Claires Court kicked off and Gordons returned the ball well. Claires Court played a very mature kicking game in the second half keeping us out of their half. We then put together very good phases and stayed in Gordons half for a while. Todd Muil scored a try after great play by the team. Connor Thomas converted to make the score 27-3. Claires Court received the kick off and the forwards secured the ball well for Kieran Grey to clear it out of our half. Claires Court stayed in Gordons half and after good team phase play, Hamish Smart found a gap in Gordons defence and scored, Connor Thomas converted again to make the final score 34-3. Man of the match - Connor Thomas.
Todd Muil
Rugby Captain