Churston Grammar
Winter Newsletter - Parent Update
Elf Success
The Churston Ferrers Grammar School production of ‘Elf’ had a hugely successful run of three nights. The cast and crew were professional throughout and well received by the audience. Enjoy some photos of the event below.
Level 1 Dance Leaders Award
Current Year 11 students have successfully completed the Level 1 Dance Leaders award. This Ofqual accredited qualification requires students to plan, deliver and evaluate dance sessions to Primary pupils. Beginning in January 2018, 24 students across Year 10 completed the course and were a credit to the school in the process. Students delivered their workshops to Year 2 and 3 pupils from Galmpton Primary School on two occasions with enthusiasm and passion for dance. Galmpton pupils were invited to perform in our whole school Dance Production in April, having learnt choreography based on 'The Jungle Book' created and taught by the Year 10 Leaders. Students showed organisation, creativity and of course excellent leadership throughout the course.
Congratulations Dance Leaders: Alfie Bennett, Macy Brocklehurst, Chloe Butt, Caeliegh Collings, Grace Canning, Jodie Dowdeswell, Jessica Down, Ola Ebbutt, Hannah Gorman, Saskia Heather, Chloe Howgate, Georgia Knott, Emily Lander, Elysia McIsted, Katja Mirza, Gabriella Mitchell, Freya Newell, Cerys Newman, Hollie Pugh, Alice Revest, Lucy Simpson, Victoria Stanway, India Ward, Ellie Widnell.
U18 Girls Netball - Third in Devon!
The U18 netball girls competed in the National Schools tournament on the 13th of November at Exeter University. Charlotte Haigh, Team Coach, hugely supported the team; advising positions and set plays. The team was selected based on consistent and impressive ability in netball and regular attendance to training. This was a group event in which 7 other teams from all parts of Devon who qualified for tournament, played.
In review, the whole team played incredibly well especially considering we only had 8 players. Great support from the defensive players all the way up court and huge versatility shown by Beth Thomas, Fran Andrews and Charley Warren. Excellent feeding from the centre court players and some superb interceptions and turnovers all round congrats to Lina Okihara and Emily Criddle for showing versatility and consistency throughout. Lastly, brilliant movement from the shooters Phoebe de Selincourt and Lucy Criddle alongside very consistent shots to goal! A very positive day ending 3rd in Devon, narrowly missing out on qualification by one point!
Nicolas Wins Bronze in Karate
Adrienne was a guest clarinettist
On the 12th and 13th December, Year 11 student, Adrienne Knight was the guest solo clarinettist at the Quay Harmony, (a ladies choir from Brixham) Christmas concert.
Playing music is something that Adrienne practices in her own time and Mrs Anderson-Brown had invited her to take part in the concert that she was organising.
Adrienne said, "I took part because I knew how nice the place I would be playing was, and it was a great opportunity for me due to the amount of time I had to play and freedom I had to choose my pieces. I genuinely enjoyed the concert, and got some really lovely comments from the audience"
Isabelle to Represent the South West
Year 7 Self Esteem Day
In November the Year 7 students took part in a PSHE Enrichment Day entitled ‘Self Esteem ’. The entire year group came off timetable and followed a carousel of workshops relating to the theme of Self Esteem.
The aim was to provide students with an opportunity to learn about and explore a variety of aspects surrounding self esteem and intended as an integral part of developing self awareness and well-being. In addition to this, the students watched a short presentation about healthy and unhealthy relationships and online protection delivered by a project worker from The Children’s Society.
The day started with an assembly which addressed the question ‘What is Self Esteem?’ Students learned that it could mean many things but included:
The beliefs you have about yourself
What you think about the type of person you are
Your abilities
The positive and negative things about you and what you expect for your future.
Two ‘Relationships’ workshops , entitled ‘Who am I’ and ‘Building Self Esteem’ introduced students to the concept of self esteem . Students looked at what high and low self esteem looks like and the importance of personal positive self esteem. The sessions also encouraged students to celebrate the individual in who they are and what they can achieve.
Workshops included ‘Food and Mood’ where students looked at different food types, diet and how it affects us both physically and mentally.
Body image describes our idea of how our body looks and how we think it is perceived by others. The workshop ‘Body Image and the Media’ explored the methods used by the media to influence perceptions, fashions and products. Students looked at ways of dealing with social media pressures and how to build body confidence.
The workshop ‘Confi- Dance’ gave students the opportunity to explore a healthy mindset through movement and they were also able to develop their team skills and confidence through a drama workshop entitled ’Helping to build Self Esteem’.
The students had an enjoyable, yet valuable and rewarding day which will hopefully prove beneficial to them both now and in the future.
Careers and Aspirations
Students in Year 11 participated in a two-day event, designed to inform them of their options for study beyond their GCSEs. The ‘Future Choices’ Day, included an extended assembly, with a Question and Answer Forum with former students. This was followed by a carousel of activities regarding university course, apprenticeships, sixth form colleges, and career-enhancing personal development opportunities. The students also spent a day in Churston Sixth Form, where they experienced taster lessons in subjects of their choice.
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week (5-9 November) was supported by two visiting engineers who delivered informative presentations to some of our Design and Technology students.
The Institution of Civil Engineers arranged for Structural Engineer Kate Purver to talk to our students about her varied career in England and France since graduating from Cambridge University. Her experience includes building and footbridge structures, architectural steelwork and structural glass, as well as more unusual small structures including collaborations with sculptors and craftsman. Her work includes the ‘Treetop Walkway’ at Kew Gardens and ‘The Singing Ringing Tree’ in Burnley. Kate challenged the students with a problem-solving exercise to reinforce the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Former student Fleur Elliot-Davies also talked to our students about her career pathway as an Engineer since leaving Churston. Fleur is currently a Year in Industry Intern as part of her MEng Civil and Coastal Engineering degree at the University of Plymouth. She is employed in the infrastructure design team at Awcock Ward Partnership, Exeter and has been involved with various planning and infrastructure projects. Fleur challenged our students to use materials in the classroom to design drainage systems, to include two bends, which were tested using ping pong balls!
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