E-weekly Issue 140

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Welcome from The Friends’ and Year Reps

What a bizarre start to the academic year we have all had!  You will now have received the names of your year group representatives, along with your parent contact lists. The reps are organising various socially-distanced gatherings, so please keep an eye out for their emails.  For up-to-date information regarding our activities, please visit The Friends’ webpage on the School Parent Portal: https://www.mayfieldgirls.org/my-mayfield/parent-portal/the-friends-of-mayfield.  We are in the process of confirming some exciting virtual Christmas events - subject to Government guidelines - so watch this space!
Thank you.

Mrs Susie Pepper, Chair of The Friends’ of Mayfield

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Cornelian Lecture by Malone Mukwende

On Tuesday, we were very pleased to present our first Cornelian Lecture of the year, with Malone Mukwende speaking about his pioneering work regarding the diagnosis of skin conditions for patients with darker skin tones.

Malone, a 20-year-old medical student from St George’s, University of London, was surprised by the lack of education provided to help diagnose skin conditions for patients with darker skin tones. He believed that “Something needed to be done to address the situation”, and began to work with the Senior Lecturer in Diversity and Medical Education, Margot Turner, and the Head of Clinical Skills, Dr Peter Tamony.

With the help of his lecturers, Malone wrote a book called ‘Mind the Gap: A Handbook of Clinical Signs in Black and Brown Skin’. The name was inspired by the London underground warning signs. In this case, ‘Mind the Gap’ indicates that if people with darker skin tones are misdiagnosed, there can be fatal consequences. The book contains images of common clinical signs and descriptions on how to adapt care for patients who have deeper skin tones.

‘Mind the Gap’ has been featured widely in the media ranging from the ‘British Medical Journal’ to the ‘Washington Post’. Celebrities such as John Boyega, Priyanka Chopra and Lupita Nyong’o have recognised Malone’s ground-breaking work.

Thank you to our Head Girl, Natasha, who organised the lecture in conjunction with Mayfield's MedSoc, and Justice and Peace Group.

We all found the Lecture both educational and fascinating:

Year 12 Valeria said: "The talk provided great insight into both pursuing a medical career, and the injustice that still exists, often unnoticed, within this sector. It was really interesting to hear about Malone's personal experiences and invaluable life tips, encouraging us to keep at heart our integral beliefs and what we stand for."

​Year 12 Victoria said: "It was inspiring to hear how Malone Mukwende is working towards fixing the skin bias in dermatology. Lack of skin diversity in medical textbooks leads to misdiagnosis, which puts many lives at risk every day. Malone explained his motivation in becoming a medical practitioner and encouraged us to speak up for reducing inequalities in healthcare."

Mr John Doy, Head of Sixth Form

 

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Careers Department Update

Please click here to view the September/October edition of Mayfield’s Pathways Careers Bulletin for all the latest news and advice from the Careers Department. Do take a look as there is a host of different career-related events and activities available to you, including an Oxbridge personal statement workshop (open to anyone, not just would-be Oxbridge candidates), information on going to university in the USA or Canada, and a webinar on how to become a lawyer.

Thank you.

Mrs Amanda Glubb, Head of Careers and Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme Manager

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GCSE Drama Practical Exams

Our Year 11 GCSE Drama students performed their practical examination pieces on Tuesday. This was the culmination of several months' work, starting when the groups chose their respective stimuli and then devised their pieces. All three pieces shown were of an excellent standard and demonstrated a range of theatrical styles. The girls worked exceptionally hard and Mr Smith was incredibly proud of them all!

Mr Daniel Smith, Teacher of Drama

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Beyond Gold Reading Quest

This week, Year 8 Lynn was awarded a prize – a smart copy of the beloved classic ‘Jane Eyre’ – for her outstanding achievement in the ‘Beyond Gold Quest’ challenge. As well as completing the Bronze, Silver and Gold Champions’ Read programme, Lynn spent time over the summer further expanding her reading and completing a number of reading-related challenges. This experience will stand Lynn in good stead for many years to come – well done!

Miss Joanna Staunton, Head of English

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National Poetry Day

Following on from our celebration of National Poetry Day, the English Department will continue to share a 'Poem of the Week' with the girls on our digital screens and in our English lessons. Next week, we will be enjoying a new poem from Simon Armitage. This poem is part of a collection of poems that Armitage wrote during lockdown. He told ‘The Telegraph’ that his poem is inspired by the changing of the seasons and represents "The change from one thing to another, in a particularly changeable time."

We hope that the girls will enjoy the opportunity to engage with a range of poems from different time periods and perspectives over the course of the year.  

Mrs Laura Parrett, Teacher of English

From ‘New Cemetery’

The horizon 

         smarting

                    from hit-and-run squalls;

shadows of clouds

           like stingrays 

                    patrolling the valley floor.

New lamps for old,  

          the cemetery studded 

                    with washed stones,

shimmering causeways 

          puddled 

                     with poured gold.

After the sun

           the rain, after the rain

                      the sun,

this is the way of life 

           till the work

                       be done.

Simon Armitage

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Mayfield Doubles Tennis Tournament

It was great to see so many pupils taking part in the Mayfield Doubles Tournament last Saturday morning. With 24 players overall, eight pairs took part in the U14 Tournament and four pairs in the U16s.

Congratulations to our winners, Year 9s Zoe and Edith, who won the U14 Tournament, and to Year 11s Freya and Amelia who topped the U16 leader board. It was also great to see our two sibling pairs claim both runner-up places, with Year 10 Tilly and Year 11 Olivia coming second in the U16 Tournament, and Year 9 twins, Matilda and Helena, coming second in the U14s.

Well done to everyone who took part! Great fun was had by all!

Miss Imogen Jones, Teacher of PE

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News from the Chaplaincy

Last Thursday, the Year 7s had their Day of Recollection here at Mayfield. They began the day with prayers in Chapel, before moving to Gresham for a full day of activities. Many of the games and activities, like the Trust Walk, reminded us that God walks alongside us, asking us to use our gifts and talents in the service of others. (Other games, admittedly, were just for fun!) We learned from Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr, Blessed Cornelia Connelly, and Malala Yousafzai how, when we listen to the whisper of God, we can achieve great things and change the world. David showed us how the simplest of actions can have life-changing implications.

It was a busy day, but our Year 7 girls were a credit to themselves, their families and their school. Thank you Year 7!
 

 

 

This week’s Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43

Gospel Reflection:

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.”

In this week’s Gospel, the landlord leases his vineyard to tenants, and goes on a journey. When he returns, he sends a servant to collect his harvest. But the tenants kill him. He sends another servant, who meets the same fate. Finally, the landlord sends his son. “They will respect my son”, he thinks. But the tenants kill the son, hoping to seize his inheritance.

Has this Gospel ever been more relevant than now? Even if we ignore the obvious inference in stewardship to the earth, and our responsibility to God’s creation, this parable calls us to examine our relationship with God. We want to live our own lives, take decisions that benefit us, profit from our labours. But what happens when our wishes are at odds with God’s teaching? Do we reject the cornerstone? Do we let our pride and selfishness make us less open to God’s word.

The fruits of the Kingdom, the harvest God sent his son to collect, are this: justice, love, peace, compassion, humility and a love of God. When we let our vanity blind us to this, we forget our debt to the landlord.  We fail to recognise the Son, and we reject the cornerstone. We are the tenants in the parable. We are provided by God with everything we need to make our vineyard prosper. God gives us the freedom to run the vineyard as we choose – but it is God’s. We need to be sensitive to what God desires of us. This is what prayer is about – coming to know the mind of God about our lives.

So why not set some time aside for prayer this week? Alone, and as a family? Let us welcome God into our lives, into our vineyards, and look to work together with him to produce great fruits in our lives.

Mr Ronan Lavery, Lay Chaplain       

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School Charity 2020-21

Year 13 Olivia, Charities Prefect

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The Rosary in Music

This week, Dr Ward is presenting the first episode in a five-week series called ‘The Rosary in Music’ on Radio Maria England. You can tune in today (Friday) at 16:30 or tomorrow (Saturday) at 14:30 if you would like to listen to his talk on ‘The Joyful Mysteries’. Further details below.

The Music Department
 

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Catering Department Awarded Excellent ’5’ by EHO

On Monday 28^th September, the Catering Department was awarded the top rating of ‘5’ following its inspection.

All catering premises nationwide are subject to visits from the Environmental Health Office and are rated under a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest), depending on the level of hygiene found. These visits are undertaken periodically and with very little notice.

The EHO takes into account:
·       How hygienically food is handled, prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
·       The condition of the structure of the building - the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and pest control
·       How the business manages and records what it does to make food safe
·       Cleaning techniques and schedules
·       Methods used for preventing contamination
·       Food labelling to include validity of product/menu descriptions and correct allergen labelling
·       Personal hygiene practices by staff
·       Equipment maintenance.

We are very pleased to announce that the EHO inspector was very impressed with our facilities and the way we operate the Catering Department saying: “This is an excellent example of how a catering business should be operated.”

Once again, he awarded us with our previously held ‘5’ rating, saying “If there was such thing as a 5+ rating I would award you that!”

Mr David Walker, Catering Manager

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News from the School Shop

Closure Dates
Please note that the School Shop will be closed on the following dates:
Monday 5^th October
Monday 12^th October

Please ensure that you have everything you need from the School Shop for the following Monday by 15:30 on the Friday before the closure.

Lost Property
Please see below pictures of lost property in the School Shop. Please have a look and collect anything that belongs to you.

 

Christmas Ted Competition – it’s back

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Reminders
 

In order to keep everybody safe, please could parents please note the following reminders:

• Please drop off and collect your daughters from the the Lower School Car Park, and remember not to drop off or collect on the mini roundabout near the Lower School Car Park, as this is dangerous and causes congestion.
• Please do not walk around the School Site.
• If you need to contact a member of staff, please do so by email or phone. Please do not come into School unless by appointment.

If your daughter is going to be late or absent from School, please email absence@mayfieldgirls.org or phone the direct absence line which is 01435 874671.  

Thank you for your understanding.

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Please click here to access next week's Menu

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Calendar

Date	Time	Event
03.10.20	09:00 - 16:00	Year 7 and 8 Hastings Beach Clean-Up
04.10.20	11:30 - 12:30	Mass, Chapel
05:10:20	Five days	Year 12 ALIS Testing
05:10:20	08:20 - 08:55	Whole School Assembly, Concert Hall
05:10:20	13:00 - 16:00	Year 13 Geography Field Trip to Box Hill
05:10.20	19:30 - 20:30	Yoga for Sixth Form Boarders
06:10.20	13:30 - 18:00	Textiles' Scholars Afternoon
06:10.20	18:00 - 18:30	Mass, Chapel
08:10:20	16:45 - 17:45	Teatime Concert, Courtyard
08:10:20	19:00 - 20:30	Prefects' Supper
09:10:20	Lunchtime	Family Fast Day

 

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Mayfield Social Media Accounts

For up to date information on School events and activities.
Mayfield School - @Mayfieldgirls
Mayfield Geography - @MGeographers
Mayfield Economics - @MayfieldECON
Mayfield Food and Nutrition - @MGFoodandNut
Mayfield Music - @MayfieldGirlsM1
Mayfield Drama -@DramaMayfield
Mayfield STEM - @MayfieldGirlsS1
Mayfield Careers - @MGCareersDept
Mayfield Sport - @MGPEDept
Mayfield Spark Camps - @SparkCamps                                     
Mayfield Library - @MGLibraries

Instagram:
Geography - www.instagram.com/mayfieldgeographers      
Mayfield School - www.instagram.com/mayfieldschool

Facebook:
School - www.facebook.com/mayfieldgirls
Alumnae - www.facebook.com/OldCornelians
Spark - www.facebook.com/mayfieldschoolsparkcamps