E-weekly Issue 192

Message from Mrs Green 

Spring has well and truly arrived and it has been lovely seeing the girls out and about this week. The school grounds are looking resplendent with the blossoming trees and golden daffodils.

I wanted to say how incredibly proud I am of the girls for their fundraising initiatives over the last few weeks. Our Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has now raised more than £3,700 and today we held our Year 10 Charity Day, with lots more fun fundraising activities. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so generously.

Today saw us work without power for an hour, in support of Earth Hour. I would encourage the whole Mayfield Community to take part tomorrow at 8.30pm.

Next week, we end term with our annual Inter-House Drama Competition and Spring Music Concert. Good luck to everyone involved and happy hunting to the girls in Lower School for their annual easter egg hunt.

Dance Show

On Thursday and Friday last week we were thrilled to welcome a live audience to the concert hall for this year's Dance Show. It was a pleasure to see the delights of live performances again and the girls did not disappoint. Including curriculum classes, duos, soloists and group dances, there was a wide display of excellence and dedication on display, showcasing styles such as Hip Hop, Contemporary and Ballet. 

Many of the dances were choreographed by the girls themselves, with a huge thank you going to Tabatha for her help with Lower School.  Special mentions also for Alice Stallion, whose dances were highlights of the show, as well as Year 13 Milly. After years of commitment to Dance both in out of school, her Solo was beautiful and a fitting tribute to all that she has contributed over her time at Mayfield. The Year 13 Leavers Dance demonstrated her innovative and fun character, and was a fantastic ending to the show. Finally, a huge thank you to those that choreographed the dances; Anita Gunn, Charlotte Timbers, Sara Bassett and Miss Auer. You were all brilliant. 

Maths Feast

Maths Feast is a fun educational challenge for Year 10 students which tests problem-solving and teamwork skills. Teams of four students test their maths skills with our all-you-can-eat feast of problems! On Tuesday we were delighted to have the opportunity to welcome students from local schools. They all very much enjoyed both the questions and the cookies!

Earth Hour 2022

World Earth Hour is this Saturday, 20.30 – 21.30. Our planet is amazing - what will you do to keep it that way?

Festival of Spain

Last Monday Year 7 took part in the “Festival of Spain” cross-curricular day. The girls worked in their form groups researching three Spanish regions: Andalucia, Basque Country and Catalonia. They learned about food, festivals, famous artists and architects, and music and dance in these regions. They worked collaboratively to present their findings in a PowerPoint presentation and showed a very competent use of technology. In the Art session they made a fantastic mosaic creation depicting different aspects from the region studied. With the help of Mr Dowgan they explored the regional music and practised the music and dance routine for “Sevillanas, sardana and El aurresku”. In the afternoon teachers and students enjoyed the presentation of each group’s research and the art and music pieces. Prizes were awarded for the best piece of art, music and presentation. It was a very enjoyable occasion.  

Maria Criado, Head of Spanish

Gabs’ girls bake off

Gabs’ girls had a fabulous afternoon of baking on Sunday, creating delicious 2-3 layer cakes for our competition. There was much crushing of Oreo cookies as well as some precision icing before we were able to choose 2 clear winners from the group. They were rather special to look at and tasted amazing. We look forward to a repeat competition in the summer term with a meringue theme. 

Winners - Katrina, Charlotte and Katie (Year 10) and Sabrina, Meryl and Janis (Year 9)

Innovate

This term in Innovate, Year 9 girls have been learning how to use 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to design prototype devices and tools to assist individuals with disabilities. Each group focused on a particular disability and identified some challenges their user might face in their day to day life. They then designed and 3D-printed a custom made solution. The girls were delighted to see their final product emerge and enjoyed watching the time-lapse videos of the printer at work. They then critically reviewed their designs, identifying areas for further improvement or refinement, before sharing and explaining their work to the rest of the class.

Mabel, Lynn and Wing customised a prosthetic foot that can easily attach to an artificial limb:

Erin and Catherine created a chopping board for someone with one hand:

Sarah and Ximena designed braille cable labels for blind people:

Next term the girls will be completing a robotics project and will have to code their robots to complete various challenges, races and obstacle courses.

Mr Warren, Innovation Coordinator

Cornelian Lecture Programme: Laura Coleman

The girls enjoyed a great evening with writer and environmental activist, Laura Coleman, on Tuesday. In what was a very honest, personal and inspiring talk Laura covered many important themes - personal growth, career, conservation, and our relationship with the natural world.

Laura talked about how and why she arrived at a wild animal sanctuary in the Bolivian Amazon from Sussex, and how her search for self led to a very special relationship with a puma called Wayra. She described the work that Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) - the organisation which runs the shelter - does to rescue, rehabilitate and care for wild animals seized from illegal trafficking. To the girls’ horror and delight, she shared some of the conditions the workers and volunteers experience living in the middle of the rainforest, such as flies laying eggs in your skin and cockroaches in food, but she also explained how these quickly fade to insignificance in the face of the needs of the wildlife: the commitment that is required to support wild animals who are no longer able to live independently in the wild because they have been trafficked, and the rewards gained when an animal starts to trust you are huge but life-affirming. What came across from the talk was the way the situation in Bolivia has deteriorated in a relatively short space of time: how an area so rich in animal, bird, reptile and insect species is at risk of being lost for ever due to reduced rainfall, a notable increase in forest fires, and the increase in forest clearance.

Laura finished her talk with a reading from her book and, after a time for questions, many of the girls – clearly inspired by her words - chose to buy their own signed copy of The Puma Years, proceeds from which go to support CIWY.

A recording of Laura’s talk is now available on Planet e-Stream if you would like to view it:

Watch Laura's talk

Mrs Amanda Glubb, Head of Careers

Year 11 Ball

On Saturday 19^th March, our Year 11 girls along with some invited guests from Tonbridge School had fun dancing the night away at their Year 11 Ball. The girls and their guests enjoyed interacting with each other and making new friends. They had a great time putting on funny disguises and taking photos on the Selfie Mirror Photo Booth. The Chocolate Fountain was an absolute hit! It was a fantastic opportunity for those who attended to let their hair down before the exam preparations begin. I hope they enjoyed the celebration.

Mrs Anna Maimi, Head of Year 11
 

Sports Update

Netball Season- Over and out  

On Saturday 19^th March, we had one last Netball block fixture against Kings College Canterbury. This is always a close fixture and 2022 saw Mayfield come away with 2 wins (U15 B and C), 1 draw (U16B), and then losses across our top 5 teams (U14A, U15A, U16A,  1sts,  2nds). Nevertheless, the score lines do not reflect the overall play on the day, and everyone should be proud of their performances. Every Mayfield team has made progress this year and both Miss Auer and Miss Jones are already excited to be thinking ahead to 2022/2023 pre-season. 

 We would also like to thank the Senior Girls in Year 11 and Year 13 who played their last ever-competitive fixtures for Mayfield this weekend. Your input to Mayfield Netball has been invaluable and we wish you all the best. Please keep playing!!!!  

Wednesday 23^rd March - “What a day for it”  

“What a day for it” seemed to be the phrase that echoed around the PE department on Wednesday 23^rd March for our annual Inter-House Netball competition. As the sun shone down on the Netball courts, the Sixth Form girls kicked off the festivities as they started to emerge with their housetops, face paint, and oodles of enthusiasm. This theme continued throughout the day with every house fielding teams in each age group.  It was a brilliant day that was full of amazing, closely contested Netball.   

News from the Chaplaincy

Gospel reflection Sunday 27th March
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

This Sunday is Laetare Sunday – a Sunday of rejoicing! And what better gospel reading is there to hear than the parable of the prodigal son – the son who returns to his father amidst much joy and celebration. This parable is perhaps one of the best known from the New Testament and, as with many parables, poses its own questions and complexities. As a child, I never quite understood the gospel; it seemed to me that one sibling did everything right and the other did everything wrong, but then the dad rewards the badly behaved child with a great big party! Can we blame the elder brother for being angry and refusing to join the festivities?

I think we can all be a little like the elder brother at times – feeling as if the world has been cruel and unjust to us. It is easy to look at what our siblings have or what our friends have, and wish we had the same. But we risk losing sight of our own wonderful gifts whilst envying those of others. Just like the elder brother, who loses sight of the fact that his brother “was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”

Rather than being like the elder brother – however much we might sympathise with him – let us be like the father, who is merciful and loving and prepared to forgive what many could not. “Forgive us our trespasses,” we say, “as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

This Laetare Sunday, let us be more like the father in the parable, ready and willing to forgive others, and hoping in turn that God our Father might treat us with the same loving mercy and tenderness.

Miss Kathleen McCulloch, St Dunstan’s Assistant Housemistress

The Friends' Peacock Ball - Saturday 18th June

The Friends of Mayfield are pleased to announce the upcoming summer Peacock Ball to be held at Mayfield School on Saturday 18th June. In the next few days you will be receiving an exciting invitation in the post with all the detailed information.  Tickets go on sale from this Saturday 26th March at 8am via ticket tailor. 

Book tickets for Peacock Ball (from 8am Saturday)
If you would like to donate an auction item or smaller gift for the wishing tree please contact Susie Pepper at susiepepper10@gmail.com.

Notices

From The Friends
Year 11 are having an end of term coffee on Wednesday 30th March at Pink Cabbage from 10.30 am.
Please could parents email Laura at laurascriven@btinternet.com if they would like to attend.

Return of Library Books

Issues with delivery of emails
We are aware that there have been some issues recently with the delivery of emails to domains such as btinternet.com, btopenworld.com and talk21.com. Please add 8456035@sims-communications.co.uk to your safe senders list to ensure you continue to receive important communications including School Reports, Public Examination results, the E-weekly and some letters. Thank you.

Mrs Heather Kiddle, SIMS and IT Applications Manager

With the Mayfield Festival of Music and the Arts just one month away it is worth noting some highlights that are not to be missed for connoisseurs of classical music. 

On Monday 2 May Oxford Camerata and the Mayfield Consort join forces under the baton of the renowned conductor Jeremy Summerly to perform a selection of choral masterpieces by English composers that span a 500 year period; including the magnificent Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis. Then, on Saturday 7 May, the internationally acclaimed pianist Joanna MacGregor gives a recital featuring works by a variety of composers (including Rameau and Liszt) before concluding with a performance of Beethoven’s ‘Appassionata’ Sonata. Finally, in the closing concert of the 2022 Festival on Sunday 8 May, the Southbank Sinfonia will perform works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, including The Lark Ascending and Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

Full details of all events are available in the Festival brochure (copies of which can be obtained free of charge from the School Reception) and on the Festival website at www.mayfieldfestival.co.uk. Tickets can be purchased either online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/mayfieldfestival, by telephone on 0333 666 3366 (quoting Mayfield Festival) or in person at Sew Inspired, High Street, Mayfield. Tickets for Under-30s are half price for all events bar one.