E-weekly Issue 157

Welcome back

We are delighted to have finally been able to welcome the girls back into School this week, and we very much hope that they have enjoyed catching up with their friends and teachers, and to returning to some sort of ‘normality’ for the last few weeks of term. We have all very much enjoyed having them here!

International Women’s Day #ChooseToChallenge

International Women’s Day is marked annually on 8th March to celebrate the achievements of women and to help address gender equality. This year's theme was ‘Choose to Challenge’ and we were privileged to have a special IWD Assembly on Monday morning. This was presented by two amazing women, OC Giovanna Forte and Martha Silcott, who shared their stories about overcoming obstacles to bring new products to market.

Passion, tenacity, and the support of good friends, helped former pupil Giovanna Forte of Forte Medical, and Martha Silcott of FabLittleBag, launch their products. Giovanna has developed a unique urine collection system, Peezy Midstream, that is being used by healthcare professionals worldwide to collect reliable samples for early diagnosis of infections. Martha's product is an eco-friendly solution to sanitary product disposal. 

This was a refreshing presentation discussing taboos surrounding feminine healthcare delivered by two inspirational women. 

Following the Assembly, I asked the girls who their female STEM Heroes are and how they dispose of their own sanitary products. 98% of the girls who use sanitary products said that they bin them, while the rest flush them down the toilet. The most popular female STEM Heroes among Mayfield girls were Katherine Johnson, Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, and family role models.

Mrs Rachel Davies, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, Teacher of Biology and STEM Co-ordinator

Intermediate Mathematical Challenge

In February, some of our Year 9, 10 and 11 students took part in the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge, a 60-minute paper of challenging Maths questions. The Mathematics Department is pleased to report that this year’s entrants received 25 Bronze, 12 Silver and 5 Gold certificates.

Chloe, Sissi and Elizabeth all qualified for the ‘Pink Kangaroo’ follow-on round, and Samantha, Ellie and Katrina qualified for the ‘Grey Kangaroo’, which takes place later this month. Well done everyone!

Mrs Sally Howie, Teacher of Maths

Year 7 Eco Car Project

Mrs Bartlett is working with her Year 7 pupils to launch an ‘Eco Car Project’ – watch this space for further details next week!

News from the Chaplaincy

Gospel Reflection:
The following poem, based on the famous verse John 3:16, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life’, is a powerful reminder of the magnitude of the sacrifice, the pain and suffering willingly taken on by Jesus, out of love for each and every one of us. Let’s be grateful, and this week put a little bit more effort into consciously forgiving and loving each other.

Covenant
My child
I know
it is
difficult
to love

I know
it is
difficult
to forgive

I know
it is
difficult
to suffer
but look

I am taking
away your heart
and in
its
place

I am putting
my
heart

Now I
will be
suffering

Now I
will be
forgiving

Now I
will be
loving
in you

My
heart is
beating in you

© J. Janda, 2000

Opportunities to join the School in prayer during this Lenten season:
Rosary:
Every weekday afternoon, at 13:45, we gather at the foot of Cornelia Connelly’s tomb, to pray the Rosary. The prayer is live-streamed each day on Teams, and usually takes no more than 15 minutes. Please join us if you can. If you have any prayers or intentions you’d like to pray for, please email our chaplain Ronan, at rlavery@mayfieldgirls.org. (You do not have to be specific with your intentions.) Here’s the link: DAILY ROSARY

Adoration & Quiet Prayer:
Straight after Rosary each day, between 14:00 and 14:30, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the Chapel. Join pupils, staff, family and generations of OCs for a time of quiet prayer - a beautiful and powerful Lenten observance. The meeting will be the same as the Rosary meeting on Teams, but here’s the link again: DAILY ROSARY

Planned Lenten Talks:
Lenten talks began on Tuesday 9^th March and will take place in the School Chapel at 18:00 precisely each Tuesday evening, followed immediately by a brief, intimate celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist . Guest speakers will give short presentations on aspects of the charism of Mother Cornelia Connelly, and her continued impact on us as individuals, as a School, and as a Christian community:  LINK

Mr Ronan Lavery, Lay Chaplain

Innovative OC sells luxuries in lockdown

We are very proud of entrepreneurial OC Laura ‘Lolly’ Hurel (Class of 2019), from Five Ashes, who has teamed up with three friends from her Business Management course at the University of Southampton, to set up their own business, all while completing their second year at university.

Their business, Palace Packages, sells affordable care packages of treats that provide unique experiences from home, and have been a big hit during the pandemic.

Lolly said: “We have spent a great deal of time getting our business up and running, and I have taken on the role of Head of Marketing which I am thoroughly enjoying. It has been really nice to be able to do something positive during the pandemic, offering fun care packages of treats for our customers to enjoy when they are stuck at home.”

Well done Lolly!

Mayfield SPARK Camps 2021

We are very much looking forward to welcoming children from Reception to Year 8 back to Mayfield for a fun-filled SPARK holiday Camp this Summer. Check out our Facebook page for further updates: https://www.facebook.com/MayfieldSPARKCamps

Mrs Lynette Le Riche, SPARK Camp Co-ordinator

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