E-weekly Issue 161

Save the date: Cornelian Lecture with Tracy Edwards

We are delighted to announce the last speaker in our Cornelian Lecture Programme for this academic year and hope you are able to join us for what we hope will be a fascinating and inspirational talk.

We are fortunate that Tracy Edwards MBE has agreed to speak to our community on Wednesday 5^th May from 19.00 to 20.00. The talk will be streamed live from 19.00 to all students via the Cornelian Lecture Team. Parents and alumnae will be able to access a recording shortly afterwards.

In 1989 Tracy skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, becoming the first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy and she was appointed MBE. Her experiences have been the subject of two books and the critically acclaimed 2018 film ‘Maiden’. She will be speaking about her experiences, her plans for the future, and how to lead as a woman in the 21^st Century.

I look forward to welcoming you to what I am sure will be a fascinating lecture. As ever, if you have any ideas for talks or indeed feel that you might like to offer to undertake a Cornelian Lecture for the Mayfield Community, please get in touch with me at jdoy@mayfieldgirls.org

Mr John Doy, Head of Sixth Form

Car Park Reminder

Parents will have noticed a new one-way system in the Car Park.  To ensure that traffic flows freely and for safety, can I urge you not to wait for your daughter in the line of traffic but to park in a space and wait.

Thank you for your understanding.

Mr Richard Gordon, Bursar

Green Day

On Monday 26^th April, the girls celebrated Green Day by bringing in £1 to wear something green and support the WWF, the upkeep of the Mayfield bee colony, and other environmental improvements around the School site.

Students enjoyed an interesting Assembly by MESSy which covered a broad range of fascinating topics including sustainable farming, fast fashion, genetic banks and seed banks, the importance of bees, and recovered species. The Assembly concluded with special messages from the Co-Chairs of MESSy from last year who are now studying at University.

We also held ‘Mayfield Earth Hour’ from 14:30 to 15:30 during which we turned off as many electrical devices as possible with the aim of using zero energy across the School site during this time.

Mr Steve Gough, Head of Geography and Educational Visits Co-ordinator

The ESOL International Fair

Last Saturday, the ESOL Department held its annual International Fair, with girls engaging in a range of different activities celebrating the cultural diversity of the School and its pupils. The Leeds House girls made Chinese shadow puppets and Chinese lanterns to celebrate the Year of the Ox. Some of them also had a go at writing Chinese characters with help from Year 7s Ariel and Teresa. 

Half of the girls from Gabs watched a Senegalese film called ‘Atlantics’, a Grand Prix winner at Cannes in 2020. The film focusses on the plight of migrants and the refugee crisis, as well as themes of love and loss. The other half of Gabs made delicious Spanish Tapas in celebration of the Feria de Sevilla and ate them while playing board games in Spanish. They produced tortillas, croquetas, gazpacho and churros con chocolate, all of which was confirmed as tasting authentically Spanish by Year 12 Lucia.

Next year we hope to be able to offer the girls a carousel of activities once again so that they can have a taster of lots of different cultural experiences.

Mrs Kasia Kilvington, Head of ESOL

Mayfield Census 2021

Before Easter, the Mathematics Department carried out activities centred around the National Census. All staff and students were given the opportunity to take part in the Mayfield Census 2021. Unlike the National Census, we do not have to wait 100 years for the results! Each week the data for different questions will be revealed.

Mrs Sally Howie, Teacher of Maths

First Story Young Writers Festival

Year 9 English students were treated to a special screening of an interview with Angie Thomas, author of ‘The Hate U Give’ in the Concert Hall on Tuesday 20^th April. This event was part of the First Story Young Writers Festival, which this year moved online due to the pandemic.

We enjoyed listening to Angie talk about her writing life and her belief that writing has the power to create change. She even showed off her impressive rapping skills, much to the delight of us all!

Many of the girls have enjoyed ‘The Hate U Give’ and are now looking forward to reading her new novel, ‘Concrete Rose’, a prequel which takes us back to Garden Heights. We hope to be able to attend the festival in person next year.

Mrs Laura Parrett, Teacher of English

Year 11 Drama Practical Assessments

Last week, each pupil from the Year 11 GCSE Drama group performed a monologue for practical assessment. All the girls presented a different piece, ranging from classical to modern, with a variation of themes and characters.

They all did extremely well as they stood up by themselves and performed for each other whilst being filmed. It could have been a rather pressurised atmosphere, but the class approached it with confidence and with huge support for one another.

Well done to all those involved and to Mr Smith for rehearsing them through it.

Mrs Sally Gerstmeyer, Head of Drama

BSL Club Launched at Mayfield

This week marked the launch of our first-ever Mayfield British Sign Language (BSL) Club, a joint initiative between the Chaplaincy’s Actions not Words programme and the Learning Support Department. 

17 girls from Years 7 to 13 came along to the Chapel for the socially-distanced session with Marcel Hirshman, our teacher from Weald BSL. Marcel, who is is deaf himself, began by teaching us very simple words including yes, no, car, drink, eat, and nag, which we all found very easy to sign. We then moved on to greetings such as welcome, how are you, please, sorry, and tired. Everyone had a great time!

Thank you very much to Miss Clark for helping us with the screen, and we are all very much looking forward to our next session.

Year 9 Megan said: “I have recently joined BSL Club on Wednesday A2. I myself have a hearing impairment and thought that it would be useful for myself and others. My sister Phoebe in Year 11 has also joined so we can learn together. I have had one session so far and it has been a fun and a unique experience. I find that some of the vocabulary is quite easy to learn. I have already learnt how to say my name and other people's. I think it is also fun to teach others so they can also be involved. I believe it is a very important skill to teach others and should be more widely known to help others in the deaf community so they can be involved and communicate. Even if you are not involved in the club I think that you should have a go at learning the basics to help others.”

Dr Marie-Sophie Reijers and Mr Ronan Lavery

From the Chaplaincy

A quick reminder that each Thursday afternoon, at the beginning of A2, we will continue to pray the Rosary in the Chapel. It takes about 15 minutes to say this prayer, and everybody is welcome.

This Sunday’s Gospel: John 15: 1-8

Gospel Reflection:
“I am the vine, you are the branches…”

During School Liturgy this week, I took the opportunity to speak about ‘Vocation’. Don’t worry, I wasn’t trying to sign anybody up for life in a Convent - rather to speak about the fulfilment available to each of us when our lives are spent living out our own personal call to evangelize, to lead others to God, to help them see that they are, like us, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139)

Last week’s Gospel taught that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we the sheep. This week we hear that He is the vine, and we are the branches. Last week, we were the passive recipients of the loving care and attention of the hardworking shepherd - this week, however, it’s made plain to us that we must produce! As the branches, we are expected to produce the fruit, to nurture and support it as it grows and ripens. Far from a responsibility though, this calling is a privilege and a gift. And John goes to pains to point out that we are not expected to do this alone - it is through our connection to the vine - Jesus Christ - that we are able to produce fruit at all. Nothing at all is expected from the branch that is cut off from the vine…

So this week, let us joyfully share the love and comfort, and safety of Jesus Christ with all whom we meet, and watch the fruits of that relationship grow, ripen, develop, and bring joy and nourishment to many…

Mr Ronan Lavery, Lay Chaplain

Athletics Workshop

The PE Department enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning of Athletics last Saturday. For many Year 7 and 8 pupils, this term was their first opportunity to try new jumping and throwing events, and discover their hidden talents, as we were in the first lockdown last Summer.

Following a carousel of activities, the workshop focussed on track events, where it was great to see so many athletes in the making.  Later in the morning, Year 9 and 10 students joined us for field event training, running and relay technique. The girls showed great enthusiasm and will have the opportunity to start competing again from 15^th May in the Sussex Independent Schools Diamond League competition.

On Saturday 8^th May we will be having a Lower School Athletics Competition from 10:00 to 12:00. Students can choose which events they wish to enter and will be officiated under competitive conditions in preparation for inter-school events later in the term.

Mrs Julia Jones, Teacher of PE

New Nurse in the Health Centre

We would like to welcome Kate Stephens to the Health Centre Team! Kate has spent the last four years working as a Practice Nurse in GP surgeries in Eastbourne and Battle/Robertsbridge, and is very much looking forward to meeting everyone.

Please pop in to the Health Centre and say ‘hello’ if you would like to meet her.

Library News

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash.

Mrs Julie Gabriel, Librarian

Gabs House Update

The girls in Gabs House have greatly enjoyed the bright sunny weather over the last two weekends, and being able to go on outings again. A small group of girls went to Bexhill on the first Saturday back, where they stocked up on things from Tesco before collecting a take-away to eat on the beach. They braved the chilly sun for as long as possible and then chased the sunset with numerous photos on the way home.

This weekend the girls went into Tunbridge Wells for a spot of shopping, with some of our older girls being able to travel independently. We are now looking forward to the Bank Holiday where we are travelling to ‘Go Laser’ for an outdoors Laser Tag session.  

Mrs Pippa Whitby, Leeds House Housemistress and Teacher of PE

News from the School Shop

Lost Property
Please see below photos of lost property that is currently in the School Shop. If you think an item is yours, please come and collect it. Any items still in the School Shop at Half Term will be donated to charity.

Second-hand uniform
Can all girls who are completing their GCSEs this term and moving into the Sixth Form in September, please bring their second-hand uniform to the School Shop before they leave for the Summer holidays, so that we can credit their account for items we can sell.

Please remember that all uniform must be washed and ironed. Any uniform that is dirty or needs ironing will be considered to be a donation as it cannot be sold. We do not accept white shirts, socks, or uniform with the old logo (i.e the Mayfield logo without a cross), Year 7 and 8 book bags, obsolete styles (i.e the older style school coat), or equestrian items. Any uniform that cannot be re-sold will be donated to Mary’s Meals or the Clothing Bank. Please remember to keep your House polo and sports kit for the Sixth Form.

Summer
When Summer finally arrives, we have suntan lotion, after-sun, and a small number of sun caps for sale in the School Shop. We also stock second-hand tennis rackets and tennis balls.

Mrs Susan Bowles, School Shop Manager

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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