Our teams of Year 5 and Year 6 Scientists did very well competing in the National Science Championship online. Congratulations to Santi, Bea, Rex and Jago who have made it through to the semi-finals.
On Saturday 11th November, the Rifle Club travelled to Bisley for the annual English Schools Long Range Championships. Gresham’s took a large squad (16 pupils), of mixed abilities, to the match. For a good number of the team, this was their first small-bore match away from school, so it was a totally new experience for them. It was a massive learning curve for the newer shots in the team and they all performed fantastically well. There were 160 competitors, in total, from 16 different schools. Ilana B just missed out on winning her age group by a single point but Marcella B, George B and Oliver R all won their age groups, with George B being the top shot out of all competitors on the day and scoring 195 / 200. The top shots in the Gresham’s team were outstanding during the match. George B and Georgie B finished 3rd in the Senior Pairs and Marcella B and Grace S finished 3rd in the Junior Pairs. The Gresham’s Team of IV ‘A’ team shot fantastically well and finished in second place, just behind Charterhouse, the eventual winners.
Thank you to all those members of the team, and staff, that took the time to attend the match.
In the school service on Saturday 11th a banner party comprising senior NCOs from all three sections took a prominent role with CSgt Jemima T presenting the banner, CSM George P commanding the banner party and doing the reading, and FSgt Daisy W doing the prayers. They were accompanied by LH Fred B and FSgt Jonny W on the march into chapel at the beginning of the service and the march out at its conclusion. Jemima also carried the banner for the contingent on Sunday morning for the Holt town remembrance service when a tri-service body of over 100 cadets marched through the town and participated in a service at the war memorial. This is always a significant event in the life of the town and was well-attended by a large number of local residents.
We welcomed Stuart McCain, regional representative for The Arkwright Scholarship, to the Dyson Building to talk to current budding engineers from Years 9, 10 and 11.
Stuart gave an insightful and encouraging talk to pupils on the application process, scholarship award and opportunities for links to the engineering industry.
The dialogue with the scholarship will continue, to help and guide the next Gresham’s Arkwright Scholar.
Three of our pupils won awards in a public speaking competition recently. The Prayer Book Society holds its annual Cranmer Awards to help young people to learn the skill of public speaking, and also as a means to keep the beautiful language of the Book of Common Prayer alive and well. The Junior category was won by Pullo W, the Senior category by Cerys D and Aaron S was also highly commended in the Senior category. The judges included Anne Robinson, the journalist and presenter. The two winners now progress to the National Finals at Hampton Court Palace in February next year. They will have to speak (not read) passages from the BCP for between 3 and 5 minutes; these could be a selection from the Psalms or other readings from the annual church calendar. Well done to all 11 pupils who took part; and the best of luck to our two winners for the final.
Over half term the CCF invested in a new DryFire software and laser clay target shooting system. Using a real shotgun mounted with a trigger sensor and laser, the DryFire system is able to simulate life-like clay targets and, unlike many of its competitors, is able to calculate the amount of lead ahead of the clay required to break it. It provides the shooter directly after a shot with an image of their shot and spread, so they can learn from mistakes and make adjustments. Different simulations of all disciplines can be applied. The system can also include varying speed, wind, cartridges and bore of gun to name but a few of its options.
This half of term and into next term, cadets from all three sections will be given the opportunity to use and train on the equipment. It will also be used for supportive training for the clay shooting team. It still requires some tweaking of the projection system to improve image and reduce shadow, but we have already had a very competitive start last week with the Year 12 Army cadets, with Hector L. achieving the high gun and this week with four Navy cadets achieving 10/10 – a big well done to Mia W, Will B, Luca H and Severin G!
This is a fantastic opportunity for the cadets to be able to practise shooting clays throughout the year, come rain or shine.
This will not completely replace live clay shooting, which will continue once the better weather and lighter afternoons commence as we head into Spring and Summer.
For further information about the system, do look up DryFire on https://dryfire.com/ or contact Mr Detnon at [email protected].
During Remembrance Week, all Year 9 pupils spent one History lesson exploring original artefacts from the Gresham’s School Archive related to the experience of Gresham’s School staff and pupils during the First World War.
Year 9 pupils had the opportunity to get hands-on experience handling items such as contemporary newspaper cuttings, school magazines, the 1903 prospectus, the Vellum Roll of Honour for the boys of the junior school who were killed in action, recently donated photo albums and diaries from Dallas Wynne Willson, the housemaster of Old School House between 1905 and 1920, and special items relating to OGs Alec Heron and George Goodall who were both killed in action during the conflict.
A special light installation named ‘The Light of Peace’ was set up in Chapel during Remembrance week. The evocative combination of smoke, music and a vast circular wall of light proved to be very popular with pupils, parents and staff alike. The stunning work gave visitors the opportunity to pause and reflect on those who are still living in places of conflict in our world today. It also encouraged them to pray and strive for a more peaceful future when the light of peace might finally be a reality for all.
Pupils at our Senior School have once again been awarded a coveted Eco-Schools Green Flag with distinction.
The Eco-Schools Green Flag is an international accreditation that recognises efforts to raise environmental awareness amongst young people, whilst taking action to make their school more sustainable. Gresham’s has now retained its status as an accredited Eco-School, following our achievement last year.
Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: “The Eco-Schools Green Flag award is an internationally recognised symbol of high environmental standards. The pupils and school staff that earn the award deserve immense credit for their hard work, determination, and creativity. Their passion for protecting our planet is an inspiration to us all. ”
The Eco-Schools programme was established in 1994 and is now delivered in more than 70 countries across the globe. The programme prompts young people to explore a variety of environmental issues, including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Pupils are then empowered to plan and deliver environmental actions in their school, local community, and beyond.
Since Gresham’s began working towards an Eco-Schools Green Flag during 2020, achievements have included more recycling bins, improving the biodiversity and making our chapel more eco-friendly too.
And this year, pupils at our school have built on these strong foundations ensuing we achieved more points than last year. One highlight was a brilliant chapel service delivered by our Eco Team. We are currently applying for 2024 so if anyone has any ideas or would like to support our Eco Team please contact Miss Mitchell [email protected]
Year 9 produced a fantastic series of trench cakes, models and sketches for this year’s History STEAM model trench competition. This was kindly judged by Mr Hazelwood, Gresham’s Head of STEAM. The results were:
1st – Aydan M – for a fantastic example of STEAM modelling complete with lighting and sound effects
2nd – Darcy G-R – for a very original German trench model and research into the German perspective and anti-war sentiment
3rd – Isaac B and Alex H – for a very original Dardanelles trench model complete with explanatory PowerPoint and modelling kit
4th – life size trench system constructed by Charlie S, Digby D and Ben B
All of the winning pupils received Amazon gift vouchers. Well done to them all.
