Fifteen fantastic Brandeston Hall mathematicians from Years 7 & 8 achieved certificates of excellence in the UKMT 2013 Junior Mathematics Challenge this year. The competition is run by the UK Mathematics Trust which is based at Leeds University and aimed at individuals who have a particular talent for Maths. We entered all Set 1 pupils in both Year 7 and 8 and were thrilled that fifteen Brandeston Hall pupils reached scores worthy of a Gold, Silver or Bronze Certificates.
The following pupils were presented with their certificates and warmly congratulated by the rest of the school in Assembly this week:
Bronze
Madeline Gladwell, Ella Hamilton Smith, Jack Hobbs, Hugh Alabaster, Arthur Getting, Thomas Watson, Florence Cornwall and Evie Hall
Silver
Saul Wells, Joshua Butler, Emily Lewis, William Simpson and Lucy Westmacott
Gold
Rupert Dean and Jolyon Summers
Saul Wells (Year 7) and Rupert Dean (Year 8) were also given ‘Best in Year’ certificates with the additional accolade of ‘Best in School’ for Rupert Dean. Mrs Russell, Head of Mathematics, was delighted with the enthusiasm for Maths shown by all our Junior Challenge Award winners.
Brandeston Hall U11 Tennis teams had an outstanding day at the U11 Green Suffolk Schools Tennis Finals at Ipswich Sports Club on Monday June 17th.
“I was thinking so hard my head started to hurt” has to be the quote of the morning from Will James of Year 5. He had attended a challenging ‘Maths Puzzle Morning’ hosted by the Maths teachers and Lower Sixth Maths Students of Framlingham College. The lateral-thinking riddles kick-started the morning and provoked plenty of discussion whilst the hands–on puzzles and problems set out in a carousel in Paul’s Court were utterly absorbing. The Treasure Trail around the grounds was a race against the clock ; an exciting finish to an action-packed outing. Well done to all the Year 5 pupils who were praised for their enthusiasm and energy. A special mention must go to Alfie Franklin and Brodie Blore who completed the most impressive treasure trail answers – showing all their working out!
This years Science Week was once again full of activities and included many trips out. We visited Maple and Jimmy’s Farm, Dinosaur Adventure Land, Colchester Zoo and the Science and Natural History Museum. At school we had visits from the ‘Jurassic Encounters’ animal show where all pupils from Year 3 through to Year 7 got up close to a menagerie of animals from Skinny Pigs to a Blue-tongued Skink and a rather adorable Skunk called ‘Flower’.
Ian B Dunne also enlightened pupils from the Nursery through to Year 7 on the ‘Best bits of Science’ in his very informative and incredibly funny show.
Suffolk Coastal informed pupils in Nursery through to Year 5 on the importance of ‘The Three R’s’ [Reduce, Re-use, Recycle] and the children were lucky enough to receive a pencil case made from recycled tyres at the end. There were river studies undertaken, Incredidle Hulk hands made and catapults and rockets fired. Marble runs and lighthouse challenges were battled out. Nature art, butterflies, frogs and colourful slime were also made.
Year 6 had a fantastic afternoon at the College, hosted by members of the College’s Science department, where various activities from rockets to bread making and collapsing cola cans were undertaken.
7SM ran a cake stall to raise money to adopt a tiger through the WWF. Parents and pupils donated a variety of tasty cakes and over £70 was raised.
We finally had the excitement of 7 chicks hatching out in the Hobbies Room. These fluffy bundles will soon be making their way home with one of our lucky pupils.
The Year 4 final of Mastermind proved to be a truly nailbiting event. Eight finalists had read the same book and responded to a barrage of questions on ‘Journey to Jo’burg by’ Beverly Naidoo (an emotional study of life during the apartheid in South Africa). Congratulations to William Hardy whose knowledge about the world around him, along with general day-to-day facts, as well as his understanding of the story won though to crown him ‘Year 4 Mastermind Winner 2013’.
Following their attendance at a second screening session, Liberty Salsby, Amy Saville, Isabella Prince and Poppy Mayall have all been selected to be part of the Suffolk Performance Netball Programme for 2013/14. This term the girls have already been through two trials sessions and two training sessions with the Academy coaches. They have also joined local netball clubs to develop their skills and give them valuable match experience playing on the competitive Junior League circuit.
As the 14 pairs of golfing enthusiasts stood on the 1st tee, the sun was shining and there was just a slight breeze to keep the competitors cool and to help/hinder those with a dodgy draw or a ferocious fade! It must be said that, although the competition was played with great spirit and with a ‘relaxed’ vibe, there were several pairs out on the course and on the putting greens a good 20 minutes before tee off time. There was also at least one group spotted surveying the course the day before during sports day.
There were some fantastic shots witnessed (and talked about) as well as the usual shanks, slices and scuffs. In the end it came down to a tie for 1st position between the Winters and the Simpsons and it was agreed that a ‘nearest the flag contest’ should decide the outright winners. I think both fathers decided that age (sorry… experience) should lead the way but unfortunately neither managed to find the elusive green. Both boys hit the green with delightful pitching wedges but ultimately it was John and Archie Winter that got their name on the trophy which was somewhat ironic on this tropical summer Sunday.
All in all it was a very enjoyable day contested closely throughout in marvelous weather conditions in the stunning grounds of Brandeston Hall. My thanks must go to the competitors and to the groundsmen and green-keepers for the superbly constructed and well-kept greens. I am already looking forward to next year’s event.
Our very own Mr Robin Sampson’s England Hockey Masters over 55 team were crowned Home Nations Champions at the weekend in the tournament that took place in Wakefield. England beat Ireland 2 – 0 on Saturday before drawing with Scotland 0 – 0 and then beating Wales 6 – 0 on Sunday. The weekend included tournaments for the home nations over 40s, 45s, 50s and 55s with over 250 players taking part. The final event of the season is the European cup which is taking place in Belfast in mid August
Four Brandeston Hall pupils represented the East of England at the National Prep Schools Athletics Finals at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham yesterday. This event featured the best young athletes from all over Britain and the standard of the competition was, as always, exceptionally high.Traditionally our athletes have risen to the occasion at the Alexander stadium and this year was no different.
Liberty Salsby came 6th in the U13 Long Jump [with a jump of 4.08], Jolyon Summers came 5th in the U14 1,500m [with a time of 4.51] and the East of England record holder Poppy Mayall came 4th in the U12shot-putt [with a throw 7 metres 50]. Fellow East of England Champion and record holder Lottie Summers won the the bronze medal in the U13 girls’ 1,500m [with a time of 5.05].
Head of Athletics Bruce Wilson said, “These are wonderful performances by four very talented young athletes. I am absolutely delighted with their achievements and we at Brandeston Hall are all very proud of them.”
Year 7 have just returned from an exciting trip to Paris.
The trip started with a panoramic view of Paris from the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse. We enjoyed a cruise down the Seine River and visits to Notre Dame, the Sacré Coeur and the Eiffel Tower.
We sketched in the Musée d’Orsay, had our portraits drawn by the artists on the Place du Tertre and even stared in some wedding photos in front of the Sacré Coeur. Pupils bought their own food at the market in the small town of Brie Comte Robert. On the last day we went to Parc Astérix where the braver pupils enjoyed the 7 Loop roller coaster and the Osiris ride, which appears to disappear under water. With the weather on our side, it felt like a summer holiday – and everyone enjoyed cooling down in the pool after our longs days of sightseeing.
Other games were organised by our animateur Yorick, including a boules tournament, football, a water balloon fight, film evening and disco and talent show. The motto of the week “vite vite vite!” – mainly used when getting on and off the coach in Paris resounded throughout the week in every possible context.
A stimulating, fun and happy week in Paris – many thanks to the other teachers on the trip – Madame Dring and Mrs Norton.
Catherine Gassmann
Party Leader and Head of Languages
Year 6 have recently enjoyed a wonderful week in the Peak District.
We were blessed with beautiful sunny weather as we left Brandeston and this continued throughout the week.
Accompanied by Mr Reynell, Mr Daykin, Mr MacKay and Miss Tibbenham, our adventures included visits to the Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Matlock Mining Museum and the Crich Tram Museum, where Mr Daykin found an enormous statue from Falcon Works in Loughborough, where his father had first worked as a young man.
We enjoyed walking in the beautiful surroundings of the Hope Valley and enjoyed swimming in Hathersage Lido, canoeing in Tittesworth Reservoir and orienteering in the foothills of Kinder Scout. Mr Mackay introduced a number of his favourite games and led the way in “block e off” and “bunnies”.
On the way home we visited Edwinstowe and explored the parts of Sherwood Forest and learnt more about the legend of Robin Hood.
It was a wonderful week away and our pupils were complimented for their courtesy and good manners.
2013 has been a fantastic year for Framlingham College Tennis Club, fielding 22 teams in the Suffolk Aegon Team Tennis, three times more than any other club in the county saw a total of six county titles. The girls have had an incredible season winning Division 1 in the U12, U16, U18 age groups and for the first time the Ladies too. A total of 50 different female players represented the club in these leagues, which was more than double any other club in the eight counties of the East Region.
The U12 Boys won Division 1 and the U14 Boys were champions of Division 2. The Mixed U8 Red and Mixed U10 Green teams were both Division 1 runners up showing the strength in depth of the current players at the club.
Brandeston Hall have also had a season to remember by becoming Suffolk Schools Champions in eight different competitions. Victorious in the U13 Boys B League, U11 Green Mixed and Girls, U10 Orange Mixed and Boys and won all three U8 Red leagues. An additional six teams were runners up in various age groups too, as well as their U11 Girls winning the Framlingham College Tennis Festival.
Framlingham College’s U15 B Girls team won their Suffolk Schools League to make 16 team titles won in all, double achieved in 2012. Head Coach, Trevor Wright said, “This has been a season to remember for all our hard working players, supportive parents and committed coaching team.”
Robin Sampson, Brandeston Hall’s highly regarded Deputy Head and England Hockey player enjoys more success. Fresh on the back of victory in the Home Nations earlier in the year the England team won the England Hockey Masters over 55′s European Championships in August held in Belfast. Naturally everyone is delighted and look forward to more great news over the months to come.
Congratulations to Eleanor Cogdell, Cosima Ross and Charlotte Summers who receive the first Headmaster’s Commendations of the term. Their Power Point presentations on ’Anne Frank’s Diary’ [which were produced over the holiday] were presented to the class last week. All of the work was hugely impressive and detailed. Well done girls!
Well done to Lottie Summers who has again been selected for the Suffolk Under 13 Girls’ Cricket team. She joins fellow pupils Oliver Scovell (U13), Frederick Heldreich (U12) and Bailey Farrant (U11) who have also been selected for Suffolk this year.
Congratulations to the ‘Brandeston Bombers’ riding team who have qualified for the National Schools Equestrian Association Grass Roots Final at Topthorne on November 9th 2013.
This half term Year 2’s topic is ‘The Magic of Nature’. The topic lends itself to exploring and learning about all sorts of different areas, from habitats and life cycles to volcanoes and rainbows. In the last few weeks our creative topic sessions have been very active and messy. During the first week we made habitats out of shoe boxes for a variety of different animals. This week we have been learning about the different parts of a volcano, so we focused our artistic talents on collaging a volcano picture out of sugar paper, tissue paper and rather a lot of glue! Everyone did really well and created some interesting and aesthetically pleasing pieces.
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Year 8 recently visited Ipswich Gurdwara as part of their study of world religions. On arrival at the Gurdwara they washed their hands, removed shoes, put on turbans and were shown around the wonderful building.
