From the Headmaster

Dates of school trips and other events can be found on the calendar on the school website:

www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/calendar

Fri 25 May - First half ends Mon 4 June - Second half begins Mon 2 July - INSET Day - School Closed to Students* Fri 20 July - Second half ends Mon 03 Sep - Inset Day Tue 04 Sep - Years 7 & 12 attend Wed 05 Sep - Whole School attend

Term Dates

Parents’ Association

A big thank you to all parents and children who attended the recent Quiz Night. Feedback has been fantastic and the event raised a massive £2,300 which will all be invested back for the benefit of your children. Please make a note in your diary and join us at the Celebrating Creativity evening on Thursday 14th June. As well as an exhibition of Art, Photography and Design & Technology, plus live music performances, the PA will be providing other fun activities such as a novelty/themed photo booth and a Second-Hand Uniform sale available for all existing parents. Food and refreshments will be available so no need to rush off, just take your time and enjoy the summer evening.

Our next meeting is on

Thursday 12th July at 7.30pm Please come along, everyone is welcome!

Stay connected with the PA social app: parent.classlist.com

Parmiters School Parents Association Group Page @parmiterspa

Email: PA@parmiters.herts.sch.uk

Parmiter’s School May 2018

It is a real privilege to write my first introduction to the Inform newsletter at Parmiter’s school. It only seems like yesterday that I took up the reins in late April but I have enjoyed every minute of the role since I began. For me there is a real sense of wonder about Parmiter’s; the quality of the students’ work,

their engagement with extra-curricular activities as well as the huge range of opportunities offered by so many staff at the school.

Turning up at Lees Wood one Sunday morning to see 130 Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award students cooking breakfast and preparing for their day’s hike has certainly been a significant highlight. How many other schools across the country can boast such an incredible participation rate? Or, indeed, how many schools would have such a large body of staff and parents so willing to give up their weekends to support our students? Speaking of wonder, another highlight has to be the magnificent Leaver’s Concert led by Mr Bates and the superb Music Department. The talent of the performers was breath taking but for me what was most impressive was the sheer sense of enjoyment that came from the students taking part.

Quality and engagement are certainly the key themes for me and that goes for the superb Art and Drama work I have also witnessed as well as the impressive focus and determination I have seen in the students’ academic lessons. On that note I send my sincere best wishes to every student sitting their external examinations this term. All we ask at Parmiter’s is that they give their “personal best efforts” and from what I have seen the overwhelming majority certainly do that. They should be immensely proud of their efforts as I am certain they will receive the results they so richly deserve.

I wish one and all a great half term holiday and hopefully the recent good weather will extend into the break. We look forward to seeing our students safely back on Monday 4th June.

Michael Jones

Headmaster

Rev. Gp Capt. Donald Wallace It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Donald Wallace, our Honorary Chaplain who served the school as Chairman of Governors for 17 years and Honorary Chaplain since Parmiter’s came to Garston in 1977. He will be sorely missed. Details of a memorial service and celebration will be available soon.

This year’s Leavers’ Concert contained a varied programme performed by about 100 musicians. The first half opened with the Orchestra, who played some dance music dating back to the 18th century followed by something quite different from the Stravinsky's 20th century landmark ballet, The Rite of Spring, that included some very sensitive and controlled playing from Alfie Dwyer on the French Horn. This was followed by an intricate performance from the Senior Flute Choir, and two pieces from Senior Strings that included a wonderful solo from Toby Warr on viola in John Stanley's 'Trumpet' Voluntary. Before the interval the Percussion Ensemble treated the audience to a 'drumfest' and the Concert Band played a Beauty and the Beast medley that had been especially requested by the group's Year 13 leavers!

Leavers’ Concert 2018

The second half of the concert was kicked off by Big Band displaying their brand of Funk, Latin Jazz and Swing, before a stunning performance from the Saxophone Quartet who showed their skill and versatility by playing a complex Bach Fugue followed by a jazz/funk piece that included accomplished improvisations from each member. The Barbershop Quartet then gave a highly expressive rendition of When She Loved Me (from the film Toy Story) before Senior Choir closed the programme with beautifully controlled singing of a selection of music that was sometimes calm and reflective and at other times more popularist.

The leavers chose to dedicate the evening to the memory of the late Donald Wallace even though the Summer Concert traditionally celebrates and thanks leaving Parmiters' musicians for their contributions to Parmiters' Music. It was fitting that Mr Biggs introduced each leaver with a brief citation before they all joined to perform the very final item of the evening, their version of the aptly titled You've Got A Friend In Me, complete with clarinet, trombone and double bass backing - a fitting end to an uplifting evening's music and entertainment.

Mr S Bates

Geography Trip to Sorrento

In April, 78 Year 10 History students visited Berlin. After landing at Tegel Airport, the students went on a walking tour of Berlin to learn about some of the key historical buildings of the city and in the late afternoon we visited one of the last remaining air raid shelters used during the war. The second day included a very moving visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The students acted maturely and respectfully when confronted with the emotional and shocking

history of the past. Over the next two days we visited a number of museums such as the Check Point Charlie Museum, the German Resistance Museum and the Topography of Terror. The students gained a valuable insight in to two topics of their GCSE course on Nazi Germany and the Cold War and they were engaged, interested and mature. It was a pleasure to take such a wonderful group of students on such a moving and interesting trip. Ms S Harris

History Trip to Berlin

From 28th March to 1st April, over 60 of our GCSE Geography students were lucky enough to spend 5 days in Sorrento, Italy. With the main aim to enhance geographical knowledge, our varied stopping points included central Rome, the island of Capri, Herculaneum and Vesuvius. We also ventured along the Amalfi drive and Mr Redmond managed to find a very friendly turtle in Salerno. Despite some early starts and very long days, everyone had a fantastic time. The photos here only show a snapshot of the many different places that we were lucky enough to visit.

Mr H Bunce

Sports Round Up

Sports Leadership Assessment Day

On the 10th May, the Year 10 Sports Leaders took part in the Sports Leaders UK Assessment day. The Year 7 students were off timetable all day to take part in various sporting activities lead by the Year 10 Sports Leaders. Numerous activities overtook the whole site with up to 12 sessions taking place at any one time. The groups enjoyed the use of the AstroTurf pitch, field space, tennis courts, the Gym, Sports Hall and Dance Studio.

The Sports Leaders had spent a lot of time meticulously planning their sessions which varied from blind football, a mini Olympics and problem solving sessions.

Thankfully, the weather was perfect for everyone to have a great time in the sun. The day’s success was also due to the excellent behaviour of the Year 7 students who took part in all the sessions with enthusiasm and showed a desire to learn from the older students.

The pictures opposite show some of the fun that was had during the day and the excellent organisation by the Year 10 students. A big thank you to all the students involved and to everyone else who made the day possible!

House News

The BIG Day

Friday July 13th

Darren Cresser

Lee House is currently hanging onto the lead but this is steadily being eroded with relatively few points separating each house. The final half term of this academic year will provide plenty of opportunities to become the overall house champion. It is very rare at this stage to see two houses sharing the same number of points!

The highlight of the house calendar will be Sports Day which is being held at Woodside Stadium on Thursday 21st June and, as always, parents are most welcome to come and see the students competing in a wide range of athletics events. Mr Hughes and his colleagues in the PE Department are also runnning some new events during the same week as Sports Day. In addition to the now well-established House Cricket, students

will be able to compete for house points by participating in Rounders, Foot Golf, and Beach Volleyball. So, with all of

this in mind, there really is no clear winner at this stage in the proceedings. There will be considerable anticipation and excitement during the end of year assembly when the victors are eventually announced

and their House Captains raise the very large and heavy championship shield aloft to resounding celebratory cheers.