THE OUADRANTA ROUND-UP OF NEWS FROM BICKLEY PARK SCHOOL • ISSUE 9

This Issue’s HIGHLIGHTSTHE ACADEMIC QUADRANT

• Atripbackintimewith‘1918Day’ andavisitfromaWorldWarIIveteran

THE ARTS QUADRANT

• Trips,performancesandartwork–it’sbeen‘allsystemsgo’intheArtsQuadrant!

THE SPORTS & OUTDOOR EDUCATION QUADRANT

• Somanytremendousperformances... somanymedalsawarded!

THE COMMUNITY QUADRANT

• WeputourHeadstogetheratourcentenaryAlumnievent

...and much more!

Aspire • Endeavour • Achieve

BickleyParkhascelebratedonehalfofitscentenaryyearwhichhasfeaturedsometrulymemorableevents.TheAutumnTermfocusedonBPS’sinterestingpastandwaslaunchedwith1918Dayinwhichpupilsandstaffweretransportedbacktoaschoolinwhichsilencewasgoldenanddisciplinestrict.Activitiesexperiencedbyoldboysoftheschoolfeaturedintheday,includingbalsawoodplanemakingandboxing.Severalhundredoldboysattendedanalumnieventwhichincludedfourex-Headmastersandthedaughtersoftwoothers.EnidBlytonDaycelebratedtheauthoress’timeasateacheratBPS,whilstboysperformedverywellinarugbytournamentatAllianzParkagainsttwoPrepSchoolspreviouslylocatedinBickley.TheSpringTermfocushasbeenonthefutureandhasincludedafuturefocusedtalkonArtificialIntelligenceandahugelysuccessfulcareersfairforboysinReceptiontoYear8.MuchinterestandexcitementwillfeatureinthesecondhalfofBPS’sfabulouscentenaryyear.

ACADEMICQUADRANT

1918DAY1918 Day transported BPS back to a time in history when silence was golden and children were expected to be seen but not heard. The morning featured rigid approaches to learning, whilst the afternoon included events experienced by Bickley boys in the past, such as boxing and balsa wood model making.

Adi ITProjectAdi (Y8) was part of ‘Team Peake’ which won the Best Research Project award in the IET First Lego League Regional tournament for their design of a robot, a website they built using Lego Mindstorms ev3 and a real-life GSR sensor (Galvanic Skin Response sensor) which measures skin conductance and infers whether the skin is sufficiently hydrated. Adi met astronaut Tim Peake.

AuthorGarethPJones’stalkPopular children’s author Gareth P Jones made a return visit to Bickley to deliver a high octane talk about his latest book, ‘The Daily Joker’.

ExplorerJhy’stalkExplorer Jhy, who is walking to the Northern Pole

of Inaccessibility, with Devam (Y2)

EnidBlytonDayBickley Park’s third centenary event took place just before half-term: Enid Blyton Day: a celebration of the most prolific writer of the 20th century (700 books!) and her association with BPS. The boys enjoyed a variety of activities, ranging from Pre-Prep creating wishing chairs to story-telling workshops in Prep and stop-animation film making of an adventure with Timmy, the dog, who features in the adventures of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five.

KatePhilipsController of Entertainment at the BBC, Kate Philips, delivered a talk to Y3-8. The boys watched two ‘world first’ clips from Dr Who. Kate spoke about the importance of self-belief, seizing opportunities and finding time to speak to people. Her presentation finished with a video message from Tess Daly wishing the boys good luck for the Bickley Park’s centenary.

LeoReadingCompetitionLeo (Y3) won the Nugent’s reading competition. The competition organisers wrote: ‘We were very impressed with all the hard work Leo has done and we admire his love for reading and helping others.’

Gabriel’sGreat-Grandad’stalkonWorldWarIIGabriel (Y1)’s 94 year old great-grandad, Alfie, spoke to the boys about his service aboard a submarine in the navy during World War II. His submarine, The Maidstone, saw action in Japan, China, Hong Kong, India and Australia.

PolarExplorerArctic explorer, Robynne Nowicki, delivered a fascinating talk to Y1 and 2 about life in the Arctic where, as a marine biologist, she has been undertaking research into the impact of global warming on plankton. The boys also undertook a range of polar themed activities, including making ‘gloopy glaciers’!

ShackletonTalkErnest Shackleton (a.k.a the Headmaster) came to talk to Year 1 and 2, as part of their Pole to Pole topic, about his famous and fateful expedition to Antarctica.

Talkby NarekVeridian–‘Humans VTechnology– TheFutureofJobs’Narek Veridian delivered a fascinating talk on the present and future impact of technology on our world.

Falklands WartalkBPS was honoured to welcome Major General Dair Farrar Hockley who spoke about life as a solider. He won a Military Cross in the Battle of Goose Green, in The Falklands War.

THE ARTSQUADRANT

MorganMorgan, who left BPS at the end of Y8 in July, will be starring in the CBBC production of Jamie Johnson Series 4 as well as co-presenting a weekly news program on the Sky Kids platform.

ReceptionAfricanStoryTellingandDrummingWorkshop

Informal ConcertMany children have taken part in Informal Concerts and have done so with confidence and courage.

AroundtheWorld in80DaysA packed theatre enjoyed a rapid romp around the globe in an entertaining retelling of Jules Verne’s ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’. Five different languages were spoken in the show.

BuskingY5 boys, Abe and Thiago, raised funds for two causes: Project PAC and the charity ‘Reporters without Borders’, by busking outside Prep and Pre-Prep after school. They raised almost £500.

ChildsHouseMusicAssemblyMembers of Childs House participated in an enjoyable musical assembly featuring instruments from all four sections of the orchestra including, unusually, the bassoon. Joshua’s Djembe drumming group provided a rousing finale.

TateArtProjectYr3Irene Chynoweth, from the Tate Gallery, came to spark the imagination of boys in Year 3 by helping them appreciate different works of art before taking group photos with an exciting outcome...every boy will appear in an art exhibition at the Tate Britain in November of this year through until May 2020 which will feature thousands of children from London!

Y7&8TheatretripAs part of an historic time of remembrance, Year 7 and 8 visited the Southwark Playhouse to watch a performance of ‘The Trench’. The show provided all with a poignant reminder of the loss and sacrifice of many young men.

Christmas Our front cover image – A stunning performance of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’

The Staff Pantomime – Aladdin

The choir singing at the Christmas Fayre

Nursery sing-a-long

ArtWorkY1 – Lowry painting

Y2 – William Morris printing

Y2 – Collaborative polar bear work

Y3 – Paper Mache Pizza

Y4 – Kente Cloth and African mask

Y5 – Magritte Digital work

Y5 – Magritte Eye Painting

Y6 – Day of the Dead mixed media painting

Y7 – Clay gargoyle

Y7 – robot painting Visual arts club

Y8 – Pop art graffiti mixed media

Year 6 – Day of the Dead Clay mask

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Assemblies8AP launched the performance season with a highly entertaining take on the blockbuster film: ‘Ghostbusters!’ Horror featured large in 8SH’s performance assembly with flesh eating zombies and dodgy American accents. 2LB went back in time to a Victorian school, while 2AC celebrated the work of Enid Blyton. 2RHM’s ‘Lest We Forget’ assembly reminded us of the importance of remembering the courage and sacrifice of those who fought in World War I. 4SBD ushered in Christmas with the tale of The Nutcracker while 4CR delivered a dramatic enactment of ‘The Polar Express’. 6AH used masks and mime in the best traditions of the ‘silver screen’.

2LB Victorian Schools Assembly 2RHM World War I Assembly

8SH Performance Assembly6AH Performance Assembly

4CR Performance Assembly 4SBD Performance Assembly

8AP Performance Assembly

SPORTS &OUTDOOREDUCATIONQUADRANT

KnoleRunBPS entered a team in the Knole Run. The boys acquitted themselves well amongst the hundreds of runners that took part on a murky November afternoon.

FencingCongratulations to Ibi (Y5) who won a bronze medal in the Royal Stennick Challenge: a Kent fencing competition.

BasketballGames&CompBoys enjoyed playing the school’s first ever competitive basketball fixtures in the school’s first 100 years. These took place against Farringtons (the boys won by 12 points) and Royal Russell.

HeverCastleTriathlonA number of boys took part in the Hever Castle triathlon. In spite of the atrocious weather, the course was successfully completed.

Rugby125 rugby matches were played across all age groups with 72 wins, 18 draws and 35 losses (a win/draw ratio of 72%). The Colts rugby team won the St Christopher’s U11 Rugby Tournament, beating Trinity in the final: a particular achievement as Trinity had won the competition for the past three years consecutively. The U8s were the top performing team at the St Dunstan’s Rugby Festival, winning five and drawing one. The U9s went one better winning all their games at the St Dunstan’s Rugby Festival. The drizzle that provided the backdrop to House Rugby failed to dampen spirits, as all boys represented their teams with gusto. The U11 rugby team acquitted themselves well in the IAPS national prep schools’ festival at Brentwood against some of the leading rugby schools in the country. The Autumn Term centenary programme concluded with a trip to Saracens’ rugby football club for a tournament played against Prep Schools previously located in Bickley: Amesbury and St Hugh’s. BPS won five out of six matches, winning the U10 and U11 competitions in the process. Trophies were presented by ex-Leicester and Canada world cup player, Richard Thorpe.

OutdoorEducation–Y7AdventureSchoolTripYear 7 had a wonderful time on Adventure Camp. Activities included crawling (as a team) through pitch black tunnels, axe throwing, abseiling, driving real Landrovers and much more besides!

Centenary Rugby Tournament

FootballOskar (Y7) went to Sweden to take part in the ‘Gothia Cup’, an international youth football tournament involving 78 countries held in Gothenburg. Oskar’s Prep Schools U11 Pumas team, won five out of seven matches and was ranked in the top 8 teams out of 101 in the U11 competition. Oskar was their top goal scorer.

WhitgiftGolfIn their second ever appearance in the prestigious Whitgift Golf Tournament, the BPS golf team won for a second consecutive year, with Oliver (Y8) winning the handicap: a terrific achievement. This is the first time in the history of the competition that a school has won in consecutive years.

TennisWell done to Jayden (Y4) who played for Kent in a South East counties tennis tournament. He won all of his individual matches and contributed to the close second place achieved by Kent.

TrinityBPS played its first ever squash match in 100 years against Trinity. The Year 7s won 3 out of 5 matches and the Y8s 5 out of 5: a fine result!

Henry (Y8) captained the U13 Arsenal football team

COMMUNITYQUADRANT

BingoNightA great time was had by all at the BPSA sponsored Bingo Night. A spread of ages vied to win the splendid array of prizes.

BPSAcakesaleThe school’s centenary was acknowledged in the ‘Bickley Park’ theme adopted in the BPSA bake sale

IndependentSchoolsAwardsBPS was short-listed for Prep School of the year at the national Independent Schools Awards 2019. This places Bickley Park amongst the leading schools in the country and recognises the outstanding education on offer.

IndonesiagolfeventY8 boys Oliver, Aayan, Roan and Adi, organised a home clothes day and a golf event to support victims of the Indonesia earthquake disaster. An impressive £518.08 was raised.

Lee’s BeesThe school took delivery of 40 pots of centenary honey courtesy of ‘Lee’s Bees’. Matthew (Y8) set up an apiary with his parents, after attending the BPS bee keeping club two years ago.

CareersFairThe BPS careers Fair was a roaring success. Tech entrepreneur, Ambrose Cooke, inspired the boys to ‘be brave’ in pursuing their career dreams, particularly in seeking to set up their own businesses. A huge array of stands introduced Reception–Year 8 boys to different careers in imaginative, engaging ways.

ChristmasFayreThe third annual Christmas fayre was a huge success. There was a great atmosphere, stoked by the joyful singing of carols by the school choir. Y8 did a fantastic job in their stalls, many of which included items manufactured in Design Technology lessons.

PPChristmasLunch

Multi-millionaire owner of Fanbytes, Ambrose Cooke, speaks about his company’s meteroic success

EshaanCongratulations to Eshaan (Y3) who raised over £300 for the Great Ormond Street hospital children’s charity for sick children through his participation in the ‘Race for the Kids 2018’ 5K charity run.

AaryanandShivenWell done to Aaryan (Y6) and Shiven (Y2) who took part in the 10K Twilight Walk in Windsor raising £600 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Attmere EnchantedGardenAustin (Y4) and his brother Arthur (Y1) helped a local charity, Ada and Albert, by creating a winter wonderland on the premises of the charity’s local shop.

Perry’sExceptional AwardsCongratulations to the BPS nursery team for winning the Perry’s Exceptional Award for community work at a ceremony at Leeds Castle. The award recognised the fantastic link that has been established between our nursery children and residents at Crown Meadow Residential Care Home.

AlumniEventAs part of its centenary celebrations, the school opened its doors to a large number of old boys and ex-staff, including four ex-Headmasters (Bruce, Bissell, Hunt, Childs) and the daughters of two others (Tidman and Herbert).

Old boy. Young heart.

Four ex-BPS Headmasters

HarvestFather Richard, from St George’s Church, led Harvest services in Pre-Prep and Prep which reminded us all of what we personally gain through giving. Bromley Foodbank have informed us that BPS’s ‘Drinks School’ contribution weighed in at an impressive 404.55kg.

INDEPENDENT PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AGED 2½–13

BICKLEY PARK SCHOOL14/24 Page Heath Lane, Bickley, Bromley, Kent BR1 2DS

Telephone 020 8467 2195 • Fax 020 8325 5511 • info@bickleyparkschool.co.uk www.bickleyparkschool.co.uk

Aspire • Endeavour • Achieve

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BBCfilmingofSelkieThe BBC recorded and filmed Alex and Charlie (Y8) and Selkie (the school dog) with regard to Selkie’s role in supporting pupils at the school. The recording was broadcast on BBC Radio London and was the second most viewed video on the BBC website.

MacMillan CoffeeMorningThe MacMilllan’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ event featured cakes exclusively made and donated by members of staff for parents and friends to enjoy. £848.44 was raised. Congratulations to Mrs Saint and Mr Petrozzi who were voted Star Bakers.