The Update

Want to contribute? Email Amanda on a.holtham@lichfieldcathedralschool.com or call 01543 306014 1

Week 10: Thursday 23 JuneTrinity 2016

Next Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd July this year’s school production, the comedy La Belle Hélène, storms the Rose Theatre, Rugeley!This wonderful comic opera is sung in English and is very loosely based on Paris’ love affair with Helen of Troy. At the time when La Belle Helene was written, the second empire was in full flight and was lacking in morality. This gave the mischievous Offenbach plenty of opportunity to poke fun at the upper classes and their desire for pleasure and frivolity. Therefore, this tale bears little connection to history or our understanding of Spartan society!Director, Ailsa Cochrane, has used the flamboyance and colour of the 1970s as inspiration for the setting and costumes - get ready for some spectacular outfits!This adaptation is suitable for all ages, so please support our pupils and see the production.The cast have been rehearsing for the whole academic year and would love for you to share their passion and enthusisam for the performing arts.

Tickets are available from:

www.trybooking.co.uk/456

Head Teacher’s Awards

RH - Lily Benson, Ted Hickeyand Hollie Turner

1S - Vanessa Cork, George Jigginsand Jessica Molloy

2H - Whole Class Award

3JT - Octavia Lewis

4F - Joshua Burford

4H - Alia Fallouh

House PointsYear 3

Boswell - Sophie Cashmore Darwin - Scarlett Weller

Garrick - Jimmy Spooner Johnson - James Morrish-Cook

Year 4 Boswell - Alia Fallouh

Darwin - Sachin Sanghera Garrick - Louis Law

Johnson - Thomas Adams

Playtimer of the Week Emma Mutezo

Longdon DiscoThe Friends will be holding a

disco at Longdon on

Friday 24 June.Cost is £5

Mrs Cleverley and Mrs Holt will take monies. There will be snacks and drinks available to buy plus little

pocket money items.

Reception-Year 3 - 4pm to 6pmYears 4-6 - 6.30pm to 8pm

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From the Head with Susan Hannam, Head Teacher

Strong academic achievement, ethical decision-making and the passion to make a diff erence

Mindfulness in Schools

What’s OnDate Title of event DetailFri 24 June Longdon Disco £5 | Book your child’s place at either Reception

1st & 2nd July La Belle Helene - a comic opera 7pm | Rugeley Rose Theatre | Tickets from trybooking.co.uk/456

Sun 3 July Charity Cream Tea in aid of We Love Lichfi eld £5 | tickets in advance from H Price 01543 306178

Thur 18 August A Level Results Day

Thur 25 August GCSE Results Day

Evidence has been published this week by a number of senior schools that suggests low self-esteem is the main reason for children not being at the expected level when they enter Year 7.

At Lichfi eld Cathedral School we take very seriously the education of the whole child and our clear focus of creating ‘glorious individuals’ who fl ourish, confi dent in the knowledge that the best people they can be is themselves, means this is not a problem we generally encounter. The school’s focus on wider skills provided through initiatives such as ESB, membership of the School Council, Forest School, team sports, Duke of Edinburgh Award and dramatic and musical performance ensembles all go towards creating the inner self-confi dence so critical for life.

This year we have undertaken some staff training in Mindfulness. Mindfulness has been adopted by a number of schools nationwide as a way of helping their pupils navigate the challenges and pressures of the modern world. I have spoken before of the diffi culties of managing children who are so driven and self-motivated that they are unable to pace themselves without guidance. It may be that this appears on the surface as a good ‘problem’ to have in a school, but

we are very ‘mindful’ of our pupils’ mental and spiritual wellbeing alongside their physical and academic.

The Ysgol Pen-Y-Bryn Foundation School in Wales, has decided to introduce their children to mindfulness with a curriculum which should off er the opportunity for children to experience mindfulness practices at a primary age, explore metacognition and how their brain works.

Having made contact with the Bangor University Mindfulness Institute, Ysgol Pen Y Bryn has created a primary mindfulness curriculum.

The children now report that they use mindfulness for self-regulation and concentration in and out of school, to settle into the next lesson so they are ready to learn, before tests and performances. The school further suggests that mindfulness promotes attitudes of kindness, patience, curiosity and enquiry. which have a positive impact on the children’s learning.

One teacher has carried out action research for a Masters dissertation comparing children that were receiving mindfulness lessons in the school with ones that didn’t. The results clearly showed that the children exposed to mindfulness had higher value-added test results by the end of the year and a more positive attitude to their learning.

There is no doubt that there is much to learn from this project and Mindfulness training has provided us with food for thought. However, as with all initiatives, it is the combination with the wider picture and a holistic approach that really reaps rewards. It is in educating the whole person that real confi dence and self-esteem is bred and the Cathedral School pupil is certainly characterised by such qualities.

In servi Deo et laetare!

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We Love Lichfi eld Cream TeaSunday 3 July, 3.45pm

Is there anything more delicious than a traditional cream tea? We think not!For just £5, you can enjoy scrumptious scones and terrifi cally tasty tea served in the Palace grounds. If this wasn’t tempting enough, all proceeds from the event will be

donated to the We Love Lichfi eld Fund.Tickets must be purchased in advance, please contact Amanda by 27 June: a.holtham@lichfi eldcathedralschool.com or call 01543 306014

Learning Leadership Faith Service

For excellence in English:Isabel OrlickOlivia GardnerTom MantMay Vaughan

for producing amazing ‘What if...?’ comic book stories for their work on Romeo and Juliet in English. Mrs Owens is so proud of their work!

For superb eff ort, achievement and progress in Religious Studies:Benjamin Evans, George Gabriel, Sophie Pegg, Ranulf Prentis, Isabella Wilding, Piers Derry, Genevieve Richards, Lily Upton, Thea Branguin, Olivia Gardner, Tom Hodgkiss, Rebecca Keogh, Isabel Orlik, Jack Hughes, Isabella Browne, Emily Dick, Katherine Carter, Benjamin Revell and May Vaughan

Special Gold Award for Matthew White For showing such kindness and respect to Mrs Hilpert in After School Club.

For excellent or improved assessments results in French:Sebastian Coulter, Charlotte Darby, Georgina Grant, Amy Hubbold, Ella Jiggins, Theo Mackey, Adam Riches, Hope Robinson, Charlie Vye, Edward Bedson, Lewis Courage, Rubens Derry, Finlay Hutt, Millie Fisher, Louis Green, Scarlett Harris, Harvey Hughes, John Manford, Samuel Parsons, Darcey Asquith, James Carter, Daisy Hardwick, Oliver Jennings, Clodagh Prentis, Sophie Wain, Martha Wilkes, Amy Adcock, Lachlan Burr, Archie Hidderley, Alfi e Jones, Camilla Lewis, Emily Mant, James Padley, Josie Sim, and Abigail Ward

For excellence in History:George Gabriel, Caspar Haynes-Thatcher, Szymon Taylor, Ella Middleton , Edward Hawkes, Holly Denby, Nadine Mann, Eildh Owen, Faisal Shabbir, Jack Hughes, Rebecca Keogh, Isabel Orlik, Kate Edgington, Josh Rooke, Ethan Haynes-Thatcher, Anna Taylor and Kathryn Kreuser

Gold Awards

Lost PropertyOliver White has lost his Ted Baker glasses and in a black Vision Express box which should

have his name on - can you please have a look for them?Also, Louis Green is missing his named PE top gold and black short sleeve reversable top.

Could Year 5 and 6 parents in particular check for this at home? Many thanks.

Protect your children from the sunWhite, fl oppy LCS sun hats are available to purchase from Mrs Cleverley at Longdon reception @ £5.50 each. Suitable for children in Nursery up to Year 4.

Awards and notices

Free delivery from 3 -17 JulyAs the summer period is particularly

busy, Schoolblazer is off ering free delivery as an incentive to place

your orders early!

Award for Independent Learning:

Bronze LevelThis new award for Years 5 and 6 recognises children who have excelled in the development of

independent learning skills

Congratulations to the fi rst recipients of this award:

Samuel Rice

Charles Vye

Hope Robinson

Daisy Hardwick

Darcey Asquith

Charlotte Darby

Ella Jiggins

James Carter

Sophie Wain

Lucy Hannam

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Bonjour Year 4!

Strong academic achievement, ethical decision-making and the passion to make a diff erence

Last week some Year 9 students visited Longdon for the morning for the French day. The Year 9 students sold French pastries and drinks to Year 4 in a French café (talking all in French). The older students also taught Year 4 French words and phrases through games that they all played together. Both groups really enjoyed the morning. All the Longdon children were invited to come to school in ‘French’ clothes, the maintenance team had nicely decorated the school with French bunting and other decorations and the catering staff had put on a delicious French menu on. Une journée parfaite! (i.e. a perfect day)

Mme Farrell

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Annual Dec vs Can Chorister Football Match

Report by Ben KellyPhotos by Verona-India Braich

and Mr Derry

On Saturday, the boy choristers played a football match: Dec Vs Can. Can were the pre-match favourites to win. There were no surprises in the fi rst half as Can dominated with wave after wave of attacks which were well defended by Dec. The defensive heroics were helped by the fl ying boot of James Sutton (solved by tightening his laces). The score at half time was 0-0. In the second half, Dec took a shock lead after Freddie Seaman fi nished a superb solo eff ort (showing Ronaldo how it is done!) Shortly after, Freddie almost doubled Dec’s advantage, only to be denied by a fi ne save from George Revell. Later on, Ben Kelly mishit a goal kick and passed it straight to Piers Derry who charged at the goal, but Ben redeemed himself by throwing his body behind the ball to tip it out for a corner. Can were still going strong and they hit both posts in quick succession following defl ections from Guy Gorwood and William Eardley-Taylor. Will Packham broke through the Dec defence and equalised from close range with 5 minutes left to play.

Sports Reports

Learning Leadership Faith Service

The score was 1-1 at full time, so the game went to extra time. Jaimie Gandhi went close to putting Can in front for the fi rst time, but he headed the ball inches wide. Will Packham drove a stinging shot towards the goal which was somehow saved by the hands and face of Dec’s keeper. Half time in extra time left the score at 1-1. In the second half of extra time, Freddie was through and looked certain to score until Mateusz Taylor burst into action to make a goal-saving tackle. Ben Revell received the ball from a cross, but from close range he only managed to hit the ball straight at the keeper, who put the ball out for a

corner. Can scored a controversial winner with 40 seconds left to play after a quickly taken corner was bundled into the net by Piers. Dec were desperate to restart quickly, and with almost the last kick of the game, Thomas Adams nearly grabbed an equaliser to cap a great performance, but it fl ew just over the crossbar. The referee (Mr Meakin) blew for full time to signal the end of a classic, high drama match. Mr Meakin awarded man of the match to Ben Kelly.

More photos on next page

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Dec vs Can Chorister Football Match

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Seascapes with visiting artist Henrietta EllisYear 4 enjoyed a fabulous art-fi lled day on Monday. Visiting artist, Henrietta Ellis, ran workshops around the theme of seascapes. The children looked at paintings by William Turner and Alfred Wallis and tried out diff erent painting techniques to copy their styles. The children produced some wonderful watercolour paintings on paper, card and even wood!Mrs Forbes

A very big thank you to all the peripatetic music teachers for preparing the children for the concert; the standard of musicianship was extremely high.A special thank you to Mrs Norgrove and Mrs Zoeftig for organising and supporting the children during the afternoon. Mrs Norgrove's comparing of the afternoon also gave a lovely light-hearted touch to the concert. I would like to say very well done to all who took part. It was fantastic! Mrs Tibbott Year 3 ConcertStrong academic achievement, ethical decision-making and the passion to make a diff erence

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Year 2 went on a lovely trip on Tuesday to Cannock Chase Toy Museum. The children had a fabulous time learning all about how toys have changed over time and how the materials used have also been transformed. They made their very own peg dolls and also had a ride on an old, wooden rocking horse. The children also got to play many other games and we were very impressed by Alex who managed to control four spinning plates all at once! It was a great day out!Miss Hall

Cannock Chase Toy Museum with Year 2

House Reward Trip to Jump NationOn Tuesday, the top House Point scorers from Years 5-10 went to Jump Nation to celebrate their achievement. A total of 48 students were invited; they were accompanied by Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Carter, Mr Lane, Mr Gardiner and Mrs Owens, some of whom also enjoyed a little jump! Huge congratulations to our House Point winners – keep up the good work! Mrs Owens

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Message from the Chaplain

This image popped up on my Facebook page last week with the biblical text, ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ (Galatians 3.28) The post was designed to be a satirical comment upon the nature and tenor of the discussion surrounding the important decision to be taken by the electorate this week as to whether we stay within or leave the European Economic Community. At the time of writing there is still campaigning still going on and I am also guessing that at the time of reading this we will not know the outcome of the voting. What we do know is that this has been one of the most disagreeable political debates that we have had to endure. As if the personal insults, name calling, fear-mongering and recrimination were not enough, then the whole thing took a tragic turn last week as we heard the news of the murder of MP Jo Cox. The apparent connection between the debate surrounding the

in/out choice to be made this week and her death is deeply distressing.

This country prides itself on being a liberal democracy and its British Values. We delight in having the freedom to express our views and to respectfully disagree over our views before peaceably expressing our views through the ballot box or through peaceful public demonstration or through debate in the free press of this country. Our right to express our right to expression though is a universal right and should not cut across or compromise the rights of other human beings. The bottom line in any disagreement over views is that ultimately we are all fl esh and blood, we are all human beings with more in common with each other than what separates us. Cutting ourselves off from our fellow human beings’ diff erence of opinions, nationality, gender, orientation, religious or philosophical beliefs is ultimately a betrayal of our essential freedom of expression.I’m deeply saddened and disturbed by the Jo Cox’s murder and what that

represents in terms of the acrimonious, disrespectful and toxic level of debate. The way in which some extremist, xenophobic, racially prejudiced and discriminatory views have found underserved legitimacy is extremely disturbing.

At the heart of the Christian gospel is the call to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. It is a concept that underpins our British values and our society. The decision that we are to make this week at the ballot box has been made so much more diffi cult by the way in which this understanding has been forgotten, disparaged and disrespected. The process by which decisions are made are equally important as the decisions themselves. The process of campaigning on this occasion has not served us well and does not refl ect well upon us as a nation. Whatever the outcome I hope that we can learn from the mistakes made here; it has been a sorry business.

In the Cathedral this weekend…Please note that there is a change to the time of the main Sunday service this week. There will be an Ordination Service conducted by the Bishop of Wolverhampton. He will be ordaining a number of men and women to be Deacons in the church. The service will begin at 10:00 and not at the usual time. The 08:00 Said Traditional Rite Eucharist continues as usual as does Choral Evensong at 15:00. You are most welcome to attend any of these services.

Strong academic achievement, ethical decision-making and the passion to make a diff erence

Congratulations to Sophie Pegg, 7F

who took part in the Leamington Competitive Festival yesterday singing in the Junior Solo

(under 12 yrs) and the Junior Show Song Solo (under 12 yrs) and came fi rst in both classes,

winning the Leamington Male Voice Choir Cup and the Sale Cup respectively.

Mrs Toy

Fabulous Rag Doll for ParadeIzzy Browne 8L has created this fantastic rag doll out of recycled

materials for the Lichfi eld Festival Rag Doll Parade. The doll will form

part of a trail around Lichfi eld where many other rag dolls will be placed

waiting to be spotted. See if you can spot Izzy's rag doll around school

somewhere. Mrs Whatley