A MESSAGE FROM MR WHEELER FROM THE SCHOOL SKI TRIP IN LE CORBIER

A very different sun is streaming across the patio as Mr Lawson, Miss Bentham and I watch our increasingly confident beginners make a neat little snake line down the slopes in front of us. We have been blessed with the weather and the 30 children with us have had a brilliant time. We had a Cowland vs Cowland lemon jousting final last night and the children are now excited about the next round.


At school, I am sure that Mick Robertson gave an excellent seminar on careers in Television on Tuesday. I was sorry to hear that the matches were cancelled but I am sure we will hit the ground running with fixtures after half term and the upcoming Sevens tournaments at Ashdown House and Windlesham House.


I hope you all have a great half term!

Reception

Reception completed their topic on Bears this half term with a visit from Sue Pearson and her collection of Teddy Bears.

Sue shared her fabulous collection and the children enjoyed hearing all about their history.

We ended the week with a Teddy Bears picnic which was enjoyed by all!

Year 1

To celebrate the end of our materials topic Year 1 designed and made hats out of recycled materials. We all strutted our stuff down the catwalk in our creations and proved that, as Cerys told us, "one person's rubbish is another's treasure."

Year 7 Geography trip to the Natural History Museum

Last Friday, all Year 7 pupils went to the Natural History Museum in London. The day was spent in the Earth Galleries, where pupils investigated earthquakes, volcanoes, the structure of the Earth, erosion, landslides, rock types and rivers. They all had a hard-working and enjoyable day!"

Youth Conference at Windlesham House School

On Friday, 3rd February Megan, Jack, Oliver, and Olli from Year 8 attended the Youth Conference at Windlesham House School.

Groups of four pupils from many schools all over the South East were specially selected to represent their schools because they demonstrated impressive leadership qualities. The event was well attended with over 300 people filling a large hall. The title of the conference was 'A Force for Good' and speakers included Tim Loughton - MP and Minister for Children and Families, MEP Catherine Bearder and Luke L, who at just 16 years old is the CEO of the global young people’s charity 'Young Pioneers'.

Speakers at the conference urged young people to realise that they are empowered to take action to make the world a better place. Ruth Dearnly delivered a serious message about the horrors of human trafficking. The conference heard how young children are sold, then made to work long hours without pay and under appalling conditions, with no hope for the future and no way out of slavery. Human trafficking in the chocolate industry was highlighted and it was shown that our decisions as consumers can really make a difference to make sure that chocolate we eat is 'traffic-free'.
 
The young people at the conference were urged to go back to their schools to raise awareness about human trafficking and to raise money to help protect vulnerable children around the world who are in danger of falling prey to this fast growing criminal activity. The conference viewed the debut screening of the video for the Matt Redman song '27 million'  - a charity record to be released by EMI to raise awareness that approximately 27 million people on the planet are living in slavery. The conference was moving and inspirational. The St. Christopher's pupils who attended were immediately keen to take action to support the causes which were highlighted; so watch this space for future fundraising events led by Megan, Jack, Oliver and Olli.

Upper School Lecture

Mick Robertson delivered his lecture - Have you got the X factor?  to Years 7 and 8 on Tuesday. Mick co-presented Magpie from 1972 to 1980, then went on to present an out of school activity programme called Freetime. He then helped to establish The Children's Channel, where he presented a show called Roustabout. Since the 1980’s he has produced television programmes for children, including the series Wise Up, and Blunt, and has won several Children's Baftas. In 2007 he was awarded the Special Award Children's Bafta for his work in television. Accepting his award he said "I am hugely proud to be receiving my Bafta award. My television career has been entirely spent in making programmes for children. There is no more important audience.”

Mick discussed finding your own X factor with the year groups and how important it is to make the most of it adding that there are many different exciting jobs in TV that are really worth pursuing. The children looked at several TV programme ideas he had worked on during his career and they had to guess which ones had succeeded and which ones did not make the grade. It was very tricky and caused much debate! He then asked the children to think of their own idea for a TV programme which they quickly thought of and submitted their ideas to him with the promise of an International Emmy Award as a prize- well for a week or so anyway!

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the St Christopher's International Emmy for the creation of a new television programme format is:

Ella L  - Original Cooking – Contestants have to create original British dishes using ingredients local to the region in which they live. Judged by Michel Roux.

Runners Up and highly commended:

Olli R – The Story Room – a comedy show.
Fraser J – Small Cooks Big Meals – a children's cookery show.
 
Ella may take home the massive International Emmy, which is living in the office at the moment, until the end of February (not only is it huge but it is also very spiky, so please take care).
 
We hope to use this award to motivate other children to take part in other media-related events at school. Thank you so much to Mick Robertson for donating it to the school and for giving up his time to talk to Years 7 and 8.

Cancellation of 8P Midsummer Night's Dream at the Brighton Dome Theatre - To all Parents of 8P
Year 8 English trip to the Globe Theatre - To all Year 8 Parents
Schola Cantorum at the Theatre Royal on 19th February 2012 Update - To all Parents of Schola Cantorum Years' 7 and 8