Year 7 Orienteering Challenge

During the previous term, a number of student teachers from Brunel University descended upon 7P to teach a unit of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities. Boys experienced a range of learning opportunities aimed at improving their teamwork skills which included a number of problem solving skills, map reading and the use of all the new equipment at Sudbury. At the end of the unit a number of boys were selected to compete in the annual Brunel University Orienteering Challenge at the Hillingdon Outdoor Adventure Centre over the Christmas holidays. The day was set out for pupils to put all of their newly learned skills into practice by completing a number of orienteering challenges against schools in the surrounding areas. Boys were paired off and set about completing the course. Times were recorded and points awarded for finding the relevant letter and also completing the course under the allocated time.

It was no surprise that John Lyon set the tone from the onset. In the 12 minutes allocated for each map to be completed, our boys were crossing the finish line after only four minutes and therefore achieving far more bonus points than any other schools. After all four courses had been completed, scores were totalled and by a margin of 25 points, John Lyon ran out overall winners. For their efforts, boys were awarded the Brunel University Outdoor and Adventurous trophy which we will again look to retain next year. The boys who took part were Henry Kidney, William Mannion, Michael Agius, Alexander Clark, Nirav Dodhia, Anwarull Islam, James Mortimer and Divakar Patel.

Mr Adam Ling, PE Department

Visiting Author in Library

Multi-award winning author, Marcus Sedgwick, visited The New Memorial Library on Monday 8th February to give a presentation on his work to Year 9 pupils. The boys were joined by members of staff from the Library and English Department and enjoyed a very entertaining and inspiring afternoon. We now know all there is to know about carrying out research for creative writing, the history of vampires and how to write a best selling novel. The ‘question and answer’ session also provided some humorous moments, as well as a good insight into the life of an author and how a book comes into existence from its original concept to hitting the shelves in the bookstores. To conclude his visit, Mr Sedgwick gave all those who attended the opportunity to meet him personally and carried out a book signing, which was greeted with much enthusiasm by the boys.

The New Memorial Library would like to offer its gratitude to Mr Sedgwick for providing such a fun-filled and educational afternoon and we look forward to a return visit in the future.

Mrs Rita Halsey, Librarian

Invitation to our Art Exhibition

We are pleased to invite all staff, pupils, parents and friends to what we hope will be our best ever show to date. It is an opportunity to see recent work from boys in Year 7, who will have produced a series of prints and designs based on the theme of Colour and Pattern. Year 8 boys will have explored Cubism and produced a variety of mixed media Cubist artwork and a very exciting clay project from Year 9, a development from their fantastic animal/human metamorphisms pieces.

Year 10 have produced some outstanding self-portrait paintings and Lino-cuts based on the theme of Figure and Identity. The prints have been hand tinted and will be available to purchase, with the money going towards the Year 10 trip to New York in October.

Following the success of our Christmas show and sale we will again be offering artwork to parents for a small price, the proceeds going towards gallery trips for each year.

We look forward to seeing you at the exhibition which will run from 4:15pm until 6.30pm on Thursday 4th March. Refreshments will be served.

Ms Lorna Hope, Head of Art & Design

Superstrings Lecture by Brian Foster accompanied by Jack Liebeck

The JLS Physics Society invited Professor Brian Foster OBE, from Oxford University, accompanied by professional violinist Jack Liebeck, to give a lecture entitled Superstrings – a Celebration of Einstein and Physics.

Prof Foster introduced the lecture by talking about Einstein’s love of music, particularly playing the violin. He went on to discuss work on Particle Physics and the development of String Theory, and also talked about work about to be carried out at the CERN Particle Accelerator in France/Switzerland. It is hoped that this will confirm the existence of some predicted fundamental particles.

The lecture was divided into sections, between which Jack Liebeck played a selection of music by JS Bach, Mozart and Kreisler; all pieces that were known to, and probably played by, Einstein. In conclusion, Prof Foster also got out his violin and the pair played a duet, a fitting end to an informative and entertaining afternoon.