Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

DearParentsandGuardians,WelcometothefirstofourE-Newsletters.IhopethatyouwillenjoyreadingthecontentsasmuchasIdid.Yourchildrenhavecertainlybeenextremelybusy!Thearticlesprovideatruerefectionofahappy,productive,learningcommunity.Pleasedonothesitatetoshare‘goodnews’storieswiththeSchoolforfutureeditions-despiteanymisplacedhumilityandprotestationsfromyoursonsanddaughters!Weliketorecogniseandcelebratesuccessinallitsforms:whodoesnotrespondtopraise?IwouldliketothankthemanyparentswhoattendedMondayevening’sinauguralHeadmaster’sReception;therewasawonderful,relaxedatmosphereofcollegiality.AsIsaid,youandyourchildrenareourbestmarketeers,andwevalueyourfeedbackonallaspectsoftheSchool.PleasemayIencourageyoutosharewithfamily,friendsandcolleaguesthedateofourSixthFormOpenEvening-4.30pm-7.00pm,Thursday12thOctober,withabriefpresentationfrommyself,ourHeadsofLowerandUpperSixth,andtheSeniorPrefectsat5.30pm.WeshallbesharingwithyourforthefirsttimetheadditionalALevelsandBTECcoursesthatwillbeintroduced,soallveryexciting.MayIwishyouandyourfamiliesaveryhappy,healthyandblessedmonthaheaduntilournextinstalment.Warmestwishes,GarethP.Lloyd,VIFormNewsThenewtermhasbegunatpacefortheStJohn’sSixthFormstudentsundertheguidanceofyearheadsMmeLhermitteandMrCooper.Aprogrammeoftalksbyformerpupilsbeganstraightawaywithvisitsfrom:SophieT(nowreadingLawatReading);PierreR(BusinessDegreefromBirminghamandnowworkingonhisMAininternationalRelations);EthanH(MedicineatKing’sCollege,London);NatashaS(ArchitectureatCambridge)andalivevideofeedfromDanielaM(HistoryatWarwickandtakingheryearabroadinSingapore)anditwaswonderfultoseeouralumniagain.Theygaveindispensable,practicaladviceonawiderangeoftopicstoourbuddingundergraduates,includingtipsonlivingcostsandloans,accommodation,choosingacourse,independentlearning,applications,personalstatements,clubsandsocieties,andsocialising,allprovidingalivelysenseoftherealityofuniversitylife.MorespeakersarevisitingsoonwithacurrentMedicalstudentfromCardiffUniversityandalsoagroupofsixstudentswhowilladdressR16throughtoUpperVIontherangeofdegreecoursesavailable.MrCooper,HeadofUpperSixth

Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

Inthefirstweekback,UVIstudentsweregivenapresentationfromUCASonwritingpersonalstatementsbyMrCooperandafortnightlater,MartinBlamey,adviserandinterviewerforCardiffMedicalSchooltookthemthroughMedicine-specificareasoftheirapplication,withhisextensiveknowledgeofthedifferentrequirementsofthevariousBritishMedicinecourses.OnSunday24thSeptember,aWelcomeDaytookplace,organisedbyMmeLhermitteandassistedbyMissMcManus,tohelpintegrateouroverseasstudentsand28pupilswere“buddiedup”andspenttheafternooninCardiffsight-seeingandmeetingen-masseforcoffee.Itwasagreatsuccessasstudents,maleandfemale,madenewfriends,shopped,visitedthemuseumandchattedovercoffee.R16NewsIwouldliketocongratulatethecurrentR16yeargroupontheiroutstandingeffortstowardstheirGCSEexaminationresults.Iamverymuchlookingforwardtofurtheracademicsuccessthroughouttheyear.Withaviewtoeducation,beyondGCSEs,wehaveinvitedformerpupilsofStJohn'sCollegetospeaktoourR16pupils.Thesesessions,whichwerewelcomedbystudents,havebeenagreatsuccess,offeringadviceandexperienceonsubjectchoicesatA'LevelandDegreeLevelqualifications.Thusfar,wehavewelcomedEleanorDimond(History,StAndrews),EthanHarris(Medicine,King’sCollege,London)andPierreRussell(BusinessManagement,Birmingham).WehavealsospokentoDanielaMizzenoverSkypewhoiscurrentlystudyingHistoryinSingapore.Moreover,wehavearrangedforaselectionofstudentsfromCardiffUniversitytodiscussarangeofsubjects,coursesandUniversityexperiences.Thisshouldassisttheminmakinginformedchoicesregardingcareerpaths.Bestofluckthisyear,R16:youwillhavemyunequivocalsupportandguidance.MrsArmour,HeadofYearEnglishNews R12-R13SummerReadingChallenge2017ResultsCongratulationstoallR12andR13pupilswhoparticipatedintheStJohn’sCollegeSummerReadingChallenge.Therewasanexcitingrepertoireofliteratureread,withmostofthepupilsexceedingtheminimumrequirementofthreebooks.Owingtotheimpressiverangereadbypupilswehavedecided,forthefirsttime,toawardspecialprizestothefollowingpupils:Ji-EunK(R13)8books;HarriT(R13)10books;PabloL(R12)11books;TheoL(R13)readanimpressive27graphicnovels!Eachofthesepupilswasgivenacertificateandabook.

Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

Thisyear’stopthreewinnerswere:HarryE(R12)inthirdplace,whoread15books;ConorT(alsoR12),insecondplacewhoread17books;Firstplace:AnishC(R12)whoreadastaggering31booksoverthesummer!Despitebeingunabletoaccessthewebsitetolisthisbooks,Anishactuallytookthetimeandefforttowriteupreviewsforeachbookalongsidebeautifulillustrations,whichwereneatlycolouredin.Eachpupilwasgivenacertificate,bookmarkandabooktosuittheirreadingtastes.Itwasaverycloseendresult,indeed!Welldonetoeveryonewhoparticipated!Let’shopenextyear’sReadingChallengeisassuccessful.AvidreaderswillenjoyournextreadingchallengeinFebruary:Readathon.MrsJames,KS3EnglishCoordinatorHistoryNewsHee-ChanKwasrecommendedfortheprestigiousRHSFramptonPrizeasthetop-scoringcandidateinHistoryinWales.Awell-deservedaward!Hee-ChanisatalentedstudentwhohasjuststartedhisLawdegreecourseatJesusCollege,OxfordUniversity.LilyBwasselectedtotakepartintheNationalArchivessummercourseontheHistoryofthesuffragettesandcontributedtotheresearchandmakingofafilmaboutthesuffragetteswhichwillbeshowcasedonlineinOctober.AbigailTwaschosentoattendaseriesofworkshopsonPoliticsandInternationalrelationsatUniversityCollegeLondon.JoPhasbeenselectedtoworkfortheTearfundinPeruduringhergapyear2018.Welldone,LilyandAbi!MathematicsNewsAsthenewAdventtermbeginsatStJohn’s,theMathematicsDepartmentisalreadybeginningtocelebrateanexcellentandproductivestarttotheterm.Oneofourmostimportantpartnershipsiswithyou,theparents,andIwanttothankyouforsupportingtheMathematicsDepartmentwiththeLaunchofShowbiethissummer.ThekeyeventssofarthistermhavebeenthePhotographCompetition:“SeetheMathsinArchitecture”.WhataverytalentedpupilbodywehaveatStJohn’s!Thejudgingtakesplaceverysoonandtherewillbeprizesforfirstplaceandtherunnersup.ThephotographswillbedisplayedintheMathscorridorsforalltosee.ThisweekourR15pupilswillbevisitingBletchleyPark;Ilookforwardtotheirtalesofcodingandciphersontheirreturn.Inandamongsttheday-to-daylearningofthedepartment,weareveryfortunatetohavetwoguestspeakersvisitingtheMathsDepartmentinthenexttwoweeks:MrMarkAnderson,SeniorMarketingAutomationSpecialistatGoCompare,andMrStuartMinton(TransportandPlanning).

Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

SportsNewsStaffv6thFormFootballMatchTherewasanexcellentturnoutforthestaffand6thformfootballmatchonWednesdayevening.ThereweresomegloriousgoalsfrombothteamsandanexcellentpenaltytakenbyMissPughonherdebut.Peter,the6thformgoalkeepersavedsomanygoalsthatwereontarget.The6thformattackingplayersdemonstratedexcellentlevelsoffitness.Thefinalresult:6-4.ThegoldenbootwenttoMissPugh.Welldone,toallinvolved.Staffv6thFormNetballMatchAfantasticdisplayofnetballbythe6thformteamwasshownoncourtonWednesdaylunchtime,althoughitwasthedominantdefenceandassertiveattackbytheteachersthatresultedina10-0win.R12/13FootballfixturevFitzalanHighCongratulationstotheR12/13FootballsquadwhowerebothvictoriousintheirgamesagainstFitzalanhigh.ThemanofthematchawardswenttoJackPandSayaamK-S.R14/15FootballMatchvKingsMonktonTheR14/15FootballteamplayedKingsMonktonseniorfootballteamonThursdayafternoon.Theboysplayedfantasticallywellandproducedsomefantasticpassagesofplay.CongratulationstoEvanLforproducinganoutstandingindividualperformanceandscoringafantasticgoal.R10/11/12contactRugbyfestivalwithRougemontSchoolCongratulationstothe30boysthatwereinvolvedinthecontactRugbyfestivalwithRougemontSchool.Allplayedfantasticallywellanddemonstratedsomeexcellentpassagesofplaythroughout.StJohn’smanofthefestivalwenttoLucasGforthreeoutstandingperformancesmanycongratulations.R12MultiSportsHouseCompetitionAfantasticR12multisporteventtookplaceonMonday,18thSept2017,whereall4housescompetedinFootball,NetballandRugby.Theeventpromotedthefollowing:

• toworkhardandplayhard• tolookaftereachother• chwaraetag/fairplay,• Teamwork,andofcourse• towin!

Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

HouseResults:Mostyn:1stplaceBute:Joint2ndDeLaSalle:Joint2ndStDavid’s:4thplaceFormteachersandsportstaffwereactivelyinvolvedandspecial“teamwork”mentionswentto:Names:1.Sophie(Bute)2.Joshua(Mostyn)3.AnanyaA(DLS)4.RhysH(Mostyn)5.Idris(SD)NetballnewsAfantasticNetballwin:versusKingsMonktonSchool11-5CongratulationstotheR13pupils.LouisaHandCarysRwerethechosenplayersofthematchbytheopposition.HockeynewsCongratulationstotheJuniorandSeniorpupilswhoplayedfantasticallywellatCardiffMetthisweek.Thenewhockeyplayersplayedminimatchesintheiropeningextra-curricularhockeysession,lotsofgoalswerescored. LAMDAFinally,manystudentsaretakingadvantageofco-curricularactivitiessetupthisyearforVIForm,notablyDrama/LAMDAClubtwiceweeklywithMrPerks,YoungEnterprisewithMissMcManusand-stoppress-DukeofEdinburghGoldAwardisabouttobecomeavailabletoo.LAMDAhasalsobeenlaunchedintheseniorschool.Studentsfromallyeargroupsareinvolved.Lunchtimesessionshavefocusedonbasicdramaskillsforindividualandgroupworkaswellas'games'and'activities'buildingconcentrationandresilience.Studentswhodidnotoriginallysignuparestillwelcometoattend.Thereisnochargeforclasses.However,thosestudentswishingtoprogresstoexamswouldneedtoattendregularlyandpayfeesforanyexamstheyaredeemedreadytocomplete.Allwelcome.Dramaisseriousfun!ChessNewsStJohn’sCollegehasbeenacceptedasanexamcentreforformalchessexaminations,thefirstschoolinWalestoholdInstituteofChess(IoC)accreditedstatus. Co-curricularChesstakesplaceeveryMonday7.30pm-10.30pminthelibraryandisintendedforStJohn'sLeagueChessPlayersandforpupilsR14upwards. SomepupilsareinterestedinstudyingthenewIoCqualificationsinthisslottoo.

Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

TwoChessdatesforyourdiarythistermare: WelshSecondarySchoolsChampionshipheldinMerthyrTydfil:SaturdayOctober21st PupilscompetingareDanielS,AronC,DanielJ,SanayG,plusacoupleofessentialreserveswhoareunpickedatpresent. U11WelshPrimaryChessChampionshipsheldattheCardiffFootballStadium:November28th. Teamof10:U11pupilscaptainedbyHiyaR. WewerethebestperformingCelticsquadbeatingallotherWelshandScottishteams-noIrishrepresentation. Wealsohadtheyoungestsquad!Congratulationstoallinvolved.StJohn’sPositronscompetingintheEastGlamorganChessLeague

StJohn’shasmadeagentleimpressionintheleaguethusfar.Butpleasewatchthisspaceforourprogressoverthecomingmonths.Althoughwehaveonlyscored2.5/10pointsintwomatches,therehasbeenalreadymuchenjoyment,newfriendsmadeandofcourseafewtearsshed.StJohn’spupilparticipantsthusfarwere;HiyaR,DanielJandAronC.

WearecurrentlynearthebottomofDivision3,butthereare16matchesleft!

Weareyoung,determinedandreadyforournextbattleagainstCaerphillynextMonday2ndOctober–attheveryleastwewillseeandmeetoldandpossiblynewfriendswhoenjoycomingtogetherinabattleoftheminds.

HiyaRayandtheEuropeanUnder-12GirlsChampionshipinRomaniaHiyaRayrecentlycompetedintheEuropeanU-12GirlsChampionshipinRomania.Sheachievedascoreof4½/9(+3=3-3)versusanaveragefieldofalmost1700FIDE.HerownFIDEratingof1483willbegaining82pointsasaresult.Hiya’sreportandgamesarefeaturedontheschoolwebsite.

Finally,asacelebrationofNationalPoetryDayandapreludetoouractivitiesonBlackHistoryinOctoberwewouldliketojoinpoetrycampaignersaroundthecountrytoacknowledgetheimportantthemeoffreedom.Bornin1872,PaulLaurenceDunbarwasoneofthefirstAfrican-Americanpoetstogainnationalrecognition.Heauthorednumerouscollectionsofpoetryandproseduringhislife and his poem ‘Sympathy’isatestamenttoallthosewhofoughtforthecivilandhumanrightsweholdsodear.

Newsletter

Senior School

Issue 1 September 2017

029 2077 8936 www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com @SJCCardiff

Sympathy

Iknowwhatthecagedbirdfeels,alas!Whenthesunisbrightontheuplandslopes;Whenthewindstirssoftthroughthespringinggrass,Andtheriverflowslikeastreamofglass;Whenthefirstbirdsingsandthefirstbudopes,Andthefaintperfumefromitschalicesteals—Iknowwhatthecagedbirdfeels!

IknowwhythecagedbirdbeatshiswingTillitsbloodisredonthecruelbars;ForhemustflybacktohisperchandclingWhenhefainwouldbeonthebougha-swing;Andapainstillthrobsintheold,oldscarsAndtheypulseagainwithakeenersting—Iknowwhyhebeatshiswing!

Iknowwhythecagedbirdsings,ahme,Whenhiswingisbruisedandhisbosomsore,—Whenhebeatshisbarsandhewouldbefree;Itisnotacarolofjoyorglee,Butaprayerthathesendsfromhisheart’sdeepcore,Butaplea,thatupwardtoHeavenheflings—Iknowwhythecagedbirdsings!

PaulLaurenceDunbar