Xmas 2018
Christmas at Sackville in full swing
Christmas is always a special time of year at Sackville, and with the holiday starting on a Wednesday, our celebrations began in the last full week of term.
Thursday and Friday saw the school Christmas dinners served in the Rose Restaurant. A record number of meals were ordered this year: our canteen and support staff cooking and serving more than 400 full roast dinners over two days. A very special thanks has to go to Jayne Palmer and her staff for managing this Herculean feat.
Also on Thursday and Friday we had our celebration assemblies for our new year 7s, where many edible prizes were dispensed by Mr Thompson and his team.
Over the last weekend of term, our year 9 German students have been visiting the Christmas markets in Aachen – and have even seen some snow!
In the final week of term, we have the annual school carol service, Mr Roberts’ festive readings in the library and our eagerly awaited end of term assemblies.
Our students have worked very hard over this long term and marking the end of it with festivities is fitting!
Observatory open evening
Perfect stargazing conditions for the last observatory open evening of the year
The weather for once smiled on the Sackville observatory open evening on Wednesday 12 December. Clear skies allowed over thirty guests views of the Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula, Pleiades and even Comet Wirtanen.
The waxing crescent moon however provided the best photo opportunities, as you can see here.
We had some lovely feedback from those present, with one guest saying
Wow, what a fantastic evening stargazing on a clear but cold night. Thanks so much to Mr Bush, your knowledge is incredible and I am inspired to learn more. Especially loved the Pleiades star cluster. Can’t wait for the next evening.
More open evenings follow in the new year. You can find more information on the Sackville Observatory Facebook page.
Year 13 drama Midsummer’s Night Dream
Midsummer comes in midwinter …
Our year 13 drama students treated a highly appreciative audience to two different interpretations of scenes from Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream‘. We were transported from a dismal December evening to the enchanted setting of Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece by the sheer exuberance of the performers.
Both groups performed in the style of the Kneehigh Theatre Company, which always demands deep reserves of energy. The performances this time were especially high-octane, and had the audience in frequent fits of hysterical laughter.
All this makes us anticipate all-the-more their devised pieces, the performing arts showcase and the school show next term. Congratulations on two fantastic performances!
Sports leaders with Estcots year 4 students
Year 10 sports leaders excel with Estcots year 4s
Thank-you to our year 10 sports leaders who have spent two lunchtimes each week since half-term leading activities for our year 4 visitors from Estcots School. They have fully developed and refined their skills and worked hard to improve and develop all elements of their leadership. You have been amazing Rejwana Ahmed, Oliver Ally, Caspar Arthur, Joe Astley, Holly Aston, Ben Aubrey, Dan Beard, Niamh Brind, Millie Brown, Rachel Canepa-Anson, Dan Chambers, Erwin Clinciu, Tom Costain, Georgia Coughlan, Charlie Dance, Abbey David, Ella Dean, Ella Devine, Harvey Dyson, Lewis Gardner, Oliver Grange, James Grimwood, Louvain Harrison-Gray, Jude Hayman, Freya Healiss, Jacob Knock, Dan LeRoy, Ben Leslie, Eve Lewis, Oliver Love, Alex Lucas, Archie Mabey, Luke Maker, Cameron McInnes, Jack Morrison, Charlotte Nield, Lucy Oxley, Eric Parker, Sophie Payton, Annie Pinder, Lucy Plumb, Sasha Prior, Katherine Radley, Alex Roberts-Percy, Lucy Rogers, Georgia Rooke, Kaitlin Sargent, Joe Sheridan, Drew Steptoe, Ella Straszynski, Sophie Taylor, Summer Thompson, Amber Titchener, Summer Warburton, Jamie Webb, Dan Wheeler and Sam Wiles!
Sackville entertain Estcots year 6 students
Sackville musicians entertain Estcots year 6 students
Everyone school student needs cheering up in the dark days of the winter term. What better way than to come to Sackville and listen to our sixth form musicians? That was certainly the view of a group of year 6 Estcots students when they came to hear Ollie Howland, Chloe Harman, Tia Bartlett, Lewin Parker, Fraser Hounslow, Michael Hoelters, Craig Thorne and Tom Trounson show off their considerable talent during the last week of November.
The students went back to Estcots and wrote about their experiences, showing a mature and well-developed sense of audience. Our English and music departments will be looking forward to working with these students next September!
Foodbank
Thank you for all the donations for East Grinstead Foodbank
On Friday December 7th, we gathered together all of the donations we have received over the last fortnight and took them to the East Grinstead Foodbank.
In the picture on the left alongside Mrs Farrant, year assistant for year 7, are JJ Sarmiento, Millie Masterson, Dylan Gates and Ellie Davis.
Zelal Aytekin and Hannah Bellini-Tagg later helped Mr Elsdon pack up all of the food and deliver it to the foodbank.
Once again we would like to thank everyone who made a donation.
Support staff tea
Tea for support staff ‘stars in our school’
To mark ‘Stars in our Schools’ day, members of the school leadership team served afternoon tea to all of our support staff on Tuesday 4 December. This was a small but thoroughly deserved token of appreciation to a team of people without whom the school would cease to function.
Thanks to all of these fantastic people – it really is a pleasure working together as a team. A particular thanks to Mrs Rowlingson who as usual was instrumental in organising the event.
Mock Trial
Sixth formers sent for (mock) trial
Congratulations to our sixth form law students for their excellent performances at the student Mock Trial at Maidstone Crown Court on Saturday December 1st.
It was a busy and worthwhile day. Excellent advocacy from our barristers Danica Douglas, Melissa Turner and Morgan Hake meant that Tatyana Koleva was found not guilty three times. Clerk and usher John Hollins and Aimee Lane had also clearly fully prepared for their roles. Ben Thomas and Alistair Knox played the roles of witnesses with gusto.
Thank-you to Mrs Fleming and Mr Roberts for giving up a day at the weekend to accompany the students.
Sackville Big Reveal
Sackville gets festive with the ‘Big Reveal’!
There was a definite hint of December in the air at Sackville as Mr Feist and Mr Grant visited all of the classrooms and offices decorated for the ‘Big Reveal‘. Though it was the last Friday in November, lots of classrooms and offices had been decorated. The idea, the brainchild of our General Office, was fully embraced by many to leave the judging a challenge. As you can see from the slideshow, choosing between these spectacular efforts was not going to be easy.
After a full inspection however, the awards were:-
- Overall Winner: Student Support Unit
- Best Office: Finance
- Best Tutor Room: 7SBP C05
- Honorary Mentions for Creativity: LRC alpine village, Y9 Office wallpaper, Physics Prep Room Blue Peter crown, Drama Office script tree.
Many thanks to all the staff and students for making the school look so fantastically festive – even the year 11s in the middle of their mocks have been cheered up!