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| CHAMPION TRAMPOLINIST |
Congratulations to one of our Poetry (Year 12) girls, Megan Stevens, who has qualified for the British National Trampoline Finals, to be held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham this summer.
Megan (16) is a member of the Abbey Flyers Trampoline Club in Sheffield and has trampolined competitively for many years. She has progressed through the ranks so that she now competes at the top level, Grade 1, on a national circuit. Megan has also been selected to compete against the Irish in Northern Ireland in May and to participate in an international competition in Prague in September.
We wish her good luck!
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| CAPTAIN CALLING |
Congratulations to our new Captains for 2008-2009, who were elected by staff and their fellow pupils. We congratulate them on their success and wish them well over the coming year.
Captains 2008-2009
Top Row: Rebecca Hoyes,Rahul Ravi, Heather Booth, Luke Longthorne, Sarah Phillips, Brandon Hannam, Lucy Potts,
Rebecca Rusby, Emma Nevin, Adam Gaskell
Bottom Row: Tony Chen, Daniel Young, Tom Ward,
Dominic Kavanagh |
| SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS |
Our pupils going on the summer sports tour to New Zealand and Fiji are not only sporty, they’re also good at baking. That was the conclusion of everyone who sampled the goodies on offer at their cake stall in the Ref.
In just 20 minutes the hockey and rugby players raised £194.75 towards the tour costs. Mrs Powell, Head of Girls’ Games, said: “The tour members all did really well, but special thanks must go to Alex Pollard, who did most of the organising.” |
| DEPUTY HEAD RUNNING FOR MARTHA |
Our Deputy Headmaster, Mr Frank Thompson, will be running in the Great Manchester run this year. He and his wife, Tara, are running in aid of Kidney Research UK. They have a personal interest, as Martha, the three-year old daughter of a close friend has been chosen to front the campaign for research into serious liver diseases. To find out more, or if you wish to sponsor Mr and Mrs Thompson run the Great Manchester run, please click the following link: www.justgiving.com/frankandtarathompson
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BATTLEFIELD TOUR |
A group of boarding staff visited Belgium during the Easter holidays to pay tribute to Mountaineers who fought and died in the First World War. Travelling by College minibus, the group stayed in Ypres and employed a professional guide to ensure that they understood as much of the history as possible in a relatively short visit, making sure that what was seen was linked to the experiences of Mountaineers. As well as visiting general sites, such as Hill 60, Tyne Cot cemetery and the Hooge Crater Museum, the party also had the chance to visit recent battlefield excavations and handle some of the finds. The most important element of the visit, though, was to track individual Mountaineers and the group was privileged to place memorial crosses at a number of burial and memorial sites. The visit was planned by former serviceman Mr M Powell who, alongside his wife Mrs Powell, runs Pole House. They were accompanied by the Head of Boarding, Mr Haslehurst, Mr and Mrs Toerien, Mrs Gabbitas and Sister Gibson. Mr Lucas, the Facilities Manager, joined with the party at the Menin gate where, during the nightly act of remembrance, the party was proud to lay a wreath in honour of all the Mountaineers who fought and died in the Great War. More details of the visit will appear in the next Newsletter and The Mountaineer.
The staff are pictured at the grave of Second Lieutenant Maxwell Henry Williams, who died aged 19 in 1917. He started at the Mount on 9th January, 1908, aged 10.
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PILGRIMS' PROGRESS |
This is a special year for Lourdes, 150 years since the first of 18 apparitions to Saint Bernadette. 17 of our pupils will be sharing in the commemorations when they travel to the world-famous shrine in the French Pyrenees as part of the Hallam diocese pilgrimage this summer.
Their visit can not be described as a holiday- they will be caring for the sick and handicapped pilgrims who make the trip in the hope of receiving a cure. 67 recognised miracles have been attributed to the town’s grotto, where many bathe in the waters in the hope of being cured, or simply following Our Lady’s instructions.
The trip requires a lot of preparation, both to raise funds to fund the visit, and to allow pupils to prepare for the challenges of the week. During the Easter holidays, the group, together with Mr McMillan, Mrs Owers and Mr Pike, went on a six-mile sponsored walk from the Mount to Rother Valley Park and back. The six miles were significant, each representing 25 years in Lourdes’ history. Thanks to their efforts, they raised in excess of £1000 towards the trip.
In the afternoon, the group enjoyed a trip to a bowling alley – all part of the bonding experience.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in supporting this important part of our school’s life, that shows our commitment to the Jesuit principle of “Men and Women for others”, the next fund-raising event will be a Salsa evening on Thursday, 8th May. See the section on the Salsa evening for more details.
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| GOING GREEN |
Our familiar blue uniform was replaced by a swathe of green when pupils came to school in their own clothes on “Green Casual Day”. The reason? Mount St Mary’s is launching a new recycling project that will see paper recycling bins in every classroom and office, as well as in all the boarding houses.
The project began with a special assembly led by Deputy Headmaster Mr Frank Thompson, who provided some startling statistics about the amount of resources used in this country every day. Did you know that if everyone in the world lived as we do, we would need three planets to cope?
Mr Thompson said: “It’s remarkable how much is recyclable. We’re encouraging pupils to take the initiative in finding ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.”
Sixth form pupils will be responsible for organising the collection of used paper once a week.
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| PEAK PRACTICE |
Six of our pupils camped out in the Peak District recently, and are getting ready to do the same again at the end of April.
The pupils, all in Grammar, are hoping to gain their Bronze Award in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, and spent a weekend having a practice session before they are assessed on 26th/ / 27th April. The expedition is one of four sections that the participants must pass, the others being Service, Skills and Physical Recreation.
For the practice, our pupils walked from Baslow to Over Haddon, with an overnight stop at Birchover where they had to erect their tents for the night and do all their own cooking.
Pupils are encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme from Grammar onwards. We wish our Bronze recruits well when they walk from Little Longstone to Friden next weekend. |
SPRING HAS SPRUNG! |
Have you seen our new newsletter yet? Click on the link on our home page to read the latest news in the spring edition of our school newsletter. |
| AN ENTERPRISING BUNCH |
Congratulations to our Young Enterprise team, who have passed through two stages of the annual national competition and booked themselves a place in the next round, the County final, to be held in Buxton in May.
Ellipsis… consists of 11 Poetry (Year 12) pupils, who won the North Derbyshire Area Final during the Easter holidays. They were hoping for success, after managing to sell personalised hooded tops to more than half of their fellow pupils last term.
At the area final, held at the Winding Wheel Hotel in Chesterfield, the pupils were questioned on their new company report and then made a presentation based( with the pun fully intended) on the Top Gear programme. As well as the overall award, they also won the prize for the best presentation.
The picture shows Lucy Potts (Managing Director) and Adam Gaskell (Sales Director) modelling the profit-making tops.
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| BOARDERS GET BOOKISH |
Everyone’s talking about books at Mount St Mary’s as the 100 + book challenge enters its third week. Launched on World Book Day, the challenge encourages pupils and staff to read over 100 children’s books that were originally published in an article by Michael Morpurgo in the Daily Telegraph.
Among those that have signed up for the challenge are two of our German boarders, Philip Ehlers and Lukas Perka. They leave the school at the end of term to return to Germany but are hurriedly trying to read as many as possible of the books, which range from “The hungry caterpillar” to “Wuthering Heights”. Between them, they have already read more than 30 books on the list. How many have you read? |
| LUKE GLIDES TO GOLD |
The CCF at the College is celebrating the aviation success of one of its members. Luke Longthorne (Poetry), an RAF cadet for 3 years, has been awarded the coveted Gold Wings for gliding. He is the first Mount pupil to gain this qualification, for which he performed 5 solo take-offs and landings in a winch-launched Viking glider. He has been attending RAF Syerston on Sundays to gain the prestigious award, as well as participating in the school’s usual CCF activities every week.
Luke has also been awarded an RAF flying scholarship, granting him 12 hours of flying tuition on a light aircraft at a flying school during the summer holidays. Only 50 such scholarships are awarded annually.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Luke hopes to go into the RAF, either as a fast jet pilot or a multi-engine pilot. For just now though, his ambition is to become a gliding instructor, which would mean that he would fly the cadets that go there every weekend- including our own CCF pupils, who visit Syerston once a term. |
| RESULT IS BLACK AND WHITE |
All was quiet in the library when 17 pupils competed over a period of 7 weeks in the internal round of the UK Chess Challenge.
Overall, Sam Wilford finished 1st, Amer Qaiyum 2nd and Gagan Shiralagi 3rd in what Mr Toerien described as the “strongest field yet”.
Now the three top players, along with Alex Simpson, Isaac McDonald, William Goodwin, Gagan Shiralagi and Sophie George, will be going on to the Area Megafinal to be held next term. |
| JUNIOR DRAMA SOCIETY |
When the Junior Drama Society put on their annual play this term, they had the playwright on hand to discuss interpretations and symbolism- because the play was written by one of the cast, Rudiments (Year 9) boy Kieran Sockett. He was inspired to write the script after reading “The Bad Beginning” by Lemony Snickett, and based his play on the unfortunate mishaps that befall the three Baudelaire children following the death of their parents in a fire.
The play, directed by our Director of Studies Mrs Maxine Smith, captured some of the black humour and Gothic horror of the original book and was appreciated by the many fans of the Lemony Snickett series.
Kieran was perhaps inspired in his playwriting by Mrs Smith, who recently had her second play published by New Theatre Publications. Her play, “The History of Kevin Figgins”, received its world premiere when it was performed by Lower School pupils in December 2005. |
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| YEAR 8 SPORT ON THE UP |
Our Under 13s boys’ sevens team have found their rugby feet this year. After a disappointing season in Elements, they have gone from strength to strength in Figures (Year 8) and came back as winners of the plate from the Pocklington Sevens. Their success follows on from the Year 8 girls’ triumph the previous weekend, when they won the cup in the Netball tournament, beating seven other teams, held at the Mount.
Pictured below are the victorious boys.
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| DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS |
Congratulations to one of our Elements pupils, Savannah Darnell, who won a gold medal at the UK National Hip Hop Championships recently. Savannah, who came to the Mount from Barlborough, is a member of a local dance school and has won herself a place in the forthcoming World Championships…in Las Vegas, during the summer holidays.
To emphasise how well she did, Savannah actually danced in the adult section, partnered by her dance teacher. We wish her well in the World Championships. |
| WORLD BOOK DAY |
The race is on to see who will be the first person to read through 115 books on a list of recommended children’s books.
Staff and pupils alike are re-reading old favourites and discovering some new children’s books in a year-long challenge launched by the school’s librarians, Mr and Mrs Toerien.
They were inspired to run the competition after reading an article in the Daily Telegraph by Michael Morpurgo, the Children’s Laureate, in which he listed his top 100 plus children’s books.
Everyone is being encouraged to sign up and get reading, with books varying from “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to “Wuthering Heights”.
As an incentive, small prizes are awarded for each 10 books read from the list. Those entering the challenge have to enter a short review on the library’s computerised search system, and by the end of the competition’s launch on World Book Day, one Year 10 pupil had already managed to gain his first prize.
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| SPRING BRINGS OUT THE THESPIAN IN THE MOUNT'S PUPILS |
Spring brings out the thespian in the Mount’s pupils… while the Senior Drama Society members continue to enjoy the excellent reviews of their recent production “Blithe Spirit”, the Junior Drama Society is in the final stages of producing “The Bad Beginning.”
“Blithe Spirit” is well known as the work of Noel Coward, but the junior production has actually been written by one of our pupils, Kieran Sockett (Rudiments), whose play has been produced for his fellow pupils by Mrs Maxine Smith, Head of English and Director of Studies.
Mrs Smith is herself developing a name as a playwright, having just had her second play published by New Theatre Publications. “The History of Kevin Figgins” is already well-known to some of our pupils- Lower School actors originally performed it in December 2005. |
| BOARDERS HAVING FUN AT THE WEEKEND |
“Grisly”, “Gruesome” and “Great fun!” That was the verdict of our boarders following their outing to the “Bodyworks” exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Professor Gunter von Hagens has provoked criticism for his “plasticination” technique for preserving the human body, and the visit certainly provoked lively debate about whether it is possible to combine art and science.
Although optional outings are organised regularly, once a term all boarders and house staff participate in a community outing, and “Bodyworks” proved a popular choice. On their return to college, everyone enjoyed the regular Sunday night formal meal, which this week had a Chinese theme. |
| TEAM GB TRAINS AT MOUNT STADIUM |
International Coach, Dave Turnbull is bringing his squad of international athletes to Mount St Mary's College for the second time this academic year to utilise the international standard athletics track and outstanding cross country course. Dave states "The College is an ideal venue for weekend courses because of its location and excellent sporting and boarding facilities. We look forward to becoming regular visitors to Mount St Mary's."
From L-R Ross Millington (U20 Cross Country), Jess Coulson (U20 Cross Country), Dave Turnbull (Coach), Steve Vernon (Cross Country and Track) and Becky Lyne (World Class middle distance runner) |
| PUPILS ATTEND CISC MASS |
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Pupils from Mount St Mary's College and Barlborough Hall Prep School near Sheffield had the honour of participating in the liturgy at a mass for over 100 Catholic headteachers from all over Britain and Ireland.
The heads had gathered for the annual Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference, held this year in Leeds. For the pupils of the two Jesuit schools, for ages 3-18 with boarding from 11, it was a memorable experience, the first time they had participated in a Mass concelebrated by so many priests, including chief celebrant Monsignor Kieran Heskin, Vicar General of the Leeds diocese.
Six pupils from Barlborough Hall did the readings and bidding prayers, while over forty members of the Mount’s Chapel Choir and Chamber Choir sang the liturgy and lead the hymns. |
| NEW YEAR HONOUR FOR OM |
The Alumnus office was delighted to receive the news that Old Mountaineer John Kelly, who attended the Mount between 1958 and 1963, was awarded an MBE for services to Local Government in the New Honours List 2008.
John is the County Emergency Planning Officer for Oxfordshire, and his role involves dealing with terrorism, train crashes and natural disasters, memorably the floods of 2007.
Alumni wanting to find out more about John’s memories of his time at the Mount can log on the Alumnus website. |
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| FENCING IS ENJOYING A RESURGENCE AT THE MOUNT THIS YEAR |
Fencing is enjoying a resurgence at the Mount this year, under the enthusiastic tutelage of Mr Jenkins and Alex Green (Rhetoric). Pupils who opt for the activity underwent an intensive training course last term, and William Brown (Syntax) was awarded the Mount Fencing Trophy for his outstanding performance in both training and competitive fencing. According to Mr Jenkins, in 2007 he was primus inter pares. Senior pupils are continuing to meet weekly for fencing sessions this term. |
| MUSIC EXAM RESULTS - JANUARY 2008 |
The following pupils took music exams last term and the results are as follows:
| Amy Lavin |
Passed Grade 1 flute |
| Jessica Burkinshaw |
Passed Grade 1 flute |
| Jasmin Legdon |
Passed Grade 1 flute |
| Lauren Shakespeare |
Passed Grade 3 singing |
| Joe McCarthy |
Passed Grade 3 guitar |
| Crystal Cheung |
Passed Grade 5 singing |
| Chloe Gaskell |
Passed Grade 5 violin |
There were also some results which deserve special mention.
| Heather Booth |
Passed Grade 1 clarinet with distinction |
| Emma Taylor |
Passed Grade 6 clarinet with distinction |
| Ashley Garfitt |
Passed Grade 4 alto saxophone with distinction |
| Octavia McGlashan |
Passed Grade 8 singing with distinction |
Other Music News
Octavia has been offered a place by 3 leading music conservatoires to study singing next year. Competition for places for sopranos is extremely tough, and it is very unusual to gain a place at such a young age (normally singing students are in their twenties in order for their voices to mature). This is, therefore, a superb achievement. Octavia has decided to accept a place at Trinity College, London.
Kris Garfitt, Emma Taylor and Ashley Garfitt studied on a music course as members of the highly acclaimed City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra over the Christmas holiday. This is one of the leading youth orchestras in Europe who recently performed Swan Lake with the Bolshoi ballet in Pula’s Roman amphitheatre in Croatia. This Christmas the orchestra performed to a packed audience in a concert in Sheffield. The programme was Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite and Shostakovitch Symphony No 9, and our three pupils did very well. |
OXBRIDGE SUCCESS FOR MOUNT ST MARY'S BOYS |
A Barlborough former pupil has just received an offer of a place at Oxford. Daniel Westmoreland went all the way through Barlborough before going on to Mount St Mary's College.
If he gets three As in his A levels, he is off to St Catherine’s College to read Law. Daniel is the Head Boy at the Mount, and is also a member of the First XV rugby team and the school band.Oliver Burkinshaw also received an offer, from Cambridge to study Natural Sciences, for which he also needs 3 As. He should certainly have lots of advice available to help him prepare for Cambridge life: his mother, Mrs Burkinshaw in the English department, is a Cambridge graduate, as is his father, and his older brother Thomas is currently studying at Selwyn.
The Headmaster Mr McKell said: “We are delighted that two of our top achievers have been recognised, and wish them well in their studies between now and their exams in the summer. |
ROGER GROARKE RIP |
The school community was saddened to hear of the death of Roger Joseph Groarke on Wednesday, 12th December. Roger was a pupil at the Mount between 1945 and 1952. He was elected President of the Mount Association in April 1983 and served on the Governing Body of the college from 1982 until his retirement last year, and for most of that time he was clerk to the governors. His funeral took place on Thursday, 20th December at St Ann’s Church, Cheadle Hulme. Fr Tom Shufflebotham SJ, a contemporary of Roger, also said a mass for the intentions of his family, on behalf of the Mount Association. |
THE MOUNTAINEER |
This year’s edition of the Mountaineer, the school’s annual magazine, has just been published, with all pupils receiving their copy before departing for the Christmas holiday.
The magazine documents the past year at the Mount and Barlborough Hall Prep School, with articles on events in and out of school. Readers can also find out about the experiences of old boy Robert Parkinson, who spent six months working in Zambia for Jesuit Missions, and catch up on news of other OMs.
If you are not on the current subscription list but would like a copy, please contact the Bursar’s office. The magazine costs £6, including postage within the UK. |
| NEW ORGANIST |
When Mr MacDonald left the Mount in the summer, the school organist left too: his wife, Michelle. The school now has a new organist however, heard for the first time by many parents at the Christmas Carol Service.
Jonathan P. Eyre is currently a third-year music undergraduate at the University of Sheffield. Until July 2007 he was Organ Scholar at Sheffield Cathedral. He has also been Director of Music at St Paul’s Church, Bedford and Organist at Trinity Hall College, Cambridge. He has an academic specialism in the Music of the Chapel Royal 1550-1700, and combines his academic work with organ recitals, teaching and liturgical work. He holds Associate Diplomas from the Royal College of Organists and Trinity College London.
As well as being the school organist, Jonathan is teaching singing at Barlborough Hall. |
| OLYMPIC SUCCESS - IN PHYSICS |
For pupils who achieve gold medals for Paper 1 in the British Physics Olympiad, there is the promise of a trip to London for a celebration meal. Two of our pupils managed to progress beyond this level, sitting Paper 2. Oliver Burkinshaw, who has an offer to read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, achieved Bronze II, while Charles Gregor MacGregor received a commendation. |
| MOUNT BOYS - AND THEIR COACH - SELECTED FOR NATIONAL TEAMS |
Two members of the school’s First XV were selected to play in the recent U18 match between the Independent School Barbarians (ISB) and the Irish Exiles at Harrow School. Hal Marsden, captain of the Mount’s First XV was playing for the Irish Exiles, while his normal team-mate, Joseph Massarella, was representing the ISB.
The Irish Exiles are made up of state and independent players from all over the country, while the ISB is a new organisation, founded last year by Roger Uttley OBE, the former British and Irish Lion, who along with other top rugby coaches wanted to give young players at independent schools more match opportunities.
Boarder Brandon Hannam meanwhile captained the Scottish Exiles U17 against South and South-West at Bryanston School.
Other Mount rugby players have received call-ups in recent days. Mitchell Ashworth, a weekly boarder from Lincolnshire, has been selected for the Scotland U18 training squad, after participating in a development weekend held at the Mount. Tom Booth has been selected for the ISB (North) and Ben Sullivan and Spencer Burley have both been selected for the Yorkshire final trial for the U14 county squad.
Following his part in the recent Italy v. France U20 game, Charlie Massarella’s family is waiting to hear if he has been selected for the next game, against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Mr Wareham, head of Boys’ Games, has also been receiving his call-up. Having coached the U16 North team for the past year, he has now been asked to coach the North and Midlands U16 team in their game against London and South-West on January 26th. |
| RUGBY CAMP |
Mr Wareham, Head of Boys’ Games, hosted a three day training camp at the Mount during December. The North of England development camp for U16s was one in a series of selection camps that will eventually see 50 boys from all over the country picked to represent England at U16.
Mr Wareham was appointed as forwards coach a year ago, and was himself then selected to be a coach at the national England U16 development camp.
“All the lads had a fantastic time here,” he said. “The organisers are hoping to use the school again because of its excellent facilities for training and accommodation.” |
| MSM PARENTS' ASSOCIATION |
Members of the newly-formed Parents’ Association enjoyed their first event, a Cheese and Wine evening that also allowed those attending to buy books for the school’s library. To find out more, follow the link on the home page to the Parents’ Association web page. |
| BUYER BEWARE! |
Pupils throughout the school learned more about Fair Trade during a week of cross-curricular activities to raise awareness. Events were organised in different lessons to help promote everyone’s understanding of the issues and why we should think before we buy more coffee or bananas.
Mrs Forbes-Jones organised a raffle, with the first prize being a beautiful hamper of Fairtrade goodies. The winner was Richard Massarella, whose mother bought the winning ticket at the Parents’ Association Cheese and Wine book evening. The second prize, a Fairtrade football, was won by P. Gaunt. |
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