Claires Court News

Ridgeway junior boys show off their talent

Following these successes in sport and chess came a truly wonderful afternoon on Thursday when then ‘acts’ from our older pupils performed in ‘Ridgeway's Got Talent’. There were singers, dancers, musicians and comedians, all excellent in their different ways. The ‘stand out’ winner, however, was Raphael Conte (5G) whose performance on the electric violin was stunning. Very well done Raphael. It was an outstanding performance which we will look forward to hearing again.

Photos are in the Gallery.

Ridgeway juniors enjoy their ‘petit dejeuner’

Year 5 pupils at Ridgeway greatly enjoyed their French breakfast — as you can see, the waiters were truly authentic and all enjoyed the experience — of course the chocolate croissants wouldn't have had much to do with it — would they?

Photos are in the Gallery.

Ridgeway boys’ chess success (again!)

Another terrific success was recorded by our Chess team last Friday. Playing against many older boys, Ridgeway beat Papplewick School 6½ to 1½ — a thumping victory! Well done.

Senior boys Public Speaking team

George Saunders, Ben Rodman and Ben Westwood took their presentation on ‘The Nature of the Oil Industry’ to the next level in Marlow last Thursday evening. The three Year 11 boys challenged their audience once again, to consider the true price of fuel with their question: "Is the price of oil, really too high?"

Their delivery was excellent, though they were pipped into second place. All three received the compliments of the judges and the congratulations of many for choosing to address an issue of true importance and substance.

Well done to Sixth Form boys and girls

A2 Drama Moderation at Norden Farm was outstanding. Abi Davies, Alice Penn, Chris Forte and Tobi Stubbs performed their own devised piece portraying the powerful and emotional representations of characters facing death. They were supported by Elliot Stokes and Josh Harris on the technical side. The audience certainly left the theatre impressed and with a great deal of food for thought!

And

Young Enterprise — Quantum Team

Quantum had a successful day last Saturday at the Nicholson's Shopping Centre in Maidenhead where they marketed their range of personalised products. Whilst they impressed the judges, unfortunately they did not win the Trade Fair Cup but this is just one stage of the whole competition and they are ready to fight the next stage.

Sixth Form geographers learn about managing the coast.

On Monday a group of Sixth Form geographers attended the third lecture in the Royal Holloway Geography Department. At this lecture, Dr Peter French discussed issues of managing the coast, particularly introducing them to the idea that coastal erosion is both a good and important phenomena which is highly unpredictable. He highlighted the issues that arise from people buying coastal properties without realising or understanding that in just a few years the land they're on may no longer exist — something that seems to happen with high regularity!

Claires Court athletes race to success at ISA Regional Cross Country

Last Friday athletes from all parts of the School took part in the ISA Regional Cross Country at Sherfield School to run in freezing cold and challenging conditions.

Ridgeway's team running in the U12 boys category came 2nd out of 18 schools. Harry Turner and Louis Brown will be running for London West

The U16 and Over 16 girls came 3rd in the team event.

Representing the School and London West at the National event will be Lana Wallis, Courtney Cuthill together with Maddie Jones, Sarah Allerton and Bethany Howard who all qualified in the Over 16 competition.

The U14 boys came 2nd and the Over 16 boys came in 2nd.

The U16 boys came in 1st. This is the first time we have won the U16 boys' category as Salesian College have won it for the last 5 years!

Todd Lindley, Tom Ballinger, Dan Gordon, Toby Jones, Rufus Welton, Will Houghton, James O'Connor, Elliot Stokes and Rory Kempson will all join the London West team too.

Year 1 College girls say Bon Appetit!

Junior girls in Year 1 at College are learning about life in different countries through food. This week they have been studying France and enjoyed a typically French breakfast of croissants and hot chocolate. Tasty!!

Junior and Pre Prep girls at College enjoy National Storytelling Week

Year 5 and Pre–prep joined together to celebrate National Storytelling Week 2012, run by the Society for Storytelling. The girls in Year 5 shared fairy stories and fables they had prepared, using gesture, eye contact and their imaginative use of voice to tell their tales. Together, Year 1 told the story of ‘The Emporer and the Nightgale’ and Year 2 shared stories they had written about ‘One Snowy Day’.

Storytelling encourages children to develop their imagination and see pictures of the stories in their own minds. We hope it will encourage the girls to read stories for themselves and enjoy sharing books and stories with friends.

More photos are in the Gallery

Nursery boys and girls become ‘The Dragon’

In the Chinese ‘Year of the Dragon’ boys and girls in the Nursery created and decorated a fantastic ‘Dragon’ weaving round the School. Obviously great enjoyment was gained. They also made a beautiful shiny dragon.

More photos are in the Gallery

Young Enterprise in Maidenhead this Saturday

Claires Court Year 12's are once again involved in this year's Young Enterprise schools' competition with their team Quantum.

The latest event in this year's competition takes place this Saturday at the Nicholson's Shopping Centre in Maidenhead where Quantum will be selling their range of personalised mugs, coasters, key rings, mouse mats and canvas prints to as many shoppers as they can.

Further Hockey success for Ellie Rayer

Ellie Rayer has been selected for the England National U16 Girls Programme 2012. As a member of this squad she will travel to Cardiff over half term where they will train with (and play against) their Welsh equivalents. Over Easter they will travel to Hanover where they will compete in the 4 Nations Cup against Germany, Belgium and Scotland.

Ellie qualified at Bisham Abbey last Sunday after representing Claires Court, Berkshire, Mercia Lynx and the England U16 Development Squad.

Senior Boys at Claires Court win Rotary Youth Speaks Zone Final

9 boys from Claires Court took part in the Rotary ‘Youth Speaks’ Zone Final Competition at the Kenton Theatre in Henley last night with the team of George Saunders, Ben Rodman and Ben Westwood taking the title of Junior Zone Final winners. They spoke about the nature of the oil industry and asked their audience ‘Is the price of oil really too high?’. Their delivery was excellent and they were delighted that despite some fierce competition, they emerged winners. Ben Westwood was singled out for special merit awarded the John Luker Cup being declared the best Vote of Thanks.

Ridgeway junior boys visit the the National Archives at Kew

Year 2 Ridgeway junior boys visited the National Archives at Kew as part of their history studies. Their behaviour, knowledge and manners impressed the staff there and they were a real credit to the School, as well as learning a great deal!!

Claires Court Learning Hub hits the news and BETT

Last week saw Academic Principal, James Wilding, making presentations on the Google stand at BETT, on the Claires Court Learning Hub. Claires Court Schools was the inaugural school to be using this tremendous advance in technology allowing our pupils access to the range of Google Apps wherever they are in the world. This week the Maidenhead Advertiser carried a feature on Claires Court blazing the IT trail — see page 12.

Ridgeway junior boys are doing well with their RSPB Bird Watch

Ridgeway junior boys are doing well with their RSPB Bird Watch. They are taking their interest across a range of subjects. Take a peek at the Maidenhead Advertiser this week on page 19.

Year 11 senior boys enjoyed their visit to the Tate Modern

Year 11 senior boys enjoyed their visit to the Tate Modern. They were gathering research and working on preparatory studies for their forthcoming GCSE Art examination. After a morning exploring the galleries, they took part in a workshop with a member of the Gallery staff. A good and informative day.

Photos are in the Gallery

Year 6 fight the Greek battle!

Year 6 Junior boys participated in an Ancient Greek re–enactment of life as a soldier in battle. They were divided into three armies: the Spartans, Athenians and their enemy, the Persians.

They boys had designed and made their own shields, swords and greaves (shin guards) ready for the day. The activity was to support their learning of life in Ancient Greece. They all gained an excellent understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the Ancient Greek Hoplite Phalanx battle formations and also the benefits and restrictions of the type of armour and weapons used.

Olympics 2012 here we come!

We were delighted to hear that past pupil Michael Sharkey (also son of our former Head of Sixth Form) together with his sister Anna will be representing Great Britain in the Paralympics in the goalball event. This particular discipline has been under the radar in previous years but has now come into its own and we are hoping to hear good news of the Sharkey family progress in due course.

Claires Court Sixth Form students awarded the 'President's Cup'

Claires Court Sixth Form students were delighted to hear that they had been awarded the ‘President's Cup’ on Saturday at the Lions Club of Maidenhead Swimarathon at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead. The team, with Olympic torch and rings was the one the Club felt best entered into the spirit of the day. The cup will be presented in April and it was encouraging to hear that it is not awarded to the fastest swimmers or those with the most sponsorship, but to the team which encapsulated the true spirit of the event.