SENIOR SCHOOL
 NEWSLETTER Friday 14th December 2018
Year 12 and 13 Religious Studies students attended an Academy Conference event at Oxford University. The day consisted of four lectures delivered by Prof. Keith Ward, Prof. Daphne Hampson, Prof. Alister McGrath and Julie Arliss. The students listened to a range of topical discussions related to their course content, including: animal ethics, science and religion, gender theology and conscience. These added unique knowledge that the students would not find from the pages of their textbooks. Overall, the day was profoundly eye-opening and allowed us to open our minds to a more complex way of thinking and exploring abstract concepts. (Sophie Year 13)
Interview Skills Workshop Emma Goodman, a recruitment consultant came in to deliver a presentation on interview skills with our Year 13 cohort. Emma gave an excellent presentation, and the students were engaged from beginning to end. Emma looked at a variety of factors ranging from: making a positive first impression, level of articulation, tone of voice, appearance, body language and communication through to finer details such as the way you shake an interviewer’s hand and the way you approach and sit in a chair ready to be interviewed. Students enjoyed the many personal experiences she shared which included both the inspiring and embarrassing moments of recruitment. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to become aware of how important the interview process is and how it needs to be considered, refined and practised. Some of our students are looking ahead at apprenticeship opportunities and many have been invited to university interviews so this presentation couldn't have been better timed. (Darren De Bruyn, Assistant Head of Sixth Form)
Christmas Casuals Day
Today we held a Christmas casuals day in aid of the NSPCC, themed 'Get your Sparkle on'. At the time of writing we have raised £376.24, thank you everyone for your contributions to this worthy cause. If you would like to make further donations please use the website: nspcc.org.uk
10SW also sold festive candy canes in aid of Dogs for Good and raised a total of £69.49 - well done! See dogsforgood.org for further information. ( Zoë Simms Head of RS, Quaker Overseer, Charities Coordinator)
Senior Maths Challenge Many of the A level and Year 11 Maths students took part in the Senior Maths Challenge (a national maths problem solving competition) a few weeks ago, with the majority of those taking part doing very well and receiving their Gold (Mingjing and Tilly), Silver (Simon and Pan) or Bronze (Liliana, Iain, Finlay, Harvey, Elaine, Shae, Livia, Ricardo and Hannah) certificates in Meeting this week. Mingjing and Tilly both did so well that they qualified for the follow-on round (called the Kangaroo) which they sat last Friday. Mingjing, Pan, Ricardo and Harvey also represented the school at the Oxford heat of the Team Maths Challenge where they put in a creditable performance against a large number of other schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. (Linda Phillips, Maths Department) Toby Spence read the following section of Quaker Faith and Practice in Meeting for Worship: Perhaps the most neglected of all the advices is that we should live adventurously. If there is one wish I would pray the Spirit to put into our Christmas stockings, it is warmth, openness, passion, a bit of emotion that doesn’t mind making a fool of itself occasionally. Gerald Priestland, 1977
Weekly Round-up Boys' Fixtures On Wednesday afternoon Tane, Billy, Tom R and Joe, from the Year 10 GCSE PE cohort, attended the North Oxfordshire badminton competition. The standard on show was exceptional and our team found it difficult to compete at the beginning. However, it was always going to be a steep learning curve and by the end of the evening Tane and Tom R had secured a few wins for Sibford. Now they know what is required, we look forward to entering again next year. (Lee Riley, Teacher with Responsibility for Senior School Sport) Girls' Fixtures U15A vs Kineton. Won An excellent finish to the season for the U15A team who have excelled throughout the term showing great skill and team work. Emily R, India and Elena have been outstanding throughout the term and have been a great asset to the team.
This week the Year 7 and 8 and the Senior girls all played their Inter House Hockey matches. The matches were played in Baltic conditions, but this did not affect the attitude and enthusiasm demonstrated by the girls. Well done to Clark and Nansen who finished on the same points in the Junior competition, but Clark pipped Nansen on goals scored. In the Senior competition Gillett and Clark both accumulated the same points, and both had the same number of goals scored so the decider was on goals conceded where Gillett won narrowly. Well done to all the girls that competed for their houses. Tilly Lainchbury has continued her successful start to the Cross Country season. Most recently Tilly was selected and competed for Oxfordshire County at the Cross Country Masters and Inter-Counties South East of England Championships in Oxford on Saturday, finishing a very respectable 52nd - well into the top half of the field in a high class race. Well done Tilly. Merry Christmas! (Ali Warrillow, PE Department)
End of Term Awards KS3 – Autumn Term Awards Commitment to Study - Year 7 Isobel, Year 8 Tilly, Year 9 Sam O Independent Learner - Year 7 Orla, Year 8 Kara, Year 9 Catherine Most Improved - Year 7 Ryan, Year 8 Holly, Year 9 Alvin Achievement - Year 7 Matthew F, Year 8; Kara, Year 9 Freya Endeavour - Year 7 Daisy, Year 8 Charlie, Year 9 JJ Spirit of Sibford - Erin Year 9
KS4 – Autumn Term Awards Achievement - Year 10 Emily, Year 11 Ethan Endeavour - Year 10 Alessandro, Year 11 Matthew Spirit of Sibford – Emily Year 10, Katie Year 11, George Year 11 KS5 - Autumn Term Awards Sixth Form Excellence Award – awarded for excellence in any subject studied at KS5 level, Edward and Alastair Service to the Sibford Community – Reuben Sixth Form Awards for Endeavour –Ricardo, Eloise, Edward, MingJing KS5 Special Award – Emily, Ben Andrew Yale Cup ( (for the student on a support programme who has made the most progress during the term) - awarded to Anoushka, Year 11 Dorothy Hawley Award (for a pupil who has shown outstanding care, consideration and helpfulness in the spirit of service to the community of the school)- Charles, Year 12 Phoenix Award (for 3 years service supporting the annual Phoenix School Kids Camp) - Sam, Year 13