T H E L A T I N wwwwww
Issue 79
www.royallatin.org
November 2023
From the Headteacher - David Hudson
Dear Parents & Guardians This month’s edition gives me the opportunity to reflect on the five key LATIN Learning values and virtues which permeate our curriculum. These are: Leadership with Integrity: developing students’ confidence to be bold and take control of their own and other people’s learning Aspiration with Resilience: exploring new ideas, taking risks and aiming for excellence Teamwork with Respect: working together to make connections, build ideas and enhance learning Innovation with Courage: being creative, willing to try something new and apply learning to new contexts Nurturing with Compassion: developing emotional wellbeing, resilience, respect and kindness All of our work with the business sector suggests that it is these sorts of skills, alongside outstanding academic achievement, which employers are looking for when they recruit new talent. You will see in this edition, how our students are developing their skills in so many aspects of school life: leadership (e.g. Remembrance; non-uniform day; 6th Form leaders), aspiration (e.g. inspirational Latin women; academic extension opportunities), teamwork (e.g. Enrichment Day), innovation (e.g. ‘This is not a Potato’!) and nurturing (e.g. World Mental Health Day). I hope you enjoy this flavour of the many aspects of school life.
Sophia Warburton 11D said: "Last year, I did work experience with Toybox, an international children's charity based in Milton Keynes. During my placement, I was astounded by everyone’s integrity and their passion to improve the lives of street children; I became motivated to organise a non-uniform day so as a school we could play our part in helping them too. Toybox seeks to improve the lives of street-connected children in Africa, Asia and South America by helping them obtain their Birth Certificate, giving them a right to education, healthcare and legal identity documents. Additionally, they work with local partners who know about the area to help street children and young people get into education or safe work. They also provide support to vulnerable children living with disability or local emergencies. We should be so proud of the level of support everyone gave and it was fantastic to see so many people wearing pink, the charity’s main colour. In total we raised £1,560, which translates to one of: 312 warm meals, 111 hygiene kits, 67 school kits, 31 tool boxes, or 35 birth certificates. Mrs Hall-Opiyo, Director of Impact and Programmes at Toybox, said “We’re really chuffed…it will really make a difference”. Thanks to all the students and parents who have contributed to this worthwhile cause, we should be thrilled with what we have achieved together".
A little girl in Nepal with her Birth Certificate
On the 13th October, the school turned every shade of pink in support of Toybox. It was brilliant to see both younger and older students as well as teachers embrace the unusual theme.
the Magic of British Sign Language
Enrichment day at the RLS is a unique opportunity for students to step outside their regular curriculum and explore new horizons. I had the privilege of being asked to be part of one of these incredible events during October and share some of my knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL) to a group of students - something I have done through the school Electives scheme already. The experience left an indelible mark on me. In this article, I'd like to share my journey and the profound lessons I learned during the Enrichment day. When I initially approached the task, I found myself in 'transmit mode,' essentially trying to convey as much information as possible. However, it soon became apparent that the students, who were new to each other and from diverse age groups, were initially disengaged and seemed reserved. It was a challenge to get them excited about learning sign language. Thankfully, Mrs Barnes came to my rescue and provided some invaluable insights. I learned that engagement and excitement could be sparked by allowing students to take ownership of their learning. I encouraged them to practice and share what they learned within their peer groups. This approach was like a key that unlocked their enthusiasm and transformed the atmosphere. The students began to embrace the opportunity, and the house competition involving signing to songs became a highlight of the day. Enrichment day also gave me a newfound respect for all the school staff. The level of energy and commitment required to manage students of various ages and backgrounds is truly remarkable. Teachers and support staff worked tirelessly to ensure that the day ran smoothly. It was an eye-opening experience, and I felt privileged to be part of such a dedicated team. The entire Enrichment day was immensely enjoyable, and I found myself learning just as much as the students did. Seeing their faces light up as they successfully communicated using sign language was incredibly rewarding. The joy and enthusiasm they brought to the task were infectious, and it reminded me of the importance of making learning fun and interactive. A massive thanks to Mrs Kay for persuading me to be part of this amazing experience and special thank you to Mrs Barnes for taking me under her wing and guiding me through the experience. Massive thanks to the other staff That helped during the day (Sarah, Tracy and Joanne as well as the staff in the Discovery Centre that shared their cake with me!) - it would not have been a success without your help!! From Mr N Sheikh Assistant Chair of Governors
Enrichment Day
The word 'celebration' in twenty different languages was placed around the school and students had to find the word and then fill it in on a small sheet. This kept them busy over several lunchtimes! The completed forms were handed in, checked and then the winner was randomly selected! It gave me great pleasure to award the tub of celebration chocolates (aptly chosen) to Meenakshi in 7S. Well done Meenakshi!
European Day of Languages 26th September From Mrs Flowers, Head of MFL by Mrs Flowers, Head of MFL
Joining a new school and finding your way around can be quite daunting. With this in mind, we decided to combine the European Day of Languages with a treasure hunt, enabling our new Year 7 students to do some exploring.
We hosted our annual Remembrance Service on Friday 10th November. The weather was kind to us and we were able to gather the whole school outside for the service and pay our respects to those who have lost their lives as a result of conflict. We welcomed 25 guests from the Armed Forces and The Royal British Legion. The Cadets formally started the service and The Last Post was played beautifully by Avelia Moisey, Daniel Blakey and Lucas Evans whilst The Chamber Choir (made up of staff and students) sang “They Are At Rest”. The Head Girl and Head Boy also laid a wreath on behalf of the school on Remembrance Sunday in Buckingham.
Lest we forget
Congratulations to John in Year 12, winner of this year's RLS piano competition, held on 15th November. John played Schumann's Romanze in F# major. Ambrose and Endika in Year 7 were runners up; Faith, Year 12 and Mohit, Year 7 were also highly commended. The other distinguished performers were Shwetanshu Year 8, Bertie Year 12, Hector Year 8, Akhil Year 9, Lavishka and Sobhan in Year 8, Owen and Ruchit in Year 7 and Daniel Year 10.
RLS MUSIC
Piano Competition
Well done to all finalists, all of whom contributed to this wonderful concert. Many thanks to our adjudicator, Paul Harris, and to all parents and staff for supporting such an impressive occasion.
This is Not a Potato
By Chloe Marlow - 6N3
On Tuesday 7th of November, the Year 12 Art students held their very first pop-up exhibit to showcase the countless hours of dedication and hard work that they had injected into their first A level project. Entitled ‘This is not a Potato’ the seemingly mundane and ordinary stimulus encouraged the students to dig deeper into the various symbols of the root vegetable, and develop their own interpretations. This work details several themes, from nostalgia and home comforts, the comfort of your bed, to the power of food in culture worldwide, the presentation and value of a potato, a social commentary on the ridiculous nature of human conflict, an exploration of the evolution of potatoes, and finally the manipulation of an edited image of potato skin to portray a galaxy. The show was a resounding success, with comments such as ‘a smashing pop up - well done!’ from Mr Skyrme, ‘spectacular work’ from Mr West and ‘Great ‘mash up’ of Art talent!’ from Miss Graham. We hope that the exhibition will encourage our Year 12s to continue their amazing work, as well as draw more students into the sixth form space to explore future exhibitions.
World Mental Health Day
Our year 13 Mental Health Ambassadors, Anita, Charlie and Natalie promoted awareness throughout Mental Health Week last half term and organised this competition. The three winners met with the Head last week. Click on this button to view Danvika's Google slide. Well done to our three winners Emme, Akhil and Danvika. See the next page for Akhil's poster:
These are the three winners from the 'What is Mental Health?' Art competition put in place for October 10th - World Mental Health day.
By Emme - Year 12
'What is Mental Health' Art Competition
Text
On 3rd November, history was made as the schools first ever girls’ House Rugby tournament took place, a total of three matches across two age brackets, U14 and U16, with teams representing both BDN and RSV. The first match to be played was an U14s: 10 aside, 10 minutes a half. After hard work by both teams, with lots of play taking place just by the try line, it ended with an win for RSV. After this it was time for the U16s, 7 players, 7 minutes a half.
In the first half of the match many tries were scored specifically utilising the width of the pitch and the wingers as BDN took the lead. Following a brief break, BDN extended their advantage, securing a victory. Then came the second match between the two U14 sides. Despite a valiant effort by BDN, RSV again took the lead and eventually won the match. The first ever girls' house rugby tournament ended with BDN winning the U16s age bracket at RSV the U14s. Thank you to Mr Porteous for continuing to build our Girls’ Rugby Tradition at RLS.
By Isabella 11N
House Rugby
Year 8 students enjoyed their first RLS experience of geography fieldwork outside of school during a trip to Buckingham in late October. The aim of the trip investigated whether Buckingham town meets the needs of the population. Students researched some fieldwork methods prior to the trip and carried these out on the day to collect their data. Year 8 commented that their particular highlight was completing questionnaires and getting first hand opinions from the local community about the services Buckingham provides. Students walked to and from town to understand the physical and human geography of Buckingham. In three different locations, students collected information on shops and services, completed a traffic count and a pedestrian footfall count as well as looking at the suitability of shops on the high street. They also completed field sketches and environmental quality surveys of a range of different housing. One year 8 student said…. “The Buckingham Field Trip enhanced my knowledge of the town I live in and broadened my knowledge about different styles of housing used in different eras.” Another year 8 student said… “I personally thoroughly enjoyed the geography trip as we were able to explore the centre of Buckingham and saw many shops which we mostly used in our data.” One further student said “The Buckingham field trip was an enriching experience that taught me many new things”. The project and trip allowed students to think about the geographical enquiry process which helped them to think analytically about their data when working in groups after the trip. Ms Munday, Mrs Taylor and Mr Skyrme have really enjoyed seeing students present their findings and develop their understanding of the topic. From Ms Munday - Head of Geography
GEOGRAPHY FIELD STUDY
Warwick University Biology Lectures
By Rose - Year 13 Biology Captain
This biology trip was a great opportunity to discover more about biology and the fields of work that await those of us interested in biology-related courses at university. Many of the presentations stated the subjects the presenters took for their A-levels and which university course they took, as well as the steps they took to get to their current positions. If you are interested in going further with your biology knowledge past A-levels or even if you are unsure what you want to do next, it was a great chance to widen your knowledge around the subject, which would become very useful when writing personal statements and applying to universities; discussing the talks helps to show enthusiasm for the course you are applying for, which is something universities really like to see. The presentations by themselves were riveting as they talked about the latest advancements in their fields, and were given by the professionals that assisted in these developments. In addition to all this, it was also a fun experience to go on with your classmates as you got to venture around the university campus after the presentations and see what a university environment is really like.
In the early months of 2023, Youth Voice Bucks and the Buckingham & Villages Community Board collaborated to explore the idea of a youth cafe, and decided to ask local schools to help them with their planning. A youth cafe is more than just a physical space; it's a concept that seeks to address the needs and preferences of young individuals. These cafes offer a relaxed atmosphere with activities like board games and provide refreshments at minimal or no cost. Whether housed in youth centres, community halls, or temporarily repurposed real cafes, these spaces are designed to be inclusive and accommodating. The board wanted to engage school students from Buckingham's two secondary schools in conversations about their needs and preferences, and so Krissie Hutton, a Youth Participation Coordinator from Family Support Services came in to meet with Dr McCarthy and the RLS Student Council members. Interestingly, the views expressed by the RLS students agreed with those from our neighbours in The Buckingham School, and a lot of discussion centred around forming stronger links between the schools. Both groups of students had great enthusiasm for the Youth Cafe Concept, particularly favouring the idea that sessions might be held in an actual cafe. Discussion related to playlists, advertising, rules, and available offerings. Both sets of students also highlighted many of the same concerns: Limited After-School Options: the lack of after-school options was highlighted as a concern for many students, who often simply headed home as a default. Those who ventured out often faced challenges such as feeling pressured to make purchases at cafes and dealing with high prices. Affordable Refreshments: The school students valued the prospect of having a space where they were not obligated to make purchases and where refreshments were available at affordable prices or with special deals. Safety: this was seen as important in encouraging younger students, and also getting parental buy-in and permission, with, transportation after the sessions, and behavioural management emerging as critical themes for further exploration.
Empowering Young People for 600 years : Creating The Buckingham Youth Cafe
Following these discussions, the community board went away and explored some of the options, with the exciting result that the Buckingham Youth Cafe is set to open its doors next year in the Chantry Chapel! Of course, this historic space holds particular significance as the place where the Royal Latin School was founded 600 years ago, and it seems fitting that a place dedicated to improving the life chances of its first students should come into play again to build up community links between the schools. The convergence of history and a new venture in this venue amplifies the sense of community and continuity, creating a unique and inspiring backdrop for the young people of Buckingham. The invaluable contribution of Royal Latin School students in shaping this initiative underscores the power of involving young people in decision-making processes. As the project continues to unfold, Buckingham's young people can look forward to a vibrant and inclusive space where they can unwind, socialise, and actively participate in the development of the community they proudly call their own. From Dr McCarthy - Deputy Headteacher
600
<- If you like the book above, try this The Guardian Review: '..... a good, solid, engaging read that manages to avoid too much sentimentality.'
This month's recommendation is 'When the War Came Home' by Lesley Parr Fiction - Young Adult - Fantasy
Welcome to our November reading article
From the English Department
Wales - Strikes - School - WWI
WINNER: Wales Book of the Year 2023 The First World War has ended, but it hasn't gone away. When Natty has to move to a new village, she meets two young soldiers who are still battling the effects of war. Huw can't forget the terrible things he's seen, but Johnny doesn't even remember who he is. As Natty tries to keep a secret and unravel a mystery, she finds her own way to fight for what she believes in - and learns that some things should never be forgotten. This mesmerising historical mystery includes an interactive clue so readers can unravel the mystery alongside the characters.
Thank you to everyone who attended our evening with inspirational RLS women on 14th November. Around 120 students, staff, parents, alumni and members of the local community gathered in the Discovery Centre to hear our six female Old Latins reflect on their careers, the influence played by the Royal Latin on the people they have become, as well as advice for today's students. The panelists included Sam Tatlow MBE (Class of 2005), currently Creative Diversity at ITV, Virginia Sentance MBE (Class of 2009), Deputy Director at the HM Treasury, Dame Shan Morgan DCMG (Class of 1973), recently-retired Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Government, Lakechia Jeanne (Class of 2014), founder of STEM education initiative Girls in Science, Commodore Alison Hofman RRC KHNS MA MSc QARNNS (Class of 1989), Head of the Royal Navy Medical Service, and Sarah Deaves (Class of 1980), Managing Director, Head of Financial Planning at abdrn. The evening was filmed, and extracts from the conversations will be shared in school through Ms Comben in due course. In the meantime, some of their inspirational quotes (which will also be displayed in school) have been shared below. Advice to your younger self: 'You're right to be stubborn - if you know what you want to do.' 'Have more fun! Don't take yourself so seriously!' 'Believe in yourself' (Alison Hofman) 'Nobody has all the answers; so don't worry if you don't have them either! Relax, have fun, go with the flow, it's going to be OK!' (Sam Tatlow) 'Make sure you're opening doors as you go, don't close them. People, decisions, options, especially if you're not sure - keep doors open. Always engage in a positive way!' (Virginia Sentance) 'You'll be OK, you don't have to have a big plan, you can change your mind. And keep learning throughout.' (Shan Morgan) Advice to others: Someone once told me: go into everything with the confidence of a 4-year-old wearing a Batman T-shirt. It works! (Alison Hofman) 'Use the right language - don't let your friends persuade you to dream smaller, surround yourself with friends who push your dreams forward.' (Lakechia Jeanne)
An Evening with Inspirational Women in Leadership, 14th November
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