Autumn - Queen Katherine School

Queen Katherine School
NEWSLETTER
December 2005
Prince’s Trust Group Goes Green
Members of the Prince’s Trust group in year 11 are expected to complete a community
project as part of their course.
They have decided to develop a community
garden behind Meadow View Nursery
School as a tranquil place to sit and reflect
and to enjoy the environment in which we
live. In order to get other young people
involved, they have invited pupils from
Sandgate Special School and the Nursery.
They have already started working on
the site, and support for the project is
increasing.
South Lakeland Council have donated 2
compost bins. The photo shows Phil
Turner SDLC Street Care Manager and
Dr. Francis Obadi, Recycling and Waste
Minimising Disposal Campaigns
Officer presenting the bins to the
group, and Tasha Jones, their citizenship
teacher. At a time when
the government is promoting
Green Communities, Mr. Turner
said that the determination of the
group to create a new garden in
Kendal is commendable.
Ms Jones, Citizenship Tutor,
AWARDS EVENING
Awards evening took place on 15th
September at the Leisure Centre, with
awards being made within each school
year in three categories.
The awards were made firstly for attainment,
based on consistently high standards
of work, secondly for effort, based
on sustained effort or marked improvement
and thirdly, the new citizenship
awards, which replaced the old service
awards. Citizenship awards are made for
students’ involvement in a range of
community activities within school and the
commented: “The 19 Year 11 students are
really enthusiastic and have plans to
replace the greenhouse which they are
hoping to get sponsorship for, to have a
seated area, a vegetable patch and a
compost area. The students have received
a group award from the Prince’s Trust to
produce an ICT based project
about the community garden.
We will show the completed
video diary at a future Neighbourhood
Forum meeting
because they have also made a
donation to the school that is
to be spent on the project”
For more information about
this project, please contact
Tasha Jones at the School
(01539 773640)
In addition to this project, this group
has also co-ordinated the Operation
Christmas Child project for the School.
They have collected 136 shoe boxes this
year. Here, we see the shoes boxes being
loaded into in the van prior to dispatch.
wider community. In addition, awards
were made in Years 9 to 13 for various
academic, sporting performance and
service achievements, so that excellence is
rewarded right across the full spectrum of
school life.
The awards were presented by Tim
Farron M.P, and the Head teacher,
Stephen Wilkinson gave a celebration, as
he called it, of the academic year 2005-5,
mentioning successes in music, sports, the
arts, citizenship and extra curricular
… continued on page 2
The Head writes…
It has been a brilliant start to a new
school year, buoyed up by excellent
examination
results, a full
compliment of
teaching staff,
a record number
of support
staff and great
new buildings
and facilities; we have enjoyed a
real concentration on teaching and
learning.
Parent Power – placing us as the Top
Comprehensive School in Cumbria
based on ‘A’ Level and GCSE results –
has been the “icing on the cake”.
As a result, we have been able to put
some of our energies into developing
a greater international dimension to
our work. We have for some time
enjoyed strong links with France and
Germany and other parts of Europe.
Last year we spread our wings with a
geography visit to Iceland.
This year we will build on my own
experiences in South America with
students and staff and links with
Japan, India and Chile. The World
Challenge expedition will see 38
students and 6 staff in Ladakh in the
Indian Himalayas next July. Before
that, four staff are intending to
increase their professional development
in Chile, and some of our
students and staff are hoping to spend
a short time in Japan learning the
language.
Closer to home our students have
been involved in a host of curriculum
and extra curriculum activities, some
of which are featured in this very full
newsletter. As you will recall from
earlier newsletters, we have drawn the
attention of parents to the detrimental
impact of taking children away during
term time.
May I wish all our students, their
families, staff, governors and friends
of the school a very happy Christmas
and a great New Year.
Stephen Wilkinson
Headteacher

Awards Evening … continued from page 1
activities, such
as visits and the
celebration of 25
years of QKS.
He also found
time to mention,
in passing, the
S c h o o l ’ s
successful
O F S T E D
inspection under unusual, thanks to the weather, circumstances
last January. A successful evening was complemented by some
excellent musical performances by William and James Stokes, the
Flute group, Daniel Crompton (cello) and Martin Davies (piano.)
Groups of students also gave their accounts of creative writing
days, the Euro 2005 visit and the Geography Field Trip to Iceland.
FUND RAISING
During the compilation of the newsletter, themes often emerge by
themselves – school trips, new buildings etc.
This term’s edition is remarkable for the number of fund raising
events that have taken place, not for the benefit of the School or
that of any individuals within it, but for a wide range of causes
world and countrywide. Great credit must be given to the students
and staff involved. It makes this term’s newsletter quite a heartwarming
Christmas read!
In addition to the charitable events involving the Year 10 Prince’s
Trust Group, the Design and
Technology Department the
Art Department and the Music
department reported elsewhere
in the newsletter, the following
events have also taken place:
The 14th October saw the
sixth form (Years 12 and 13)
take part in Breast Cancer
Awareness Week, involving
some strange garb on the part
of some male members of the
6th form, and a general wearing
of pink. The event nonetheless
raised £230.
The 6th form is also taking
part in fund raising to
buy goats, water
pumps and other alternative
technology for
third world countries
this term.
Mr. Park’s Year 8
Humanities Group
raised £160 in aid of
the Asian earthquake
appeal by organising a
Cakes and Drinks
Session. They made their
own cakes and drinks,
and also organised all the
publicity for a very
successful event.
Raising money for
Children In Need on
Friday 17th November
Art department
Although July seems a long time ago, we need to report on the
successful Art Open Evening in July, with displays of work from
AS/ A2 and GCSE students.
An Activity Workshop also took place in July as part of Activity
day to prepare for QKS’
entry in the Torchlight
Procession.
A Key Stage 3 workshop
ran throughout the
summer term at the
Abbott Hall Art Gallery.
On an individual level,
in the Kendal Windows
on Art event, Charlotte
Garnett achieved second
place in the GCSE section, and
Eva Ullrich was recognised as
being in the top 5% of students
by AQA in their Art and Design
A2 results.
Year 11 had a competition, won
by Helen Ross, Alice Robson and
Danielle Blakey, to design a 2006
calendar in aid of the Alzheimer’s
Society – pictured right. The
calendar is priced at £2-50, and is
available via Ms Ford in the Art
Department at School (Tel. 01539
773640.)
English and Drama Trips
The English Department has had two visits to Shakespeare
plays this term.
One involved years 10 and 12 going to the Royal Exchange at
Manchester to see “Romeo and Juliet”, and the other was once
again for Year 10, this time going to see “The Merchant of
Venice” at the Brewery. Both were out of the ordinary productions,
in that Romeo and Juliet was set in 1950s Italy, and
involved having Vespa scooters on stage, and the Merchant of
Venice related to sixteenth century southern India.
In January, 100 Year 11 students will be going to Lancaster
with the English department on a Poetry Day, where famous
poets will speak to them, including Gillian Clarke, John Agard
and Carol Ann Duffy.
The Drama Department has also visited the Brewery, with a
group of Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students going to see
“Translations” by Brian Friel. In January, there is a trip to the
Palace Theatre, Manchester to see “Miss Saigon.” 100 students
and staff also went to see “The Accrington Pals” at the Duke’s
Playhouse, Lancaster.
with a sponsored mufti day, and a staff raffle (i.e. a raffle open only
to staff, not a member of staff being raffled!)
On 13th September, QKS took part in the largest coffee morning
in the world, raising £194 for McMillan Nurses by selling
doughnuts and drinks.
A QKSA team took part in the Swimathon at the Leisure Centre.
Over £50 was raised in aid of the Meningitis U.K, as the School
acted as a setting off point for Spencer Daymon’s fund raising walk.

Dance
at the Queen
Katherine School
Dance is now being developed at The
Queen Katherine School. Dance GCSE
is running as an extra GCSE course for
the present year 10 on Tuesdays after
school.
In addition there have been various
other events staged this term to encourage
students develop their skills in
Dance.
Ricochet Dance Productions
Year 10 Dance and Expressive Arts
students went to The Brewery Arts
Centre on Monday 14th November to
watch the company perform their new
piece “Man and Woman.”
The students then undertook a follow
up workshop in school on Tuesday 15th
November led by the artistic director of
the company.
Independent Ballet Wales
On Wednesday 16th November the
dancers from this company led a ballet
workshop.
The company visited the school whilst
they are in the county, preparing for their
performance of ‘Hamlet’ at Theatre by
the Lake, Keswick. Independent Ballet
Wales pride themselves on making Ballet
accessible to all. By visiting schools they
aim to promote the work of the company
and provide a positive Ballet experience
for young people.
Bedlam Dance
This company came into School on
Tuesday 13th December for the day to
create a dance piece with 20 of our
students to be performed at the Nuffield
Theatre in Lancaster as part of their
show on Thursday 15th December.
This is a brilliant opportunity for
Queen Katherine students not only to
work with professional dancers but also
to perform on a professional stage.
Look out also for the Arts Evening at the
Brewery Arts Centre on Saturday 11th
February. Tickets are available from The
Brewery’s Box Office.
LRC
(that’s Library, to some of us)
In October, the LRC undertook a survey, via a Book Week Quiz, to find out just what
appealed to our students.
The results make interesting reading. The
most popular writers in the LRC are
Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Horowitz.
There was a marked difference in the attitude
of boys and girls towards female
authors – the girls selected 16 favourite
authors, of whom eight were men. Out of the
boys’ 16 favourite authors, only one was a
woman – J.K. Rowling, of course! No prizes
for guessing why she doesn’t publish under
her full name!
If parents are struggling for book
Christmas presents, the books that are used
all the time in the LRC are the Guinness
Book of Records, The Simpson comic books,
Horrible Histories and Horrible Sciences
and books of optical illusions, such as magic
eye 3-D pictures.
Five junior hardworking librarians
(pictured above) went to select books at
Ottakers and came back with an exciting
range of new books, which are now available
for loan.
The planned Readathon had to be postponed
because it clashed with the Year 8
Normandy trip, but it is planned to take
place in the summer. The event will raise
money for the Roald Dahl Foundation, a
charity which supports children with blood
disorders, cancer and brain injury.
A group of talented Year 8 students has
painted a tree mural outside the LRC. The
tree motif used takes the idea that positive
actions lead to healthy green leaves, and
negative actions will cause leaves to turn
brown and fall to the ground. Other plans to
make use of student design and artwork are
already under way for 2006.
Friday October 7th was Book Swap Day.
This went so well that a swap shelf has now
become a permanent feature in the LRC.
Inspired by the newlyopened
music block, the
Music goes on…
Joseph and his Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat
Several QKS students gave musical
support to a primary school workshop
and evening performance of this
Amazing musical.
Steven Atkinson (Y11) sang the part of
Joseph, while Sarah Graves (with her
sister, Anna) acted as narrators and the
band was provided by Will Hall, Tom
Langley, Jonny Lumb, Tom Cowling,
Will Rodell and Martin Davies. Vocal
support was given by Nicola and Rebecca
Bell, Katy Forster, Vicki and Hannah
Noble, Charlotte Curwen and Heppie
Deane.
McMechan Gala Concert
The annual McMechan Gala Concert
came full circle in October when QKS
once again hosted this popular evening
of music in aid of the McMechan Trust –
a charity which awards grants to assist
young people in their travels. (The very
first concert way back in 1987 was held
at QKS.)
The audience heard a first-rate
programme performed by young people
from South Lakes secondary schools and
this was followed by a reception with
buffet in the New Community Music
Suite. QKS was represented by Martin
Davies (piano), George Buckler (French
horn) and Edward Ayre (alto sax).
John Lowther (chairman of the
trustees) explained that the trust was to
be wound up after the concert, but that it
was hoped that the Gala Concert would
continue on an annual basis.
Britten’s War Requiem
The Chamber Choir took part in a
performance of Britten’s War Requiem
at the Parish Church in November.
This powerful work combines settings
of Wilfred Owen’s poems, sung by two
male soloists, with the words of the Latin

equiem Mass performed by a main choir, orchestra and
soprano soloist, while the remote children’s choir represents
mystery and innocence far removed from the battlefield.
Singing from the back of the Church, the QKS choir provided a
suitably serene, angelic sound to contrast with the dramatic
music provided by the adult performers.
QKS students were complimented not only on their singing
but also for their totally professional approach.
Flautists go to Birmingham
Six flautists, Jenny woods, Heppi Dean, Lauren Campbell,
Graham Sadler, Josh Murphy and Hannah Noble, plus their
teacher Suzanne de Lozey, attended the first annual flute choir
day at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Christmas is coming… just in case you hadn’t noticed!
As usual, the Christmas Concert took place on Tuesday,
December 20th at Kendal Parish Church. Report to follow in
the next newsletter.
DESIGN AND
TECHNOLOGY
The Design and Technology Department has been taking part in
an industry link with Croppers, involving 3 students designing and
making products for use in the factory.
Ben Simpson and Tom Gannon have made signs for factory use,
but the most interesting design was by Harry Younger in year 13,
who has designed and made a lifting device to lift large rolls of
paper which is also currently being used in the Cropper’s factory.
Caroline Webb, Amy Hodgson, Chloe Bryde and Bethan Lumb,
from 3 different technology classes, worked together with Bob
O’Neil from local architects practice O’Neil and Petrie and Mr
Wilcock over a number of months to produce an entry for the latest
Young Engineers of
Britain National Final
The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London 12, 13, 14th
September.
Jacob Deane and Mr Weightman attended this event as a result
of his winning the Northwest of England Young Engineers of
Britain competition in July. At Greenwich were students from
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and Jacob was
competing against
them with his GCSE
Electronics project,
which was an electronic
yatch race start
controller.
The event was over
three days, day 1 was
arriving in London
and setting up Jacob’s
display, day 2 was an
intensive experience for all concerned and involved Jacob having to
do a number of presentations to various judges as well as a quick
change into formal dress for the cocktail reception for invited
guests and celebrities (guest of honour being Richard Hammond
of Top Gear fame).
The culmination of the judging day was the celebration dinner
and presentations in the magnificent ‘Painted Hall’ at the Old
Royal Naval College. Unfortunately, Jacob did not win any
prizes this time but
gained a lot of very
good experience in
taking part. Day 3
was occupied by
taking down the
display booth and
returning back to
Kendal after a thoroughly
memorable
three days in perfect
autumn weather.
the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Charity. Plus, for having
over 100 individual students enter the competition, the school was
eligible for a Constant Max vacuum cleaner, which is proving to be
a great resource for A Level Product Design students.
Lancaster and Westmorland Society of Architects (LAWSA) Ideas
competition. Bob gave an illustrated talk to two classes about architecture
and launched the competition in the autumn of 2004. The
brief was to design or redesign a building in the local area. The girls
produced an innovative design using local materials. Above: the
girls with their winning design and two £250 cheques – one for
themselves – the other for the school. All put their winnings
towards their World Challenge trip to Ladakh next year. Some of
the prize money will resource a mini hovercraft racing activity.
Over £ 150 was raised by QKS students by taking part in a Dyson
initiative. Students designed the colour scheme of a Dyson vacuum
cleaner on-line and for every entry Dyson donated 50p to CLIC;
Amy Hodgson
receiving the
team’s 1st
prizes at a
ceremony
held at the
Ashton
Memorial in
July 2005

Kendal
Youth
Radio
Students form Years 9 and 10 have
created a website for Kendal Youth radio
www.kyr.org.uk.
They were helped in this lengthy task by
Stramongate School, who attended their
Web Club during the summer. The site
has been a great success, and the students
have been asked to continue with into next
year. The Web Editor of the Westmorland
Gazette has offered to visit the club, and
to assist with the project.
The School also took part in the Kendal
Youth Radio Week in October. For more
information about this event, please visit
the web address above.
PUBLIC
SPEAKING
The annual Rotary Youth Speaks
Competition was held on 14th
November. The team of Peter Bagot,
Peter Otway and Edward Ayre
performed well on the subject of the
horrors of modern television.
and the sacrifices
people
HOLIDAYS
made 60 years
ago.
Holiday discounts are now being
Above all,
advertised by the Department of
every student
Education in an attempt to help parents
made an effort
find holidays that are reasonably priced
to speak as
during school holidays.
The website provides links to early
booking deals. The site is at: www.parent centre.gov.uk/everylessoncounts.
Head Teacher’s
Visit to Chile
Head teacher Stephen Wilkinson, along
with eight other Cumbrian Head teachers,
took part in a British Council sponsored
visit to Chile in the autumn.
The party spent most of their time in the
region of Maipu, and the opportunity was
taken to set up strong links with is region.
It is hoped that this will lead to further
visits and exchanges in the future.
Normandy Visit 2005
75 Year 8 students took part in another successful Normandy visit from 13th to
20th October.
The weather was excellent, and the
students were a credit to themselves
and the school. Highlights were the visit
to Rouen, where Ms Watson’s historical
insights enhanced the day, the Bayeux
Tapestry, where many students were
amazed by the length of the tapestry
recounting William the Conqueror’s
victory over
Harold in
1066, and the
Normandy
beaches, which
made students
aware of just
what happened
much French as possible, from buying
presents etc at markets, buying post
cards and ice creams or just saying
excuse me in the crush on the Eiffel
Tower.
The whole visit proved to be a
rewarding experience for staff, and
especially, students.
MATHS –
not just sums
and geometry!
SETPOINT of Cumbria set up a visit
for Year 10 students to the Fire
Station, where they learnt about
algebra in context and road safety
statistics.
The annual Maths Challenge took
place this term – look out for results in
the next newsletter, as we’re currently
waiting for confirmation of awards.

SPORTS ROUND-UP
Football
✿ This term’s football programme has been perhaps the
most exciting in the history of the School. All the QKS
teams were still involved in Cup Competitions either
ESFA (English Schools Football Association) or at
County level. We have had 2 matches going into
penalty shoot outs, and another into extra time.
✿ Perhaps the outstanding effort has been from Year 9,
who, at the time of writing, were still in the ESFA
North Region Cup, and are one game away from
playing anyone in the country. They had a real nailbiter
against St. Cuthbert’s Newcastle, coming back
from 0-2 down to win 5-2 in extra time. Star players
were Simon Huck, who scored a hat-trick, Ali Sadek,
who never stopped running and Cameron Stuart, who
was the most skilful player on the field. The turning
point of the match came with James Pattinson’s
brilliant goal to make the score 3-2. Ultimately,
however, it was a great team effort from all concerned.
Previously, the Year 9s had beaten St. Bernard’s and
Nelson Thomlinson.
✿ In the County Cup, Year 8 beat the Lakes and
Ulverston, whilst the Year 11s beat Ullswater and then
Chetwynde 6-0, to get into the semi-final of the County
Cup Competition. The sixth form team beat QES, but
lost in the ESFA Cup to St Wilfred’s Blackburn. They
remain, however, in the County Cup.
Rugby
✿ A full rugby programme has also taken place this term,
in spite of 3 sets of fixtures having to be cancelled
because of the weather. Yrs 7, 8 and 9 all won at
the Lakes, but Years 8 and 10 went down at
Ullswater. After poor results against Morecambe and
Kirkbie Kendal, pride was restored by years 8, 9 and
10 by their all winning against Carnforth and by years
7, 8 and 9 winning against Dallam. Year 8 also beat
St. Anne’s.
Netball
✿ Netball results have been mixed. The under 15s and
under 14s won against the Lakes, whilst the under 16s
and under 14s lost. The under 15s and under 16s both
crushed Dallam, but the under 15s went down to QES.
The under 14 “A” team beat Kirkbie Kendal 17-3,
whilst the “B” team went down 2-5.
Girls’ Hockey and Football
✿ The under 13 hockey team beat Dallam 2-0, and had
mixed fortune against the Lakes, with the A team losing
1-0 and the B team drawing 2-2. In football, the under
15s lost to QES, and the under 13s lost to the Lakes.
Cross Country
✿ In the South Lakes Championships on November 9th,
the following qualified to represent the South Lakes in
the County Championship:
Junior Boys (Years 8 and 9): Jon Wright
Inter Boys (Years 10 and 11): Oliver Jones,
Thom Atkinson and Simon Platt.
Senior Boys (Years 12 and 13): Thomas Wright and
Mark Addison.
Junior girls (Years 8 and 9) : Jenny Addison.
Minor girls (Year 7): Claudia Hardy.
World Challenge Update
After a year’s hard fundraising, students are
now on track for the expedition to Ladakh in
the Indian Himalayas in summer 2006.
Challengers would like to thank all the people
that bought raffle tickets in the recent Grand
Prize Draw. The 39 students
have split into three teams
and had a very wet weekend
training in Buxton at the
World Challenge Centre.
Challengers were learning
how to operate as a team
and building up the key
skills that are needed during
the expedition. Team work,
communication, listening,
delegating and improving
performance through review
were key lessons learnt. The
three teams are now busy
planning their itinerary. They have all chosen a
demanding two-week trek which will involve
high altitudes of over 5000m. The Three Peaks
sponsored walk will help them with fitness
training.
SHOW
STEALERS
AT
BRATHAY
Eight QKS students stole
the show at a fund raising
evening for the Brathay
Outdoor Activities Centre.
The students had
attended the Creative
Writing 2 day Event in
June, and entertained all
present with their account
of the course. Students
were Ali Sadek, Sammy
Arthur, Natt Hunt, Felicity
Powell, Jasmine Horne,
Lucy Forsyth, Jamie
Samman and Jenny Woods.