Friday 20 July 2018

Dear all,

With best wishes.

Mr A McGinnes
Headteacher

Luffield Arts Festival

On Tuesday 26^th of June 2018, five Year 8 students from The Buckingham School, joined by five students from The Royal Latin school, travelled in the minibus to Magdalen College School, Brackley, to take part in the Annual Luffield Arts Festival. When we got there we met two other groups of students, one from Stowe and the other the hosts, from Magdalen.

We created a piece of work inspired by Frida Kahlo and the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. We began by drawing a self-portrait, using a mirror for reference we each tried really hard to capture our facial features and one distinctive characteristic of ourselves. Then we added pattern to our work, the aim was to leave no empty space on the page!

After we had sketched out our designs we added heat-reactive dyes to accentuate our work. We used paintbrushes to do this, but the dyes were more watery than paint so small details were tricky to achieve. Over at the heat press, our pieces were transferred on to fabric in 60 seconds! It was really exciting releasing the work from the press and revealing brightened colours.

Next we added even more detail by hand sewing, using embroidery thread. We chose areas of our design that we wanted to enhance. We used a range of stitches and some of us even added sequins to areas of our work.

We have all experienced several new media now and have learnt and practised a technique which we did not know about before. Thank you to Magdalen College for having us for the day – we had a great time!

Jake Suckley, Devon Burgess, Zoe Roberts, Ella-Rose Walker, Megan Towse.

Students also participated in an Interactive Science Day as part of the Luffield Programme, hosted by the Royal Latin School. 
The Luffield Programme gives students from a variety of schools opportunities to work collaboratively to develop their skills through a range of different subjects.

Pictured here are our students working hard to solve a murder mystery using key forensic science skills!

School Uniform 

Whilst you're having a clear out of any of your child's uniform which either no longer fits or is no longer required, if you have any items which you think could be of use to us, they would be very gratefully received. If you could bag any suitable items of unwanted uniform and leave them in the Main Reception, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Fundraising Efforts 

Cancer Research - Pretty Muddy 5k

Miss Chapman, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Lewis and Mrs Field completed Cancer Research's Pretty Muddy 5k at Priory Park in Bedford at the end of June.   

A massive thanks to those of you who donated to the cause - it is very much appreciated. 

We made it round the course in about an hour despite the ridiculously hot temperatures and a few underhanded tactics by some. We're mainly injury free....a few bruises and scrapes here and there.

So far we have raised £1371 plus £331.50 in Gift Aid. There's still time to donate if you haven't had a chance yet:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/tenacious-troupe

Thanks. 

Miss Chapman, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Lewis and Mrs Field 

Changes to Universal Credit - Are you eligible for Free School Meals?  

If you think you might be eligible for free school meals, submit a claim to the school or local authority. Copies of the form are available from Student Office. The information you provide will be used to check if you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit and, if you are on Universal Credit, that your earnings do not exceed the threshold. If you claim Universal Credit, your earnings will be assessed from up to three of your last Universal Credit assessment periods.

If you are eligible, the school will be notified. Your child will receive free school meals and will continue to do so until the end of the Universal Credit Rollout period. The rollout period is currently scheduled to end in March 2022.

Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, your child will keep their free school meal until the end of their current phase of education, i.e. primary or secondary.

To read the letter sent out to all parents/carers in May, click here.

To view and download a copy of the Free School Meals form click here.

Remembering Reg Mead MBE

The school would like to remember Reg Mead MBE who died on Friday 8 June., aged 97. 

Reg Mead, of Wolverton, awarded an MBE for services to athletics. In his youth, Reg played football for Buckingham Town and hockey for North Bucks. However, it is athletics, inspired by attending the famous Whitsun athletics meetings at Wolverton Park in the 30s, 40s and 50s along with several thousand spectators, to which he dedicated much of his life. He made substantial contributions in three areas of athletics:
Coaching: Reg qualified as a sprints coach in 1949, throws in 1951, pole vault in 1953 and weight training in 1993. As a schoolteacher at Buckingham School and as a coach at Wolverton AAC, Buckingham and District AC and Milton Keynes AC, he coached an enormous number of athletes over the years, including three who won English Schools' titles.
Designer: Reg spent a year at Loughborough College in 1956/7 as a mature student, studying for a Physical Education Diploma. His thesis looked at ways that schools could design and make their own athletic equipment in woodwork and metalwork classrooms. He invented the chain hammer, for use in training, and a wooden "starting gun", both of which are still sold today. He improved the design of the hammer, adding the swivel head, and of the standard hurdle, which form the basis of the modern equipment.
Officiating: Reg was secretary of North Bucks Schools AA for seven years in the 1950s. For more than 25 years he was President of the Bucks Schools AA. He organised and officiated at countless meetings over the years.
Reg was awarded the Sport MK award for Services to Sport in 2001 (see picture, right) and was awarded an MBE in 2005 for Services to Athletics.

Mr Mead was a teacher here at The Buckingham School and his involvement with the school continued after his time teaching, by supporting our Athletics students when participating at County events.  

The wonderful Swan wood carving that takes pride of place in the school's main reception was crafted by Reg. We will always treasure the carving and the memories of the dedication and contributions he made to our school and the support he gave our students.  

The Year 7 and 8 Girls Rugby Touch Team took part in the Sainsbury's Level 3 School Games competition on Thursday 5 July 2018. The girls competed against five other teams from across the county, all teams had qualified for the finals by securing 1st position in the qualification events. 
The girls won all of their games, conceded only 2 tries all day and scored an unbelievable amount of tries.
Every member of the team was outstanding and a special well done to Amy Lee as Team Captain and Alice Hodges as Vice Captain. I cannot wait until next academic year to continue our Rugby journey...You were fantastic girls, I am so proud. Miss Collie 
www.buckinghamschool.com

Are you an ex-Student?  If so, be great to hear from you! 

We are keen to know what you are doing now?  If you would like to get in touch with us, please send an email to Claire Sherwood at csherwood@buckinghamschool.org

UCAS Exhibition 

The majority of our Year 12 students attended the UCAS Exhibition at Bedford University. There were around 200 universities in attendance with exhibition stands for students to collect information and ask questions.  Alongside this, students had the opportunity to attend mini lectures in subjects that they were considering applying for which gave them a greater insight.  The day was a great success and students came back more informed as regards choices, one even saying that the day had convinced them University was the right option.

The following day students had the opportunity to start their application online and prepare their personal statements in support of this.  Tutors were there to give advice and many thanks to Billy Hayden, now at Newcastle university studying Law, who came in to give students his perspective on the application process and any pitfalls that might lie ahead.  He was also able to talk about his first year at university and what potential applicants should be aware off.  Again, many thanks and good luck to all students throughout the process.

Here's a video link to the event 

UCAS Bedford University

Buckingham University law conference

Students Studying Criminology and Law are due to attend the above conference to find out more about careers in law and what a law degree entails.  They will also have the opportunity to participate as jurors in the re-enactment of an historic trial.  The lecturers and university law students play out the trial and ten students have to come up with their verdicts.  Last year the majority went for not guilty - In real life the defendant got 15 years!!

English Schools Track and Field Cup

We took a team to the English Schools Track and Field Cup recently at Stantonbury in Milton Keynes. All students performed amazingly well in their events. Some of the outstanding performances include:

James Peat- 3rd in Inter Boys 800m

Kyle Cummins- 1st Inter Boys Shot

Ryhs Jordan 1st in Junior Boys 100m and Long Jump

John Manser 1st in Junior Boys Javelin

Zak Harwood 2nd in Junior Boys 800m

Zaria Mmanga- 1st in Inter Girls Long Jump and 2nd in 100m

April BArnes 2nd in Inter Girls 1500m

Izzy Hopkins 2ndin Junior Girls 800m

Charlotte Smith 2nd in Junior Girls Javelin

Overall, both Boys team came 3rd and both girls team came 4th. Well done to everyone involved.

Chance to win a coaching session from England Rugby star, Dylan Hartley

There’s a competition that could give our students the chance to have a coaching session from England rugby star, Dylan Hartley. All you need to do is click on the link below and fill in the yours and The Buckingham School’s information to be in with a chance of winning. The competition is won simply by the school with the most votes.

Please share with friends and family, as I know our students would absolutely love it if we won and it would be a fantastic opportunity for them.

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/…/win-your-school-a-pe-…

Mr J Ribbans, PE Teacher.

Ice Hockey Star

Rhiannon has had a fabulous year with her Ice Hockey, representing England Girls again.  During the Easter Holidays, she travelled to Brataslava, being only one of three girls to be selected for one of the four U13 Teams in the mixed National Conference in the UK. She is representing South West.  

The Conference tournament competes the best players from Scotland & Ireland, North, Midlands, South West and South East.

Her own club has also been successful; finishing runners up in both competitions, with the U13's playing in a promotion play-off to decide who plays in the South A League next season.

She has achieved this with dedication, commitment, late nights and lots of travelling.  Rhiannon trains a minimum of three sessions a week and she manages all this with good school attendance and good grades. 

I do not know where she gets the energy from! Not to mention attending (and enjoying) every school event and not just the sporting ones, that she is asked!

Submitted by Mrs Price 

Royal Windsor Horse Show

Amelie, with her Bicester Hunt Relay Team came 1st for tack and turnout earning each team member a magnum of Champagne! They came 6th place overall out of sixteen teams who entered on the day. 

Amelie who kept her cool, rode beautifully and went clear through two rounds in such a huge arena against competitors at least ten years her senior, the youngest team member (under 25) on the day.  And to (sister) Charlotte who supported Amelie all day long with a beautiful smile on her face and a willingness to do anything required to support the Bicester Inter Hunt Relay Team. 

Well done girls.

School Equestrian Team 

The School Equestrian team have been busy recently.  Firstly, Amy Wilks went out solo to Bury Farm Equestrian Centre and competed in the 60cm and 70cm. No placings for her but two lovely clear rounds. Well done Amy.

Then, we had several girls out competing at Keysoe for the Wellingborough School show. We had an amazing day.

Well-done to Amy Wilks who came 3rd Individual in the 60/65cm class and has qualified for the Championship Plate later this year. Katie Robinson jumped an amazing round in the 90/95cm class and won which has also qualified her for the Nationals in October. Katie also qualified as an individual for the 80/85cm class in 3rd place so she has also qualified for the Championship Plate later this year. Well done Katie, a great achievement!

In the teams, we had Charlotte Louise Smith, Charlotte Gregory, Amy Wilks and Amelie Gregory competing in the 70/75cm class. They all rode some lovely rounds against good competition and finished in team 3rd place. This has put the team through to the Championship Plate later this year. Great achievement girls - well done!

We also had Charlotte Gregory, Charlotte Louise Smith, Amelie Gregory and Katie Robinson compete as a team in the 80/85cm class. The girls all rode some very good and fast rounds and the girls finished in Team 2nd. This has now qualified them as a team for the Nationals in October this year. It was a great team effort from The Buckingham School Equestrian Team with all the girls supporting each other through every round and class.

Well Done Girls - amazing riding from you all!

To view the photo album, please visit our facebook page. 

http://www.facebook.com/thebuckinghamschool

Bittersweet Music

Bittersweet Music students from several local schools joined singers and musicians from Buckingham Children’s Choir to perform in a Choir Festival at Buckingham University on Wednesday 13th June. A huge WELL DONE to Ella O’Connell for a truly fantastic and confident vocal solo in ‘Chasing Cars’! 

Suzy Ann Smith runs Buckingham Children’s Choir and Bittersweet Music. 
Suzy teaches acoustic guitar and singing at The Buckingham School. For details about her popular music lessons and performance opportunities for your child - please email Suzy directly via suzyasmith@aol.com

Hurry, hurry as limited places for September! 

See Bittersweet Music Buckingham and Buckingham Children’s Choir on Facebook too! 

Useful links from the school website:

Calendar Events for this week, and further ahead. 

Click here.