Newsletter Winter 2018
Scholarship opportunity for students to fulfil potential T
HE school’s Scholarship Programme is offered to students in all year groups and aims to help students push their capabilities and reach their potential. The junior scholarship, for Years 7 and 8, includes STEM days, portfolio building, workshops and talks from guest speakers. Year 10 students can join our Future Learn courses, provided by leading universities in a wide range of subjects and topics. This term we have also been running a GCSE Classics course in partnership with Streatham and Clapham High School. There are also workshops, conferences, and trips, including visits to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Year 11 students get tips on accessing top universities via UCAS application workshops while sixth form students get advice on writing personal statements and entrance exams. In their final year at the school, Year 13 students take part in events, workshops, conferences, and trips, including visits to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. This term they have heard from guest speakers including Clare Short, Alastair Campbell and Baroness Young. Students are also provided with external professional mentors who are working in the students’ desired fields or subject areas. A bursary is available to Sixth Form scholarship students. Platinum students will be awarded a bursary of £500, while Gold students will be awarded £300. More information on our Scholarship Programme offerings for the Lower School and Sixth Form are available online at laretraite. lambeth.sch.uk/608/scholarship-programme or alternatively email Mrs Williams on cwilliams@laretraite.lambeth.sch.uk
Face to face with Michelle Obama STUDENTS got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from America’s former First Lady Michelle Obama (right). Students from across year groups were invited to the exclusive launch of her highly anticipated new memoir Becoming, at the Southbank Centre in November. During the hour-long event she discussed her childhood, career, motherhood and time in the White House with acclaimed novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Pupils were also given copies of her
memoirs. After the event, Year 11 pupil Rheanna was interviewed on BBC 5 Live. She said: “She completely blew me away. I really did not expect her to go into such incredible detail about her experiences. “Even just listening to her on stage you get a real sense of a warm and intelligent person. To hear from someone like that for me was a life-changing experience. “Since the talk I have read her book. There is so much in there that young women can relate to. She is the female role model I look to for inspiration.”
Unique insight into world of politics
Talking politics: Clare Short
Scholarship Programme students have won acclaim from leading political figures following inspiring talks this term. In September, former Director of Communications for the Labour Party, Alastair Campbell, heaped praise on our students describing them as ‘bright, aspirational and informed’. Mr Campbell spoke about his career working with leading politicians and world statesmen and women. Students then quizzed
La Retraite Newsletter n Winter 2018
the former government spin doctor on topical issues including a second Brexit referendum, changing demographics of the UK and the future of education for young people. Mr Campbell tweeted: “Fantastic session with La Retraite politics and history sixth formers in Lambeth. “Really bright, aspirational students. Informed questions and so much passion.” In November, politician Clare
Short talked about her time as Minister of International Development in Tony Blair’s government. Baroness Young, the former Head of Culture at the Greater London Assembly, also spoke about her life and career in politics later that month. There were visits from former students, who returned to the school to chat to Year 11 students about life as successful Christian women.
A term pupils can look back on with pride Headteacher Dominic Malins reflects on a busy term at La Retraite..
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The autumn term has whirled by in a buzz of activity and hard work. Recent visitors to the school commented on the huge range of activities and visits that the students participate in. This is thanks to the dedication of all the staff, and the enthusiasm and hard work of the students and staff alike. It has been great to see the students demonstrate their oracy skills at events such as Debate Mate and a Brexit Seminar, their entrepreneurial talents by winning the chance to represent Chelsea FC and their sporting prowess on the netball court and football pitch, including a notable a victory by the Sixth Form boys. As well as this, there have been productions by the La Retraite Theatre Company, performances by the two choirs and a range of clubs from Robotics Club to the Library Club. A new club sprang up at the beginning of this term which has proved to be particularly popular – the K Pop Dance Club. This club is particularly impressive as it has been set up by Student Leaders and is run by students – all potential teachers of the future. The maturity of our students was really demonstrated by student Chiamaka when she spent a day working with Lambeth Council and students Chantee and Rheanna, when they were interviewed recently on BBC Radio 5 Live. Two students deserve particular mention for their enthusiastic participation in a range of clubs – Alice in Year 8 and Chinwendu in Year 10. Around the school, the numerous visitors, including a member of parliament from New Zealand, continue to note how focused and hard-working the students are and, in particular, how polite and welcoming they are. They are a credit to themselves, their families and the school. I would like to say a big thank you to our excellent staff, our fantastic students and to our great parents for enabling this all to happen. I wish you all a peaceful Christmas break.
Girls up to the task with football ideas OUR resourceful girls came top of the table at an enterprise challenge regional final, sponsored by the Premier League. La Retraite’s four-strong team put their business acumen to the test against local schools to see who will represent Chelsea FC at the Enterprise Challenge finals. After coming through tough competition against 11 local schools, it came down to a playoff against Fulham Boys School. And it was our students from Years 8 and 9 who were crowned champions after impressing the judging panel with their business proposals and presentations. The task was to come up with ideas to encourage more 18 to 23-year-olds to attend matches and become fans of the Blues. They suggested having music acts perform at games; a partnership with bank Santander to encourage fans to ride their bikes to games; and an app sponsored by Nike. They will now take on other schools representing their local Premier League clubs at the final held in Brighton next year. Year 8 student Kayleigh said: “It was a tough competition with lots of great ideas but I think the judges were most impressed with us because we looked to create
Business brains: The La Retraite girls impressed judges partnerships with other companies. We put a lot of thought and planning into our proposal and we very clear with our presentation. “It was a really interesting event to take part in and we are looking forward to the finals next year.” Chelsea Foundation’s schools education manager Sam Gaskin-
Kemp said: ‘The event today has been a great success with more teams entering than ever before. “The judges had a tough job choosing the winners as the students came up with some excellent ideas. “Well done to La Retraite for being chosen as our winners.”
Sports clubs prove popular
Sixth form students learned about careers in STEM from employees at top firms, at an event hosted by tech giants Facebook in October.
News in brief n THE school marked the centenary of the end of the first world war by laying a wreath at the Streatham War Memorial. Assistant Headteacher Mr Allan was joined by a Year 8 student
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at the service in November. n STUDENTS, staff and families donated 93kg of food and toiletries to Clapham Park Food Bank as the school celebrated the Harvest Festival.
YEAR 10 students have represented the school as umpires at the Lambeth autumn High 5 primary school netball tournament. The pupils showed great leadership and decision making as they oversaw matches at Vauxhall Primary School. Netball has again proved popular at the school, with more than 60 students signing up to the PE Enrichment club. Participation in badminton and football is also growing every week, while there are still places available for hockey and basketball.
New film merits library debate A HARD-HITTING film was the subject of discussion when students visited the new West Norwood Library and Picture House. The school was invited to a screening of critically-acclaimed film The Hate U Give, an adaptation of the award-winning book of the same name by US author Angie Thomas. The film stars Amandla Stenberg as a black teenager who witnesses a white police officer
shoot her childhood friend, which leads her to become an outspoken civil rights campaigner. After watching the film, the students were taken on a tour of the new library. Year 11 Kalifa said: “The Hate U Give tackles important issues such as racism and the devastating consequences it has in society. “Amandla Stenberg made the audience feel empathy and pain at her raw emotion. In my view, the movie is a must-see.”
Mandarin challenge for creative quintet The place to go for news
Year 7 parent Bronwen Gray (above) has started an online community for families...
really well. We have a great tutor and we are really motivated to learn the language. “Having a club like this in school is really important because it provides the intellectual challenge that students need.” International Languages Co-ordinator Ms Jarrett said: “We are so proud of what they have achieved as a group and
we wish them well. They have organised everything themselves, from the script to the dialogues in Mandarin. They have also designed some amazing masks, costumes and props. “We are also grateful to Alison’s mum for her contribution in helping out with the costumes and to Ms Nutton for helping out with the masks.”
Teachers give literature readings
TEACHERS have been volunteering during lunch breaks to read excerpts from their favourite works of literature to students. This term’s Book Club saw readings from novels by black authors to celebrate Black History Month in October. In November, it was titles related to 20th century conflicts to mark the centenary of the end of the first world war, while December’s theme was Christmas tales. All students who attend book club can participate in a raffle every month, with the winner getting to choose a small prize from the library.
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Moving from primary school to secondary can be a daunting experience. Our children go from a small, familiar environment to the complete unknown. Through my daughter, I had made lots of friends at the primary gates who I could turn to if I needed any support or advice. But that all stops when they leave. When your child joins secondary school, you have loads of questions. So who do you go to? That is the reason I have started an online community for supportive families which replicates the community we had on the school gates. I am hoping to it will be a ‘go to’ place for news, info and queries, or if you want to celebrate your child’s achievements with supportive, like-minded parents. After joining, we encourage you to share, post and like as much as possible, as we depend on your support and contribution. To find out more, search Friends of La Retraite RC Girls’ School on Facebook and click to join.
La Retraite Newsletter n Winter 2018
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INVENTIVE students have taken part in the Mandarin Speaking Competition organised by HSBC and the British Council. Year 8 students Alice, Alison and Lilian teamed up with Klotilda and Aferata from Year 9 to write scripts and design masks, costumes and props. With just one hour of learning per week, our Mandarin Club team pitted their wits against 36 other schools, many of whom have been studying the language as part of the curriculum. If they get through, they will compete nationwide against schools in Scotland, Wales and the North of England in February 2019. Student Alice said: “The competition was tough. A lot of the school were learning Mandarin in normal classes. “Despite that I think we did
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Top university grateful for school’s co-operation THE University of Oxford has thanked La Retraite staff and students for participating in a research project on emotional health. Researchers from the prestigious university visited the school and spoke with pupils and teachers as part of the Myriad (My Resilience in Adolescence) project. Myriad investigates how
schools prepare young people to improve resilience and manage their emotional health. In a message to the school sent from the Myriad team, principal investigator Willem Kuyken (above) said: “I was delighted by the welcome we received by your
pupils who showed such respect and maturity during our sessions. “A huge thank-you must go to Ms Coyle, your dedicated Myriad research lead, and also Ms Haynes, for their efforts in organising our visit. Their commitment and enthusiasm for the project makes it possible for us to work with you.”
Radio opportunities delight young carers INSPIRATIONAL La Retraite Year 13 students Shannon and Marian were invited on to the radio to discuss their lives as young carers. Shannon appeared on Londonbased community radio station Resonance FM, while Marian was part of a group of five Young Carers who had the opportunity to speak on BBC Radio 4. Marian, who acts as an
Centre visit STUDENT Chiamaka visited the Lorraine Hewitt rehabilitation centre as part of her work experience at Lambeth Council in November.
Cadet call LA RETRAITE students will learn about square bashing, fieldcraft and yomping after signing up for the naval Combined Cadet Force. They will also learn selfdiscipline and leadership following the launch of the Ministry of Defence youth organisation at the school. In October, Mr Gurbah and Ms Coyle qualified as Naval Officers at the Royal Navy College in Dartmouth. The unit will start recruiting in January with manoeuvres due to take place on Wednesdays from 3.30-5pm.
interpreter for her parents, said: “Being able to take part in a BBC radio broadcast was a great experience for me. “I was with other students who have the same responsibilities as myself and our shared experiences meant that I did not feel like an ‘un-normal’ schoolgirl. “It’s fun to share our experiences and to translate for our parents. This project, along
with Young Carers, is helping me to be confident in speaking up about my role.” Shannon talked about her role as a carer and the powerful impact that music has on her life. Students at La Retriate have twice been awarded the Lambeth Young Carers’ Award. The most recent recipient, Shantavia, is currently in her first year at university.
Students learn new tricks SIXTH form students got the perfect preparation for their Christmas show with a drama workshop courtesy of the historic Old Vic. Tutors at the world-famous London theatre gave tips on communication and presentation skills through a series of games
and activities which are often used to prepare actors for the big stage. Students were able to put their newly acquired acting skills into practice at the school’s performance of A Christmas Carol held in the drama studio in December.
STUDENTS spent the day the home of Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge, for a robotics workshop in October.
For the latest updates from the school follow us on: Twitter: @LaRetraiteSW12 Instagram: @laretraitesch6thform Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaRetraiteGirls/
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Charity’s kind gift for orchard THE school orchard has been given a new lease of life thanks to the planting of new fruit trees and bushes. The Orchard Project donated two apple trees and two plum trees, alongside three jostaberry and 10 raspberry bushes. A new shrubbery has also been planted. The charity will also help staff and students to prune pear and apple trees. Ms Jarrett said: “We hope to transform it from a neglected orchard to a thriving one. If you have any unwanted digging spades or forks, please donate to the Land-based studies and gardening team.” Meanwhile Year 8 students Alayna, Keira and Rebecca have formed the Eco Sisters committee and aim to achieve the seven steps for the Eco School awards. If you are a parent and are interested in being on the committee, please get in touch by emailing wjarrett@ laretraite.lambeth.sch.uk.
n YEAR 10 and 11 GCSE drama students used a trip to the West End to watch a theatre production of Chicago to write coursework evaluations.
n Year 13 students got a filmmaking masterclass from Last King of Scotland director Kevin Macdonald during a trip to the world-famous Ealing Studios.