IN ASSEMBLY

In Assembly, after singing Lean on Me (Bill Withers), Lisa O (13S), Emily H (13S) and Kat K (13H), Head Girl and Deputy Head Girls respectively, introduced themselves to the Queenswood community by first providing an individual pen picture:

• Lisa O is in Clapham South, studies biology, computer science, maths and further maths and hopes to go into computer science in the future.  Lisa O enjoys listening to music, singing, writing poems and playing sports.
• Kat K is in Hartley, studies economics, maths and politics and wants to study economics at university and hopefully go into finance. Kat K is an academic and sports scholar and enjoys playing hockey and spending time with her friends. 
• Emily H is in Clapham South, studies media, DT and Art and hopes to go into product design in the future and become an entrepreneur. Emily H enjoys performing arts and is a drama award holder and a DT scholar.

The Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team then provided an overview of what they do, which is to lead the student body including to voice concerns and opinions expressed by students, staff or other members of the Senior Prefect Team.

Describing themselves as approachable and a friendly face around school, the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team stated that each member of the Senior Prefect Team has aims and goals to make the school a better place for all students and that they will work together to help realise these aims which include increasing communication between students and the Senior Prefect Team and working together to solve problems no matter how big or small.  "What’s important to students is important to us" the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl team said.

Lisa O explained that each member of the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team has been at Queenswood since year 7 and so between them, there is not much they haven't done or experienced!  As such, the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team aim to ensure that each and every one of the students experience as much enjoyment and success during their time at Queenswood as they have. 

A key message given to students was that the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team want students to know their faces and names and want students to know that the Senior Prefect Team is a safe space for students to share concerns or ask questions.

Other messages were given to students:

• To have fun this school year, to try new things and allow their voices to be heard.
• To achieve their academic and personal potential. 
• To talk to the Senior Prefect Team if students would like to start a club or society that is not available.
• To approach the Senior Prefect Team if students need advice, or someone to talk with.

The main message was direct:  the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team is here to help students and advocate for students.  

The Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team shared a message from the song they chose for students to sing this morning. They said that the phrase 'we all need somebody to lean on' is so applicable to secondary school life; we cannot go through school alone, we all need somebody and we can be those people they said.

In closing, the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team extended an invitation to students to speak to someone in the year group they do not usually speak to or invite people sitting by themselves to join them. Encouraging students to make this a weekly, or even, daily occurrence, the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl Team said that by doing these things, students - bit by bit - can build a better school community with more respect and appreciation for one another.  The last word was left to Kat K who said:  …..and remember it doesn’t cost anything to be kind!

ACT OF WORSHIP

Mrs Jackson led hymn practice this week which began with the traditional hymn We Plough the Fields and Scatter and continued with a more modern worship song Light of the World (Here I am to Worship). Girls entered into some very spirited singing of some popular songs including Three Little Birds (Bob Marley and The Wailers), Wonderwall (Oasis) and Stand by Me (Ben. E King) but saved their most joyous singing for a Harvest Festival favourite Cauliflowers Fluffy!

All the Good We Can…..

The inaugural meeting of the school’s new Charity, Fundraising and Community Committee (CFCC) took place last week.  Reflecting words attributed to John Wesley, the CFCC will organise activities and events under the banner of ‘all the good we can’ to signify that as a Christian school, with a Methodist Foundation, Queenswood is determined to do all the good we can by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, for all the people we can, as long as ever we can.

Led by Reverend Kate and Natalya F-D (13W), the Charity Prefect who is also the Chief Chapel Steward, and comprising a wide range of staff who make a significant contribution to the charitable efforts of the school, the CFCC includes the student Charity House Officers who were encouraged by Reverend Kate to make the CFCC their own by bringing their ideas, enthusiasm and energy to the meetings and the activities which they organise.  The student Charity House Officers are:

• Clapham North: Khairah R (11N) and Tilly E (11N)
• Clapham South: Amy H (12S)
• Hartley: Millie S (12H)
• Waller: Tabby W (11W)

A packed agenda was discussed at the first meeting of the CFCC including confirming that Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice will continue to be the chosen charity for the competitive houses and that the following key CFCC events will take place this term:

• 27.09.2024 - Staff coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
• 17.10.2024 - Autumn Jumper Day.  Students will be invited to bring in a gift for Knebworth Food Bank in exchange for wearing an autumn themed jumper with their school uniform (instead of a school jumper or blazer).
• 15.11.2024 - Last day for donations of shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts in support of Operation Christmas Child.
• 06.12.2024 - Community Day including a sweet sale.
• 11.12.2024 - Christmas Jumper Day.  Students will be invited to donate £2 to Save the Children in exchange for wearing a Christmas themed jumper with their school uniform (instead of a school jumper or blazer).

Throughout the course of the academic year there will be other CFCC opportunities including bake sales, house suppers, donation of ticket sales and retiring collections such that it is hoped Q will exceed the £10k raised for charities in 2023/24.