News

A YEAR 8 student from Plume School has been chosen as the winner of the annual History Prize by the Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library.

During the Autumn term every year 8 history class visited the Thomas Plume Library on Market Hill, Maldon, as part of their studies about the Renaissance.

They were investigating a number of events and beliefs from the period, including science and discovery, witchcraft and witch trials, the English Civil War, the Reformation and religious conflict.

While at the library the students were able to use the library’s collection of ancient books to discover information about the Renaissance period.

Following their visit, the students wrote essays entitled How Should the Period 1500 to 1750 be Remembered?

The essays were entered into a competition judged by the Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library – and the overall winner wins The Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library History Prize.

Tony Doe, chairman of the friends’ group, attended a recent year 8 assembly to announce the winners and runners up.

The overall winner was Megan Peear who won the top prize of £20.

Three runners up all received £10 and were chosen for various reasons.

Amy Stainer – for the structure of her essay

Kirsty-Jo Leather – for the range of content

Callum Perkins – for accurate content

The prizes are supported and funded by the Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library.

• Photograph l-r Amy, Kirsty-Jo, Tony Doe and Megan Peear. Unfortunately Callum was absent on the day.

As from June 1, 2010, the deposit required for a lift key will be increased to £40. This is to help cover the cost of replacing the key if it is not returned.

The returnable deposit can be paid by cheque which will only be cashed if the key is not returned when required.

For more information see Mrs Lionnel in the Student Support Centre or call 01621 854681.

POSTERS designed by energy saving students have been chosen to be displayed at an international conference.

Students in years 7 to 9 at Plume School have recently been taking part in the European Flick the Switch campaign which makes students more aware of simple energy saving habits – like switching lights off when they are not in use.

Working with Fiona Burrows from Climate Energy Ltd, students have been coming up with ways to make Plume School a greener place to learn and designing posters highlighting the importance of energy saving.

The posters were entered into a Flick the Switch competition – and the work of six lucky students was chosen to be displayed at a European Energy Conference in Estonia.

Clarissa Stobbs’ poster was the winning entry while five runners up were Hannah Wentworth, Ellie Quy, Francesca Baglee, Jodie Crane and Abby Collis.

All six will be presented with prizes and certificates at a later date.

Flick the Switch’s European Energy Conference takes place on Friday, May 21, and will be attended by Plume School’s language teacher in charge of international links, Anne-Lise Viallet.

She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the school to engage with many European countries and share ideas on energy saving and environmental issues.”

“As part of the Flick the Switch campaign students will be able to engage in European energy debates online and use resources and ideas from other cultures.

“This will help students increase their understanding of the importance of communicating in other languages to be able to share their opinions and ideas.”

Next term, students will create a panel to discuss different ways they and the school can save energy and become more environmentally friendly.

Gill Mallet, citizenship teacher who will chair the panel, said: “It is very important that students are aware of the environmental impact they can have at school by doing such simple things, such as switching lights off and recycling paper.

“These seem small, but these are lifelong learning opportunities that we at Plume want to encourage.”

Photo: Front row L-R Anne-Lise Viallet (language teacher at Plume School), Hannah Wentworth, Clarissa Stobbs (winner of the poster competition), Ellie Quy, Fiona Burrows from Climate Change Ltd in Witham.

Back row L-R Francesca Baglee, Jodie Crane, Gill Mallet (citizenship teacher at Plume School), Abby Collis.

PERFORMING arts students are set to launch their own production of Disney’s smash-hit High School Musical.

The performance will include all the songs from the film, plus two new numbers and a High School Musical Megamix.

The story is based around the unlikely pairing of school basketball star Troy and brainy Gabriella after they discover a shared love of singing.

Their relationship brings East High’s jocks, brainiacs and thespians together in a joyous finale.

Plume School drama teacher Kerry Reynolds said the students – all taking part in the BTEC first diploma in Performing Arts – have spent three months working on the show.

She said: “The eight performance students have really worked well as a team, organising rehearsals and giving each other help and advice on perfecting their roles.

“The production students have been just as busy designing the lighting and sound for the performance.

“Both groups of students have worked tirelessly during their two-year courses and this production is a great way for it all to end.

“I cannot wait to see the results of all their hard work and hope you can join us to celebrate their success.”

The production of High School Musical will take place on Thursday, May 26, at 7.30pm in the stage hall of Plume School’s Fambridge Road campus.

Tickets cost £4 each and are available from Plume reception or by telephone on 01621 854681.

Book By: David Simpatico
Songs by: Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray Cham, Greg Cham, Andrew Seeley, Randy Petersen, Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Bryan Louiselle, David N. Lawrence, Faye Greenberg and Jamie Houston
Music Adapted, Arranged and Produced by: Bryan Louiselle
Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie written by: Peter Barsocchini

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York

MONEY raised by Plume School has been donated to schools in the Gambian village of Bansang.

A cheque for £2,200 was handed over to Annabel Kerr, founder of the Bansang Educational Appeal.

The money was raised during a year-long fundraising drive at the Maldon school.

Events included a non uniform day, a See a Penny Pick it Up campaign and leg waxing.

The total was topped up by donations from students, members of staff and visitors to the school.

Dr Kerr said: “I am delighted with the efforts of Plume School -  this money will greatly improve the education and facilities at the Bansang schools.

“I am impressed with the way they have embraced this international link with Bansang and hope it continues to go from strength to strength.”

Plume School head teacher David Stephenson said: “I am pleased that the first stage of our fundraising has raised this amount of money in addition to the container sent to the Gambia last year.

“We hope to continue fundraising and, hopefully, fill another container with donations for Bansang.

“I would like to thank Maldon residents for their help and hope that the community will keep supporting our efforts.”

Plume’s donation means that the appeal has now raised more than £5,000 so it can become an official charity.

Last year Plume School joined forces with Great Totham Primary School and Maldon Saint’s Football Club to fill a shipping container with donations including sports and science equipment, books and computers.

Isabelle Courcha from Plume, Jemma Flynn and Keith Bannister from the primary school and coaches from the football club visited Bansang in January to see the donations being presented.

As a result of the close links that have been forged, Mrs Courcha, Ms Flynn and Plume’s school council administrator Marilyn Ruston have recently become trustees of the Bansang Educational Appeal.

The appeal was first launched in 2008 to help improve the education of children living in Bansang.

For more information visit www.bansangeducationalappeal.org

THE latest Jack Petchey Award winner is a “model student” who has a promising future ahead of her.

Giselle Ithier, a year 10 student at Plume School in Maldon, was nominated for the prestigious award by her French teacher Anne-Lise Viallet.

Miss Viallet highlighted Giselle’s “outstanding work” in French lessons as well as her dedication to her studies in general.

She added that Giselle often visits the Modern Foreign Languages department to ask about French culture and new vocabulary or just to help out the teachers.

Miss Viallet said: “Giselle is the kind of student who inspires you to be on top of your teaching and makes the job a special one.

“She is consistently positive and is a great role model for other students.

“She is always polite, respectful of others, extremely serious with her work and checks that people around her are fine.

“Giselle has a lot to offer Plume School in the coming years.”

Miss Viallet’s nomination was backed up by several of Giselle’s friends and teachers including her form tutor, Sarah Rimbaut, who described her as a “model student”.

Mrs Rimbaut added: “Giselle is an exceptional student who puts 100% into everything she does and excels academically through hard work and perseverance.

“She always has a caring word for you and a smile in the corridor – nothing is ever too much.”

Plume School head teacher David Stephenson presented Giselle with a certificate to mark her achievement during a recent assembly.