Last term, two groups of Geography students at Kendrick were invited to take part in the Innovation Challenge at Reading Boys.
We were asked to create a solution that balances the need for homes for a growing population with the damage caused to the environment by the construction industry, taking into consideration the current situation and challenges.
On Thursday, 13th February, a group of four Key Stage 3 students set out to test our problem-solving skills at the UKMT’s Team Maths Challenge, held at Queen Anne’s School. Competing against some of the brightest minds from across our region, our team tackled a series of challenging mathematical problems that tested not only our numerical abilities but also our teamwork and strategic thinking skills.
The challenge consisted of several rounds, each designed to push our mathematical limits in different ways. These included a group round, which was essentially a set of complex problems that were given out to the group, a crossnumber round, which was a mathematical crossword puzzle, where we had to work in pairs to fill in different parts of the crossnumber, the shuttle round, a fast-paced relay of problems, where one pair’s solution fed into the next problem, and finally, the relay round, a test of both speed and accuracy as we passed problems around in pairs.
We were delighted to welcome students from primary schools in Years 3,4, 5 & 6 to Kendrick, who are participating in our Widening Horizons programme. The students took part in some wonderful workshops led by our staff along with some of our Year 10, 11 and 12 students. Some amazing hand embroidery was created in a sewing workshop whilst the topic of our identity and what makes us who we are was considered in a Sociology workshop. Some beautiful posters were made around the question “What makes me me?”
As part of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, our Student Wellbeing Ambassadors and staff organised an Inside Out 2 event around this year's theme of Know Yourself, Grow Yourself.
On Monday 27th January, Kendrick School commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day, and marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland in 1945, remembering the millions of Jews who died in those camps as well as people who have died in other genocides that have taken place since then, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
Joshika and Lucia, our Year 13 Holocaust Ambassadors, spoke about their visit to Auschwitz last year and shared the lessons they learnt from it. Here is an account of their trip.
Last month I was awarded the DofE Changemaker of the Year Award and was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet HRH the Duke of Edinburgh for Afternoon Tea. It was an incredible evening as I was able to talk to the other award winners who were doing some amazing work and breaking down barriers in their own communities, as well as Prince Edward and other celebrity judges like Harry Judd and Oliver Phelps. It was amazing to be inside the Palace and to have afternoon tea there! After the reception at the palace, we went to the London Transport Museum for the awards ceremony, where I met other nominees and DofE Youth Ambassadors.
On Thursday 12th December, Year 12 and 13 German students had the privilege of visiting the British Film Institute (BFI) in London to explore the legacy of East Germany through film. The engaging study day was rounded off with a festive visit to a Christmas market.
Being a part of the Year 10 pantomimes was an amazing experience. It was wonderful and fulfilling to see all of our hard work come to fruition, and everyone’s performances reflected the dedication put in by everyone. Even from backstage, you could hear how engaged the children were by the pantomimes, and how happy they were to be there. It was particularly amusing to hear how hard they laughed at the ‘brainrot’ jokes growing in popularity, which were sprinkled into a few of the performances.
The Kendrick Ultimate club (otherwise known as our "Frisbee" club) took part in UK Junior Women's Indoor Nationals (JWIN) this term for the first time.
Kendrick was one of the few schools who entered a team into both the Under 14s and Under 17s categories, and the support shown by each team to each other during the tournament was such a credit to them. Both teams cheered each other on and embodied the 'Spirit of the Game' which is instrumental to a self-refereed sport like Ultimate.
Even though this was their first tournament, we had multiple other teams and coaches approach us to congratulate the teams on their kindness and supportive nature towards their opponents. Students frequently congratulated opponents on good plays and had good discussions on rules where something was disagreed about.
Kendrick School's recent school production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" was a resounding triumph, captivating audiences with its enchanting music, intricate storytelling, and outstanding performances.
Students from Year 7 to Year 13 dedicated countless hours of rehearsals, demonstrating incredible commitment and talent. Their hard work shone through in every scene, from the powerful vocals to the nuanced character portrayals to delivering powerful music scores amongst the band.
On the 15th October, I had the privilege of attending The Royal County of Berkshire Lord-Lieutenant Awards ceremony at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where I was appointed as one of the Lord Lieutenant’s cadets for the Royal County of Berkshire. In my role, I accompany the Lord Lieutenant to his duties.
The English department was once again inundated with brilliant, inspiring poems in response to our winter competition on the theme of hope. After much agonising deliberation, we selected the following winners and runners-up.