Welcome from the Head
Dear Parents
Welcome to this week’s newsletter, and I hope that you all enjoyed a super Half Term break.
As ever, it’s been a busy fortnight as we welcomed our Year 6 Offer Holders back to JAGS last week to begin their Senior School journeys. Year 7 were fantastically enthusiastic tour guides for the morning! The same day, Year 12 parents attended our Introduction to UCAS Evening; it seems no time at all since we were welcoming Year 12 into the Sixth Form and now we are beginning to think about their journeys beyond JAGS. We also welcomed Year 5 parents from our own Junior School for an introduction to their transfer into life in the Senior School this week.
As always at the end of a busy week, I cast my mind back to the empty school of Covid-times and reflect on the contagious buzz that pervades our school whenever we host so many visitors.
Tonight, we welcome 70 guests to our Medics Dinner – Year 13 students, alumnae and parents – for the first time since 2018. Thank you to our Development & Alumnae Relations team for all the work that has gone into putting on such a fantastic evening for this group, which I am very much looking forward to. If any parents are themselves JAGS Alumnae, please do feel free to contact Karen Doyle, Head of Development & Alumnae Relations, as it’s always lovely to share these experiences with you.
Next week sees our annual Multicultural Evening return; our Head Girl team and Drama Department have been working so hard in preparation for the event which is always a highlight of the JAGS calendar. We also welcome Year 13 parents to our Parents’ Evening in school. The year group have performed fantastically throughout their mock exam period, and we wish them a weekend of relaxation after all the hard work that has gone into their preparation.
With best wishes,
Mrs Alex Hutchinson
Head
Dates for your Diary
- Wednesday 6 March – 7pm – Multicultural Evening, VWA
- Thursday 7 March – 6pm – Year 13 Parents’ Evening
- Thursday 7 March to Sunday 10 March – Year 12 Trip to Spain
- Thursday 14 March – 12pm – Year 8 Japanese My Neighbour Totoro theatre trip, Barbican Theatre
Reporting Absences
A reminder to all parents to use this form to report absence in the Senior School due to illness or to request absence for appointments. This form can also be found on our Contact page.
Please complete this form by 8:30am on the morning that your daughter is absent.
Additionally, when informing a teacher of any health issues your daughter may be facing, please remember to cc or School Nurse team on Nurse@jags.org.uk.
Green Dale School Street
Please be aware that the Green Dale School Street has now been implemented as part of the Southwark School Streets Programme, following consultation earlier this year.
This means any vehicles entering Green Dale between 8:00 and 9:00am, or 3.15 and 5:00pm during term time will face a penalty charge from Southwark Council. There are no restrictions on exiting Green Dale.
The initiative seeks to improve the safety and air quality in streets with a high volume of active travel.
Sixth Form Update
It’s quite incredible to think we have already reached the beginning of March. Time has flown by with the Sixth Form leading, organising and participating in so many activities.
Year 13 students have been embracing the A Level mock exam season with dedication, organisation and (most importantly) a ‘can-do’ mindset. By recognising these exams are, first and foremost, a diagnostic tool to determine their strengths and areas for improvement, students will be well placed to prepare for their summer exams in an effective and efficient manner.
We are all so proud of the conscientious, organised and punctual approach shown by students with omens good for the summer exam series.
Mat Weeks, Head of Sixth Form
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Student Leadership
Year 12 returned for the new Half Term full of energy, with record numbers applying for Head Girl and student leadership roles.
It was a pleasure to read through their brilliant applications over the weekend.
Total applications: 98
Including:
30 for Head Girl
29 for House Captain
46 for School Prefect
83 for Subject Prefect
37 for Student Mentors
(NB: Students can apply for more than one position)
The record-breaking applications prove yet again the leadership spirit is alive and well within the Sixth Form Community. I look forward to the selection process in the months ahead and working with our new team of students leaders from April onwards.
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Post-JAGS futures
At the same time, Year 12 students are really thinking about their post-JAGS futures now. Following the very successful Higher Education and Careers Day before Half Term, students have heard from the University of Glasgow about studying in Scotland and we know that they will be getting some great support from their parents.
Following the HE / Careers / UCAS application parent talk last week; it was lovely for Liz Allan and I to talk to so many parents about the support that we offer as JAGS, that they can offer as parents and the students can provide to themselves in terms of deciding upon and applying for their JAGS future.
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Multicultural Evening
We are all looking forward to the Multicultural Evening next week, organised by our wonderful Head Girl team – it will be a spectacular event!
Year 12 returned for the new Half Term full of energy, with record numbers applying for Head Girl and student leadership roles.
It was a pleasure to read through their brilliant applications over the weekend.
Total applications: 98
Including:
30 for Head Girl
29 for House Captain
46 for School Prefect
83 for Subject Prefect
37 for Student Mentors
(NB: Students can apply for more than one position)
The record-breaking applications prove yet again the leadership spirit is alive and well within the Sixth Form Community. I look forward to the selection process in the months ahead and working with our new team of students leaders from April onwards.
At the same time, Year 12 students are really thinking about their post-JAGS futures now. Following the very successful Higher Education and Careers Day before Half Term, students have heard from the University of Glasgow about studying in Scotland and we know that they will be getting some great support from their parents.
Following the HE / Careers / UCAS application parent talk last week; it was lovely for Liz Allan and I to talk to so many parents about the support that we offer as JAGS, that they can offer as parents and the students can provide to themselves in terms of deciding upon and applying for their JAGS future.
We are all looking forward to the Multicultural Evening next week, organised by our wonderful Head Girl team – it will be a spectacular event!
Geography
Year 9 Volcano competition
From Rice Krispies and cake, to Lego and papier-mâché , our Year 9 Geographers got creative and went all out for this year’s Volcano Model competition.
Their creations have been displayed proudly in Holst Hall this past week, much to the delight of the entire school community.
Congratulations to each and every student that took part and threw themselves into the challenge.
The difficult task of choosing winners fell to our Year 12 Geography students who judged the models based on geographical information, accuracy and use of materials.
Follow the links below to reveal this year’s winners:
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Winners for Geographical Information:
Pascale for her Mount Fuji volcano.
Marley and Jackie for their Kilimanjaro volcano.
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Winners for Accuracy:
Myah for her volcano model made to scale.
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Winners for Use of Materials:
Arabella, Isabel and Julianne Foster for their Lego volcano.
Thea for her crochet volcano.
Pascale for her Mount Fuji volcano.
Marley and Jackie for their Kilimanjaro volcano.
Myah for her volcano model made to scale.
Arabella, Isabel and Julianne Foster for their Lego volcano.
Thea for her crochet volcano.
Art
Young Art 2024
Artwork by 15 JAGS students is set to feature in this year’s Young Art Exhibition at the Royal College of Art.
Students produced artworks across the three categories for this year’s awards; Art, Drawing and Printmaking.
Judges praised JAGS pupils for submitting a “very strong body of work of an exemplary standard”.
The theme for this year’s exhibition is ‘Our Living World’ and all funds raised support vital research into childhood cancer and clinical trials at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.
Congratulations to Laura (Year 12) who has been named as a First Prize Winner in this year’s Art category.
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Full list of featured artists
Year 11:
Nyneishia
Zoe
Thalia
Tara
Elroei
Eden
Peiyi
Tara
Molly
Jack
Year 12:
Abigail
Iman
Laura
Theresa
Summer
Year 11:
Nyneishia
Zoe
Thalia
Tara
Elroei
Eden
Peiyi
Tara
Molly
Jack
Year 12:
Abigail
Iman
Laura
Theresa
Summer
Chemistry
Cambridge Chemistry Race
“On Saturday 10 February, our team of four (Kate, Megan, Elyssa and Sara) had the wonderful opportunity to go to Cambridge University to take part in the fifth Chemistry Race Competition.
“We arrived at the lecture theatre ready to compete against 60 other teams over the course of the two-hour challenge. We tackled a series of chemistry questions which truly put our scientific and critical thinking skills to the test!
“Each question completed led to another of increased difficulty being “unlocked” and we had to attempt as many as possible before the time was up. It was lots of fun to race against other teams and meet some lovely people.
“After a well-deserved lunch break, we returned to the hall for the closing ceremony, where the brilliant organisers revealed the answers to the questions and the placement of the teams. Although we didn’t earn ourselves a prize-winning spot in the top five, it was safe to say we had a great day!
“A big thank you to everyone at Chemistry Race for organising the event, and to Ms Davidson for taking us and being our number one supporter!”
MFL
Italian
In the lead up to Half Term, Year 8 students could be found celebrating this year’s Carnevale during their Italian lessons by making traditional Venetian masks, eating Chiacchiere and learning about Carnevale di Ivrea and Viareggio
Maths
Maths Fest 2024
Bititi and Martha (Year 12) performed fantastically at this year’s Maths Fest, reaching the final of the Maths Slam competition and just narrowly being pipped at the post for the top prize.
It was a brilliant day with a number of JAGS Sixth Formers attending to cheer on those presenting and enjoy all the festival had to offer.
Learn more about their day at the Royal Institute below:
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Marissa (Year 12)
“Maths Fest showed me how maths can be applied in real life scenarios, not just in exam questions. Listening to famous science Youtuber Steve Mould wittily explain the geometry of vehicle wheels was very interesting and almost as engaging as Numberphile star Ben Sparks explanation of why A4 paper has such strange dimensions. Furthermore, his surprise maths cover of the song ‘The Windmills of your Mind’ heightened everyone’s love for maths. With the Maths Slam competition and Maths Village to keep us occupied between talks, as well as taking photos with our childhood maths heroes, I could not have thought of a better way to spend my Friday.”
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Navieinaah (Year 12)
“It was such an exciting experience to see experts in their field simply share what they found interesting about maths! From learning how to solve unusual puzzles to figuring out different types of ‘infinity’, it was a fun yet informative day. It was also great to see some of our friends deliver an impressive presentation on the maths behind CGI to a large audience.”
“Maths Fest showed me how maths can be applied in real life scenarios, not just in exam questions. Listening to famous science Youtuber Steve Mould wittily explain the geometry of vehicle wheels was very interesting and almost as engaging as Numberphile star Ben Sparks explanation of why A4 paper has such strange dimensions. Furthermore, his surprise maths cover of the song ‘The Windmills of your Mind’ heightened everyone’s love for maths. With the Maths Slam competition and Maths Village to keep us occupied between talks, as well as taking photos with our childhood maths heroes, I could not have thought of a better way to spend my Friday.”
“It was such an exciting experience to see experts in their field simply share what they found interesting about maths! From learning how to solve unusual puzzles to figuring out different types of ‘infinity’, it was a fun yet informative day. It was also great to see some of our friends deliver an impressive presentation on the maths behind CGI to a large audience.”
English
Gothic Tales
Last Friday, Year 8 ended the week with a spine-tingling Gothic Tales performance in our Prissian Theatre.
There were screams and shocks galore as students were left captivated by the one man show and renditions of The Red Room (H.G Wells), The Signalman (Charles Dickens) and The Tell-Tale Heart (Edgar Allen Poe).
Design & Technology
On Wednesday 21 February, the Design & Technology Department took a group of Year 9 and 10 students to the Design Museum in Kensington. Students spent time exploring a huge range of well-designed displays and exhibitions spanning several decades of design innovation, in particular visiting the Skateboard Exhibition currently showing at the museum.
The exhibition traces the evolution of skateboards and skateboard culture from the 1950s to the current day, and included a full-scale skateboard half-pipe. As well as seeing the changes in skateboard construction and design, it was fascinating to see how technology such as portable video cameras right up to current day GoPro cameras have influenced, and been influenced by, skateboarders recording their sport. Students enjoyed learning about the different material not yet covered in their GCSE courses as well as the myriad of interactive learning displays.
David Bima, Teacher of Design & Technology
History of Art
Articulation Prize
Thalia (Year 12) represented the school at the annual Articulation Prize this year. Articulation invites students to deliver a 10-minute presentation to an audience about a work of art, architecture or an artefact of their choice. Thalia competed in the regional final at the Royal Academy Arts following internal heats among the History of Art Sixth Form students at JAGS.
Thalia gave a wonderfully full and interesting presentation on El Anatsui’s Behind the Red Moon, a monumental sculptural installation made of thousands of metal bottle tops and fragments which is now on display at Tate Modern. The work builds on Anatsui’s interest in histories of encounter and the migration of goods and people during the transatlantic slave trade. Thalia is pictured here with her fellow competitors at the Royal Academy of Arts – huge congratulations to Thalia on representing the school with this important work of art.
Rachel Dow, Head of Art History
JAGS Alumnae
Alumnae Reunion Lunch 2024
We are delighted to share that our flagship event, the Annual Alumnae Reunion Lunch, will be taking place on Saturday 18 May 2024.
We look forward to welcoming back alumnae from all year groups to share a wonderful afternoon featuring school tours, a curated archive display and a sit-down lunch.
It is a wonderful occasion for alumnae to catch up with staff and friends.
To find out more, follow the link to our Alumnae Events page.
