FRIDAY FLYER-Issue 174
25 Jan 2024
Headmaster's Welcome
We hope that you have enjoyed a wonderful week and that you are looking forward to your weekend.
We have been busy as always at Epsom as you can see from our Epsom Events.
We started our week with an assembly on the importance of our Epsom Learning Characteristics.
At Epsom, our learning community places paramount importance on the development of character, recognising its equal significance to academic success. In our holistic approach to education, we understand that fostering a well-rounded individual is essential for students to lead not only professionally successful lives but also personally fulfilling ones. Central to this ethos is the profound understanding of the importance of time.This was the theme of our assembly this week:
Students were asked to imagine time as a bank, where each student is endowed with a daily deposit of 86,000 seconds. This analogy prompts reflection on the need to invest this temporal wealth wisely. Each day, unused seconds are akin to funds lost, unable to be carried forward. This perspective underscores the precious nature of time, a resource often taken for granted in the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Drawing inspiration from the urgency of an athlete striving for Olympic gold or the life-altering significance of a mere second for someone narrowly avoiding a serious accident, the value of time becomes evident.
It is a non-renewable asset, and understanding its worth is the first step toward harnessing its potential. At Epsom, we instill in our students the awareness that time is a limited resource, urging them not to squander it but rather to invest it purposefully in their personal and academic pursuits.
To further illuminate the concept of self-imposed limitations hindering progress, we turn to the metaphor of fleas in a jar.
Captive within a lidded jar, fleas become conditioned to the confines of their environment. Even when the lid is removed, they refrain from jumping higher than the jar. This serves as a poignant reflection of our own self-perception and belief systems. How do we see ourselves? Are we allowing self-limiting beliefs to define our capabilities? Exploring these questions enables us to break free from the constraints we impose on our potential.
A delve into the lives of trailblazers like Albert Einstein and Michael Jordan reinforces the transformative power of a resilient mindset. These luminaries refused to be confined by perceived limitations and instead embraced a mindset that propelled them to unparalleled heights. Their stories serve as a beacon for our students, encouraging them to challenge preconceived notions and reach for the stars.
At Epsom, our mission is to inspire learners, offering them floors rather than ceilings in their aspirations. As we navigate the journey into 2024, we advocate for the cultivation of a growth mindset. Encouraging a 'can-do' attitude empowers students to surpass their own expectations, fostering an environment where the currency of time is invested judiciously in pursuits that lead to both personal fulfillment and professional success.
In conclusion, time is the bedrock upon which the edifice of education and personal development stands. Its judicious investment is vital for a fruitful and satisfying life. Epsom, with its holistic approach, aims to instill in students the understanding that time is not merely a ticking clock but a powerful currency waiting to be invested wisely. As we embark on the journey into 2024, may we all embrace the profound significance of time, cultivating a growth mindset that propels us toward achievements beyond our wildest dreams.
I hope that you enjoy the articles and pictures to come. Happy Reading and Happy Friday!
Mr Matthew Brown,
Headmaster
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A Message from our Leadership Team - Mr Daniel Long, Head of Boarding
In the bustling corridors and serene dormitories of our school, our commitment to nurturing the holistic development of each student goes beyond textbooks and exam scores. One integral facet of this commitment is the emphasis on wellbeing, an aspect we believe is paramount to a student's overall growth and success.
At the heart of our well being philosophy lies the recognition of quality sleep as a cornerstone for physical and mental health. We encourage our students to prioritise sleep, aiming for a daily quota of 6-10 hours, depending on the individual and their age. Consistency is key, and establishing a routine ensures that our students reap the myriad benefits of adequate rest. Why is sleep so crucial? It's more than just a nightly rest; it's a vital process for growth and repair, mood regulation, and a shield against the onset of diseases such as cardiovascular issues, cancers, and dementia. We also advocate for exposure to natural light in the morning and late afternoon, as it not only enhances mood and focus but also contributes to the regulation of circadian rhythms.
Physical activity is not just a recommendation but a celebration of wellbeing at Epsom. We inspire our students to engage in 180-220 minutes of zone 2 activity, complemented by a day dedicated to VO2 max work. Beyond the physical benefits, regular movement stimulates neurogenesis, fostering a sense of accomplishment, reducing negative thoughts, and playing a pivotal role in regulating sleep patterns. Our students are not just encouraged to move; they are encouraged to find joy and purpose in the symphony of physical and mental wellbeing.
The old adage "You are what you eat" takes centre stage in our approach to nutrition. We advocate for quality foods, ensuring our students consume sufficient but not excessive calories. A diet rich in unprocessed or minimally processed foods becomes the fuel for growth, aids neurotransmitters, and supports cognitive function. It's not just about satisfying hunger; it's about providing the body and mind with the nutrients they need to thrive.
Within the welcoming walls of Espom, we recognize the profound impact of positive social connections on emotional wellbeing. We encourage our students to surround themselves with loving friends and family, fostering an environment filled with fond memories, laughter, and positivity. These connections serve as a powerful buffer against the challenges and tribulations that may arise, creating a tapestry of support that enriches their journey through academia and beyond.
Stress is an inevitable part of life, and at Epsom, we believe in equipping our students with effective strategies to navigate its complexities. Stress, when managed well, can bring out the best in us. Physiological techniques, such as controlled breathing, provide a simple yet powerful tool for stress management. A deep inhale through the nose, followed by another, and a long exhale through the mouth can create a moment of calm amidst life's storms.
In essence, the wellbeing initiatives at Epsom are not just guidelines; they are a living, breathing ethos that shapes the daily lives of our students. By embracing these principles, our aim is to empower each student with the resilience, positivity, and holistic wellbeing needed to not only succeed academically but also thrive in all aspects of life. At Epsom, we are not just shaping minds; we are nurturing flourishing individuals ready to take on the world.
Mr Dan Long,
Head of Boarding
Granville House Updates
Traditions
Each boarding house has a unique blend of diversity and camaraderie, providing our students with a home away from home. Beyond academics, our houses play a crucial role in shaping the holistic development of individuals. One integral aspect that contributes significantly to the rich tapestry of boarding life is the establishment and celebration of traditions.
Traditions, be they academic, cultural, or recreational, are the heartbeat of our houses, fostering a sense of belonging and creating memories that last a lifetime. Traditions create a sense of continuity and familiarity in an environment where students come from diverse backgrounds.
Whether it's house competitions such as chess, debate, athletics, house music, or simply enjoying a lovely bowl of ramen together, in Granville, some of these rituals include playing a quick game of snooker or table tennis before registration. These rituals become the glue that binds individuals into a cohesive unit. The repetition and anticipation of these activities contribute to a feeling of belonging, providing students with a shared identity that transcends their individual differences.
The bonds formed within a boarding house are often likened to those of a second family. Traditions play a pivotal role in fostering camaraderie among students. Epsom's regular boarding house trips are another tradition that enables students to build shared experiences. Thus, last week’s house trip to Xpark was very special as some of our students experienced go-karting for the first time. By experiencing these wonderful opportunities with your friends, it creates lasting memories that will be cherished.
In the fast-paced world of academics and extracurricular activities, traditions offer a pause button, allowing students to create memories. This week at Granville, we embraced diversity within traditions by celebrating a birthday through hand-feeding cake, a sign of respect and love. The memories created through traditions serve as anchors, providing a source of nostalgia and connection to one's alma mater.
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Prep School Updates
Need a boost? We got you. To extend the merriment of the Christmas break, children in the Prep School have been learning the importance of kindness, as a way to uplift others and develop self-esteem. We started by learning what a good compliment looks like in assembly, and now everyday we have a chance to spread joy and kindness by creating our own sincere, honest compliments to our friends and adults in school. Every morning, new compliments are delivered to each class by the Well-being Ambassadors. There have been some tremendously thoughtful comments so far, let’s keep it up.
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Are you a bucket filler or a bucket dipper? Let me explain. In PSHE, Year 3 & 4 learnt how we can be a ‘bucket filler’ by sharing, showing respect and being polite, amongst many other things. However, if we are a ‘bucket dipper’ we might show negativity towards other people. Every drop of encouragement and positivity you give to others can make a huge difference in their day. Be a bucket filler.
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But how can we express kindness in other ways? Year 5 & 6 know how. They have been making kindness rocks in PSHE, aimed at promoting the wellbeing of their peers in the playground. They painted small rocks with an inspirational message to support, encourage and enhance the welfare of the reader. We all need a little lift sometimes. We hope that if you read these rocks around school, it’ll give you the boost you need to get the best out of your day and be the rockstar you know you are.
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Kindness is contagious. Give a compliment, a smile or an encouraging word and you might start a chain that lasts forever. Looking deeper into kindness, Prep School children will all make a link on our kindness chain. With our efforts, we hope to inspire others to be the best they can be and support them to foster a sense of belonging and positive well-being.
But what next? Finding kindness within ourselves is just the starting block. Next week, we will start to look at gratitude and think deeply about who we are thankful for, in our everyday school lives. Maybe one of our letters of thanks might find its way to you…In the meantime, whatever you do today, make sure you Choose Kindness.
Mr Eyton-Jones
Wellbeing and Pastoral Leader of the Prep School
Drama Department News
The rehearsals for our Senior Production, "We Will Rock You - Schools Edition," are in full swing. The reality of a looming performance is both exciting and challenging, especially in the busy schedule of school life. The cast had the opportunity to showcase their preparation at the Christmas concert, and they did an awesome job!
I am so proud of the maturity of our performers, and this show promises to be a showstopper! In our last Friday Flyer, we met Sameer, and I am very pleased to give the perspective of some of our other principal performers.
Mrs Tamlyn Calder,
Head of Drama
"Hello! This year for the senior school musical, we are doing 'We Will Rock You.' I am playing Scaramouche: A rebel fighting against the 'Killer Queen' and 'Ga Ga' clones. I’m very excited to have this opportunity, and I can’t wait to perform. The most amazing thing is the fact that this production is a musical: I have only ever been in one, and I still remember all the songs and choreography (Especially since it’s 'Queen' songs). Music is one of my favorite things (as well as drama), so the combination of the two is exciting. I love working with my team members and the Saturday rehearsal pizza - Totally not bribing you to join productions in the future. We hope to see you there for the performance! Thank you!"
Eli, Year 12 Crawfurd
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"Being involved with 'We Will Rock You' is a whirlwind of an experience. Despite being an ex-GCSE Drama Student, I feel as though I continue to learn so much about characterisation and human empathy through this process, especially as I’m playing the main antagonist, Killer Queen. 'We Will Rock You' is perfectly cheesy and corny where it should be. However, the main highlight is — of course — the tracklist of classics by the legendary English rock band, Queen. The show is a spectacular display of nostalgia and music while also providing a highly relevant commentary on society’s excessive reliance on technology. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this production alongside such a wonderful, talented team.
— Maya, Year 12, Rosebery"
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"'We Will Rock You' is an awesome production as we get to learn a lot beyond what we could possibly expect and experience such amusing rehearsals with many amazing peers and teachers. The process is demanding for an A-Level student, but it perfectly balances the tiredness from the textbooks and classes, just like the sugar that I like to add to my black coffee. And of course, the essence of this production can never be something else apart from the music of the rock band Queen. Though, as a person who listens to K-pop most of the time, Queen’s music has always been one of those that you can easily sing along to and enjoy as much as their fans would. I believe by the end of the production, this will be the cream of the crop.
— Everest, Year 12, Propert"
A Message from Epsom Humanities Department
Even though it is still January, this year has already witnessed significant political events in the UK and the USA. With upcoming elections in both countries in 2024, it is an exciting time to be a Year 12 Politics student. Below are short articles about two events that occurred this week, along with an article on electoral systems.
UK Political Event: Parliamentary Defeat for Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Asylum Scheme
The UK government's contentious plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda faced a setback on Monday. The House of Lords voted 214 to 171 in favor of delaying the ratification of the new Rwanda treaty, introducing protections before deportation flights take off.
The safety of Rwanda bill, passed by the Commons last week, sparked a Tory row weakening the prime minister's authority. Despite Downing Street's assurance that flights won't be delayed, the Lords' vote indicates a pause in the implementation of the deal crucial for the asylum scheme.
Concerns raised by the House of Lords international agreements committee highlighted at least 10 issues requiring "significant additional legal and practical steps" for the safety of asylum seekers. This marks the first time since 2010 that the Lords approved a motion to delay an international treaty ratification.
The parliamentary defeat underscores growing concerns over the safety of asylum seekers under Rishi Sunak's Rwanda asylum scheme. As debates continue, the government faces increased scrutiny and calls for comprehensive safeguards.
By Imran, Ajit, Ryan, Keeshan
US Election 2024: An Update on the Political Landscape
As the US gears up for the 2024 elections, the Republican primary in Iowa has already produced a decisive winner: Donald Trump. Winning 98 out of 99 counties, Trump maintains a strong position. Surprisingly, Ron DeSantis, once a frontrunner, dropped out, supporting Trump due to a lackluster campaign.
Trump's legal challenges loom over this election. If found guilty, questions about his ethical standing and candidacy will arise. The political landscape, after President Joe Biden's challenging four years, adds to the intrigue. The year promises to be fruitful for our politics group, providing ample material to explore.
By Sameer, Vincent, Nicholas, Bill
The Best Voting System: A Student Perspective
In the whirlwind of pros and cons surrounding voting systems, we, as Year 12 students, navigate the debate. Focusing on the UK government, we explore the Single Transferable Vote (STV) and Supplementary Vote (SV) systems.
STV, used in multi-member constituencies, aims for proportional representation. Supplementary Vote (SV) focuses on single-winner elections, ensuring a candidate wins with more support. Among these, SV stands out for its balance between representation and simplicity.
While First Past the Post (FPTP) has drawbacks, complex systems like AMS or STV may cause voter fatigue. SV, as seen in the election of mayors like Sadiq Khan in London, strikes a balance—considering people's wants without overwhelming
Yi En, Aisha,Aisy
Epsom Golf Academy Staff and Student Briefing in Pictures
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Our Epsom Golf Facilities are now fully functioning and staff and students are keen to start using them! Our Academy Staff arranged a briefing session for our staff and students so that they are able to fully benefit from the facilities…
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Epsom Sixth Form Spring Festival Social in Pictures
This week students in Years 12 & 13 organised a social event to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival together. As you can see from the pictures, it was a special event and precious memories were made…
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Making Memories
Students had a great time during the weekend trip to the Go Kart track and bowling alley. Staff want to thank the students who were an absolute delight to be with. They were all patient, accommodating and polite throughout the trip. It was a lovely way to end the week.
Some of the highlights were…
- Genki decided to come and really enjoyed socialising with friends.
- Sharing Molly’s birthday with her friends on the trip
- Enabling some students to try bowling and go karting for the first time.
- Watching some students be very nervous before going karting, but then asking to go again as soon as they finished.
- Positive feedback from staff who accompanied the trip and enjoyed spending time with the students.
I am grateful for all you do to persuade students to attend and collate lists and thank you to Zaira for helping us with the transport.
Mrs Helen Miller,
Housemistress, Crawfurd House.
Marvelous Music
Dear All,
Recently, I had the opportunity to perform with a small string ensemble of the MPYO at the official inauguration of the iconic tower Merdeka 118
Menara Merdeka 118, standing at 678.9m with 118 floors, the world’s second tallest tower, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is 828m, was officially opened by Yang di Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. His Majesty was accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
We performed for the guests during dinner as well as during the sand art performance. I am proud to be a part of the historic celebration and also got to witness the historic tower facade light up and laser show illuminating the city skyline
Event:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C17YNGvJz-e/?igsh=cmZkd3l4eXk4NHo0
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/g6MWxv3nuimzYaYY/?mibextid=9R9pXO
Tower light up:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ZnGT1ZqpiAycanbC/?mibextid=9R9pXO
Here are the Official photos from when I performed with the MPYO:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ircD1kjqLxgt2Shb/?mibextid=9R9pXO
Regards,
Anna, Year 8 Crawfurd House
Siha's Trip to Africa
Africa, a place I have only ever heard of. To go there myself at the age of eleven seemed to only remain as a dream, until… Last year, in February 2023, I first came to Africa for my parent’s business trip. Luckily, they were able to allow me to go to the Safari first since I just LOVE animals except insects of course 🙂
Honestly I wasn’t too excited to go to the farm but what I saw there was shocking. After my fun trip to the Safari which we stayed for 2 nights (It’s a safari resort), we went to the Kevier farm where I saw children about the same age as me, or younger, working under the sun for hours on end. They all were wearing worn out clothes with gaunt bodies and were working under the scorching heat busily.
They all looked friendly and stared in wonder as my mom clicked pictures of them with her camera. I tried to talk to them but they weren’t able to speak English and speaked in their own language. I hated that they weren’t able to learn English and had to work but reality hits hard. When I looked at them, I saw how tired and weary they were. But still there were smiles on their faces which I really admired. I know I could never work out there under the sun from dawn to dusk while still being optimistic.
While my parents were busy taking pictures and talking about “important business deals” I went next to a girl and decided to help take out the rotten coffee beans. She smiled at me and held my hand, teaching me gently on which beans were good and which were not. I easily picked it up but soon realized that this was a very delicate job and needed keen eyes.
After helping them I grabbed a few chocolates from my bag and handed it out to some of them (sadly I didn’t bring enough at that time so not all could share it…) But they all ate the chocolates with happy eyes and satisfied smiles so I guess it wasn’t too bad. Before leaving, the Ethiopian children sang their work song for us and waved goodbye. It was a good thing we left or else my mom would have burst into tears. (Don’t get me wrong I felt touched as well, I just don’t cry easily!)
Last year I made a big mistake in not being able to bring enough snacks for the children, but this year I’m going to fix that. Of course, me and my parents are going to buy stationeries for the children but if anyone would like to hand out donations, feel free to give them out to me! (Don’t worry, I’m not going to keep them for myself or anything!) I’m thinking of making a charity sale for these childrens. I hope my short story touched your hearts like it did to mine. I’ll be going to Africa on the 7th of February. Again, see you soon!
By Siha,
Rosebery House
So, Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading our Epsom Friday Flyer and we wish you all the very best for a restful weekend.
Happy Friday from us all at Epsom.
🙂
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