Latest News | Hugh Sexey C of E Middle School

Yr 8s' German Christmas Market Trip

Wed 30 Nov 2016 Mrs Harris

We have arrived, safely and tiredly, following a non eventful journey and a very calm crossing. We stopped for a brief look at Aachen Christmas market, and then made our way to the Cologne youth hostel for our first evening meal. As I write several of our pupils have taken themselves to bed, and others are playing in the games room, before being encouraged to have an early night ready for a busy day tomorrow. Gute Nacht!

Winners of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

Tue 29 Nov 2016 Mrs Warrell

Lions International Peace Poster Contest 2016/17

“A CELEBRATION OF PEACE”

Congratulations to Ewan for being chosen as the winner of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest 2016-17 at Hugh Sexey C of E Middle School.

Well done also to the two Runners up, Alyssa and Sophie, and to all of the 153 pupils in Year 8 who took part in this annual competition. The posters are judged on their originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the theme, which this year was “A Celebration of Peace” to mark the centenary of Lions Club International.

Ewan was up against stiff competition as there were so many excellent posters, from which the judges had to choose just one winner to go on to the SW District level of the contest. The judges were particularly impressed with the thoughtful way in which pupils had expressed the theme.

Lion Janet Clark, President of Cheddar Vale Lions Club, who sponsor this Peace Poster Contest, presented the winning students with their certificates and prizes during KS3 Assembly on Monday 28th November.

Animal Zumba for Children in Need

Thu 24 Nov 2016 Mrs Allen

Children in need - Animal Zumba
Well done to our year eight sports leaders who led a very successful Zumba session on Friday 18th November.
There was a massive turn out which included some very strange looking staff members.
Thank you for all the support.
The Zumba raised £128.70
Well done all.

WW1 Battlefields Trip with Alex and Anna - Day 4

Thu 24 Nov 2016 Ms Taylor

Day 4 - the last day: Today we woke up knowing that by tonight we'd be sleeping in our own beds, but before that we had 3 more desitinations to visit on our tour of the World War One Battlefields. Our first stop was back in Ypres, revisiting the Menin Gate. Our focus question for the day was "Is remembrance more or less important 100 years on." We looked carefully at the names on the memorial, considering the contributions made by members of the British Empire, most of whom came a very long distance, voluntarily, to serve King and Empire... the Indians, the Nepalese, the South Africans, the Australians, the New Zealanders and the Canadians. We then walked into the town to visit a pottery where we each made a specially designed clay figure, which will become part of a memorial art installation to be placed in No mans land in 2018. There will be 600,000 figures in total; one for each soldier and civilian who died on Belgian soil during the First World War.

We then travelled to Langemark Cemetery, a German burial site. The children expected the gravesite to be different than those established and kept by the CWGC, and they were right. All of the grave markers were in a black stone and instead of a cleared site, the German soldiers, many of whom died elsewhere and were brought here for their final burial, lie beneath oak trees. The sheer number of soldiers interned at the site is staggering, 44,000. This makes it significantly larger than any CWGC cemetery or memorial site.

We finished our tour at Theipval Cemetery and Memorial, the largest of the all of the Commonweath and Empire memorials. We all began the trip by loggin onto a website designed to help us find out more about the lives of the people of the First World War. We researched Edward Card of the Somerset Light Infantry who died somewhere on the Ypres Salient. His body was never found and he is remembered by the engraving of his name on a panel on the memorial wall. Fittingly, it was raining as we looked across the vast landscape, which set the somber tone for our final moments of personal reflection.

I know Alex and Anna have learned an enormous amount of the battles of the Ypres Salient and the Somme. I have learned so much as well. However, I think what we will all take away most from this experience is just how important it is to remember the individual people. Individuals who had families and people who loved them, but who were all willing to risk their lives, and many who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.

We look forward to sharing our Legacy Project with you soon.

WW1 Battlefields Trip with Anna and Alex - day 3

Wed 23 Nov 2016 Ms Taylor

Day 3 - we began the day at Beaumont-hamel, at the location where the Newfoundlanders went over the top, on the first of July 1916 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme. We saw the remenants of the trenches (St. Johns road, Uxbridge Road, Fethard... and the Front Line) through which the 1st Battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment marched forward, across a most disadvantageous position towards the German line position, losing nearly 70% of its men. The monument of 'the caribou' reminds us of their sacrifice.

We proceeded toward 'the sunken road' from where the famous image was captured of the mines being detonated along the ridge south of Serre. We learned about the failure in tactics and the lessons learned and then experienced a reinactment of the terrible walk across no-mans-land... the death walk. Alex, Anna and I didn't get far before symbolically being shot down in our tracks.

After lunch we visited the Devonshire's cemetery; a most moving experience. To see where our nearest County neighbours lie, walking the ground they walked, and standing where they fell was heartbreaking. It was however, also amazing to imagine the commeraderie of the regeiment to know that, comfortingly, they lie together for eternity.

The afternoon's stop was at Catepillar cemetery, and to demonstrate how far the pupils had come in their understanding of the terrain, they were let loose with a map and told to interpret the landscape, apply their knowledge and come back and tell the story. And fundamentally, the story is one of lessons learned... moving forward, acquiring enemy trenches, using new technology (the tank) and trusting the command of the officers on the ground. By Autumn 1916, the Germans were being pushed back.

We finished the afternoon at the Thiepval Memorial and Cemetery. Here is the monument to the missing of the Battle of the Somme, and where we found on panel 6A the name of Leiutenant Edward James Smith of the 8th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment - Science Master at Hugh Sexey School and son of the Head Teacher. It was a most incredible and moving experience.

We ended the day, by investigating the changes in a soldier's kit and provision from WWI to today. We have 3 serving soldiers with us on this trip, and tonight we were able to try on and compare the clothing, armour, first aid and food provision from 1916 and 2016. Surprisingly, although the materials have changed and the equipment developed, the same basic needs exist today for soldiers on the front line as did 100 years ago.... food, water, camouflage , warmth, first aid and protection.

WW1 Battlefields Trip with Anna and Alex- Day 2

Wed 23 Nov 2016 Ms Taylor

Day 2 - Wow. What an amazing day. We began the day at what used to be the largest field hospital behind the lines near Ypres. Although 10 miles behind the lines, the wounded would reach the hospital within 24 hours, where they were treated for their injuries. The direct rail link to the north coast meant that those soldiers who were unable to return to battle were transported home easily, to convalece in the UK. Those who were unable to be saved were buried in the adjacent cemetery. In Lissenthoek cemetery, we learned the life stories of a number of the dead, and found the grave site of the highest ranking Canadian soldier, Major General Malcolm Mercer of the Queens Own Rilfes, Canada, to be killed.

In the afternoon, we visited three Memorial Museum Passchendaele. We were able to browse freely through the museum and came to understand a great deal about technology advancements throughout the war..... advancement in chemical weapon attack and defence, advancement in medicine and changes in the roles of women, just to name a few. We also got to understand how the war was played out underground, in bunkers, tunnel and trenches. It was really enlightening to see the differences between the German and Allied defences.

The evening ended with a visit to the Menin Gate, a monument to the missing. Each evening The Last Post is played and wreaths are laid. I was very proud to watch Anna and Alex lay a wreath in remembrance of all of the Hugh Sexey soldiers lost in battle during WWI. We ended the evening by locating the name of Private Francis Tucker, of Providence House, Wedmore and the North Somerset Yeomany on the 5th panel, commemorating his death at Ypres on 17 November, 1917

WW1 Battlefields Trip with Anna and Alex - Day1

Wed 23 Nov 2016 Ms Taylor

Day 1: Today we travelled to Grosvenor Hall in Kent for for the first day of activities on our trip. We are here with pupils and teachers from all over the southwest including 5 Somerset Middle Schools. We have had lessons after tea, learning how to use the Lives of the First World War website to find out about the men on our HSMS honour board. We then had an artefact handleiing session. Have a look at the picture below. Can you figure out what the artefact were for?

KS2- Tim Peake Space Project

Mon 21 Nov 2016 Mrs Edmonds

KS2 were joined by Jo Richardson to launch the very exciting Tim Peake Primary Project last week. As well as launching the project, ten mini space ambassadors were nominated to help lead the project. We are looking forward to lots of exciting space-themed activities throughout the year.

House Matches- Hockey

Mon 21 Nov 2016 Mrs Allen

The house hockey has gone very well this week.

All year groups enjoyed their afternoon of hockey. For the year seven and eights it was particularly cold and yet the support and positive energy remained throughout.

The skill level is high and the girls should feel proud of their achievements in this sport this term. It was particularly pleasing to witness some of the year eight boys taking part in the house hockey this week.

Well done to all.

Results

Year five Winners Normans

Year six Winners Vikings

Year seven Winners. Normans

Year eight winners Celts

Kate Allen Judith Callow

House Rugby Matches

Mon 21 Nov 2016 Mr McGrath

Well done to all the players who represented their houses in the rugby competition. There was a high standard throughout the competition and many of the players have shown real signs of development.

In year 5 the Saxons were the overall winners. Celts secured first place in year 6. The year 7 prize went to the Celts also and the Saxons were the winners in year 8.

Thanks to Mr Waterfield, Mr Lamb, the sports leaders and all the teachers who lent their support.