A teacher at Colston’s Lower School, whose younger brother was born with a severe heart defect, broke up for Easter with a single-minded purpose.

Heather Blackley will be pounding the streets of Bristol in an attempt to make a successful debut in the Flora London Marathon on 17 April.
She successfully ran her first half marathon earlier this month, and is training relentlessly to reach the finishing line in the Mall for the South West Children’s Heart Circle.

The charity, which has 10 places in the London Marathon, offers support, counselling and visiting for the families of all children with heart conditions who live in the South West, and has more than 1000 families in membership.

Colston’s colleague John Fitzpatrick, who teaches business studies at the Upper School and already has marathons under his belt, will be running with Heather on the big day – also for the Heart Circle.

Heather was 14 when her brother Richard was born, and he has undergone six major heart operations during his 15 years.

“Richard has never been able to go to school, let alone play sports,” said Heather. “He has been home-educated, and is now doing his GCSEs. “Last year the Heart Circle raised £19,000 in sponsorship from runners in the London Marathon and bought a treadmill and an incubator for the cardiac unit at Bristol Children’s Hospital. ”This year our fundraising will support a telemedicine project enabling video links to be established between the Children’s Hospital and patients in order to reduce unnecessary travel.” “I have never run a marathon before,” she added. “I started training before Christmas and have got up to 15 miles, so in London I’ll be entering unknown territory.”

To support Heather fundraising for the South West Children’s Heart Circle, telephone 0870 125 2307.

Both Colston’s boys and girls reached the semi-finals of the world’s largest rugby tournament – the Rosslyn Park School Sevens.

The boys drew on big match experience to win five matches before losing 26-17 in the semi-finals to the eventual winners Ivybridge.

But most of the girls were making their competitive debut after taking up the game in the autumn. They won four matches to reach the semis where they went down 15-0 to Wycombe High School.

Only Laura Keates and Elena Bennett play club rugby. Laura (16), a loose head prop, made her international debut last month for England Under 19s in a 5-5 draw with Wales at Coventry.

Colston’s boys rattled up153 points and conceded 77. The girls’ tally was 115 for and 51 against.

For both teams it was their best year at the Sevens. The school has put out a girls team only once before.

Results in detail:

Colston’s boys: R1 bt Cwmcarn 24-12, R2 bt London Oratory 26-12, R3 bt Oakham 24-10, Group winners’ knock-out bt King’s Macclesfield 22-12, QF bt Lymm 40-5, SF lost to Ivybridge 26-17

Colston’s girls: R1 bt Truro College 27-10, R2 bt John Cleveland 26-0, R3 bt Berhampstead 41-0, Group winners’ knock-out bt Llandovery 21-5, SF lost to Wycombe High 15-0

Colston’s Laura Keates (16) who has made her international debut at prop for England Under 19s.

Your school needs you –
Oliver Mirnezami practices his public speaking skills in the library at Colston’s School with team-mates Helena Ciamil and Sam Orme.
The trio went on to sweep the board at the Bristol Public Speaking Competition for Schools

A trio from Colston’s has swept the board at the Bristol Public Speaking Competition for Schools – winning first prize in all four categories.

It is the first time in 26 years that one school has had a clean sweep at the event organised by Bristol Rotary Club. Thirteen-year-old Oliver Mirnezami of Bishop Sutton spoke on the subject: “I’m a Year 9 school kid – get me out of here”. His session was chaired by Sam Orme (13) of Westbury-on-Trym and the vote of thanks was proposed by Helena Ciamil (14) from Frenchay. The judges awarded them the team prize and awarded all three individual prizes to the Colston’s competitors.

On Friday 25th February many parents, friends and teachers met in the dining hall for a `Curry and Quiz’ night. The hall was in fact packed and seats were hard to come by.

Teams of ten began with a game of `stand up bingo’. Numbers were called out and if the number was on your card, you sat back down again. The winner was the last one standing. This was just the `teaser’ before the serious quiz began.

Each round, including topics from Art & Literature, Entertainment, and Geography had ten demanding questions (well they were if you did not know the answer!). Each team had to mark another group’s script after each round. You had never seen such competition. It was fierce!

Curry was served during a natural break in proceedings. This was very tasty, washed down with one’s own choice of `poison’. On the table was a monopoly round. Would you know what colour and price Fleet Street or The Water Works were?

With more rounds to follow the curry, the competition became even more intense. Winners were cheered from the rafters and excitement overcame the team winning the wooden spoon.

A very enjoyable evening was had by all. Many thanks to the Parents Society who organised such an event, and especially the Quiz Master, Mr Mick Hubbard. (Ray Mardle)

The secret wishes of 36 nursery and reception children at Colston’s Lower School took to the skies over Bristol for Chinese New Year – attached to a flotilla of red and yellow balloons.

It was part of a range of Chinese activities set up for the children, aged 3-5 years, including Chinese writing, making dragon puppets, colouring sheets and using chopsticks.

“Even at nursery and reception stage children are encouraged to make sense of the world around them, and Chinese New Year is an opportunity for them to become aware of and explore a different culture and language,” explained Head of Lower School Caroline Aspden.

Reverend Chris Burley joins the Religious Studies Department, teaching year seven, following the departure of Reverend Mark Cregan. Revd Burley spends the remainder of his time at Filton High School where he is in his twenty-eighth year and as associate minister at Zion United Church in Frampton Cotterell.

Miss Rebecca Davies joins the History Department, replacing Ed Moon, teaching History and coaching the U14 hockey team. Miss Davies joins the department after teaching a mixture of History, PSE and hockey in Gloucester.

Mr Neil Phillipson joins the ICT department with responsibility for ICT and the computer club. Previous to joining Colston's he has worked as a supply teacher in North Wales, as a translator and interpreter, and has been employed in the IT industry.

Ms Sophie Victor joins the Modern Foreign Languages Department teaching French and Spanish. Ms Victor has taught in Plaistow, London and Valencia, Spain and joins Colston's on a temporary basis.

The lives of 60 victims of leprosy have been saved as a result of the latest fundraising at Colston’s School.
Pupils in Years 7 and 8 raised £1265 by developing their aerobic skills and staging a special charity workout.
The school has supported LEPRA for several years. This latest fundraising effort was a record, and the charity’s Regional Community Fundraiser Lesley Mynett responded by presenting pupils with a plaque.
“It costs £21 to save a life from leprosy,” she told them. “You really have made a difference and should be very proud of that.”
Senior Housemaster Ray Mardle added: “This was a great effort alongside all the other needs which pupils support. We have also sent a cheque for £1600 to the tsunami appeal.”

LEPRA Community Fundraiser Lesley Mynett presents a special plaque to Colston’s Senior Housemaster Ray Mardle. Pictured with them are eight of the young fundraisers (from the top left to right) Max Tarr (11), Jay Forrester (12), Sophie Coulthard (11) Shaun Hickman (12), Stephanie Gardiner and Aisha Ali (both11), Zak Bond and Luke Bailey (both12).

Colstons made a successful start to the squash season in the first match against Monkton Combe. Colstons were able to win 5 from the 6 matches with Sam Leung and Tom Arnold’s matches being the most contested. The scores were: T Arnold: 1-3; S Leung: 3-2; K Chen: 3-0; L Martin: 3-0; J Withers: 3-1; J Milne: 3-0

The next match is against Clifton next week.

"I was on holiday with my family this Christmas on the island of Kho Lanta in the Andaman Sea, Thailand.

We were at the hotel and about 8 o’clock in the morning when we felt a rumble and were not sure what it was. We didn’t realise until much later that it was a tremor from an earthquake.

I came back from swimming to the hotel room where my mum and my sister were. All of a sudden there was a lot of commotion and people were running back from the beach and there was water everywhere, underneath all the rooms. My mum thought it was a burst pipe at first, but then she asked somebody what was happening, and was told that there had been an enormous wave, about 4 metres, that crashed onto the front of the resort and into the swimming pool.

An American who lived in Hawaii told us that it was a tsunami and we could expect more waves. We went to investigate and saw people in the sea trying to swim. Another huge wave was heading our way so we just ran as fast as we could.

My dad had been in the village and he saw people shutting up their shops in a hurry. They said that Phuket and Phi Phi islands, which were very close to us, were under water and that there had been an earthquake. He went straight to the pier to look out to sea and find out what was happening and saw debris and water everywhere and another wave coming in. At that point he sped back to us at the resort to warn us, just as the second wave hit.
We didn’t know what was going to happen next as reports were coming in and were not very clear. The hotel told us to pack up our valuables and meet at the reception where they were going to evacuate up to higher ground.
We were all very worried and there were people who couldn’t find family members.

Dive boats had gone out and hadn’t come back so we weren’t sure whether they had survived or not.

The higher ground turned out to be a rubber plantation on a hillside slightly inland but we could still see the sea.
People started arriving in bare feet with cuts, bruises and gashes all over. Children were crying and their parents were traumatized as they had come from hotels that had been wiped out. I felt terrified and all I could think about was going home.

Later, at about 6pm we were allowed to go back to our hotel for some food. The tremor didn’t happen and the wave never came. We were told that there may be another tremor at 7pm but we would have lots of notice if another wave was coming. Nothing else happened but I didn’t sleep very well that night.

The next day we realised how bad it had been, the wave had destroyed many hotels and restaurants along the beach. It was very, very sad to see and I couldn’t believe how lucky we had been, our hotel was the only one built to withstand a tidal wave.

We helped clean up the beach of rubbish because it was the least we could do to help. The Thai people had been so kind and helpful to us. The local people were still in a state of panic. The Sea Gypsies had just fled to higher ground, they thought another wave was coming.

We stayed on Kho Lanta another 2 days because it was important that the sick and injured were taken off the island first. 12 people died on our island.

It was an experience I will never forget."

…is the watchword of the Current Affairs Group, recently set up at Colston’s.
Diverse discussion is the essence of our Group. Debate can often be intense, but overall the atmosphere is one that is relaxed and, above all, enjoyable. Every week we discuss a topical issue from the news, national or international, whether it be social, political or something entirely different.

In the past we’ve talked about subjects ranging from abortion to the war in Iraq; from the death sentence to our place in Europe. Every half term we have a special competition or event: recently it was a presentation on the many political parties in Britain. No matter what the issue is, we all have an opinion, and so probably do you: no matter what the issue is, we have a say and we have a part in it.

It takes place every Thursday in the Snaith Room of the Library (the back, quiet study room) from 4pm-5pm. Anyone can join our little community; all ages and interests are welcomed. If there is a parents’ evening or school event in the Snaith Room, then the discussion will take place in the Private Study (P.S.) Room. You can take part by suggesting a topic or by organising a special event. Discussion is both exciting and enlightening; you will meet new people and hear differing views. In the upcoming weeks, as well as talking about new, challenging issues we hope to organise refreshments..

So, just come along and join in: no formal membership is required. We hope to see you soon, at a place where you decide.

Jordan Perry
Chairman

In a new scheme to help younger pupils with their maths, Lower 6th students taking AS Level Maths have been given the opportunity to help teach pupils in Years 7 to 10. The scheme was initiated by Mr. Jones, Head of Maths, and involves one or more sixth-former going along to a lesson once a week, and helping the pupils whenever they get stuck on a question. The Year 7 and 8 pupils particularly benefit hugely from this, as it means they can receive more individual attention in their lessons, and they will hopefully achieve more in future exams.

The sixth-formers were keen to take this opportunity as they can remember being in the same position as the younger pupils. They are gaining valuable experience of integrating with younger people, and they enjoy being able to help others using the skills they themselves have learned in Maths over the years.

Here’s what some of the 6th form students involved think of the experience:

This is an excellent chance to give something back to the school. It is a fulfilling experience; I really enjoy mixing with the younger pupils of the school and helping them with their Maths, as I feel it is such an important skill.
Charlotte Collins

Helping with Year 7 Maths allows me to interact with the lower years and get to know the newcomers to the school. It is a really enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
Penny Kawecki

Article by: Sarah Hartles and Laura Keates

From this September students entering the sixth form at Colston’s have been able to apply for an EMA: an Education Maintenance Allowance. This government-funded scheme entitles students from family homes with annual incomes of £30,000 or less to payments of between £10 and £30 per week, as long as attendance is regular. Ten current members of the Lower Sixth are receiving this payment and have found it a very significant factor in influencing their decision to stay in post-16 education.

Members of the school’s current Year 11 will be receiving information about the scheme in due course.

The 230 pupils at Colston’s Lower School ended term in a spellbinding fashion, raising over £4,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust from a sponsored spellathon.

An official from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust will visit the school to receive a cheque early in the new year, but prizes were issued at the end of term assembly to star performers.

Awards included books with Cystic Fibrosis Trust certificates attached to the inside front covers plus tee shirts and vouchers.

Nine-year-old Rhys Preston-Allen raised the most money - £155. Three others, Andrew Bowen, Jamie Walsh (both10) and Rhiannon Adams (9) each raised over £130.

Other pupils who raised a lot of money included:: Nursery - Xenia Butler (3), Reception - Sam Johnson (4), Year 1 - Steven Elford (6), Year 2 - Callum Prescott (6), Year 3 - Courtney Vinicombe (8), Year 4 - Harrison Ball (8), Year 5 - Callum Wallis (10) and Year 6 - Samuel Crew (11).

“The Spellathon was an excellent fund-raising event because everyone in the school could take part,” said Caroline Aspden, Head of Lower School. “Even the children in nursery and reception were involved as they were sponsored to learn their colours and letter sounds.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of parents and friends in their support of our chosen charity and are very grateful indeed for the money received.

“We look forward to hearing how the funds will be used when the Trust collects our cheque in January.”