Blog week ending 12th May

What a thrilling .. and ultimately truimpant football match!  Our Year 9 U14 team battled their way to an incredible victory against Hurstmere Boys School to lift the North Kent Cup.  We are immensly proud of our amazing team who have shown incredible skill, resilence and team spirit throughout the competiton.  A very proud Mr Procter has provided the below match report.

"On Friday the 5^th of May 2023, the sun was shining and the pitch at the Kuflink stadium (Home of Ebbsfleet FC) had been watered ready for the highly anticipated U14 North Kent Cup Final between Stone Lodge School and Hurstmere Secondary School. A prestigious competition that I lost in 3 finals whilst still at school!

As the players and managers walked out of the tunnel at the Kuflink Stadium and took stance in the middle of the pitch there was an almighty roar and cheers from the huge crowd of Stone Lodge staff, students, parents and carers ready to support the boys throughout the game. The atmosphere was electric, similar to that experienced during a Wembley Stadium Cup Final! Staff had made banners and pom-poms in Stone Lodge colours to show their support! One final photo opportunity before kick-off and a last-minute team huddle before the boys lined up ready for kickoff. Game on.

The game started in emphatic fashion with Hurstmere trying to keep possession of the ball in the early minutes but the pressing from Stone Lodge allowed us to win the ball back and play on the counterattack toward Hurstmere's goal. It wasn't long before a great pass similar to a prime Cesc Fabregas from Archie O to Isaac S who was through on goal 1v1 with the goalkeeper. A calm composed finish around the keeper and the ball hit the back of the net to put Stone Lodge Up 1-0 vs Hurstmere the Current Kent cup winners. The Crowd went wild and the roof of the Kuflink literally came off!

The rest of the first half was an end-to-end affair with multiple opportunities to score from both teams. However, a good first half performance from Stone Lodge goalkeeper Harvey O and Captain George B allowed a comfortable 1-0 scoreline at halftime.

Hurstmere starting brightly in the second half, keeping a good amount of possession causing Stone Lodge to defend deep in their half. Defenders Leon A, George B and Callum R were able to withstand the attacking pressure but 20 minutes into the 2^nd half Hurstmere scored from a cross from their left hand side, tieing the game 1-1. The second half continued with a back and forth game and ended at full time 1-1. Extra time.

Extra time started with both teams going for the win and a few good shots on target from both Stone lodge and Hurstmere. It wasn't untill the last minute of extra time when a Callum R throw in on the left hand side found Sam R's chest. The ball was shifted to Isaac S who rifled the ball into the far post of the goal with his weaker foot. The atmosphere in the Kuflink exploded and the Stone Lodge Fans went crazy with celebrations!

The final whistle blew minutes later with Stone Lodge being crowning North Kent Cup Champions!

Massive Thankyou to Ebbsfleet FC for hosting and all parents, students, staff and fans for supporting us in this historic moment game."

The FA Cup women’s final which will see Manchester United take on Chelsea to battle it out for the FA Cup trophy.  Miss Haines and Miss Rudd will be attending with members of the Stone Lodge girls football team .. for what will be a memorable and inspiring match!  Players will include Lioness winners of the Euro 2022 trophy!

Our Year 10 Engineering and History students visited Berlin in Germany to support their GCSE studies.  During the trip students visited Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, a German Nazi labour camp used to hold political prisoners during World War II.  The camp included a gas chamber and medical experimentation area – over 50,000 were killed on the site.  Today the site stands as a memorial and is a place of mourning and commemoration as well as a modern museum of contemporary history.  It was a deeply moving visit, which galvanized learning from the classroom, revealing the horrors of wartime.

In contrast, the tour of the BMW ifactory experience in Berlin and was an aspirational tour of best practice and precision engineering.  The extensive tour of the motorbike plant allowed students an unrivalled view of world class motor engineering.

Additionally, students visited historic sites including the remains of the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.

Sam A of 10D commented “My Berlin experience was very enjoyable. I enjoyed the tours and thought West Berlin was really cool. The bowling was fun - I was doing really badly in the first few rounds but I ended up coming 2^nd! Overall, it was a good experience and was my first time on a plane as well!”

Ernie of 10B added “I really enjoyed Berlin and liked going to the top of the TV tower and seeing the views from the top.  One of the saddest part was seeing the concentration camp and realising how many people suffered in the camp and seeing the living conditions. The BMW factory was cool, you could see how they made motorbikes and tested the engines. I enjoyed going bowling and seeing Mr Naylor getting strikes and shouting “I’ve still got it”, he kept making us all laugh. I want to say thanks to all the teachers for making it so fun. The one bit of advice I would give is bring a lot of money because there are plenty of shops to spend it .. and the McDonalds the menu is worth trying, it was amazing!

Miss Archibald, Head of Music collaborated with Mrs Dent at Wilmington Grammar School for Girls in a joint choir performance and recording of the ‘Coronation Song’.  Students had a great time recording the ‘Coronation Song’ together at Wilmington Grammar School for Girls. Please have a listen to our wonderful singers by clicking here

As part of our activities to mark the King’s Coronation Mr Naylor delivered an assembly to give students an insight into our new King and his work and charitable contributions.  An excerpt of his assembly can be read below;

Mr Matthew’s Year 7 Geographers have been investigating the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport and the potential impact on the local environment and economy.  Factors students explored include increased demand for air travel and the new jobs it would create as well as the loss of 700 homes together with sections of the green belt, and air and noise pollution.  Students evaluated the views of both groups – those in favour and those opposed to draw their own conclusions on the proposals.

Year 10 triple science GCSE students were completing some titrations in chemistry this week to determine the exact volume of sulfuric acid needed to neutralise 25.0ml of sodium hydroxide. This is a practical that relies on accuracy and skill. It involved using appropriate apparatus to make and record a range of measurements accurately, including volume of liquids. Most got the answer correct to the nearest 0.1ml! 

The Stone Lodge Drama and Music departments are excited to announce that the very first school musical will be… Bugsy Malone!  Students across the school can take part in a performing capacity, supporting backstage as stagehands, working as technicians or front of house etc.  We held a successful round of auditions this week whereby students performed a prepared monologue/duologue and song excerpt. The final cast has now been selected and students have been given their roles in the show.

The musical itself will be held over two nights on the 11^th and 12^th July 2023 – More details to follow.

On the 4^th May, Year 7 and 8 students attended a superb performance of Annie at the Orchard Theatre. The young cast were such an inspiration to our budding performers. For all information relating the opportunities and happenings in the Drama department, please check out our Twitter page: @StoneLodgeDrama or contact Mr Bailey directly via email: jbailey@stonelodgeschool.co.uk

Across the school students have been voting for their Student Council representatives.  Each candidate delivers their prepared ‘manifesto’ to outline the topics important to them and aspects of school life they would like to contribute to if successful.  Pictured below, the form candidates for Mr Barron’s form, Carly, Victoria, Isabell and Rio – Good luck everyone!

Congratulations to Billy K of Year 8 who has been confirmed as the Year 9 captain of Dartford District captain next season.  Billy is an accomplished sportsmen and role model for our students, we are incredibly proud of his many footballing achievements.

Inflatables Fun Day at Brands Hatch Saturday 20th May.  Join us for a Sponsored Inflatable 5K obstacle course challenge!  32 inflatable obstacles... 5k distance... lots of adrenaline.  All sponsorship monies go to support PTFA schemes in school benefiting our children’s learning experience.  If you would like to join us on the day and take part in the event please book a ticket on the 9.15am wave by clicking here

Our PTFA do so much to support us and our students and having funded and organised in-school events and treats as well as managing our pre-loved uniform shop .. donating books to our library, subsidising our stationary shop and much more.  There are three things you can do to help 

- sign up: If you want to sign up click here

- donate: As a member of our school community please consider making a donation click here

- cheer us on: If you would like to turn up to have a picnic and cheer us on please do! Spectators can enter the grounds free of charge to support our team. There is a parking fee of £5 per car and there will be food and drink stalls on the day.

PTFA Pre-Loved Uniform shop.  Please consider donating any items of uniform to our shop - just drop any items off in reception and they will pass them to us!  For our current stock availability and price list please email PTAuniform@stonelodgeschool.co.uk

Forthcoming dates;

DofE Practice Exhibition – Friday 12^th May – Saturday 13^th May

Year 7 & 8 music workshops – Monday 15^th May and Tuesday 16^th May

End of Term 5 – Friday 26^th May

First Day of Term 6 – Monday 5^th June

Year 10 Parents’ Evening – Thursday 8^th June

 

Best wishes,

 

Gavin Barnett

Head Teacher