On Thursday 10th November, 30 students, who are considering pursuing a college pathway, visited both the Broxbourne and Ware Hertford Regional College campuses. They visited different departments and thoroughly enjoyed participating in taster sessions in Hairdressing and Art & Design.
The remainder of the year group had taster lessons in A Level subjects that they are thinking of studying in September. These students were able to attend sample sessions in every subject offered.
Last week Year 11 Russian took part in the International Spelling Bee with our partner school in Yakutsk (https://arctic-school.com/en/home/). Mrs Willett was proud of all of Year 11 for being willing to try something new. Congratulations in particular to Venus Sahan and Daisy Reid for making it to the second round and very well done to Esme Sabin as the overall winner. Our students were surprised to find out that whilst we were in lesson 1, the students in Siberia had finished school and also that it was -40 there! We heard a performance of the traditional local instrument called a khomus and found out a bit about each other’s hobbies.
It is that time of the year when the nights seem to be drawing in, but as has become traditional in Product Design in November, we find it to be illuminating and colourful. Year 12 students have once again produced some fantastic lamps as part of their initial mini-project. As well as the lamps students have produced design sheets to support their research, design thinking and development. Many of the lamps were on display at the Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 10th November. Please see the photos of a few of the different lamps.
On Tuesday 31st October Year 8 students participated in a virtual STEM morning. Through a live stream students meet Engineers. The students were given two Challenges. Working to a tight deadline, students built an Eco Factory Roller Loader, this was a marble run to safely move a product from A to B, the slower the better. Well done to the winning group, Jemima, Kennedy, Liv, Millie, Charlotte and Emily. The second challenge was called BEST Pitch, teams had to brainstorm and come up with an idea for an invention or piece of tech, and then present their ideas to the others in their form group. The winning idea was a Colour Changing Radiator. Excellent work by Mia, Gabby, Mia, Sienna R and Sienna Musk.
“I really enjoyed the virtual steam week video call because it was fun and gave a lot of inspiration to do a stem involved job. My favourite part is when we had to make a marble take the longest to touch the floor whilst moving. Overall, it was a great experience and recommend it for future years”. Amelie Langford
On Wednesday Medical Mavericks spent time with Year 9, they explored different professions in the NHS and had a chance to try out a range of medical equipment.
• Ultrasound • Pulse Doppler • Keyhole Surgery • Blood vessels infrared Vein scanner • Recording an ECG • Exploring the eye • Hearing • Reflexes
What the students had to say:
‘I really enjoyed Medical Mavericks. It was really fun and exciting to learn about what practice is like with different professions. I love learning about the less well known jobs. The activities were interesting, I especially enjoyed the drunk goggles and looking at growth plates to see if I was going to grow taller. Great experience.’ Athene 9IS
‘I loved the Medical Mavericks lesson. I really enjoyed being able to use all the equipment that would actually be used in a hospital.’
‘The Medical Mavericks was an interesting experience. It allowed us to do things with proper/ modified medical equipment. I enjoyed doing keyhole surgery. Drawing blood was definitely the worst, it was difficult. I was the session had been longer!’ Cecilia 9IS
‘I really enjoyed Medical Mavericks, as it gave us a taster activity into what the different Jobs are in the NHS. I think it was really cool how they can tell if we will grow taller or not. That was my favourite.’ Marlee 9IS
On Thursday morning Dr Tina Chowdhury came in and talked to students in the Upper School about her research and work in Bioengineering. Dr Chowdhury works with a cross-disciplinary research team at Queen Mary’s. Her work looks into preterm premature rupture of the fetal membrane. Her team are working hard to find solutions and also investigating the possible cause, including black carbon particles (from pollution) and their presence in the fetus.
Simon Green and Chelsie Graffato gave a presentation to Year 10 about Green Building Design. Simon is a local Green Building Design consultant. They shared the experiences with the students, describing the different areas of building service engineering, the skills required and the pathways into engineering.
Presdales Dance evening 2022 took place last Wednesday and Thursday and this years’ theme was ‘Musicals’. All solos, duets and group dances were choreographed by the students themselves who put on a very impressive show. Each year groups’ dance club routines were choreographed by our dance leaders who worked extremely hard to choreograph such fantastic dances in and around their GCSE and A Level studies since September and have been committed to running numerous practices to ensure the dances were ready on time. Well done and huge thank you to Jessica Downing, Seren Miller, Kaia Reynolds, Emily Fitzgerald, Sienna Akore, Ellie Carter, India Elkes and Lydia Botting.
There were also several people behind the scenes who the show couldn’t have happened without. Thank you to our A Level PE students Josh White, Maisie Johnson and Molly Barnard who managed the sound and lighting for the performances and also to the PE department everything they did to make the show such a success.
If you came to see the show, I am sure you appreciated how amazing it was and what talented dancers we are lucky to have at Presdales.
Massive well done to everyone involved!
Wow, what a match!! This would have done justice to the final of the U13s County Cup, let alone the 1st round and is undoubtedly the most tense and exciting match I’ve been involved in at Presdales (so far)!! Presdales Year 8s were simply outstanding, winning 4-2 on penalties against a very strong St Albans Girls School (STAGS) team on 10th November. The game ended 1-1 after normal time with Presdales having the better chances but unable to turn their superiority into goals. The match went to extra time, with the STAGS goalie making an incredible double save to prevent a winner for Presdales. So, after a hard fought battle, we faced the ‘excitement’ of a penalty shoot out ….. Cara Nolan, who had never played in goal before, was incredible saving two of the first three STAGS penalties! Presdales successfully converted 3 out of 3 so we just needed one more to take the win. Our 4th penalty hit the bar which made it more tense, but the 5th was successful to take the win 4-2.
I’m incredible proud of the entire team. What an amazing effort, with 100% commitment throughout. They never stopped running and competed for every ball like real Lionesses!
It was hard to select the Player of the Match as everyone deserved it, however Amy Little just edged it with an incredible performance in central defence. Well done girls, so proud of you all!!
This week, the Year 8 football team beat Broxbourne 5-0 in the District League. It was a quite hideous evening, cold with heavy rain pouring down. The girls coped with the conditions well and secured a convincing win. Player of the Match voted by Broxbourne was Mia Schillaci-Rowland and Coach’s Player of the Match went to Sienna Goodfellow. Great win girls!
Convincing win for our U16s football team beating Marlborough School 10-1 in the County cup. Some great individual performances and lovely team play with crisp interchanges and incisive passing. Player of the Match and Coaches Player of the Match was Amber Leighton who was outstanding throughout and scored a hat-trick. Well done girls, onto the next round!
Well done to the Year 7 Football team who won 9-1 against John Warner in the District League last week, the first time Presdales has competed in this competition. Fantastic performance from the girls playing some lovely flowing football and scoring some great goals.
Joint Players of the Match as voted by John Warner were Ava M and Liv W. The Coaches Player of the Match was Sienna R who scored a hat trick, but the entire team was fantastic. Well done girls!
Last week the senior netball team played against Broxbourne in a friendly match. Despite some excellent team work and determination they lost 30-14 with all of them playing the whole game due to a lack of subs!
Unlucky girls but you should keep your heads held high! Star player as voted for by Broxbourne was Jess Ward!
Well done to the Year 7’s who also played netball against Broxbourne last week. The red team were up against a tough Broxbourne A team and lost 14-0. There was some good play in the mid court, but unfortunately their defence did a great job of keeping us out. Star Player was Ella Coffey.
The blue team had a very close game and narrowly lost 8-6. The girls played very well for a first match together. Star Player was Nancy Parman-Gavin.
Well done to all of the girls who played!
Well done to our Year 10 netball team who played a friendly match against Broxbourne on Wednesday. They won 39-10! Star Player was Lucy White.
Well done to our Year 8 netball teams who also played against Broxbourne on Wednesday.
The Year 8A team were playing the quarter final round of the county cup. They worked hard to come back after being down to beat Broxbourne 30-17! Star player was Georgia Wittey. Congratulations girls you are now through to the semi finals!!
The Year 8B team played a friendly match and won very convincingly 39-3. Star player was Julia Dodd.
Well done to the U14 and U16 Badminton teams who played in the first round of the County’s last week.
The U14s played some great games but came in second and the U16 won so will be heading to the County Finals at Hatfield Sports Village in December.
CONGRATULATIONS to the U16 Table Tennis team who have made it to the County finals on Monday 28th November!! Well played and GOOD LUCK Monday!
Latest News
Coming Up
w/c Monday 28th
HOUSE : Dodgeball
Monday 28th
Year 8 Parents Consultation Meetings
Tuesday 29th to Thursday 1st
A Level Art & Photography Exams
Tuesday 29th
Piano Recital, 5pm
Friday 2nd
Year 10 Drama Mock Exam
Contact Us
Presdales School
Hoe Lane
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 9NX
Tel: 01920 462210
admin@presdales.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher:
Mr Warren
