An online collection of news and musings to create a sense of togetherness
To welcome everyone back to the start of a new term, we had two fantastic videos: one of our Headmaster, and our school Chaplain Father Mark, delivering an online assembly; the other, a fun video mash-up of staff and pupils singing and dancing to ABC!
Here's a reminder.
We thought you might also enjoy a bit of drone footage over the first team cricket pitch. We're sure you'll agree, it shows off the grounds beautifully. Gary and Nick are doing a fabulous job of keep everything in good order ready for when we can all come together again.
Members of our DT department, along with Sixth Form pupil Will R have all made a valuable contribution to help protect NHS and other front line staff. Ross Friend started things off back in March by answering a call from Musgrove Park Hospital who needed some vital pieces of kit producing for their Opthamology department. Will R has been creating face visors as part of the Big Print, and Jason Grindle has also been creating these 3D printed shields for staff in pharmacies across Devon and Somerset.
Created by our Head of Drama and Performing Arts – to bring a sense of community to watching films during this period of lock down and social distancing – our Cinephilia Club offers you the chance to watch great movies and contribute to critique and review from the comfort of your own home!
Do you see yourself as the next Barry Norman ... or should that be Mark Kermode for our younger readers? Love films? Why not join our Cinephilia Club?
Watch a film and take part in an online review.
To join and for more details, contact Ms Agg-Manning:
HEAgg-manning@kings-taunton.co.uk
The first film to watch and be reviewed ... a John Hughes classic ... Ferris Bueller's Day Off!
We thought you might enjoy seeing how good the grounds are looking at the moment. Nick and Gary are keeping on top of everything, working extremely hard to maintain the whole site for when you are all togetehr again.
Worried about using toxic chemicals on your gardens ... try this homemade remedy for weeds instead. 1 ltr white wine vinegar, 3 large spoons of salt, 3 large spoons of washing up liquid. Place in the spray bottle, shake and spray! Best used on those pesky, between slabs on pathways etc. Use at midday in the sunshine and watch those weeds wither away. It won't make its way down to the root, but it's a great way to give the garden a good tidy.
Our Director of Sport, Phil Lewis, has taken the lead on teaching pupils some home-cooked recipes each week. The idea has been for pupils to give parents the night off, by preparing dinner for them on Monday evenings.
So far, we've seen some fantastic culinary skills in action, with chicken/chick pea curry, spaghetti bolognaise, chicken, mushroom and asparagus pie, and paella on the menu.
He suggests routine is key. He says having some idea of the things you are going to do in the day can be very calming, but uncertainty and worrying about what you should be doing can make us a little anxious. You don't need to plan everything, you can even have a time in the day for just sitting and staring into space! However, regular things like meal times, going our for your daily exercise, going to bed, family time, and reading, can provide a good framework when your life might feel a little out of sync.
Before staff were furloughed, our Head of Strength and Conditioning, Rhys Llewellyn-Eaton, put together a series of S&C workouts for pupils and staff.
Rhys offers ingenious alternatives to gym equipment and incorporates body weight exercises, to make these sessions as accessible and inclusive for all.
Our Head of History, Jamie Bough, has created the LIVING IN HISTORY project.
We are living through a historical event. This is your opportunity to document your experience!
The idea is to create an artefact/source that would help people in the future understand what we are currently living through. It can be:
• a piece of art
• diary entry(ies)
• an essay
• opinion piece
• political cartoon
• photo of items you would place in a time capsule
Pupils can either submit electronically or take a photograph, and send it to Mrs Bough: JKBough@kings-taunton.co.uk
Working with our Art department, pieces will be used to create a display that will (hopefully) allow us to comment on the various ways our lives have been impacted
This term we will be bringing you a series of masterclasses from our cricketing OAs.
First off, here are some top tips from England cricketer and former King's pupil, Jos Buttler!
Our on-site staff have a What's App group to ensure regular contact, to share jokes and observations, recipes and trips to the shops, collective online ordering of baked goods and vegetables, and all manner of things in between.
On Friday evenings, the group have come together via Zoom to hold a quiz, with a different household taking on the role of quiz master each week.
Taken from a few quizzes a couple of weeks ago, test your metal at these cryptic band names, and general knowledge questions:
If we were to say BA, MA and Msc, what group would we be describing? Of course, The Three Degrees. And what about Dark Sunday? Obviously this is Black Sabbath. You get the idea ...
Which philosopher tutored Alexander the Great?
Who achieved the longest televised putt at Gleneagles in 1981?
What is the longest road in the UK? And how long is it?
What is tequila made from?
To what country does Easter Island belong?
What is the name of the horse in the National Gallery?
We are delighted to announce that, in light of the current situation, we have created a Virtual Tour page that will enable you to 'experience' King's from the comfort of your own homes, and to provide you with a feel, albeit remotely, of what we have to offer. Please do click the button below, or visit: http://www.kings-taunton.co.uk/vtour/vt-registration
