Year 3 pupils performed an assembly on National Storytelling Week for the rest of the Junior School, dressing up as their favourite characters and sharing their favourite stories.
You can take part in National Storytelling Week by:
One of our year six pupils, Thomas Link, is on course to compete in the Olympics.
Eleven year old Thomas has been selected by RYA British Youth Sailing to represent the northern region in their Topper ‘Zone Squad’, giving him an opportunity to train with a professional coach. Zone squad is the first rung on the ladder to sailing competitively in the Olympics.
In late September 2017, Thomas competed in RYA North Zone Championships against children from around the North West (many of whom were much older than him) for one of the sought after places and was successful on his first attempt. Since then he has competed in the New Year’s Day Pursuit Race, in which he placed first in the U/14 category and second in the U/16. He has also appeared at the Junior Regatta and the ‘Tipsy Icicle’ Series, attaining first and second place finishes respectively.
Thomas said, “The next round was held on the 14th January and I won both races, putting me first overall after four rounds. Later this year I will be completing the North West Traveller Series, together with some of the Welsh Series, and national events as far away as Weymouth. I have already beaten some of the national squad this year, so bring it on, I am on my way to the Olympics!”
All five of the Senior Boys’ School’s table tennis players took part in the Merseyside Schools Championships at Crosby High last Saturday. In a highly competitive U/16 category, the boys were divided into groups of three or four, with only the winner progressing to the knockout stage – this made qualification very difficult and this saw Nick & Chris Moustaka exiting at this stage to the 2nd and 3rd seeds respectively. Max Davies (4th seed) fared better by winning his group before losing in the semi final to the eventual winner.
In the U/13s, Harry Griffiths won his group before losing in the Quarter Final, whilst Rhys Davies who was the top seed convincingly won all of his matches, to be crowned Merseyside Champion for the 4th consecutive year and he will now go forward to the English Schools Finals where he will look to go one place better than his 2nd place in 2016.
The boys will now turn their attention to the Regional Finals of the English Schools Team event on February the 3rd where they will have to overcome the reigning champions and another of last years’ finalists if they are to make it to the last 4 – they will compete against Longfield Academy, Darlington, Ackworth School, Pontefract (current champions) and Sir Christopher Hatton Academy, Wellingborough.
Calling all Year 3 & 4 pupils!
Come and join us at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School to celebrate Harry Potter Book Night
Thursday 1st February 2018 4.30 – 6.00pm.
To book, please follow the link: http://bit.ly/2n7HXtp
Our U/16s Boys’ team of Rhys Davies, Max Davies, Nick Moustaka, Chris Moustaka and Harry Griffiths did very well in the Zonal finals at Blackburn on the weekend winning their category and progressing into the last 16 in the country.
The Zonal Final comprised 5 county champions representing Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Shropshire plus a 2nd wildcard entrant from Cheshire and was played in 2 groups of 3 followed by semi finals the winner of which would qualify into one of 4 Regional Finals to be held on the first weekend in February.
Each match comprises 8 individual matches played as best of 5 sets with each set being the 1st to 11 points. Individual matches were played on 2 adjacent tables and there is a set order of play with each team playing their respective Number 1’s against the opposition No.2’s and then likewise with the Number 3’s and 4’s. After these are completed the 2nd matches see the Number 1’s against each other with Number 2’s now playing the Number 3’s and then the Number 4’s playing each other in the final match. It can get quite complicated and very tense for the parents watching!
Our group looked be the proverbial ‘group of death’ against Altrincham Grammar and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School, Widnes with both teams made up of competitive Table Tennis players who compete regularly across the North-West – the Widnes based team had 3 county players and a Para TT International.
Our 1st match was against Altrincham Grammar and we got off to a fantastic start winning the match 7-1 with Max Davies battling back from losing the 1st set to beat their No. 1 which set us on the road to victory. This eliminated our opposition as we set ourselves to play against Saints Peter and Paul – after 6 matches it was tied at 3-3 and both Max Davies and Christ Moustaka went to the deciding 5thset only for both of them to lose and we lost the match 5-3. This meant a semi-final against the winners of the other group, Sandbach – if we could win we would in all likelihood set up a rematch against Saints Peter and Paul in the final.
We got off to a great start in the semi final and built an unassailable 5-1 lead before a couple of tired performances left the final score at 5-3 in our favour with Rhys still unbeaten despite being pushed by players who have represented Cheshire and U/15 & U/18 level.
The final did not disappoint and after a pre-match pep talk the boys knew that every set might count as a draw could well see a countback situation invoked. The 1st 4 matches were all high quality but went with seeding and it was 2-2 but with Chris Moustaka gaining a set we were ahead on countback. Up stepped the No.1s and Rhys had to be at the very top of his game to win a high quality encounter against Cheshire’s no 1 U/15 player – his 3-0 victory put Merchant Taylors in front. On the adjacent table Nick Moustaka produced his best ever result winning a in 5 sets against an established county player who had earlier beaten him comfortably. It became the turning point and with momentum on our side both Max and Chris reversed their earlier 5 set defeats in the group stage and we ended up winning 6-2 in the final and qualified in 1st place for the Regional Finals.
In the Regional finals we will be in a Group of 4 with only the winners progressing to the National Final – Our Players produced some excellent results – Rhys Davies won 8/8, Max Davies 4/8, Nick Moustaka 6/8, Christ Moustaka 3/6 and Harry Griffiths 1/2 – a fantastic team performance from a very young squad – all are eligible for at least another year at this level.
Before the next stage of this competition the boys will do battle against each other (and many of their club mates) for the Merseyside Individual Schools Title on Saturday January 20th at Crosby High School – only the age group winners progresses to the National Finals!
This term, all pupils in both Year One and Year Two were given the opportunity to take part in a multi-sports club, offered by the award winning David Campbell Soccer Schools Programme. Sports offered included athletics, football, cricket and dodge ball. This proved extremely popular and catered for children of all abilities.
As another successful term of multi-sports comes to an end, we are pleased to announce the medal winners from last term (who collected their awards in their Christmas jumpers!) are Sebastien King and Jessica Weindling from year 1. The trophy winner is Keshav Harave from year 2. Well done everyone!
Last term, Year 6 pupil Christian Syms, once again demonstrated the true meaning of Christmas with his very generous donation of a selection of seasonal prizes for a Christmas raffle. Christian also did this last Christmas whilst at Easter he kindly donated a selection of Easter eggs. As in previous years Christian has chosen The Good Life Orphanage to receive the donated money. Very well done, Christian!
Dear members of the Merchants’ community,
Our much loved and valued colleague Ms Sian Tickle passed away over the Christmas break following a long illness. Her family have asked for the funeral to be a private service for family and close friends.
Immediately following the funeral the family would like Merchant Taylors’ to host a memorial service in the Girls’ School. This will take place on Tuesday 9th January at 1.30pm in the Centenary Hall, followed by some refreshments. Anyone who wishes pay their respects to Sian is very much welcome.
As School will be in session on that day parking will be restricted on-site. St Luke’s have kindly offered some limited parking however their car park is usually busy on weekdays.
We will be opening a book of condolences and special arrangements have been made to the school day to accommodate the service.
Many thanks
Louise Robinson
Headmistress, Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School
Message to the school community from Mrs Louise Robinson, Headmistress of Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School
It is with tremendous sadness that I write to inform the school community of the death of our friend and colleague, Ms Sian Tickle. Ms Tickle had been unwell for some time and she passed away peacefully on Friday 22nd December.
Sian was a much loved staff member and it is certain that all our pupils, past and present will be affected by her death. Sian was an Old Girl of the school (1976-1983) and returned in September 2004, as Head of Drama, from Ormskirk School. She was predominantly known for her work with Drama both in the curriculum and with some magnificent productions, including Midsummer Night’s Dream, My Fair Lady, Our Country’s Good and the final one, last March, She Stoops to Conquer. However, she also contributed to the life of the school in many other ways: a stalwart of Duke of Edinburgh walks, she also often accompanied school trips both at home and abroad as either a mini bus driver or the resident trip photographer. She was an exceptionally caring form tutor to many young women, listening with empathy and offering support.
It is our intention to offer pastoral care to all our pupils as they come to terms with her passing. We will be making arrangements for a service in line with the wishes of the family, and we will let you know in due course.
I know that you will join me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to Ms Tickle’s mother, Molly, her son, Ben, and her family and friends.
