tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48154999420163316012024-03-05T12:55:02.539+00:00A StoverviewAn independent 'take' on news, views and events from Stover School in Devon, EnglandThe Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-29723517643695434922014-03-20T12:53:00.000+00:002014-03-26T11:28:02.076+00:00Poisoning Pigeons in the Park... Strychnine and CyanideIrish Baritone, Ben Russell, was our guest artist for this year's Phyllis Dence Performing Arts Day. Amongst other things Ben gave us a wonderful version of the old Tom Lehrer classic <em>"Poisoning Pigeons in the Park"</em><br />
<em><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="310" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TrjRZvCkR3Q?feature=player_detailpage" width="540"></iframe></em><br />
Ben sang of using strychnine and cyanide to poison his pigeons, and this got us thinking about how such poisons work...<br />
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<strong>Strychnine</strong> is a naturally occurring, colourless, bitter, crystalline alkaloid compound of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen C<sub><span style="font-size: x-small;">21</span></sub>H<sub><span style="font-size: x-small;">22</span></sub>N<sub><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></sub>O<sub><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></sub><strong>. </strong>When inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through eyes or mouth, it interferes with the action of motor neurone inhibitors, resulting in 'over stimulation' of motor neurones - causing muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia. As it produces some of the most dramatic and painful symptoms of any known toxic reaction strychnine poisoning is often used in literature and film. <br />
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Strychnine is produced by plants of the genus <em>Strychnos </em>which are trees and climbing shrubs found in warm regions of Asia, Africa and America. The seeds and bark of many species are highly toxic, and seeds of <em>Strychnos nux-vomica</em>, from Indonesia, have long been used as a source of rat poison.<br />
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<strong>Cyanide</strong> is any compound containing a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom (a 'cyano group'). Hydrogen cyanide, in the form of Zyklon B, was used by the Nazis in World War II gas chambers and cyanide crystals (potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide) occur frequently in the world of 'whodunnits' such as in Agatha Christie's <em>Sparkling Cyanide.</em><br />
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Cyanide inhibits the action of an enzyme (cytochrome c oxidase) which is needed for cellular respiration. When active in a cell's mitochondria the supply of energy (in the form of ATP) is interrupted and the cell stops working and ultimately 'dies'. Tissues that depend highly on aerobic respiration, such as the central nervous system and the heart, are particularly affected.<br />
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Cyanides are produced by certain bacteria, fungi, and algae and are found in a number of plants e.g. the 'stones' of apricots and pips of apples. The cyanide helps to protect plants against herbivores, although the golden bamboo lemur of Madagascar is immune to the high levels of cyanide in the Madagascar bamboo.<br />
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Oh by the way, It's 'Science Week ' this week and all of Stover is involved in uncovering <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBw9A6rIOh0&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">who poisoned our science technician</a> - based on various experiments and analyses being carried out in this week's Science lessons!The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-66751942886057117202014-01-27T21:20:00.004+00:002014-03-24T15:47:01.268+00:00Conodonts - Our Favourite Fossils!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnQecTLqhhsEQubu1JpIdLo77vGbe3I1U_biya5Apc6aU3kf1r3-_2zoKAsKykmwfnLwsmnoXTnJBYghUOZRj-YlMgLNJ1IcHb55m5X2lXzS-k-gZjKls1j2csSpa1MBEuZ-5lTTrcLQx/s1600/conos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnQecTLqhhsEQubu1JpIdLo77vGbe3I1U_biya5Apc6aU3kf1r3-_2zoKAsKykmwfnLwsmnoXTnJBYghUOZRj-YlMgLNJ1IcHb55m5X2lXzS-k-gZjKls1j2csSpa1MBEuZ-5lTTrcLQx/s1600/conos.jpg" px="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="justify">
Conodont elements</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conodont
elements are some of the most beautiful yet enigmatic fossils known (the image
above shows conodont elements atop a pinhead). They came from a group of
extinct worm-like animals, at least some of which are known to have been about
4 cm long. These were relatively common in the seas of Palaeozoic times, and
are thought to have been primitive craniates (‘agnathans’). In general these
animals are only represented in the fossil record by these small (0.2 mm to 13
mm), disarticulated, tooth-like skeletal elements made of calcium phosphate –
probably forming part of their ingestive apparatus.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conodont
elements were first described by Christian Heinrich Pander in 1856, although he
thought he was looking at fish teeth, but it was not until 1983 that the nature
of the conodont-bearing animal was first revealed – following a study of
Carboniferous sediments from Granton, Edinburgh. The animals described are 40
mm long and 1.9 mm wide, and the conodont elements form an apparatus in the
head region – just behind 2 lateral lobes. The body is divided into a series of
v-shaped muscle blocks, and an asymmetrical series of fin rays are commonly
preserved about the tail. This suggests that the animal was an active swimmer.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5hZZG5gWPSpty-1P_8vehPgn_tDKBaa-MdAjZyWt_c7RL_UyiQKeHUwuK8Dn12mdWewf2Pr0uuEGrkPTLdzLEOsSe3vCsJbDFn125X3p8IWIAZDPe3zJhEINv5UmKxaoWyiLd4llvCiM/s1600/conodonts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5hZZG5gWPSpty-1P_8vehPgn_tDKBaa-MdAjZyWt_c7RL_UyiQKeHUwuK8Dn12mdWewf2Pr0uuEGrkPTLdzLEOsSe3vCsJbDFn125X3p8IWIAZDPe3zJhEINv5UmKxaoWyiLd4llvCiM/s200/conodonts.jpg" height="177" px="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conodont animals?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="border-image: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conodont animals of the Upper
Palaeozoic generally had a range of differently shaped elements in their
apparatuses (e.g. ‘bars’, ‘blades’ and ‘platforms’), and the way in which these
fitted together to function in 3D has been much debated. Stover Geology teacher, Dr Stone (with PhD student Davida Geraghty) did
some work on this as a Research Fellow in Trinity College Dublin, and had
great fun making scale models of the elements and trying to fit them
together in a meaningful way </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>(Stone, J. J. and Geraghty, D. A. 1994 ‘A
Predictive Template for the Apparatus Architecture of the Carboniferous
Conodont Idioprioniodus’, Lethaia, 27, No. 2, pp. 139-142</i>.).</span></div>
The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-45571636628998037472014-01-26T00:47:00.001+00:002014-01-26T08:33:08.567+00:00Year 10 Geologists Learn About Ammonites<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMH2-_ANjOWaIiJYjklXTiljufwgYLbDd6svA0IzOG8EOdIrjCkU5sYMXAQASSRQZuxNy_kFJK_rwxBeZ8x_yuBw5OEKUL9W0IHaVf-UuuOuGFXmSM6Ve-HcX_Sen-cf3bAcumgTQBbX_/s1600/IMGP9761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMH2-_ANjOWaIiJYjklXTiljufwgYLbDd6svA0IzOG8EOdIrjCkU5sYMXAQASSRQZuxNy_kFJK_rwxBeZ8x_yuBw5OEKUL9W0IHaVf-UuuOuGFXmSM6Ve-HcX_Sen-cf3bAcumgTQBbX_/s1600/IMGP9761.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 10 Geologists display some of the fossils in the Stover collection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">In a new departure for
Stover, 6 Year 10 pupils have taken up the study of Geology this academic year.
They are following the WJEC syllabus, and have recently been learning about
various fossil groups, including ammonites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CezBBc2Adb9rxfsXQYzJnd_rIdi3Wt94wg1T1Brh0nSL8ZHhyphenhyphenyDAX94RsEDiRVSnpxbOWLj_83lRp2ssbI0hEg3vZ6Htmwz2CabpNa7nq92SX1QP7Z-TZevLFEVYVk0G4n670zJigZaI/s1600/IMGP9766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CezBBc2Adb9rxfsXQYzJnd_rIdi3Wt94wg1T1Brh0nSL8ZHhyphenhyphenyDAX94RsEDiRVSnpxbOWLj_83lRp2ssbI0hEg3vZ6Htmwz2CabpNa7nq92SX1QP7Z-TZevLFEVYVk0G4n670zJigZaI/s1600/IMGP9766.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie points out an ammonite</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">A<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">mmonites</span>
are an extinct group of marine cephalopod molluscs, which lived in Jurassic and
Cretaceous times. Cephalopods (ammonites, nautiloids, octopuses, squids etc.)
are the most highly evolved of the molluscs, and in many ways are the most
highly evolved of the invertebrates in general (complex eye, large brain etc.).
The mouth is surrounded by tentacles, which usually have suckers. Some modern
forms have lost their shells (octopus), some have a straight internal shell
(cuttlefish, squid) and some still have a coiled external shell (nautilus).</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt;">Most ammonites were probably active
carnivores and accomplished swimmers. They were able to control their buoyancy
by filling the inner chambers of their coiled shells with water or gas through
their siphuncle (see diagram). The outside of the shell was often ribbed or
keeled in a distinctive way (which is how most fossil species are told apart). Other
fossil forms with external shells include: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Nautiloids<strong> </strong>(</span>Cambrian to Recent) and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Goniatites</span> (Devonian to Permian).</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bo9fGDxspjqp3dbdqZEyDENidR6sDkt_fEqvA21NeiisGtkcbi8m5x0SEsUE5kNNXddrWZogjxNvDbk7-so3WDerbS73WhZlOiptecEl5hNkrkByknsIMShl_ESs7MQnI60d80VDR0pC/s1600/ammonite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bo9fGDxspjqp3dbdqZEyDENidR6sDkt_fEqvA21NeiisGtkcbi8m5x0SEsUE5kNNXddrWZogjxNvDbk7-so3WDerbS73WhZlOiptecEl5hNkrkByknsIMShl_ESs7MQnI60d80VDR0pC/s1600/ammonite.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammonite</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-46474048599850435782014-01-15T15:51:00.003+00:002014-01-15T16:22:03.901+00:00Humour in the Classroom 2The quest for humour in the classroom continues...<br />
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<strong>2. Chemistry</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Q. What's this: </strong>h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o?<br />
<strong>A. Water</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiq4MPoKYO3ZT8JnT95GKvRi88r-VAWVCLKpW5A02hWJcwvY2k7WqM7G2Hq4y7X4TFGGZ4av4OLyRmsa0wMm3VFNeIAy1T5UnNUFF29XxkroyG1AeFzPUyWtgKUqtkO2Gsa7Opvu0blmk/s1600/chemistry_jokes_periodically_i9_CHEMISTRY-s391x345-296870-580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiq4MPoKYO3ZT8JnT95GKvRi88r-VAWVCLKpW5A02hWJcwvY2k7WqM7G2Hq4y7X4TFGGZ4av4OLyRmsa0wMm3VFNeIAy1T5UnNUFF29XxkroyG1AeFzPUyWtgKUqtkO2Gsa7Opvu0blmk/s200/chemistry_jokes_periodically_i9_CHEMISTRY-s391x345-296870-580.jpg" width="200" /></a>My old Chemistry teacher was a bit boron, but Mr Baillie thinks he's sodium funny that he tells jokes all the time - sadly he never seems to get a reaction. Maybe he should take all his jokes and barium.<br />
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<div class="post-header">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PgNfVTXvTlUFoh4IS2Mr8Wj0hioblzMhEsOeNMfhS7P2mxgqueHwBOIUTWqOpKY8zmPqzfaa1Pyox1ch9fvGhceQRicJT6BM5HxduIoiP9KZtD5ou1wIU6ViBnL6HvRWLv2bwB_zI9Y/s1600/Meow.jpg" /></div>
The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-38276204511891645612013-12-30T20:35:00.000+00:002014-03-24T09:39:07.948+00:00Is Eating “Frogs’ Legs” Really More English than French?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKix3HSMzGJjxKg6aeCAI_VFJS6bBmtKbMSJ1lcAsNfluoJbt3rSlzhTBlo7qaWM9xsO2A6Itox_6E8ho3GRsIbv_KLIUsD_OAG9N7F3LZ389-dmbr-qqTHsSx_PZgeKjnbC21eONpGyWl/s1600/20159-650x330-grenouilles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKix3HSMzGJjxKg6aeCAI_VFJS6bBmtKbMSJ1lcAsNfluoJbt3rSlzhTBlo7qaWM9xsO2A6Itox_6E8ho3GRsIbv_KLIUsD_OAG9N7F3LZ389-dmbr-qqTHsSx_PZgeKjnbC21eONpGyWl/s1600/20159-650x330-grenouilles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKix3HSMzGJjxKg6aeCAI_VFJS6bBmtKbMSJ1lcAsNfluoJbt3rSlzhTBlo7qaWM9xsO2A6Itox_6E8ho3GRsIbv_KLIUsD_OAG9N7F3LZ389-dmbr-qqTHsSx_PZgeKjnbC21eONpGyWl/s320/20159-650x330-grenouilles.jpg" height="161" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">It is
thought that humans (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homo sapiens</i>)
have been living in Britain, on and off, for at least the last 41,000 years
(see “<a href="http://stoverview.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/oldest-devonian-of-us-all.html" target="_blank">The Oldest Devonian of us All</a>?”), and for most of this time our ancestors were using stone rather than metal for making their sharp tools, and so were living in the “Stone Age”.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We don’t
know a great deal about Stone Age Britons as remains are scarce. Indeed, between 19,000 and 26,500 years ago - there would have been no humans in Britain at all as they all <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">migrated southwards to avoid the ice of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Glacial_Maximum" target="_blank">Last Glacial Maximum.<o:p></o:p></a></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">However, an interesting insight into the Stone Age diet (from around 9,000 years ago in Mesolithic times) comes from a recent discovery at Blick Mead<span lang="EN" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">near Stonehenge in Wiltshire - </span>believed to be the oldest continuous settlement in
Britain. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Bones recovered from the site
include: aurochs (giant wild cows), wild boar, red deer, hazelnuts and - more surprisingly perhaps - toads’
legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">David Jacques, team leader at the dig, reported to the Guardian newspaper "They
would have definitely eaten the toad leg because it would have been quite big
and juicy."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perhaps our careless "Froggy" nickname for our trans-channel cousins should really refer
to “les Anglais” rather than the French. Food for thought!</span></div>
The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-33753490488773479382013-12-29T15:40:00.001+00:002013-12-29T16:04:26.880+00:00Humour in the ClassroomWelcome back dear reader, and apologies for the Stoverview
‘going dark’ for so long. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We are starting our comeback with a quest for that most
elusive of commodities, humour in the classroom.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. Mathematics</b></div>
It is generally believed that Mathematics is no laughing
matter, and this may not seem the obvious subject to start with but here is one
of Mr Haigh’s favourites, just to kick us off...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
"There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who
understand the binary system, and those who don't."</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVbfoZHNb9Bz5gcoFg8HpOBa9NREP-7v3Vl61LRHg90SwwqPkTyq30JlByNTL9mBRxWuABmvqTIwwmEaP7ECoXwpi7UVhJDmi3kw7MYFv66Xv-s0DNWW3sefg0s-ny294jBhnDzmLJAF2/s1600/n310576453279_2177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVbfoZHNb9Bz5gcoFg8HpOBa9NREP-7v3Vl61LRHg90SwwqPkTyq30JlByNTL9mBRxWuABmvqTIwwmEaP7ECoXwpi7UVhJDmi3kw7MYFv66Xv-s0DNWW3sefg0s-ny294jBhnDzmLJAF2/s1600/n310576453279_2177.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We look forward to more in the same vein!</div>
The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-6335151105071860692012-01-25T18:11:00.004+00:002012-01-26T09:15:07.176+00:00Year 8 Book Reviews: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols<div style="text-align: justify;">Mrs Wimsett's Year 8 English class have just completed book reviews, in which they chose a book and produced a poster or folder covering: a synopsis of the story, author biography, target audience and personal reflections. They then gave a short presentation of their review in front of their peers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We start the ball rolling with Jess Holman's review of <em>Endless Summer</em> by Jennifer Echols.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-dhbF_TjIkiM3E-lStcteN0yUwRm-qKCYV7FT2499d1Sh4xDECf_24cb_0JoK5tW5tGpNahg57bmQ0g_Rx8gc7a6WyI6H5fYxgPbsfrx018rr0y-Fvx6wata5xTredreTXgb6czyvo_d/s1600/EndlessSummerW307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-dhbF_TjIkiM3E-lStcteN0yUwRm-qKCYV7FT2499d1Sh4xDECf_24cb_0JoK5tW5tGpNahg57bmQ0g_Rx8gc7a6WyI6H5fYxgPbsfrx018rr0y-Fvx6wata5xTredreTXgb6czyvo_d/s320/EndlessSummerW307.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Endless Summer </em>is a "rom-com", aimed at a readership aged between 12 and 15. It is the sequel to <em>The Boys Next Door</em>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The main character is called Lori. She is a bit "blonde" and clumsy so she kind of reminds me of myself! Lori loves to wakeboard; every Summer she does this and hangs out with her friends. This Summer it's her 16th birthday. Lori has been best friends with Adam Vadar for years, but she really likes his older brother Sean. She plans to win Sean over by making him jealous and pretending to go out with Adam. But Adam starts falling for Lori and everything heats up! Lori is sick of being treated as just one of the guys so when her plan goes all wrong, and she has two brothers fighting over her, it all becomes very difficult.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I really liked this book because of the comedy in it, and because all of the characters were equally likeable, and the author did a really good job of making them all unique. Also, at the end of most chapters there was a cliff-hanger, so it was really gripping and made you want to read on.</div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdkEFP2QYh4xnSeKB3QPJc61X71JAlpY4F-XW2nPm-pHL1vbzYpNxJL9gL1m444SVc0f4NaEQ2nn9dEtw1lb1Zj_q-eZesE-2SqypVCBB71iCNSUunsRdK_5tB1akUWuJISEouM-kQwVc/s1600/JenniferEcholsStanding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdkEFP2QYh4xnSeKB3QPJc61X71JAlpY4F-XW2nPm-pHL1vbzYpNxJL9gL1m444SVc0f4NaEQ2nn9dEtw1lb1Zj_q-eZesE-2SqypVCBB71iCNSUunsRdK_5tB1akUWuJISEouM-kQwVc/s200/JenniferEcholsStanding.jpg" width="133px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Echols</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Jennifer Echols is American and lives in Alabama, where she was born, with her husband and son. She mostly writes romantic comedies for teenagers but has also done a few for adults. Her first novel was called <em>Major Crush</em> which was about her own high school funny experiences.</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-86177976296202922212011-12-16T02:10:00.003+00:002011-12-20T15:03:39.557+00:00Dramatic ReflectionsDid you hear about the accident-prone actor? It was just a stage he was going through...<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yes, it has been pretty hectic here in the Drama Department over the last two months - writes Ms Absalom. <em><a href="http://stoverview.blogspot.com/2011/12/bugsy-malone.html">Bugsy Malone</a> </em>was great fun of course, but there were also two 'theatre' trips and the Off-By-Heart Shakespeare Competition.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UNwGsXu_3lnY52V0vXIy2bGNhLNLhjdUkEb1ULB5oXX5xxcrmiyDhSg1wvNlVUjR6V9KWuN1XxWF1tG7BEH36jW-2KczPRnYFwu5Kw72B8EwRG4MGc4gkJ-nuC4GipYnytAOdUtz-uUf/s1600/romeo-and-juliet-undergound-w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UNwGsXu_3lnY52V0vXIy2bGNhLNLhjdUkEb1ULB5oXX5xxcrmiyDhSg1wvNlVUjR6V9KWuN1XxWF1tG7BEH36jW-2KczPRnYFwu5Kw72B8EwRG4MGc4gkJ-nuC4GipYnytAOdUtz-uUf/s320/romeo-and-juliet-undergound-w.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First was the trip to <a href="http://creativetorbay.com/kentscavernprehistorycaves/">Kents Cavern</a> for an underground hour-long adapted version of <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>. <a href="http://wearebutterfly.com/">Butterfly Productions</a> created a wonderfully atmospheric performance among the stalagtites, ‘mites and mineral deposits, ushering us through the twists and turns of the caves to the tragic deaths of the star-crossed lovers in The Great Chamber. This was a promenade performance where we were literally swept along, on foot, with the action. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What an incredible setting for any Shakespeare play – we shall certainly be going to Butterfly’s <em>Macbeth</em> in the Cavern next year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">More recently, <em>An Inspector Calls</em> riveted us to our seats in the Plymouth Theatre Royal. J B Priestley’s old favourite was given a new spin – the Edwardian house in a street set exploded in front of our eyes. Fireworks on stage… followed by an animated discussion on the coach home about social injustice then and now. A Whodunnit with a psychological and social agenda. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9kzrVcelxwwEL_uj9ABhh1uLqvsZEgQCI55XY6SVF-gDCvuW7Vt4aEwSL66Ml2mmsDuv2sSlRDeQTsVkN1uNPtExzuEnBqQ3-WwnK9YZMmn5nVKNXGrs4DwW-jWrMRhAuWfamtatqkw0/s1600/bbc-off-by-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9kzrVcelxwwEL_uj9ABhh1uLqvsZEgQCI55XY6SVF-gDCvuW7Vt4aEwSL66Ml2mmsDuv2sSlRDeQTsVkN1uNPtExzuEnBqQ3-WwnK9YZMmn5nVKNXGrs4DwW-jWrMRhAuWfamtatqkw0/s320/bbc-off-by-heart.jpg" width="237px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Two of our students also took part in the regional finals of the national BBC Off-by-Heart Shakespeare competition in Bristol. Abigail Bulbulian (Yr 10) and Abigail Joint (Yr 9) learnt different speeches from <em>A Midsummer Night’s Dream</em> to perform in the competition, competing with 1500 others. They workshopped the character, text and language in school. Then worked with professional actors. Abi and Abi showed enormous courage, confidence, talent and enthusiasm. Congratulations, girls!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-65575576101100244762011-12-15T20:31:00.005+00:002011-12-15T21:08:18.853+00:00Carol Service<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZokvoz4RMgdGTdxc5NT7HcN2TtEoD3ArloLUcw6iDGvH2X28Lx26Yvflw4BXUX9hvcFgxYWuwTcv8-PmLcIO-p7v0eE2hpFa8api7iBvsY3U-zyOhfrWUrlfkmFdbz4V3HQ-D3cKkdlp/s1600/IMGP9269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZokvoz4RMgdGTdxc5NT7HcN2TtEoD3ArloLUcw6iDGvH2X28Lx26Yvflw4BXUX9hvcFgxYWuwTcv8-PmLcIO-p7v0eE2hpFa8api7iBvsY3U-zyOhfrWUrlfkmFdbz4V3HQ-D3cKkdlp/s640/IMGP9269.JPG" width="480px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Monday morning saw Exeter Cathedral packed with parents and friends for the Stover School carol service. It was a lovely occasion, in a wonderful setting, which fittingly marked the beginning of the Christmas season for all present. Staff and pupils were bussed in with military precision, and a varied programme incorporated contributions from the Senior Choir, Prep School Choir, Cantabile, soloists, orchestra, readers and of course the congregation!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-83879759749211111332011-12-14T17:59:00.005+00:002011-12-15T10:33:58.681+00:00Farewell Gappies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMHbf6yBi75NcpfHHbMqJNs0YPVJz5lcBXh_rgQQ5ZzOyZ9Lu1n41kyMzMIdDlA-GuQVVr9Mb0Ps1F72BpYjw5WIzuOpi2oA2Lr_-9vNGOgZ32o3C3U5S3wSeoA58I4hpi3SVIeKBpCHG/s1600/IMGP9222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMHbf6yBi75NcpfHHbMqJNs0YPVJz5lcBXh_rgQQ5ZzOyZ9Lu1n41kyMzMIdDlA-GuQVVr9Mb0Ps1F72BpYjw5WIzuOpi2oA2Lr_-9vNGOgZ32o3C3U5S3wSeoA58I4hpi3SVIeKBpCHG/s1600/IMGP9222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMHbf6yBi75NcpfHHbMqJNs0YPVJz5lcBXh_rgQQ5ZzOyZ9Lu1n41kyMzMIdDlA-GuQVVr9Mb0Ps1F72BpYjw5WIzuOpi2oA2Lr_-9vNGOgZ32o3C3U5S3wSeoA58I4hpi3SVIeKBpCHG/s400/IMGP9222.JPG" width="300" /></a>Today we said goodbye to Rita and Madelaine, our two Australian 'Gap Year' students, who have been a continually upbeat and cheerful presence throughout the school for the past year. They have made a big contribution to Stover and have been fully involved in a wide range of activities, such as: helping out in the Prep School and Nursery, boarding duties, secretarial work and exam supervision.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We shall miss them of course, but wish them well as they return 'Down Under' to pursue their university studies, and hopefully they will keep in touch with Stover and the many friends they made whilst here.</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-4671904180447668092011-12-09T18:55:00.008+00:002011-12-12T15:35:00.536+00:00A Little Spanish Something<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3bKZ-eC4ihm_uIPVk0y_UZ0jbxRsLOFHi1YfSTswXrWpm9ojO4UIkAKqTKZjOtsAZMU5MMXx0XFiOgyLFBnCEwUNW0OBCfUyRc7FjB5BndJL6MjmsWvnYuaRR_rD5J-OYquDjQx-c_ZM/s1600/Sp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3bKZ-eC4ihm_uIPVk0y_UZ0jbxRsLOFHi1YfSTswXrWpm9ojO4UIkAKqTKZjOtsAZMU5MMXx0XFiOgyLFBnCEwUNW0OBCfUyRc7FjB5BndJL6MjmsWvnYuaRR_rD5J-OYquDjQx-c_ZM/s320/Sp1.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A really valuable contribution to Stover's vibrant student body was made this term by our four 'short-stay' Spanish pupils. Never one to be backwards in coming forward, </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mrs Machin (ICT) invited them to join her in the Home Ec. Room for <em>Pa amb oli </em>('bread and oil').<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a traditional food usually eaten at special occasions in Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It consists of Rye bread cut into slices; rubbed with a ripened tomato which has been cut in half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good quality olive oil is then poured onto the bread followed by some salt with herbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0Qy2xZdQrqSbpCxpd5Ux5G2NrFLtkBLQROFAB73_7powactbISNMlsBEUPFI83o-FNHqJRfCjAcYcumCKEMVefI7bTgjlJa0uig3ODLmEiyCIkK-xAYaS0LACCPeZI1qitw4pavVHcqw/s1600/Sp4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0Qy2xZdQrqSbpCxpd5Ux5G2NrFLtkBLQROFAB73_7powactbISNMlsBEUPFI83o-FNHqJRfCjAcYcumCKEMVefI7bTgjlJa0uig3ODLmEiyCIkK-xAYaS0LACCPeZI1qitw4pavVHcqw/s320/Sp4.jpg" width="240px" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is optional to add Serrano ham, chorizo and cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most common cheese to use is Manchego (Goat’s cheese).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Xnt4B6EwPWSKGEUe_sVyr9ewhvkRns8IYSK9oHgH8RO6YeaRuZAmzW2g_ApAyuLILWoG_i1qmMFHSdInUD_b0QeH6q2_LLkl4kfOV3mYppr087Q7B7aGIBXuoVNjOzLzEjlPh_xR6Agy/s1600/Sp5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Xnt4B6EwPWSKGEUe_sVyr9ewhvkRns8IYSK9oHgH8RO6YeaRuZAmzW2g_ApAyuLILWoG_i1qmMFHSdInUD_b0QeH6q2_LLkl4kfOV3mYppr087Q7B7aGIBXuoVNjOzLzEjlPh_xR6Agy/s320/Sp5.jpg" width="240px" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few members of staff 'happened to drop by' in order to join in and were shown by the pupils how to create their own <em>Pa amb oli</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meal was finished off with some lovely stuffed olives and red grapes.</span></span></div></div></div><div></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-90392305197992794592011-12-09T18:22:00.003+00:002011-12-09T19:02:46.440+00:00David James Coaches Stover Footballers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDETXfZ17YjiOp-6eWEYIu_vt0RWZI1t7Iz09VYVLmets1G_DFeAxOrqjCZFn26abnN6ebVoqztPxWCcEm8zwylljj_eSWUNbG033MFMK7thtUvuZf9tO6uq38uZ6ihsNf61nQ28wW2P-R/s1600/IMGP8420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDETXfZ17YjiOp-6eWEYIu_vt0RWZI1t7Iz09VYVLmets1G_DFeAxOrqjCZFn26abnN6ebVoqztPxWCcEm8zwylljj_eSWUNbG033MFMK7thtUvuZf9tO6uq38uZ6ihsNf61nQ28wW2P-R/s400/IMGP8420.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stover footballers were privileged earlier this term to welcome David James for a goalkeeping training session. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Bristol City keeper is a former England international and holds the football league appearance record for goalkeepers. He has also kept more clean-sheets than any other league glovesman. League and FA Cup winner James’ former clubs include: Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth. </div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-59202794796844691832011-12-07T11:05:00.009+00:002011-12-08T18:25:48.628+00:00Bugsy Malone<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCWq74XTTb6A267veHUwtzeN3otHehjZC1tMUcSx-BRkjFRaBBJGQsNPgootwdgEhMs1f09AJRtNrKUA760JeFHEWevyqjH1bMAil6zpkzto68waZx-W-yBK_yfhkmJILpnQCVAyrhRt3/s1600/0s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCWq74XTTb6A267veHUwtzeN3otHehjZC1tMUcSx-BRkjFRaBBJGQsNPgootwdgEhMs1f09AJRtNrKUA760JeFHEWevyqjH1bMAil6zpkzto68waZx-W-yBK_yfhkmJILpnQCVAyrhRt3/s320/0s.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tallulah amd the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Friday saw the final triumphant performances of this year's school musical <em>Bugsy Malone</em>. Set in 1929, the Jubilee Hall was transformed into Fat Sam's Grand Slam Speakeasy in prohibition New York, complete with gangsters, showgirls and of course Bugsy the boxing promoter plus girl friend Blousey Brown and sassy admirer Tallulah.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Amongst many very entertaining moments, particularly polished performances were put in by Clara Finigan who played the title role with poise, aplomb and great stage presence, Abigail Joint as Blousey and Annabel Kennedy as Tallulah. There was also great support from the vast cast of hoodlums and hangers-on, a lovely song from Georgina Allen as Fizzy, and some neat choreography from the show girls. Wonderful costumes and impressive splurge guns topped off a highly enjoyable show.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Congratulations to all performers, the stage hands, Tony Etheridge for the car, and a special thanks to directors Ms Absalom and Mrs Middleton, music meister Mr Hurst and technical guru Mr Haigh.<br />
<br />
Ms Absalom writes... ‘<em>We could have been anything that we wanted to be….’ Our young cast of 11–15 year olds did themselves proud in our matinee and evening performances on Friday, 2 December. Many of the performers were new to the experience and all are to be congratulated. The Year 10 girls, with a few years of ‘treading the boards’ behind them, set a terrific example in early word learning and the importance of self-discipline as an actor. A new American pupil in Year 9, Alyssa Chudy, choreographed the musical numbers with superb panache and brought an authentic sense of glamour to the 1930s speakeasy. As well as those mentioned above, Saul Kurzman (Yr 8) met the challenges of failing gangland boss, Fat Sam with great maturity and good comic technique .</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Mrs Middleton and I would both like to congratulate and thank the company for ‘getting it together’ and their brilliant American, Irish and camp accents!</em><br />
<br />
</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-59588905504160512102011-12-06T23:34:00.007+00:002011-12-06T23:44:28.982+00:00South Devon Schools' Cross-Country Comes to Stover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-hnx4lu6L5pX-wVA5F3AGEVkKMXJbqYcyzbLP6W2Sn6G0fKOrzDKJny_iouiYz158u7fyJjXQBKQesaDf2nn1T_O_q7Zc_Hoiaoew8e5iIf_ZQkw7zigXB5v9Hm_t5Fq6R808LNCjF46/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-hnx4lu6L5pX-wVA5F3AGEVkKMXJbqYcyzbLP6W2Sn6G0fKOrzDKJny_iouiYz158u7fyJjXQBKQesaDf2nn1T_O_q7Zc_Hoiaoew8e5iIf_ZQkw7zigXB5v9Hm_t5Fq6R808LNCjF46/s200/0.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-hnx4lu6L5pX-wVA5F3AGEVkKMXJbqYcyzbLP6W2Sn6G0fKOrzDKJny_iouiYz158u7fyJjXQBKQesaDf2nn1T_O_q7Zc_Hoiaoew8e5iIf_ZQkw7zigXB5v9Hm_t5Fq6R808LNCjF46/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-hnx4lu6L5pX-wVA5F3AGEVkKMXJbqYcyzbLP6W2Sn6G0fKOrzDKJny_iouiYz158u7fyJjXQBKQesaDf2nn1T_O_q7Zc_Hoiaoew8e5iIf_ZQkw7zigXB5v9Hm_t5Fq6R808LNCjF46/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Last week saw teams of runners from all over the region descend on Stover as we hosted the South Devon Schools' Cross-Country Championships. Congratulations to Mrs Craven and her team, ably helped by the Sixth Form CSL pupils, for organising such a highly successful event. Thanks also to our groundsmen ('The Barn Boys') for getting the place so well set up.</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-82473301784522962332011-11-30T23:28:00.012+00:002011-12-07T18:26:33.682+00:00The oldest Devonian of us all?<div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6AqXgcb9uklSCVa9DcAcHwRsKFx7WXm_cXt68IaS7Z4aoptsdY9UEEgAVqMMwccAqdvUw6suc7FCK8K8-7Ewl6s3T7zOaFUTzV1vx49w-eivpcZJjIeG3jqoPBkVye01Tfz5DRUs9Ug4/s1600/First+Devonian+jaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6AqXgcb9uklSCVa9DcAcHwRsKFx7WXm_cXt68IaS7Z4aoptsdY9UEEgAVqMMwccAqdvUw6suc7FCK8K8-7Ewl6s3T7zOaFUTzV1vx49w-eivpcZJjIeG3jqoPBkVye01Tfz5DRUs9Ug4/s320/First+Devonian+jaw.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teeth of the First Devonian from Kent's Cavern</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first known truly human inhabitant of Devon is one of the oldest European <em>Homo sapiens</em> people ever discovered, dating back over 41,000 years. They lived (or at least died) just 14 km away from Stover in Kents Cavern, Torquay – although sadly all that is left of them now is a piece of upper jaw.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Some time after the existence of the Kents Cavern individual the ‘ice age’seems to have got much colder for a while and glacial conditions gripped most of the British Isles - pushing humans southwards until about 10,000 years ago, when the ice finally started to melt. Around 6,000 years ago early farmers, who had a ‘neolithic’ (new stone age) culture, were living on Dartmoor, just to the north of Stover.</div><div align="justify"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCAEX8YQAffaarKRdZnJVBbHyObDPXdPO76KPhCL5oKzHcBMjFaqCNY9BsvSxKvxEEuNgg2x3H1uYuurGqcCQ70-NB-AFO3OsaHMkY1PWHBzgPuYFt8UR5esrPe36N29q7D291tm4b8do/s1600/Cut+Hill+stone+row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCAEX8YQAffaarKRdZnJVBbHyObDPXdPO76KPhCL5oKzHcBMjFaqCNY9BsvSxKvxEEuNgg2x3H1uYuurGqcCQ70-NB-AFO3OsaHMkY1PWHBzgPuYFt8UR5esrPe36N29q7D291tm4b8do/s320/Cut+Hill+stone+row.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut Hill recumbent stone row</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">A stone row at Cut Hill in the middle of north Dartmoor has recently been dated as being 5,500 years old – pointing to the fact that complex human societies have existed in Devon since before the time of the Egyptian pyramids. The precise dating of the stone row was possible because it was buried in peat – allowing dates to be obtained from immediately above and beneath the stones. Although older than the monument of Stonehenge, the Cut Hill row also has its stones aligned with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. None of the hundreds of stone rows in Britain and northern France have been accurately dated up to now, but the Cut Hill example shows that some at least are Neolithic rather than Bronze Age structures.</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The remains of a Devonian who belonged to an early Bronze Age society, and died just 4,000 years ago, have recently been unearthed from a stone burial chamber (or ‘cist’) at Whitehorse Hill (near the Cut Hill stone row). Cremated bones and a woven bag have been recovered from what the Dartmoor National Park Authority have described as ‘one of the most important archaeological finds of the last 100 years.’ The bag (or basket) contained shale disc beads, amber spherical beads and a circular textile band. <br />
<br />
</div><div align="justify"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmUcf5LzsbCu5sL5mgpXHf4FTM8rE5y9p-r0uTTM_29xm4rEwoOMG52nLJDDuLYbT3ghsbbBrcZ3H2TMcmql_3ltjO3Z7eQ3c3A6UlCY7rKY95SzAKbvQJs8oe1mJKnmCodWS6hPqyYFh/s1600/20111115DNPA-PR-JM-White-horse-Hill-cist-excavations-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmUcf5LzsbCu5sL5mgpXHf4FTM8rE5y9p-r0uTTM_29xm4rEwoOMG52nLJDDuLYbT3ghsbbBrcZ3H2TMcmql_3ltjO3Z7eQ3c3A6UlCY7rKY95SzAKbvQJs8oe1mJKnmCodWS6hPqyYFh/s1600/20111115DNPA-PR-JM-White-horse-Hill-cist-excavations-5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Whitehorse Hill cist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The peat and pollen surrounding the cist are due to be analysed and carbon-dated to provide evidence of vegetation and climate at the time of the burial, and the items will be analysed to reveal how they were made and what materials were used.</div><div align="justify"></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-7472125254805557452011-11-29T23:16:00.005+00:002011-11-29T23:28:26.229+00:00The Stover ICT Trip to London's Olympic Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjs14ZgmDo0xQj4yqiNKy0yjopakZxDfRh255wCsRcf-jrt_qJ_vADNpvkjodzqgFfScgkqVmLkwpLxgQuHpLvIISDuF70gliUHZmO7GM2mReFI5C6qYvvPpDN2ck8Ch4PKLJ4I-oV_gZ/s1600/Lon+trip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjs14ZgmDo0xQj4yqiNKy0yjopakZxDfRh255wCsRcf-jrt_qJ_vADNpvkjodzqgFfScgkqVmLkwpLxgQuHpLvIISDuF70gliUHZmO7GM2mReFI5C6qYvvPpDN2ck8Ch4PKLJ4I-oV_gZ/s1600/Lon+trip+2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjs14ZgmDo0xQj4yqiNKy0yjopakZxDfRh255wCsRcf-jrt_qJ_vADNpvkjodzqgFfScgkqVmLkwpLxgQuHpLvIISDuF70gliUHZmO7GM2mReFI5C6qYvvPpDN2ck8Ch4PKLJ4I-oV_gZ/s1600/Lon+trip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>In October 40 pupils and 5 staff set off for London, to visit the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/olympic-park">Olympic Park</a>. After spending some time visiting the main attractions such as the London Eye, Westminster, Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, some free time was enjoyed followed by an evening meal in Covent Garden. After a night at the Holiday Inn there was a 6.30 wake-up call in preparation for a hearty breakfast and another busy day.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Day two saw the group visiting the Olympic site, where a classroom session explored the use of ICT when hosting an event as big as the Olympic Games. Pupils were put into groups and had to consider everything from the original bid to the advertising, building, merchandising and even the legacy. Pupils were also shown videos of athletes using technology to enhance their performance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Next there was a two mile walk around the Olympic Park with information on each venue, and a stop at the View Tube - which gave a good view of the stadium and its surrounding area. The guide was very informative and explained what will happen to the accommodation for the athletes and the other buildings after the games are over. She also spoke about the area and its associated regeneration project and how this will help the local community. Eventually we set off on our journey back to Stover, very tired but feeling like we had been part of something special.<br />
<br />
<em>Thanks to Mrs Machin for this post</em></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-6468997183480860742011-11-28T23:00:00.004+00:002011-11-28T23:07:34.443+00:00Annual Concert for St. Cecilia's Day<div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh55AF4_Cug_-ZcPo9kKQN508Yose-1QEy5i7bstpOzqKOiMi22_-YO8y1SkkXNhqca5rSF7Ut3gRmlTmbnm5OMVOVXPUIbPkXILe2-g8FRy9zzMTGL2mugI6SpeFmhbIerMh9Y1nz2HD4/s1600/Teigngrace+Church+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh55AF4_Cug_-ZcPo9kKQN508Yose-1QEy5i7bstpOzqKOiMi22_-YO8y1SkkXNhqca5rSF7Ut3gRmlTmbnm5OMVOVXPUIbPkXILe2-g8FRy9zzMTGL2mugI6SpeFmhbIerMh9Y1nz2HD4/s400/Teigngrace+Church+2.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teigngrace Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last week saw twenty pupils from Stover giving a very polished performance at Teigngrace Church in a concert to celebrate the feast of St. Cecilia (the patron saint of musicians). Teigngrace is our local church, and we are linked to it historically through the Templer family, as it was rebuilt by the children of James Templer - who built our school.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The concert was a mixture of solo items by singers and instrumentalists, with some vocal and piano duets. The programme concluded with all the singers who had taken part singing ‘<em>The Rose</em>’ and ‘<em>A Clare Benediction</em>’ as an encore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-27987966637336407922011-11-28T18:19:00.010+00:002011-11-28T23:12:06.097+00:00Futsal<div style="text-align: justify;">This morning’s Senior School assembly was taken by Miss Titterton, of the PE Department, who introduced us to the world of Futsal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UtsfNtpX9j8" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
This is the internationally recognised version of what is known in the British Isles as ‘5-a-side football’. The name Futsal is derived from the Spanish for football (<em>futbol</em>) and hall (<em>sala</em>), and this form of reduced size indoor football is recognised and supported by FIFA and UEFA, who run World and European Championships for club and national teams.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzmgKSL-xvLh-jmnYb734NQ_xn6tQUx8DGzNm3YWNB8_KXGTcepKEfcV_mxOmY6F2B1cBhCRJnd8BJYt2QydL4vFNhIz902_45EHfLezd3QgKAraNA85hzHMocaHVMBCJ3joMVZ2ttdt5/s1600/futsal-final-brasil-espanha-01g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzmgKSL-xvLh-jmnYb734NQ_xn6tQUx8DGzNm3YWNB8_KXGTcepKEfcV_mxOmY6F2B1cBhCRJnd8BJYt2QydL4vFNhIz902_45EHfLezd3QgKAraNA85hzHMocaHVMBCJ3joMVZ2ttdt5/s1600/futsal-final-brasil-espanha-01g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzmgKSL-xvLh-jmnYb734NQ_xn6tQUx8DGzNm3YWNB8_KXGTcepKEfcV_mxOmY6F2B1cBhCRJnd8BJYt2QydL4vFNhIz902_45EHfLezd3QgKAraNA85hzHMocaHVMBCJ3joMVZ2ttdt5/s1600/futsal-final-brasil-espanha-01g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzmgKSL-xvLh-jmnYb734NQ_xn6tQUx8DGzNm3YWNB8_KXGTcepKEfcV_mxOmY6F2B1cBhCRJnd8BJYt2QydL4vFNhIz902_45EHfLezd3QgKAraNA85hzHMocaHVMBCJ3joMVZ2ttdt5/s320/futsal-final-brasil-espanha-01g.jpg" width="320" /></a>In Futsal, unlike normal 5-a-side football, there are hockey-sized goals, a smaller ball with reduced bounce, and no side boards to use for rebounds. It is designed as a fast and fair game which rewards skill, tactical awareness and speed of thought (and action).<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Futsal is now supported by the English FA, and in Devon Futsal leagues and competitions are being run at Plymstock School, Paignton Community and Sport College and Exeter City FC (among others).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Any Stover pupils who wish to get involved in playing Futsal are asked to contact Miss Titterton, and to sign the list in the Round Passage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-5989211722558439382011-11-23T22:49:00.003+00:002011-11-23T22:53:45.536+00:00Maths Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mE17qR9PwK5_9EBTZEzbqBTffa-Kh5RcmL-Hzw20rI6fZc9zpXyaaf0HmGYE4g0TRi9egoy7aOwEGOWrDe1HzT2frSQS6XiCycgwyRJvEJ5FRpmz_2VlX4mWLMHEFUb7jVqk9-RhNYKs/s1600/IMGP8514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mE17qR9PwK5_9EBTZEzbqBTffa-Kh5RcmL-Hzw20rI6fZc9zpXyaaf0HmGYE4g0TRi9egoy7aOwEGOWrDe1HzT2frSQS6XiCycgwyRJvEJ5FRpmz_2VlX4mWLMHEFUb7jVqk9-RhNYKs/s320/IMGP8514.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mE17qR9PwK5_9EBTZEzbqBTffa-Kh5RcmL-Hzw20rI6fZc9zpXyaaf0HmGYE4g0TRi9egoy7aOwEGOWrDe1HzT2frSQS6XiCycgwyRJvEJ5FRpmz_2VlX4mWLMHEFUb7jVqk9-RhNYKs/s1600/IMGP8514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The Maths Department recently entered some of its star Year 12 and 13 performers in the Senior Mathematical Challenge competition which is run by the The <a href="http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/">UK Mathematics Trust</a> - a ‘satellite’ of Leeds University which organises national mathematics competitions and other mathematical enrichment activities for 11-18 year old UK school pupils.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was great fun and a very useful exercise for the Stover mathematicians. A big ‘congratulations’ is in order for Linh Nguyen who, despite only being in Year 12, came out as ‘Best in School’ and winner of a gold medal. Other top performers were Bobo Chan, Neo Kan, Sian Wood, Dauen Lee, Coco Lee, Carol Chan and Angel Sze. Well done to all concerned!</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-49292487743673682472011-11-22T19:15:00.012+00:002011-11-26T09:19:00.928+00:00Mammals of the British Isles - The Squirrel<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj4eIImjXy8ljcY8TqpQDbKzqgV1p4-QKCF_qqYkXOGNuZY-knThKtOFW3YaQP_EaW7U47l_D1aMWSwpg-NZ0g7zXnYQaVjTrHdk-u9AQhtq4TFtw_-sDHBUSKfwWuncMlinxjBfrdYgE/s1600/BritishGreySquirrel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj4eIImjXy8ljcY8TqpQDbKzqgV1p4-QKCF_qqYkXOGNuZY-knThKtOFW3YaQP_EaW7U47l_D1aMWSwpg-NZ0g7zXnYQaVjTrHdk-u9AQhtq4TFtw_-sDHBUSKfwWuncMlinxjBfrdYgE/s320/BritishGreySquirrel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Squirrel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Strangely enough, the cute and lovable grey squirrels (<em>Sciurus carolinensis</em>) we see playing in the grounds of Stover School are in fact rodents – the same group of mammals as rats. Since their introduction from North America, they have had a catastrophic effect on the native red squirrel (<em>Sciurus vulgaris</em>) throughout the British Isles. Grey squirrels also cause significant damage to woodlands through ‘bark stripping’ and reduce density and diversity in populations of woodland birds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wild grey squirrels first appeared in Britain in the late 19th Century, with some possibly escaping from London Zoo. In Italy two pairs escaped from an ambassador's garden in Turin in 1948, although some sources suggest that pet grey squirrels had already escaped in Piedmont by the late 1800s. The spread of grey squirrels, at the expense of native red squirrels, appears to have had a more marked effect in the British Isles than on mainland Europe – so far at least.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7JCbrXFcFIl0d-W2PcQ3o48WCJp5pRMmIfE1g855ifkYIz24F7OWHI6FivtV3VKP7fZPgF5HMX_0-2RsvG4c5hGq9VhBTfVi99vIf3-_vrNi79LPVhDmHDJwYLQ4cGalKjMEqJYgyIPS/s1600/red+squirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7JCbrXFcFIl0d-W2PcQ3o48WCJp5pRMmIfE1g855ifkYIz24F7OWHI6FivtV3VKP7fZPgF5HMX_0-2RsvG4c5hGq9VhBTfVi99vIf3-_vrNi79LPVhDmHDJwYLQ4cGalKjMEqJYgyIPS/s320/red+squirrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Squirrel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">There are now thought to be just 140,000 red squirrels in Britain, whilst there are over 2.5 million greys, and the future of the red squirrel is becoming increasingly uncertain as they are now extinct in southern England (except for a few on the Isle of Wight). Red Squirrels are still widespread in the North of England and Scotland, but even here their range is contracting. The grey squirrel is having such a profound impact on British wildlife that the <a href="http://www.iucn.org/">International Union for the Conservation of Nature</a> has now listed it on their global list of the <a href="http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/100English.pdf">100 worst invasive species</a>. The UK Forestry Commission is working with partners in projects across Britain to develop a long-term conservation strategy that deters greys and encourages reds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Grey Squirrel is larger and more aggressive than its European cousin, and greys out-compete reds for food, feeding more on the ground and being able to digest acorns, which reds can’t. Contrary to popular opinion, red squirrels do not hibernate – but as greys can build up and store more fat they are better at surviving cold winters. Grey squirrels are also more generalist feeders eating: nuts, flowers, fruits, seeds, tree bark, fungi, bird eggs, nestlings and frogs - whilst reds prefer the seeds of coniferous forests, although they will diversify under pressure. Grey squirrels are also thought to have introduced the squirrelpox virus from North America which is deadly to red squirrels, although greys have a natural immunity.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_uRXI2JA9OT13RfQx65sfC3LGWd5NTJ6SpwCkpyHv7PsRR029XyPz4xqKsNdqZjvx0Jums6piZlBjDUaEDq_eEKVsTHvOIRfj1beVJDaQ9XWCJmgsCHlBkKsupxvg_JCoY4TZcj55PBQ/s1600/grey+squirrel+spread.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_uRXI2JA9OT13RfQx65sfC3LGWd5NTJ6SpwCkpyHv7PsRR029XyPz4xqKsNdqZjvx0Jums6piZlBjDUaEDq_eEKVsTHvOIRfj1beVJDaQ9XWCJmgsCHlBkKsupxvg_JCoY4TZcj55PBQ/s200/grey+squirrel+spread.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distribution of Grey Squirrel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lxgo0jL2SpbNsZCjJbPDDgSNGSQ7V-_37EK83moq8NoVVCu78flLTq-ufo2y9nhyphenhyphenatV40FFXdobAoy9pHv8EOrApf6Ej7grWaQXpC_SBYZvihawrqT22Vf4hjFPJpullvGrrsZ9_4cMa/s1600/squirrel+red.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lxgo0jL2SpbNsZCjJbPDDgSNGSQ7V-_37EK83moq8NoVVCu78flLTq-ufo2y9nhyphenhyphenatV40FFXdobAoy9pHv8EOrApf6Ej7grWaQXpC_SBYZvihawrqT22Vf4hjFPJpullvGrrsZ9_4cMa/s200/squirrel+red.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distribution of Red Squirrel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br />
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Grey squirrels, which can live at high population densities in broadleaved woodland, cause significant damage to trees such as sycamore, beech, oak, sweet chestnut, pine, Norway spruce and larch, by bark-stripping. This dramatically reduces the economic value of woodland – costing more than £10 million per year. They may also be partly responsible for recent declines in many woodland bird species - through predation of eggs and young chicks, competing for nest sites or because they consume food which would otherwise be available for birds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Squirrels build large nests, called dreys, often in the forks of tree trunks. They can breed twice in a season, in spring and in late summer, but usually only breed once. There are between one and six young in a litter. The young are born naked and blind. Young squirrels may stay with their mother until she has her next litter. Mortality is quite high, with only one in five surviving to their first winter. Adult squirrels have few natural predators, as they are far too quick and agile for most. <br />
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this article is based on work by <strong>Jane Chen</strong>, Year 10</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-918866845658354962011-11-19T08:37:00.004+00:002011-11-19T23:30:05.030+00:00The Prep School Choir<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXqRI6ubkqwY46a26-3Mwmoc_wTLiHuq_b3nqr4UTTCZ6pZz4juttnR_vSx15NdW4ezseiQLKnJvRpa0fO-P4KczZceZOBg4EKq0bbTnFtaZk6_vkQUX_zZKh9uCikc1734M4C8YepZWt/s1600/DSCF1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXqRI6ubkqwY46a26-3Mwmoc_wTLiHuq_b3nqr4UTTCZ6pZz4juttnR_vSx15NdW4ezseiQLKnJvRpa0fO-P4KczZceZOBg4EKq0bbTnFtaZk6_vkQUX_zZKh9uCikc1734M4C8YepZWt/s400/DSCF1858.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Prep School Choir with their trophy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Congratulations to the Prep School Choir who won their class in the City of Plymouth Music Festival last week. Sixty young Stoverites performed two pieces in front of a large audience. The judges noted that the choir <em>'showed a good contrast in styles and was musical, energised and focused. A fun, great sound</em>!’ Winning the trophy capped a wonderful day out for all, with the pupils giving of their very best and acting as excellent ambassadors for Stover.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> The Prep School Choir's next public performance will be in Exeter Cathedral at the School Carol Service on Monday 12th December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-49989465401760835122011-11-18T00:02:00.000+00:002011-11-18T00:02:41.305+00:00Stover Artists win Christmas Card Competition<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIwjqp1p74a7MiW196SXjM_3Quh_a26Br5YO05Tcgpxbrj2rpHdZiUpCxrnAJ3soNylRY6TJZ39UHOjTU6KzBNiAZk9pAmh07oG6zrhuzdk_CclgAt3YAgwZXOHYgzMrhTAg1q16PCWUF/s1600/Christmas+card2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIwjqp1p74a7MiW196SXjM_3Quh_a26Br5YO05Tcgpxbrj2rpHdZiUpCxrnAJ3soNylRY6TJZ39UHOjTU6KzBNiAZk9pAmh07oG6zrhuzdk_CclgAt3YAgwZXOHYgzMrhTAg1q16PCWUF/s1600/Christmas+card2.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajVljfpfC5ysjLMZexKp_2w_M68i6VCTSEyG-w-HKBLrzFsZwoPGbZPGFypRWQgZq-cTLAnraO0JJUmiJm6QTrDbjcQ2rJrNXjTEMr7eWoYfxa4kJqLyJewjnEzGp_zDEDsW90OqXQr_7/s1600/christmas+card1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajVljfpfC5ysjLMZexKp_2w_M68i6VCTSEyG-w-HKBLrzFsZwoPGbZPGFypRWQgZq-cTLAnraO0JJUmiJm6QTrDbjcQ2rJrNXjTEMr7eWoYfxa4kJqLyJewjnEzGp_zDEDsW90OqXQr_7/s1600/christmas+card1.png" /></a>Many congratulations to Hugo Longrigg and Henri Poole-Birrel who have been selected as winners of the Anne Marie Morris MP Christmas Card Competition. This competition was open to Year 5 and 6 pupils from all the schools in her Teignbridge constituency. Hugo and Henri’s designs will now be made into Christmas cards and used for Ms Morris’ official correspondence. What an excellent achievement boys!</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-36231615292498939692011-11-17T23:41:00.002+00:002011-11-17T23:43:44.521+00:00Rugby Victory for Stover Prep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8SzFUvgN7pOzBsYm8qEoWEaBr1a0QNLbeeGY83xRwKj2mpzBEfZ1RQ5HQqyBIxhTSw-6QK0PYCWwbQd5GCTSVr3Aaz0x-t0xycLf2UDu9NepBryvLNRzDOZeNBpsY4OuUd0Qay46jU4h/s1600/DSCF1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8SzFUvgN7pOzBsYm8qEoWEaBr1a0QNLbeeGY83xRwKj2mpzBEfZ1RQ5HQqyBIxhTSw-6QK0PYCWwbQd5GCTSVr3Aaz0x-t0xycLf2UDu9NepBryvLNRzDOZeNBpsY4OuUd0Qay46jU4h/s1600/DSCF1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8SzFUvgN7pOzBsYm8qEoWEaBr1a0QNLbeeGY83xRwKj2mpzBEfZ1RQ5HQqyBIxhTSw-6QK0PYCWwbQd5GCTSVr3Aaz0x-t0xycLf2UDu9NepBryvLNRzDOZeNBpsY4OuUd0Qay46jU4h/s320/DSCF1860.JPG" width="320" /></a>Saturday was certainly a great day for Stover rugby, when our Under 10 team came home victorious from the Queens’ Rugby Tournament. The team were quietly confident going into the pool games and thought they had a good chance of making the knockout stages. As the day progressed our defence held strong and we beat the following schools: All Hallows (20 – 0); Paragon (10 – 0); Exeter Cathedral (15 – 0). In the quarter final we beat Queens (5 – 0) and in the semi- final we beat Exeter School (10 – 5). This was the only team to score against us all day. Our opponents in the final were Sherborne School, who were unbeaten all season and had defeated the much fancied Millfield team en route to the final.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The decider was a tight, physical game which we won 5 - 0 thanks to an Alfie Raynor try. Alfie was outstanding and really set the tournament alight with his running. A special mention goes to Reuben Ash who was captain; and led from the front at all times. The coach, parents, staff and pupils of SPS are all very proud of this magnificent achievement. The splendid cup and individual medals were presented to the team in our Awards Assembly on Monday. Well done lads!</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-87336396902519286182011-11-17T17:58:00.003+00:002011-11-17T23:46:54.770+00:00Stover Prep in TOP FIVE for ‘The Best Preparatory School’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziXN4bhlfVLxm0aZj9vKuw4YNpJwcA4GJ1oMsXca539CnX0h6YkUWlyUnoyIOUroEIzKOI9I5bQmZroiOdI5uDt5llBsFg3IIrLrOR7CcIT_pqwu8OTGd42k3eqZaxJ698JtJQWxURfoy/s1600/Stover+Cert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziXN4bhlfVLxm0aZj9vKuw4YNpJwcA4GJ1oMsXca539CnX0h6YkUWlyUnoyIOUroEIzKOI9I5bQmZroiOdI5uDt5llBsFg3IIrLrOR7CcIT_pqwu8OTGd42k3eqZaxJ698JtJQWxURfoy/s320/Stover+Cert.jpg" width="226" /></a>Stover was nominated for ‘The Best Preparatory School’ at The Archant Good Schools Show held at Olympia, London earlier this term. Stover was shortlisted with four other Independent Preparatory Schools nationally and was invited to attend The Archant Good Schools Award Ceremony in London. The Ceremony is designed to bring together many of the UK’s top independent schools and allow parents and pupils the opportunity to vote if they believe their school has something special to offer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At this same event, Mr Brown was nominated for 'Best Teacher' and he, too was in the final. We are absolutely delighted to be the finalists for such a prestigious award and thank all the pupils and parents who nominated the Prep School and Mr Brown.</div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4815499942016331601.post-40158617009056827152011-11-17T00:04:00.008+00:002011-11-19T23:33:33.382+00:00Devon Schools Maths Challenge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgFuzC8brunE74I-HJuLC8aizvOstE_r2DpGPjqtgvxyXGYFeclDJumJbuRKOxnxi3lc0eUE_MupmOQhUdyAccKqjOeGpn4Vsp8S4mkokYlJcb2zpoR77NMf7pe9pqSEDPDsENUQ1eYks/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgFuzC8brunE74I-HJuLC8aizvOstE_r2DpGPjqtgvxyXGYFeclDJumJbuRKOxnxi3lc0eUE_MupmOQhUdyAccKqjOeGpn4Vsp8S4mkokYlJcb2zpoR77NMf7pe9pqSEDPDsENUQ1eYks/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team: Neo, Alex, Daeun and Linh</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Blundells School in Tiverton recently played host to teams of top mathematicians. Three rounds of rigorous and testing calculations saw a very close finish ending with the Stover team in a highly creditable fourth place after Shebbear, West Buckland and Colyton Grammar. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Mrs Skuckova from our Maths Department reports:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>There were 3 rounds. </em><em>Round 1 consisted of 10 challenging and complex questions, and we only scored 50% - a shaky start – perhaps due to nerves! </em><em>This only made our team pull together and the fighting spirit kicked in. </em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Round 2 was a Crossnumber round, requiring excellent team communication between pairs and good nerves. Our team achieved 55 out of 56 – Wow – Excellent stuff. I was feeling very proud!</em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em></em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Round 3 was the nerve-wracking Relay round – a demanding and tricky format in which each pair has to get a question absolutely correct for their team to use that number to solve a further question. We scored 45 out of 60 (West Buckland got 42), and as there were 4 questions and only 8 minutes, there was real pressure, but our team excelled!</em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em></em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>We were so close to a top place, but could take pride in our best result so far. Our pupils worked very hard to prepare themselves and showed great enthusiasm and joy during the competition itself. I was excited to see such emotion generated by people doing mathematics!</em></div>The Stoverviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06423248387228369183noreply@blogger.com0