Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Photolithography – Year 12 Chemistry

  Thu 23 Nov 2017

  On 9th November our Year 12 Chemistry students were visited by two PhD students from the University of Kent for a one hour workshop on photolithography to show a use of chemistry that they would not normally have the opportunity to see in school.

  Miss May wrote:

  The year 12 Chemistry students, Miss May and Mrs Smith all thoroughly enjoyed trying our hands at photolithography for the first time.

  We learnt about its use in the past to create circuit boards as well as why it is no longer used commercially.  Only one of us managed to fully complete each stage of the process which clearly showed just how skillful we needed to be and how unpredictable science can be.

  The method involved the controlled exposure of UV light to certain parts of a circuit board covered in a thin layer of copper in order to make patterns. The students were very creative with their designs and we all enjoyed speaking to the Canterbury Christchurch PhD students about their research topics.

   

  The feedback from the students involved included :

  “I really enjoyed the photolithography experiment as bringing in an outside educator to show A level chemists what we could be doing if we enter the field of chemistry was a really interesting experience. Working with PhD students was a rewarding experience in itself as well.”

  “I thoroughly enjoyed the photolithography experiment done by the two ladies from the University of Kent. We got the opportunity to be with people very qualified in the field of chemistry, to show our A level chemistry class the types of interesting experiments that the subject offers. Overall it was a great experience that they gave us, and it definitely made the class intrigued into discovering more about photolithography.”

  “I found it very interesting how the photo was made with just U.V light and some chemicals.”

  

• Bluebell Estates Competition Winner

  Thu 16 Nov 2017

  On Monday 6^th November, John Rafferty from Bluebell Estates came to present our very own Chloe (year 12 – pictured) with a cheque for £1000 as her prize for winning a recent competition.

  The competition was sent to us by John Rafferty, a former St Simon Stock student, in pursuit of finding a fresh, new design for the For Sale boards of Bluebell Estates. After receiving hundreds of entries, John and his team divided them into age categories and selected a winner for each group with a prize of £100. From St Simon Stock Catholic School we had a number of runner up entries from Maisie Devlin, Kent Cordez, Roy Patrick, Dominika Maruszczak and Laura Buchan – congratulations to all these fantastic entrants.

  After sifting through the entries, however, one stood out for its beautiful detail of bluebells to mirror the name of Bluebell Estates– Chloe Jones. Upon hearing the news of her win, Chloe proclaimed how she “never thought I (she) would actually win”.

  We invited John and a KM reporter to present Chloe with her cheque during her preparation session where the message was clear for fellow students; always have a go because you might just win! Rest assured, however, the glory has not gone to Chloe’s head. When asked what she will be doing with the money she explained how she will be donating a significant proportion to our school charity partner school, Sacred Heart, to hopefully give their students opportunities that she has been so lucky to have been afforded. Well, Chloe, we wish you the greatest of congratulations from everyone here at St Simon Stock and look forward to seeing your masterpiece outside the many homes of Maidstone in the coming months.

  

• Year 5 Transition Workshop

  Wed 15 Nov 2017

  On Tuesday 7^th November, we had our second transition event for our Partner Primary Schools.

  This time, the Year 5 pupils were involved in P.E., Art, Science and Geography.  Children were able to participate in printing with the Art team and were using their map skills and compasses to navigate their way around the school.

  It was a pleasure to see how enthusiastic our Year 5 guests were and we look forward to working with them throughout the remainder of Year 5 and Year 6 as they make their transition to St Simon Stock Catholic School.

   

  Mrs J Rodell-Jones, Head of Year 7 and Teacher i/c Year 6-7 Transition

• SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING INFORMATION

  Thu 09 Nov 2017
  It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 2nd November and thank you very much for the positive feedback. Please find below links to the information provided on the evening: