Dancers help pupils celebrate Chinese New Year Prep school contributes


CHINESE performers kick-started the Chinese New Year celebra- tions at NLL and Cornwallis acad- emies when they dazzled audiences with dance and music from traditional Chinese Culture. The group, from London’s South


Bank University (LSBU) Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine, funded by Hanban, per- formed folk and lion dances and demonstrated martial arts acts to students and invited primary and secondary schools. Future Schools Trust’s (FST) Community Director, Richard Jenkins, said: “The trust’s reputa- tion for excellent Mandarin edu- cation gives us access to first-class resources from theHan- banInstitute, including the visiting Chinese performers.”


to curriculum A SUTTON Valence school is helping to shape the future for young independent thinkers. Claire Corkran, deputy head


at Sutton Valence Prep School in Chart Sutton, was asked to contribute to the formation of the Independent Curriculum (IC) by its creator Andrew Ham- mond. Theschoolisnowoneof the first in Kent to introduce its methods to the classroom for Years 3 to 6. Claire, who wrote all the con-


Students spent a week explor-


ing elements of Chinese culture, with a Chinese menu every lunchtime. All Year 7 students at NLL are


taught Mandarin until the end of Year 8.At CornwallisAcademy, all Year 7 students learn Mandarin, plus an additional European lan- guage.


Seeking birthday boys and girls


SIXTY people who celebrate specific birthdays this spring and summer are being sought to help Yalding mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It is planned to hold a torch-


light parade through the village on the evening of Monday, June 4, prior to a beacon being lit at the top of the church after dark. The parish council is looking for villagers who were born on


Musical treat


at open day THERE will be a rare chance to see Jack Henley’s amazing organ collection when Park House in Park Road, Marden Thorn, opens to the public. Mechanical musical boxes


will also be on display from the Musical Box Society of Great Britain, as part of their 50th an- niversary celebrations. In the garden, there will be a collection of classic cars, mo- toring memorabilia and clocks. The event takes place from 2- 4.30pm on Sunday, April 22. Proceeds from the sale of re- freshments will go towards im- provements to St Michael’s and All Angels’ Church,Marden.


Buzz down to fair THERE will a buzz at Riverdale Field, Yalding on Sunday, May 13, when the Yalding and Dis- trict Beekeepers’ Association holds its first Honey Bee Fayre and Auction. Families can come along and


see the group’s teaching apiary and learn about the insects from 10am to 4.30pm.More de- tails from http://beefayre.yald- ingbeekeepers.co.uk


Plan ‘out of character’ ANDY Swaine’s application for a two-storey rear extension at Mereworth House, Lees Road, Laddingford, was deemed out of character to a Grade II Listed building. It was refused by Maidstone Council.


28 South


the day the Queen acceded to the throne following the death of her father – February6–and close to Coronation Day, June 2. Men, women, boys and girls


born on or near those dates in any year from 1952 to the pres- ent will be invited to be torch- bearers for the parade along Yalding High Street. If you turned 60 on February 6, or will celebrate your own


60th birthday on June 2, a spe- cial honour could be conveyed, as the parish is still seeking a special someone to light the torch on the church tower. Anyone who would like to


put themselves forward for the parade or the big beacon event should contact the parish clerk, Angela Gent, on 01622 814134 or the chairman, Geraldine Brown, on 01622 814222.


Appeal for woman’s attacker


DETECTIVES have released this image of a man they want to speak to after a 29-year-old woman was mugged. The offence is reported to


have occurred at 9:25am on March 13 at the junction of Br- ishing Road and Roman Way, near Boughton Monchelsea. The woman said her hand-


bag and jewellery were taken by a man, aged 20 to 24, who ran into a nearby park. The victim was not injured. The offender is awhite man, skinny, and wore a dark brown or black hooded top with the hood up, mid-blue jeans and white trainers. Call Det Con David Taft at


VOLUNTEERS are needed to as- sist with the running of Head- corn Guides, who meet at the village hall from 6-7.30pm on Wednesdays. The unit has 16 members,


aged from 10-15, and is run by unit leader Naomi Dickins and two other volunteers. There is also help from one older guide, who is working towards her young leader qualification. Two adults have to be present


at each meeting, but one of the regulars has recently had sur- gery and meetings have had to be cancelled. Naomi said: “I’d like to avoid cancelling sessions as the girls only meet once aweek and they


tent for PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) educa- tion, said: “The IC offers a pro- gramme of learning whereby children go through the steps of applying knowledge, under- standing and being able to com- municate it, not just repeating what they have been taught. “At Sutton Valence Prep School, we have been using as- pects to enhance both the teaching and learning. Our Eng- lish, PSHE and RE planning is now closely linked with the IC and other subjects will follow.” She added: “There is a re- quirement for all schools today to better prepare their pupils for the next stage in their edu- cation journey. “The IC fits with the ethos of


our school, where we aim to provide children with creative, inspiring learning experiences as well as preparing them for life beyond school.”


Step out and


join the YOBs WALKERS are wanted to join the YOBS. Yalding Old Boys are a group


Maidstone police station on 01622 604186 or Crimestop- pers on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference YY/4.


Guides after for more helpers


really value their time together. I’m hoping to establish a list of willing volunteers who might do regular sessions on a rota basis – not every week, or even every month. “We just need a little occa-


sional extra woman power to give the existing volunteers more flexibility and widen our opportunities with regards to visits and so forth – and we al- ways need drivers.” Volunteers will have to be


CRB checked, but there is no other obligation. Anyone who can lend a hand should call Naomi Dickins on 01622 890207 or email naomidick- ins@hotmail.com.


of men – and a few women – who enjoy day-long cross-coun- try walks around the Kentish countryside, with occasional forays into Sussex or Surrey. The walks, organised by members, take place on aweek- day, and cover about eight miles to pub lunch, then an- other four miles. Walks planned this year take


in East Malling, Barming, Frit- tenden and Chiddingstone and in June, the YOBS will climb south east England’s highest point – Leith Hill, near Dorking. Anyone who would like more information on how to become a YOB should contact Bert Box- all on 01622 814472 or email hboxall@tiscali.co.uk


Health help for teens A SIX-week course to promote healthy eating and fitness for young people aged 11-15 is being launched by Maidstone YMCA and the Switch Youth Café. The course starts on Wednes-


day February 22, and is aimed at youngsters aged from 11-15. It costs £30 for six weeks. For de- tails call 01622 749404 or go to www.maidstoneymca.org.uk.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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