Hazeldene House Happenings

October 2008

First Grades
These were published recently and were most pleasing at this early stage of the term.  An analysis of the grades across the school was published to Houseparents and my congratulations must go to the House as a whole for having the second best grade average in the school, beaten by, guess?  You are correct – Thomas Cookes.  However the Upper Fourth, the smallest year group in the House, deserve special mention as they had the lowest grade average of any year group in the entire school.  When they found out they were ecstatic and then decided they deserved a prize – I think chocolate bars in this instance – well done girls!

ICT Certificates
In Thursday assembly of the final week of half term it was a great pleasure to award ICT certificates to the following members of the Upper Fourth who have successfully completed their course.  Yianna Theodorou, Sophie Bales, Gemma Sapstead, Gemma Kusty, Philippa Morris, Helena Meredith, Georgia Chandler. Emily Hartshorne Rachel Hotchin and Harriet Jones are now experts, perhaps one or two may take on the mantle of keeping the House website updated!

Words and Music
The theme of this term’s Words and Music was Liverpool.  The evening was organised by Mrs Linehan, herself a Liver Bird.  Several Hazeldenians participated.  Gina Ferri recited a poem called The Minister for Exams.  Eliza Cowen with big brother, Henry did an excerpt from Educating Rita before Eliza on her own recited Our Street.   Rachel Toner together with Adam Robertson performed a duologue called Without You. Rachel then went on to read an excerpt from a Bill Bryson Novel.  This included a Liverpudlian accent – fairly genuine but she could not have carried this off without the help of a friend.  Their practices in the House prior to the recital were hilarious to listen to.  Emily Richards completed the Hazeldene contributions to the evening by playing ‘The Long and Winding Road’ on her flute very well.  

Swimming
In a swimming Gala against Cheltenham Ladies College, Amy Gordon broke the Under 16 50m breaststroke School record which has stood for 17 years – the record is older than Amy – very well done!  Rebecca Straw in the same competition broke the School record in the Under 16 individual medley. Amy and Rebecca’s performances helped the team to a comfortable 122-84 victory.  The team was ably led and encouraged by swimming captain, Alice Woodyatt.  In a later gala Sophie Haycock-Jones broke the U16 school record for the 50m backstroke.  Roll on the Junior Inter House swimming gala!

English Schools Cross Country Cup – First round
This took place on Wednesday 8th October and Warwick and four Hazeldenians represented the school in the Under 16 team.  The team secured second place only being beaten by 3 points by local rivals RGSAO.  Rebecca Straw won the race having been pushed hard the whole way by an RGSAO athlete.  Lydia Trow came home in 4th, Ellen Lockhart 16th and Sophie Bales in 33rd. The girls are now looking forward to the regional round on the 8th of November and hopefully beating RGSAO in our quest to reach the National Final to be held at Shepshed High School, Leicester on the 6th December. 

Senior Inter-House Hockey – Cup competition
This took place on a glorious Friday afternoon in warm autumnal sunshine.  The team led by First XI captain Nicole Hele were:
Henna Khattak, Emma Borton, Becky Pile, Kimrun Sidhu, Hannah Schofield, Laura Davis, Ellie Trow, Frankie Pioli, Harriet Flowerdew, Victoria Borton, Alice Mellar and Georgina Eales. 

As always the Cup match against Thomas Cookes is a tight and keenly contested match, this was no different.  There were many supporters on the touch line.  The Head Girl teaching the Hazeldenians there a new House Chant whilst the non playing Head of House was taking action shots.  The Houseparent, as normal, was cheering the girls on whilst thinking that TC were always likely to sneak a winning goal at any moment.  The first half was a tight contest and all credit must go to Alice Mellar who kept the ball out of our net admirably well.  Early in the second half after a period of concerted pressure Laura Davis showed us all her hockey skills in scoring the only goal of the match to seal Hazeldene’s victory.  The team were jubilant.  Now the onus is on the Houseparent to remember to buy cakes for the team!

Junior Inter-House Hockey
Cup Team
This team was led by Georgia Chandler and the girls were determined to win the tournament.  After five minutes of the first match it was clear to a novice (me) that the competition would be won by the team to score one goal.  How right I was!  With the prospect of penalty flicks between Oakley, TC and Hazeldene looming large on the horizon and a run of very skilful play Gemma Sapstead scored the goal which won the competition.  Well Done.  The team was Georgia Chandler (captain), Gemma Sapstead, Philippa Morris, Sophie Luckman, Robyn Howcroft, Rachel Hotchin, Ellen Lockhart, Sarah Hawkley, Lydia Trow, Sophie Bales and Becky Straw, Helena Meredith.
All of the girls gave of their best but special mention has to go to Sarah Hawkley, Becky Straw, Ellen Lockhart and Helena Meredith, who all showed superb skills and commitment, especially Helena who was most solid in her defence. 

Plate Team
At the same time as the Cup competition the Plate competition was played.  It is difficult to be in two places at once and watch both teams play!  The girls in this team played really well in all three matches.  Some of this team do not play for school and they acquitted themselves very well playing for their house.  At least two of the team were pulled in as very late substitutions.  The team captained by Sarah Moors, included Millie Hayward, Rochelle Mills, Ellie Hansford, Lita Bennett, Amy McDonough, Gemma Lusty and Laura Matthews.  Well done to all concerned.

Hockey Umpire
Jane Bourne has qualified as a hockey umpire with a very good score in the written examination.  Since qualifying she has been fully involved with umpiring U14B school matches and is thoroughly enjoying the challenge.  Well done, Jane.

Midlands Development Hockey Squad
At the end of the first half of term Ellen Lockhart was fortunate to be selected for the U15 Midlands Hockey Development squad. Well done – Ellen captains the school U14A team.  

Inter House Song
The House has been working hard for the better part of this term on the annual Unison Song competition.  After a very sticky start when we had chosen Higher and Higher, two weeks into rehearsing we found out that the sheet music was only available in the USA.  This called for a radical rethink, so …….. ‘The Shoop Shoop song’ was chosen for the second time in my tenure as Houseparent.  Early rehearsals sounded less that tuneful and the ‘shoops’ were like a broom being swept across the day room floor.  Henna Khattak and the other Upper Sixth girls to their immense credit have cajoled the House into attending many rehearsals in the short timeslots available to us.  In the days leading up to the competition the House united together and did sound very tuneful.  Second to perform on the day allowed no time for nerves to take over and the girls sang wonderfully well to finish overall in 5th place.  More importantly this competition does more than any other inter house competition to unite the House from the youngest Lower Fourth to the oldest Upper Sixth even if it does mean that the lyrics of the song go through everyone’s heads for the rest of the academic year.

Bromsgrove Housman Society
Auditions were held in school to select two pupils to read at this event.  Rebecca Strangward was unlucky not to be chosen but was named as first reserve.  Well done!

September 08

House Photograph
All of the girls have been issued with an order form as to how to order this year’s House Photograph.  Please ask your daughter to provide you with the form.  Ordering can be done either on line or by post.  Full instructions are contained in the envelope.  The cost is £19.95 for a mounted photograph and £ 39.95 for a framed photograph.  A large photograph is available for inspection in the House. 

Mr Bowen’s Visit
Mr Bowen recently visited the House to speak to the girls and to find out how well they had settled into the new School Year.  He wrote a wonderful letter to the House thanking the girls for their hospitality and commented on how enthusiastic they were about the House and their studies.  Long may this last!

New School Monitor
The House were delighted when Lauren Webb, Joint Head of House was appointed as a School Monitor at the beginning of term.  Lauren, with the other School Monitors has enjoyed School Monitor training and the meal which followed.  House Monitors also enjoyed their training evening and meal. 

European Youth Parliament
Debating captain Ellie Wilson together with Becky Pile and Hanna Khattak participated in the National Finals of the European Youth Parliament in Durham last weekend.  Mrs Linehan, tutor, was the member of staff in charge.  The girls had a very busy weekend yet thoroughly enjoyed the experience and came back exhausted but very happy. 

Unison Song Competition
Rehearsals are now beginning in earnest for this competition after a bumpy start when we had to change the chosen song.  The House is now fully behind the ‘Shoop, Shoop song’ other wise known as ‘It’s in his Kiss’.  If my memory serves me correctly this is the second time in my tenure as Houseparent the Hazeldene have offered this as the chosen song, However, I cannot remember how successful we were in the competition first time round!

Hockey
Several girls have represented the School in the district rounds of the U16 and U18 outdoor Hockey competitions.  The U 16 were unlucky to miss out by one gopal on going through to the Midland stage of the competition.  Corrie Raine, Georgina Eales, Victoria Borton, Georgia handler and Harriet Flowerdew all participated.  The U18 team were ably led by Captain Nicole Hele and included Becky Pile, Henna Khattak, Hannah Schofield, Laura Davis, Emma Borton, Francesca Pioli, Ellie Trow, Kimrun Sidhu and Alice Mellar in goal.  

Music Scholars Concert
Emily Richards was fully involved in the concert this week.  She played Handel’s Sonata in B minor (Adagio & Alla Breve) superbly well and her performance was well received by the audience.  Well done. 

My Fair Lady
Several of the girls have auditioned for the major role(s) in the School production. My Fair Lady, with many others making the decision to be part of the chorus. We wait with eager anticipation in the House to find out who Mrs James and Mr Kingston have cast in the main role, Eliza.         

Mr Hague’s Visit
Former Conservative Party leader visited school on Saturday evening and several Upper Sixth Form pupils were in the audience, including Rachel Toner, Head Girl.  The pupils were superb ambassadors for the school and thoroughly enjoyed the evening as is evident by the photograph.  Henna Khattak and Karina Partridge have gone to the BBC Radio Five live studios in Birmingham to take part in a radio broadcast prior to the Conservative party conference this week. 

CCF Training and D of E
Last Monday all of the Upper Fourth and several Fifth Formers were out either on a CCF exercise or on a Duke of Edinburgh’s expedition.  The girls thoroughly enjoyed this team building exercise.  Mr Bowen visited Swynnerton and managed to capture Philippa MacConnachie on an army exercise albeit lying down on the job!

1 September

This week we welcomed 31 new girls into the House.  There was at least one new girl in every year group except the Upper Sixth.  It is a pleasure to have two girls from Germany as well as one pupil from our sister school in Thailand.  Their experiences in their home countries will add to the House.  All of the new girls have settled well thanks to the senior girls, the House staff and our Housekeeper, Jayne.  We all look forward to another very successful year.  The Upper Sixth have been busy trying to select two or three potential songs for the Unison Song competition this term.  Several weeks of tuneful (hopefully!!) rehearsals will surely follow. 

It has been slightly disappointing to find that many of the junior girls have shoes which do not conform to those suggested on the current uniform list.  Please can all parents look at those styles highlighted on the list when purchasing further shoes.  The following link will take you to the appropriate area on the website.  Girls' Uniform

Over the summer break many of the girls have been busy in a variety of areas.

Katy McCullagh who was selected to be a member of the National Youth Theatre last term attended the first course in the summer.  She learnt a great deal on the course and hopefully will be able to apply her new skills in future School drama productions.  Iskra Lawrence auditioned for a place in the Central Television Workshop and was successful.  She is currently involved in preparation for a production with the company in October.

Rebecca Pile was asked to write an article on the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme which was published in the Birmingham Post.  Several of her peers including Alice Woodyatt, Rachel Toner, Lauren Sims, Henna Khattak, Amelia Lui and Nicole Hele took part in either Gold practice or final expeditions over the summer; all of the girls enjoyed the experience. 

Nicole Hele and Amelia Lui were selected to apply for Nuffield Science Bursaries.  This involved the girls researching an area of biology and then writing a scientific article on their chosen topic.  Both girls were delighted to be awarded the bursary. 

Several senior girls in the House went with Mr Mullan on the sports tour to South Africa, the girls were Rachel Toner, Henna Khattak, Emma Borton, Alice Mellar, Hannah Scofield, Kimrun Sidhu, Ellie Trow, Laura Davis and Francesca Pioli.  Reports from all of the girls have been very positive and Mr Mullan was pleased to report that they were a credit to both House and School.

At the end of last academic year Emily Richards and her dressage pony, Tom, travelled to County Wicklow in Eire to compete for Great Britain.  The pairing came fourth.     Following on from her success in Eire, Emily has competed in several side saddle competitions and has won the National Cup in side saddle and is currently also Reserve side saddle rider of the year.  Having returned from the tour to South Africa Frankie Pioli was then selected to represent England in the Fencing Competition at the UK Schools games,   held last weekend in Bath and Bristol.  She came 5th in the individual competition and this helped England to second place in the team competition.

Next Friday is the Parents Association AGM and Barbeque to be held at the House from 6pm.  All parents are most welcome to attend.