SCHOOL HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS
SECOND HALF OF MICHAELMAS TERM 2007

After an enjoyable half-term break the House returned in good spirits despite the onset of shorter days and more indifferent weather.

Friday 16th November – School House PA “Multi-media Quiz” & “Children in Need Day”
A super evening was enjoyed by all in the Collins Room, with both pupils and parents grappling (in some cases literally) with quizmaster Gary Taylor’s questions, displayed on the big screen. No surprise that the “Teachers Team” won, but at half time the Russian Azerbijani team was ahead! Nearly £350 was raised towards new house sports kit and a colour printer. In addition the Lower Sixth also baked cakes (allegedly!) and much money was raised for Children in Need.

Friday 23rd November – 2nd Grades
These were excellent with 51% of the House being commended in one way or another for their academic effort. Very few boys were placed on report cards.

School Commendations:-
Matthew Drane (L4)
Matthew Allen (U4)
Michael Cheung (U4)
George Davies (U4)
Adrian Lam (U4) HM Commendation
Brian Tsang (U4)
James Gray (5)
Ken Ip (5)
Robert Moreton (5)
Mannan Nawaz (5)
Oliver Turner (5)
Jasper Chen (L6)
Rocky Cheung (L6)
Alex Morris (L6)
Philip Tear (L6)
Rupert Waters (L6)
Charles Eden (U6)
Edward Eden (U6)
Jonathan Ormonde (U6) HM Commendation

House Commendations(After consultation with tutors)
Chris Dodd (L4)
Oliver Dunn (L4)
Christian Lau (L4)
Lewis Martins (L4)
Max Thorpe (L4)
Jamil Abasov (U4)
Adil Mirzayev (U4)
Ben Thompson (U4)
Andrew Chu (U4)
Philip Barron (5)
Vladimir Kochetkov (5)
Jay Mercer (5)
Harry Perrey (5)
Andrew Polychronakis (5)
Alex Salmon (5)
Igor Tikhturov (5)
Eric Yu (5)
James Carrington (L6)
Mark Winnett (L6)

Saturday 24th – Junior House Rugby
The House entered two teams at A and B level and despite missing a couple of key players both teams progressed through to the third place play-offs, with the B team narrowly missing out on a place in the B team final. Spirits was high and teamwork superb in both teams, with the A team having the accolade of being the only team to beat the eventual winners 7-5, with Michael Cheung scoring a superb last minute breakaway try. Other players to be commended in the A team included Matt Allen, Alex Ha, Ben Bennett, Meysam Sihawi, Jamil Abasov, Bradley Lovelock, Jonathan Corbo, Matt Drane, Chris Dodd; in the B team Phil Jukes, Alex McGarry, Max Thorpe, Lewis Martins, Michael Evans, James Douglas-Osborn, Christian Lau, Oliver Dunn, Max Gayler and Glenn Bramham-Smith.

Sunday 9th December – Boarders’ Christmas bowling trip
Joining with our neighbouring house Wendron Gordon, all enjoyed a superb trip to The Hollywood Bowl in Rubery. Top scores were realised by Tony Lung and Mr Matthews, and all enjoyed the buffet supper and Christmas headgear! Mr Matthews and Mr Kingston (WG) also proved to be adept at air hockey!

Monday 10th December – Christmas Concert
A fantastic evening was enjoyed by all in a somewhat cold Routh Hall. Simon Powell was excellent on trombone in the “Big Band” and Adrian Lam, Michael Cheung, Brian Tsang and Patrick Hui

Tuesday 11th House Christmas BBQ & disco
Once again the House PA provided a feast of burgers, hot dogs and cakes prior to the School Disco and the boys enjoyed the Simpson’s Movie too. Our thanks to Karen Dunn, Gary Taylor and Caroline Murray for their stirling efforts in feeding the ravenous boys.

Thursday 13th December – Senior House rugby finals
Cancelled due to frozen pitches – so the House was unable to play its B team semi-final against Wendron-Gordon.

Friday 14th December – Final House Assembly
See housemaster’s letter for details

LENT TERM – Advance notice of PA Events

Sunday 24th February – School House Paintballing afternoon.

Saturday 1st March – School House/Thomas Cookes “Masked Ball” (7.15 for 7.45 pm) at The Bromsgrove Hotel.

Dates
The Lent Term Starts on Monday 7th January, but boarders should be back at school by 9.00 pm Sunday 6th January 2008.

Half-term starts, after school, on Friday 8th February & the second half of term starts on Monday 18th February (boarders to return on Sunday 17th February by 9.00 pm)

In all matters to do with School House please feel free to contact :-

Mr Mark Stone (Housemaster) on 01527-579679 Ext 231
Email mstone@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

SCHOOL HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS – MICHAELMAS TERM 2007
School term started with a newcomers tea on Sunday 2nd September. Then we welcomed not only new pupils to the House (a mix of boarding and day pupils) but also two new staff, notably Mrs J. Boonnak and Mr A. Langlands.

After a few weeks all the new boys appeared to have settled well into the routines of both the House and School, aided in no small measure by existing pupils and the new monitor team of Jonathan Marsh (Head of House), Dominic Wall (Assistant Head of House), Charles Eden, Edward Eden, Jonathan Ormonde and Josh Radford. In addition Rocky Cheung and Johnny Cheung have helped enormously as senior boarders. The transition to the new timetable including the new Saturday programme has been seamless and enjoyed by all.
 
Key “House” events of the term so far are detailed as follows. School wide news is detailed in other parts of the website and in the Deputy Headmaster’s weekly email. If by chance you do not receive his email then contact me and I will ensure that it is sent.

September 3rd– 7th
Rugby trials saw many School House boys selected for teams at U14, U15, U16, 2nd, 3rd and 4th XV level.

September 23rd/244h  - Field Day
CCF Field Day and civilian Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expeditions were enjoyed by all the U4th, some fifth and sixth form too. Weather was generally kind to both groups, if not a little wet on Sunday night, and the experiences were deemed (in the long run – in some cases) to be character building by all in the House who participated.

October 3rd – L4 Field Day
The Malvern Field Day was enjoyed by all the Lower Fourth with School House boys again acquitting themselves well. They included Conor Amphlett, Jonathan Corbo, Chris Dodd, James Douglas-Osborn, Matthew Drane, Oliver Dunn, Michael Evans, Max Gayler, Christian Lau, Lewis Martins, Alexander McGarry and Max Thorpe.

October 5th  - Grades & 5-a-side
First academic grades were announced. These included both an effort grade and an attainment grade. Generally the grades achieved across the House were very pleasing with the following boys being awarded commendations. Brian Tsang and Edward Eden are to be especially congratulated for achieving a Headmasters’ Commendation, only two of which are awarded per house.

School Commendations (Grade average <2.00)
Michael Cheung (U4)
Brian Tsang (U4)   {HM commendation}
James Gray (5)
Ken Ip (5)
Mannan Nawaz (5)
Oliver Turner (5)
Alex Morris (L6)
Charles Eden (U6)
Edward Eden (U6)    {HM commendation}

House Commendations (after consultation with tutors)
Max Thorpe (L4)
Ben Bennett (U4)
Robert Moreton (U4)
James Carrington (L6)
Johnny Cheung (L6)
Rocky Cheung (L6)
Philip Tear (L6)
Rupert Waters (L6)

On the evening of 5th October School House & WG also enjoyed a five-a-side tournament on the Astroturf – including a tutor team! The football was superb and thanks must go to Mrs Hibell (housemother) in helping to organise such a successful event

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October 13th/14th
The Llanwrtyd Wells weekend was a celebration of Bromsgrove Schools’ time in Wales during the years of the Second World War. The Choir, CCF Corps of drums and musicians represented the School in range of events and Simon Powell, James Gray, Will Parsonage, Oliver Dunn and Lewis Martins are to be warmly congratulated for their participation.

October 17th – House Song
The whole House performed superbly in the Inter-House Unison Song Competition. The rendition of “Walking on Sunshine” was conducted with great style by Simon Powell with Ryan Dunn on guitar and Brian Tsang on piano. Whilst we didn’t win we received some encouraging comments from the adjudicator and it was great to see the House working as one on the stage.

 October 19th- Cross-country & rugby
The Lower Fourth of the House performed well in the cross-country competition. Jonathan Corbo was fourth in the individual competition and the House came second overall.

On the same afternoon the senior rugby team, consisting of Jonathan Marsh, Josh Radford, Dominic Wall, Alex Evans, Nick Spencer, Patrick Hui, Mike Wyres, Todd Taylor, Niran Chana, Alex Morris, Oliver Turner & Johnny Cheung, made short work of Lupton and Elmshurst House in the B competition. Semi-final and (hopefully) final to be played next half-term.

School Parents Association Events
Next half term there are three notable events. I encourage all parents to support these events, when they can, as a means of cementing the relationship between the House and home, with the added benefit that in fundraising events all monies are put towards improving the facilities for the boys in the House.

Friday 16th November– School House Multi-Media Quiz,
from 7.15 for 7.30 pm in the House (see your emails/flyers brought home by boys)

Tuesday 11th December – School House Christmas BBQ (for the boys!) at the House, from 6.30 pm, followed by whole school disco.

Friday 14th December – The Housemaster and PA invite all parents/guardians to Mulled wine and mince pies in the Collins Room from 3.30 pm (Soft drinks for the boys). Parents are also invited to attend one of the two Carol Services detailed in the School Calendar.

LENT TERM – Advance notice of PA Events

Sunday 23rd February – School House Paintballing afternoon.

Saturday 1st March – School House/Thomas Cookes House Dinner Dance (7.15 for 7.45 pm) at The Bromsgrove Hotel.

Dates
The second half of the Michaelmas Term Starts on Monday 5th November, but boarders should be back at school by 9.00 pm Sunday 4th November.

Michaelmas Term ends on Friday 14th December at 5.45 pm