The DT Lab

Creating keyrings or pendants inspired by Ghanaian Adinkra symbols, Year 7 have been busy pewter casting. Donning their protective clothing of leather gauntlets, leather apron and heat proof goggles, they are also learning to describe in their sketch books how to work safely with molten metal. Meanwhile, Year 6 have almost finished building their go karts ready for next term’s big race.

Noye’s Fludde

On Saturday 4th March, we held our first ever Cumnor Community Music Day within the stunning setting of Arundel Cathedral. This was an intensive and enjoyable project in which we rehearsed and staged an opera by Benjamin Britten in one day. The project called for three professional opera singers, twelve child soloists (including current pupils, OCs and Arundel choristers), one hundred young voices spanning Year 3 to Year 5, an orchestra of forty-five players (including guests from the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia), fifty adult singers, and a ballet dancer. With Sir John Tomlinson CBE as our very special guest Voice of God, we were in for an amazing day.

While undoubtedly a challenge at the end of a long week, a project like this an unforgettable bonding experience for our young performers. As well as showcasing Cumnor’s musical talent, it was the engagement and enjoyment of our pupils in high-quality music-making that is the most important thing to me as Director of Music.

I would like to thank the children for singing so beautifully and being great fun to work with, and to our parents for their support. This was a truly collaborative project including the Art Department who created the beautiful animal masks with the children and the Drama department who assisted with stage-building. This really was a big team effort for Cumnor, and something that we hope to build on over the next few years with even more Old Cumnorians, parents and pupils involved.

Mr Jelf Director of Music

Cumnor Fundraising

A huge thank you to Year 3 for their initiative in organising a bake sale and toy drive in addition to the book swap. Over £1,200 has been raised for the Red Cross Turkish & Syrian Earthquake Fund, thank you!

The Pirates of Penzance

As a Director you never know how a production will turn out during early rehearsals. The Pirates of Penzance was a challenging choice to say the least, but with hard work from an amazing production team and the enthusiasm of our Year 7 children, I could not have been more pleased with the result! I know that myself, Mr Jelf and Mrs Harris were hugely impressed to see the children grow into their roles and give a performance that we, and the audience, will always remember.

Sporting Accolades Netball

This term has seen fantastic performances and great achievements from our girls. Our 1st team have demonstrated real strength and depth during the season, playing a wide range of schools and culminating in the SISNA (Sussex Independent Schools Netball Association) tournament where, after winning all games in the pool stages, we won the quarter finals with confidence before a semi-final win against St Christopher’s. Despite a close final against Copthorne, we finished as runners up. We are really proud of the team’s achievements and the girls’ commitment to fighting for the win; congratulations!

At the younger end of the Prep school, Year 5 have been developing an exciting brand of Cumnor Rugby! Fast ball, strong runners, agile players and great support play have all helped to give a really positive feeling about the game. Year 3 have gained valuable experience, demonstrating a love of running with the ball in hand and showing off their dodging skills, while Year 4 have completed their first term of contact rugby and shown a real appetite for this extra dimension; they have supported each other with this learning journey, developed the correct technique and built in confidence with contact. An exciting future ahead for Cumnor rugby!

Hockey

The rollicking band of orphaned pirates, the bevy of beautiful young maidens or the clumsy, but brave, police squad had the audience in tears of laughter with every entrance. There were stand out performances all round including the ‘slave of duty’, Frederick, played by Lana C, the heroic Mabel, played by Eliza B and the comical evil duo of the Pirate King and Ruth played by Sophie F and Bo K. The pompous and quick tongued Major General, played by Alice L, impressed the audience with her double fast version of the Modern Major General song and who can forget the hysterical portrayal of the Sergeant of Police, portrayed by Oscar E. Special mention goes to the second in command pirates, Leo H and Sam B and, of course, the unsung heroes, the stage crew!. Thank you to everyone involved in this highly entertaining production – a memory and performance that will last for a very long time!

Year 3 and 4 have had a great season, starting off playing 4-a-side games that provided lots of opportunities to throw and catch the ball, shoot, move into space, defend and develop good team work skills. They are competitive, supportive, and enthusiastic to play and improve their skills; we’re excited to see how they develop!

Swimming

During this Spring term we hosted both Senior and Junior galas, welcoming Hurst, Burgess Hill School for Girls, Copthorne and Great Walstead. Facing tough competition, the children achieved some super PB’s. In January, four of our pupils represented the school in the swimming IAPS regional rounds, held at Eastbourne; we await the overall results which are finalised after the Easter break.

Rugby

Outstanding team spirit and commitment has been the overarching theme to the season. Year 6 have thrown themselves into training, showing through their performances on match days that they have a real thirst for the game, Year 7 have built their team confidence alongside their individual skills, and Year 8 have demonstrated a mature mind-set, leading from the front and setting a great benchmark for team culture.

For Hockey, it has been a term of consolidating skills and for many, it has been their first foray onto the Astro. Fixtures have been hard fought with team spirit clearly evident, giving our senior teams the opportunity to show-case their skills.

Parents v Staff v Girls

On Saturday 4th February, we hosted our annual netball matches between girls, parents and staff. As ever, these were greatly supported by parents who were either keen to demonstrate their netball prowess, or keen to get through the morning unscathed having not played netball since their own school days! We had a new format this year, with lots of rotation between players and in honour of Mr Mockridge’s last year at Cumnor, he graced the court for a first – and last – appearance. Hoping his height would be of a great advantage, Mrs Park took great delight in penalising him for breaking footwork, contact and obstruction rules! A thoroughly enjoyable event and we were delighted to see so many involved; thank you.