Durham High School
End of Week Newsletter
Issue 14 – December 14, 2024
Dear Parents
I can scarcely believe that we have reached the end of term already, and Christmas is almost upon us. I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the marvellous spirit and energy that has enveloped our school community this term particularly this past week. It has been an absolute delight to see the school brimming with excitement, teamwork, and celebration as we conclude the term with such special events and remarkable achievements.
We are still revelling in our success in the Sunday Times Parent Power League. To be named as the Independent School of the Year 2025 North East is a true testament to the incredible hard work of our entire community. We are overjoyed! Thank you to all of you who have sent messages of congratulations. Your kind words mean so much and reflect the pride you all share in our school.
This week, the Nursery and Pre-Prep children were thrilled to welcome a very special visitor Santa himself! Their joy and wonder, paired with their festive outfits and infectious laughter, have set the tone for the season. Across Pre-Prep and Prep, glitter, sequins, Christmas jumpers, party dresses, and reindeer antlers have been on full display as we embraced the festive ‘Party Season’. It has been heart-warming to see the children dressed up and ready to enjoy their party games.
Christmas lunch was a resounding success, and it was heartening to see the girls wearing their Christmas hats, singing along to festive music, and thoroughly enjoying their meals. A big thank you to our Thomas Franks Catering Team for their exceptional preparation and hard work in making it such a joyful occasion.
One of my favourite traditions in our final week is working alongside Mrs Middleton, our Deputy Headmistress, and the Heads of Year Team to serve hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows to the staff and girls. We’ve perfected the process now, and it is wonderful to hear the chatter and laughter as the girls enjoy their treats while Christmas songs play in the background.
Nothing, however, can rival the emotions stirred by our Carol Service, held in the magnificent surroundings of Durham Cathedral. It was a joy to be joined by so many supporters of the High School, including the Mayor of Durham, Governors, Old Girls, and, of course, our parents and extended family. The Cathedral was filled to capacity. Harriett’s solo of the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City brought tears to my eyes, as did the Senior and Middle School Choir’s moving rendition of O Holy Night. All our choirs sang beautifully, and our readers delivered the Christmas Story with poise and reverence. I particularly enjoyed the Prep Choir’s rendition of Sheep, Sheep, Sheep and couldn’t help but chuckle at their enthusiastic and heartfelt performance. I hope you did too. Many parents have shared that this service truly marks the start of Christmas for them, and I
couldn’t agree more. Thank you to everyone who attended. We have included more photographs later on in this issue.
Our final day was also filled with celebration. Assemblies took place in both the Pre-Prep and Prep, as well as the Senior Department, reflecting on the meaning of Christmas and celebrating the pupils’ achievements this half term. We mustn’t forget the House Lip-Sync Competition in Seniors, which was centred on Christmas songs this year. There were some brilliant performances, including a very commendable staff entry! Congratulations to Tempest, who emerged as overall winners. The competition brought a fantastic blend of creativity, camaraderie, and festive fun yet another reminder of the vibrancy that makes our school so unique.
As we head into the Christmas holidays, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire school community. It is the collective efforts of our girls, staff, and families that make Durham High such a special place. I hope this Christmas brings you time to rest, connect with loved ones, and reflect on the many blessings of the season.
I wish our Sixth Formers a fabulous Christmas shopping experience in Paris. I must admit, I am rather envious not to be joining you on your visit to Disneyland Paris I imagine it must be truly magical with all the Christmas decorations along Main Street. Thank you to Mrs Wheeler and Mrs Lonsdale for taking the girls on this trip.
Best of luck to all our skiers heading to Italy as well. Let’s hope for plenty of snow on the slopes and that you create lasting memories with your friends. Thank you to Mrs Middleton, Mrs Jenkinson, Miss Cartwright, Miss Bingham, Miss Middleton and Mrs Steel for joining the girls on their trip.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year. I look forward to seeing you in January for another exciting chapter in the life of our school.
With best wishes
Prep children had a wonderful excitement was clear as the children waited their turn to meet him. They looked fantastic in their festive outfits, dressed up for the Christmas party in sparkly dresses, cosy jumpers, and fun reindeer antlers. Each child got to r Christmas wishes, and he greeted them
Nursery: Amelia M for super energy and fabulous running in our reindeer Run. She wouldn’t stop!
Reception: Celeste for showing super independence and excellent progress in all areas of work.
Years 1&2: Neive for good Maths work and being a super ‘cross villager’ in our Nativity Play.
Years 3&4: Maya G for always having a positive attitude to learning and for being a lovely friend.
Year 5: Rosie for fantastic energy in our Christmas performance and for being a good friend.
Year 6: Olivia S for working hard to add punctuation to her writing.
Computer Science Education Week
This week, we celebrated Computer Science Education Week with a range of exciting activities for our girls. On Wednesday, they took on the challenge of cracking the GCHQ Christmas Card puzzle, putting their problemsolving and critical-thinking skills to the test. On Thursday, we hosted our popular Hour of Code, giving girls the opportunity to explore coding and technology in a fun and engaging way.
These activities build on the success of our ongoing initiatives, including CyberGirls, which encourages girls to get involved in cyber security, and the Bebras Challenge, a competition that develops computationalthinking skills. It has been a fantastic week, showcasing the importance of computer science and inspiring our pupils to explore the exciting world of technology.
Hour of Code: Empowering Future Innovators
During CSEd Week, our pupils embraced the Hour of Code, building on the school’s strong foundation in supporting girls in STEM. This global initiative enabled the girls to further develop their coding skills through creative and engaging challenges. At Durham High, we are committed to inspiring a love of technology and innovation, preparing our pupils to excel in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Science Sparks
It was the final Science Sparks session this week, and the girls had an amazing time creating their own rockets and exploring the exciting world of science. Their enthusiasm and curiosity truly shone through, making it a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Party Season
This week, we have seen more sequins than I have ever seen before. We have danced, shuffled, giggled, and laughed our way through our Christmas parties. So, without further ado, here is a selection of photos showcasing the week’s finest moments
Pre-prep and Prep Karate Grading
On Thursday, our Pre-Prep and Prep pupils participated in their karate gradings and did a fantastic job. Their dedication and hard work shone through, and we are immensely proud of their achievements. Well done to everyone involved!
End of Term Nursery Pre-prep and Prep Assembly
If ever there were an award for the most sequins in an assembly, this one would surely win. Amongst all the sequins was the serious business of pupil awards, presented to Lucy and Sienna for their outstanding readings in our Cathedral service on Wednesday. There was also the small matter of awarding the trophy to the house with the most house points congratulations to Tempest!
Of course, we never need much of an excuse for a sing-song, so with celebratory voices, we revisited our favourites from the previous week’s carol concerts.
Parents & Friends Carols round the Tree
This new tradition at the High School provided another opportunity for us to gather as a community to sing carols around the tree. Thank you to our Parents and Friends Association for providing the hot drinks, mince pies, and goodies. Our Prep Choir did a fabulous job of leading us in the carols. Thank you to Mrs Hopper for playing the piano to accompany the girls and to everyone who was able to join us. We hope you enjoyed.
Hockey Christmas Tournament
This year, the Christmas hockey tournament at Maiden Castle had a little help from Santa’s elves. Our Year 5–Year 13 girls even had a visit from the big man himself. Whilst it was lovely to see everyone making the effort to dress up, we must give a special mention to the “Christmas Tree” as it must have been a challenge to play wearing that!
Senior Sports Update
In their final netball matches for the term, the U13s delivered excellent results against Easington Academy. The U13A's won 24-13 and the U13B's won 13-12. It was fantastic to see some girls making their debut in competitive matches, and wonderful to witness their hard work and determination. Congratulations to all players.
Prep Sports Update
A huge congratulations to all our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils who took part in the Durham High School Football Festival last Friday afternoon.
January key dates for your diary.
The girls demonstrated outstanding teamwork, resilience, and determination throughout the afternoon, supporting one another every step of the way. Each player gave their best, showcasing skill, teamwork, and effort. There were some fantastic performances, with everyone contributing to the team's success. We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication. Well done, girls –you made us all proud!
Just a reminder that the school calendar is available on the website and is updated with any changes as they arise.
Date
January 6
January 7 - 17
INSET Day – School closed to girls
Year 11 and Upper Sixth Mock Exams
January 7-10 Year 9 interviews
January 9 Parents and Friends Meeting- new and existing parents are welcome. 4.15pm
January 24 11+ Entrance test Day
January 30 Lower Sixth Parents’ Evening 4.30pm
Durham Cathedral Carol Service photographs