Michaelmas 2013
A message from Mrs Heywood
Highlights Heathfield
Michaelmas Term has certainly proved to be very busy with plenty being achieved throughout the school. The academic year started with us welcoming our new and returning girls alongside new academic members of staff including Mrs Furniss-Roe, Director of Studies and Mrs de Ferrer, Director of Pastoral and Co-curricular Activities. We have seen awards being given to Heathfield Highflyers, which are girls who have achieved academically throughout the term, as well as staff awards for girls who have been recognised for their hard work and commitment to their academic studies. Changes have been made to the activities timetable ensuring girls are taking part in a whole host of activities between 4pm and 6pm each evening when the academic day draws to an end. Girls have been busy rehearsing for Fiddler on the Roof which will be performed in February 2014. There has been sporting success with Harriette (LVI Form) and Daisy (Form V) both being selected to play lacrosse for Berkshire and the U14 and U16 netball teams both becoming South East Berkshire Plate Winners and there was equestrian success with Isabella (Form IV) coming runner up in the Prince Philip Cup at the Horse of the Year Show with her pony club team. Heathfield’s charity work has continued with the annual St Nicholas’s Stalls, Forms I and II sponsored swim, Pink Day and the Harvest Festival to name but a few. House competitions have continued and music concerts have taken place throughout the term. We have also listened attentively to our guest speakers at our Science Conference and Dr Samuel Assefa who spoke on ‘The Malaria Puzzle’. The term drew to a close with a festive conclusion. The Old Girls were reunited for Christmas Cocktails at the Lansdowne Club and in true Heathfield style the traditional Christmas lunch was enjoyed by all as the girls and staff gathered in the dining room in one sitting! To conclude the term the Christmas Carol service took place on the last day of term. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Mrs Jo Heywood Headmistress
Head Girl’s Overview This term is the longest term of the academic year and everyone Anna, Head Girl has been very busy doing all sorts of activities, trips and House events. The Music Captains’ concert, organised by Honey-Bee (LVI Form) and Diana (LVI Form) was an amazing start to the other musical and theatrical events that followed. After that the House Captains worked very hard to write the songs for House Singing which were very impressive and the winners, Austen House, set a very high standard for next year’s House Captains. The House Captains continue to work hard, preparing not only for House Drama but also St Nicholas’s Stalls which everyone looked forward to throughout the term. In addition to these performances there have been many trips to art galleries and museums with Art and History of Art students taking part in an inspiring trip to Paris which everyone came back enthusing about! There have been many other events this term with a debating competition, Science Conference and Careers Fair which just show how full this term has been!
The Birthday Posy
Returns
After a nine year absence, one of the great Heathfield traditions is back – Birthday Posies. In days gone by, the Headmistress would present each girl with a posy, handpicked by the Head girl from the grounds or floral displays from the school. The ‘Birthday Girl’ would receive her posy during lunch in the presence of the entire school and the birthday prayer would then be recited.
With the refurbishment of the dining room it made sense to move the birthday prayer and blessings to the Chapel, but in the move the posies were somehow lost, although not forgotten. However, the beginning of this term saw the reintroduction of this much missed tradition. From now on every Wednesday during morning Chapel, girls who have a birthday that week will receive a blessing, a posy of flowers and the school will pray for them using the birthday prayer. An enormous thank you to Liz Pointon (Director of Boarding) who kindly arranges all the posies with the greatest care and attention. Fr T Tregunno Chaplain
Girls receiving their Birthday Posies
Key Dates for Lent Term 2014* 7 January 2014 - Girls Return – 5.30pm – Forms I – III return th
6.30pm – Forms IV – UVI return 11th – 12th January 2014 – Closed Weekend 24th – 26th January 2014 – Exeat Weekend 14th – 23rd February 2014 – Half Term 14th – 16th March 2014 – Exeat Weekend 22nd – 23rd March 2014 – Closed Weekend 28th March 2014 – End of Term *Please see school calendar for more details of other events