Inside Heathfield enews issue 43

Issue Number 43 October and November 2015 Welcome from the Headmistress, Mrs Jo Heywood Half-term has come and gone and we are well into the swing of the second half of term as we speed towards Christmas, and of course our biggest fundraising event of the year, St Nicholas Stalls – known fondly as Nicky Stalls – on 28 November. Please support this special event and come along with family and friends on the day.

I also want to take a moment to let you all know how wonderfully respectful the school community was as we marked Remembrance Sunday. In this season of remembrance, the girls’ silence, stillness and thoughtfulness made me so incredibly proud and reminded me of what a superb community we belong to. Staff, Governors and Old Girls have commented on the peacefulness of the service. You should all be proud of your girls.

Understanding the business of Lego On 12 October, U6 and L6 Business Studies students had the pleasure of attending ‘The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, an exciting place full of thrills and fun for the whole family’. The fact that it was both a didactical and amusing trip was what made it a very complete experience.

We left school at 11:25am and the journey was surprisingly short, in fact, no more than 15 minutes. As soon as we got to the park we were told to go to The Discovery Centre where we would meet the member of staff who would introduce us to the business side of this outstanding enterprise. Our guide Jamie explained the nature of Lego and how the park had previously been Windsor Safari Park but is now owned by The Merlin Entertainments Group which also owns Madame Tussauds and Thorpe Park. Merlin has the corporate aim of becoming the leading enterprise in the marketplace in offering family amusement and resort within the park, although they are currently second to Disneyland. It was interesting to see their co-operation with many other well-known brands such as Coca Cola, Fiat and PlayStation where Legoland advertised their brands successfully.

We learned many relevant facts that we could easily link to our business course, gaining the knowledge from a real life situation rather than our textbooks. We gained an insight into promotion strategies, fees and how important online booking is for a business that depends on footfall, especially during weekdays.

As soon as we walked in, the target market became obvious and we were able to conclude that they appealed to a younger audience. After the brief introduction and business insight, we enjoyed the park, this time aware of facts that we had learned in The Discovery Centre. We walked around the park, which was surprisingly popular on a Monday morning. It is divided into ‘worlds’, including Adventureland, Miniland and Atlantis. They all offered a huge choice of rollercoasters and activities appealing to a wide range of ages.

Ana Perez, Upper VI

Issue Number 43 October and November 2015

A Trip into the Past for Form I at Canterbury Cathedral and Dover Castle On Tuesday 27 October, Form I, along with Mrs Worrall and Mr Mitchell, travelled by minibus on a long journey to Canterbury. We arrived a little early for our tour so we had a chance to look around the cathedral first.

Our guide started by showing us the cloisters where JK Rowling wanted to film Harry Potter. We then walked up the same steps that the four knights charged through to kill Thomas Becket. We saw the exact spot where Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered. The room had been changed over the years and the pillar, which Becket had held on to for his life, had been removed. Unfortunately, Becket’s tomb was removed much later by Henry VIII. We were shown the place where the monks had put his body, which now has an iron sculpture created by Antony Gormley.

The guide showed us into the quire where the monks and priests would have once prayed and we were able to see where the current Archbishop sits when he attends services. We also saw the steps that the pilgrims would have crawled up on their hands and knees.

Next, we went back on the minibus on the short journey to Dover Castle. As soon as we arrived, we had our lunch in the sun, which was nice, and watched the families visiting for half-term, many in Halloween costumes.

Our next activity was to go into the Great Tower, which is the keep of the castle. We looked at how Henry II would have lived and, in our groups, we found out about the kitchen, water supplies, the private chambers, entertaining rooms, Henry II’s private chapel and the lavatories. We then explored the Medieval Tunnels and had a walk around the battlements looking at how the castle would have been defended. The weather was lovely and we sat on the battlements looking at the sea and watching the ferries coming into Dover Harbour.

It was a very interesting day and soon it was time to go on the long, 3 hour ride back to school.

Lily Jevons, Form I

Form I at Dover Castle

Issue Number 43 October and November 2015

Heathfield in Venice The Sixth Form Art, Textiles and Graphics students had an opportunity to go on a trip to Venice from Friday 6 to Monday 9 November. Sixteen students decided to go.

We arrived in Venice to be welcomed by beautiful weather and having dropped off our luggage in the hotels (we were spread over two hotels), we wound our way through the narrow streets and crossed many little canals to get our gondolas near Saint Mark’s Square. Some of us were serenaded by a singer from another gondola but I think we all captured a moment of that mysterious silence you can get slowly progressing along the canal with the gentle lapping of water as the oar pushed us forward.

There were many photographic opportunities on our walk there and back to the hotels.

On Saturday we took a vaporetto to the other end of the island and visited the famous Venice Biennale spread across two venues, the Arsenale and the Giardini. The theme this year was ‘All the World's futures’. We saw many diverse contemporary artists, representing a range of countries, and their views of how the world could be in the future. The students were able to record these ideas through notes, sketches and photographs. We were able to enjoy lunch in a choice of venues across the park in the sun.

On Sunday we visited Saint Mark’s Square and dropped into a church on our way there to look at the monument to Canova, a famous sculptor, and visited the Doge's palace to get a feel for how the Venetian Republic was governed during the height of its power. There was of course some down- time to do some shopping and time for the students to choose a venue for lunch as well as more drawings to practise perspective that they had all been taught before the trip. We finished off the day with a great meal at Hard Rock Café just next to Saint Mark’s Square.

On Monday we woke up to thick ‘pea-soup’ fog and so the three-island tour was cancelled. Instead, we went to Padua and this turned out to be a great opportunity to see the historical context of the development of perspective in the early Renaissance as well as the differences between fresco painting and oil painting. We left Venice and arrived back at school at eleven at night tired but all having had a very productive and enjoyable trip. I would like to thank Liz Curtis and Pauline Munro for accompanying us to make the whole trip possible.

Photographs by Kathy Huang, Phoebe Clarke and Olympia von Woellwarth Lauterburg Jocelyn Leibovici Subject Leader in Art

Issue Number 43 October and November 2015 Seacole Weekend Report – 31 October - 1November Saturday morning was busy with Lacrosse training for all teams and catching up on prep for others before lunch. In the afternoon, Forms I-III split into Houses to search for recipes for the latest House challenge.

Each House had two teams and were asked to produce 12 identical cakes with an autumnal theme. Each House had £20 to spend on ingredients. Once they had finished the planning, each group boarded the minibuses and headed to Tesco to buy what they needed. On their return, the Houses took turns to use the kitchens under the careful supervision of Su Crafer and Mrs Jones, to prepare, bake and decorate their cakes. The standard this year was very high and the cakes were displayed in the dining hall at supper time. Each girl was given a voting slip to vote for the best presented cake. After supper, our esteemed judges sampled the cakes and voted on taste and texture before the girls took the remaining cakes to their common rooms for a feast. Somerville had a clean sweep of the prizes with Hum, Harriet and Flavia taking first prize for the presentation of their flowerpot cakes and Ksenia, Constance, Phoebe and Immie taking first prize for the flavour of their delicious cupcakes. Well done Somerville!

‘Bake Off time for Seacole Weekend’

Meanwhile, other girls carved some very original designs in pumpkins in the labs, went out to Ascot or Windsor, caught up with work or even watched a certain important rugby match in our theatre. This was followed by a delicious rugby themed supper for all, courtesy of Sandy and Brookwood Catering. Form V missed out on this treat as they headed on a coach for a very enjoyable supper and disco with Radley boys.

Sunday was a quieter day in school as straight after Chapel Forms I-III and any girls in the older years that wanted to join the trip headed off to Portsmouth and a boat tour of the historic harbour. The sun shone and the experience was enjoyed by all, as was the opportunity for a little free time to look around afterwards. Those that stayed in school to work or simply to relax a little could head to the pool for an invigorating swim before another delicious supper.

Issue Number 43 October and November 2015 Somerville Weekend – 7-8 November It was a busy weekend beginning with Open Morning and Lacrosse matches against The Royal. Despite the bad weather, there was a good turnout of Heathfield parents to see the under 12s win their first match 8-2. The under 13s lost 2-7 and the under 14s won 9-7. Best players on the day were Scarlett Owen, Isabella Baillieu, Alice Arden-Norris in the under 12s. In the under 13s it was Marybelle St John Butler and in the under 14s Floria Gasparotto and Scarlett O’Toole.

After lunch, Forms I-II built battery-powered cars out of Lego which they controlled from their computers. The girls wrote programmes to get their cars to navigate obstacles and to provide emergency medical care duties in various situations.

On Saturday evening, Form IV hosted Harrow boys to supper and a disco. Miss Meeson and a group of Lower VI students organised pre-dinner drinks in the library followed by a sit down candlelit meal in the dining hall. The disco in the St Mary's Theatre was good fun for all. Alison Brooks led the staff that supervised the disco.

A morning of contemplation and remembrance followed on Sunday morning in Chapel. Father Tim preached on the importance of memory in family situations, in light of Remembrance Sunday. This tied in with the afternoon tea Heathfield hosted for the local British Legion. A dozen visitors enjoyed tea and cakes in the Drawing Room, organised and hosted by Mr Hart and a group of students led by Holly Allen in Lower VI. At the same time Forms I-V attended the cinema.

Another group of keen riders enjoyed an afternoon visit to the race meeting at Sandown Park where they were guests of the Jockey Club. They were shown behind the scenes and heard talks about the professional opportunities in racing and more generally with horses.

After a special supper all the school attended the fantastic bonfire and fireworks display on the top field.

Students and staff turned out in force at the school’s annual Fireworks Evening to enjoy a superb display on the school field.

Forms I and II get to grips with Lego

Issue Number 43 October and November 2015 A Day at the Races Heathfield girls were invited as guests of the Jockey Club to attend a day of horse racing at Sandown Park racecourse in Esher on Sunday 8 November. Joining us in the exclusive Solario Suite for a VIP lunch were pupils from Harrow, Eton, Marlborough and Tudor Hall school.

Hosted by Stephen Wallis, Director of International and Racing Relations, and Roger Weatherby, Senior Steward (Chairman) of the Jockey Club, the girls were given a unique insight into a day’s racing at Sandown.

Groups were taken by minibus to experience the start of a jump race and then stayed to watch the horses come around and take a jump at speed. Chloe was also instrumental in helping restore a jump with a fence judge before the next race. Tours to the saddling and winners’ enclosure and the judges / stewards room were all part of the day.

To add to the excitement, pupils and staff were asked to write their choice of winners for 3 of the 7 races and using a points system, Heathfield came fourth, winning a £50 voucher to be donated to an equestrian charity of our choice.

A brief talk by Roger Weatherby informed the students of the wide variety of careers available in the racing industry, from their own TV studios to Event Planners at their fifteen-race course. After an enriching, exciting day the girls departed with their own leather-bound Jockey Club diary.

Gill Glimmerveen, Equestrian Co-ordinator A Singing and Dancing Extravaganza Music and LAMDA Concert – 6 November Heathfield girls showcased their considerable musical and dramatic talent in a gala evening of solo performances, dance duets and ensemble performances from the school orchestra, Heathfield Band, Senior Choir and a Form I dance troupe.

In front of an audience of staff, students, parents and friends, girls including Sophie Drysdale performing Wouldn’t it be Loverly and Molly HopkinsonWoolley singing Consider Yourself and The Senior Choir singing a modern and traditional arrangement of Hail, Holy Queen, all impressed with their vocal talents.

Meanwhile the talented dancer Flavia Camerlingo wowed the audience with several performances from street dance to a contemporary ballet inspired duet with Nicole Ferber.

Classical performances ranged from a ballet ‘Port de Bras’ from Georgina Kelly to impressive solo performances on the flute from Katharine Carr and Angela Liang on the piano.

The evening was rounded off in style by the Heathfield Band playing Stevie Wonder’s Superstition.

Stop Press: Congratulations to the following girls who have been selected to represent Berkshire Lacrosse: U19A - Daisy Curran U19B - Emmy Nicholls U15B - Grace Congreve & Lydia Manduca All four played for Berkshire in the SW Counties Tournament at Westonbirt on 7 November.

@HeathfieldAscot

Heathfield School

Heathfield Blog