Official STEM opening by Professor
Robert Winston
Last Thursday we were delighted to welcome Professor Robert Winston to Heathfield to officially open the new STEM building.
Prior to cutting the ribbon and revealing the memorial plaque with Mrs Heywood, the world-renowned fertility expert spoke to a packed audience of girls, parents and staff about his work and thoughts on genetics. In particular, he singled out the outstanding work of female scientists.
Discussing the background to his work in embryology and how it started with a desire to help a young woman whose first child had died of a genetic disorder, he told the girls about the exemplary work of three women in his current team, saying:
‘They are typical of what you can do. Young women should not feel they are less able than young men. In many areas of science, there are more women than men and all of those three women have raised happy and healthy families alongside their work. I am not half as good a role model for you than any one of those women. What I find is that women work in wonderful collaboration and what we do collectively is very important.’
He added: ‘The young woman I was able to help in my early career went on to have healthy twins who I had tea with the other day – they are now young women. It was an amazing experience to be able to help and that is why science is so wonderful.’
Professor Winston warned that it was sometimes easy for scientists ‘to be seduced by a sense of their own infallibility’ and advised that girls considering science as a career should remember their responsibility was ‘always to the individual not to society’.
Touring around the STEM building, Professor Winston met and talked with the girls carrying out experiments and demonstrating their work. After the book signing, Professor Winston hosted a Q&A session in the library for a selection of girls on his life and career and gave his thoughts on recent advances in genetics.
Mrs Heywood said ‘It was a huge honour to have him here and for him to take so much time to talk to the girls, engage with them and answer their questions. I am sure he has inspired many of them to think about a career in the sciences.’
Keydatesforyourdiary
Exeat: Friday 22 January – Sunday 24 January
Thoroughly Modern Millie: Thursday 4 & Friday 5 February
Founder’s Day: Friday 5 February
Half Term: Friday 12 February – Sunday 21 February
Exeat: Friday 4 March – Sunday 6 March
Closed Weekend: Saturday 19 March – Sunday 20 March
Open Morning: Saturday 19 March 10am – 12.30pm
End of Term: Wednesday 23 March Pleaseseeschoolcalendarfordetailsofotherevents
GCSE Lunch 13 November 2015
Every year a lunch and presentation is held for the Lower Sixth at Heathfield to celebrate the girls’ GCSE results with their parents and tutors. This year the ceremony began with a talk from Mr Hart in the Library about the intricacies of applying to University and key pitfalls to avoid, which proved very helpful. Everyone then moved to the Dining Room for a delicious lunch before the actual presentation in the Assembly Hall. Each girl was called up and given her GCSE certificates by the Headmistress and her hard work and efforts recognised. Parents, staff and girls then went into the Theatre for the LVI parents’ meeting.
Form V Options Afternoon
Mock Examinations - January 2016
Form V, LVI and UVI have completed their Mock Examinations giving the girls plenty of food for thought as they attend the Fifth Form Options fair on Friday 22 January at 2.30pm. This is followed by the Form V Parents Meeting at 3.00pm which provides an important opportunity to discuss your daughter’s progress ahead of the forthcoming GCSE examinations.
The focus for the girls is now on how to improve their performance further which will be assisted by the forthcoming Elevate ‘Ace your Exams’ talk next month.
On the afternoon of 4 December, Form V had an initial introduction to their potential options at A Level. They had a short presentation by Mr Hart about the nature of A Levels followed by brief presentations by each subject that is taught only at A Level so that every girl could have the facts needed to make an informed decision.
After Compline, the girls went over to the Hall to have discussions with the relevant subject leader. The girls found it very helpful to have the Options Fair so much earlier than usual and were buzzing with the discussion. This precedes the formal Fifth Form Options Afternoon being held on 22 January where parents and girls meet the staff to discuss their A Level option choices.
Marina Gardiner Legge Director of Studies
Bonne chance!
Academic Success
We are delighted to announce that Annika Schaefer has been offered a place at Keble College, Oxford to read Medicine.
The professor who interviewed Annika called her himself to give her the good news. Annika joined us in Form I at the age of 10 from Germany and was initially only going to be with us for a year so we are absolutely delighted that her seven years at Heathfield have culminated in such an outstanding achievement.
Marina Gardiner Legge Director of Studies
We would like to congratulate Emily Broughton on her decision to study for a Masters at Science Po (The Paris Institute of Political Studies) in International Public Management starting this September. It is a fantastic achievement to be accepted at Science Po. We enjoyed having Emily at Heathfield for seven years before she left in 2013.
Shakespeare For Schools Festival
On Friday 13 November, Form IV GCSE Drama group took part in this year’s Shakespeare for Schools Festival. It is a national festival rather than a competition and this year over 35,000 students took part all around the country. The girls worked on an abridged version of ‘The Comedy of Errors’, which they then performed at Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell. Among the many complimentary things that the Shakespeare for Schools representative said about the girls, was that she was particularly impressed by their clarity of speech. Also that overall it was an accomplished and original production. She was also full of praise for Daisy Chetwynd-Talbot and Catharine Reid who stood in at the last minute. Ms O’Connor would also like to add her words of congratulation to the girls. It was a challenging play and the girls performed with energy and enthusiasm and were a credit to the school. We are very proud of you all. Well done!
Vasilisa Vishnyakova Catharine Reid
Denise Shishkhanova Daisy Chetwynd-Talbot
Minna Samengo-Turner Nicole Ferber
Charlotte Geddes Amber Milligan
Tatiana Pavlenko Esme Gordon-Craig
Georgina Kelly
Thoroughly Modern Millie
This year’s whole school production is the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie Based on a 1956 British musical Chrysanthemum and then the 1967 film starring Julie Andrews as the eponymous heroine, this romantic comedy tells the story of Millie Dillmount, a thoroughly ‘modern girl’ who arrives in New York, determined to marry for money rather than love.
Needless to say after a few twists and turns, including a narrow escape from the scheming landlady’s determined efforts to sell Millie’s friends off to the white slave trade, love wins out in the end.
Auditions and rehearsals for the 30 strong cast began last September and it is very exciting to announce that several of our new girls have been brave enough to get involved.
As well as Ms O’Connor (Director) and Mrs Dance (Musical Director) we are delighted to be working with Jane du Toit, our Choreographer, who is teaching the girls to tap dance.
The performances are taking place on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 February at 7.30pm and everyone is warmly encouraged to attend.
NEW - History of Art Conference
On Saturday 6th February Heathfield is pleased to be hosting its first History of Art Conference. Joanna Meeson, Head of Art History, has invited Academics from Universities as well as Sixth Form pupils and staff from schools in both the independent and state sector to attend. Staff and pupils alike will enjoy what promises to be a most enlightening day. The following speakers will be presenting:
Dr Christiana Payne, Professor of History of Art in the department of History, Philosophy and Religion at Oxford Brookes University: John Brett and Pre-Raphaelite Landscape Painting
Dr Elizabeth Prettejohn, Professor of Art History and Head of Department at the University of York: 19th century Aesthetics and Sculpture
Tom Parsons SPoKE Film Competition
Freya Henderson, ARTiculation Competitor and Art History student at Heathfield: Francis Bacon’s Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X 1953
Elizabeth Kajs, Post Graduate at the University of Bristol: German Expressionism: Art and Society
Dr Lara Pucci, Assistant Professor at Nottingham University: Futurism
Dr Joanna Pawlik, Professor of Art History at the University of Sussex: Surrealism, Gender and Sexuality
If anyone is interested in joining us, please email me at jmeeson@heathfieldschool.net
Heathfield Summer Camp and School
We are delighted to announce the new website for the Heathfield Summer Camp and School. Please do take a moment to have a look at it: http://www.heathfieldsummerschool.co.uk/
At Heathfield, we have been running our own summer courses for 40 years. We welcome girls from overseas on our British Council Accredited English Language Summer School, the only all girls English course in the UK. International students are joined by girls from the local area and across Britain on our Activities Summer Camp. As sports and activities are often shared, many friendships across the world are formed.
If you are interested in hearing more about it, please contact me at summerschool@heathfieldschool.net
Helen Madaras Summer School Director
Art
Success
Congratulations to Kathy Huang (UVI), who has been offered a place at the highly prestigious School of Art Central Saint Martins to do a Foundation Course. Her portfolio of work included her school Art and Photography coursework along with an extensive portfolio of personal art work.
There is no doubt that Kathy shows herself to be completely committed to her work and her enthusiasm is evident in all her art. Her dissertation illustrates an in-depth understanding of how her art fits within the wider historical context. She is also passionate about History of Art. A great achievement, well done Kathy.
Jocelyn Leibovici Subject Leader - Art & Design
Jewish Passover Meal for Form I
In Religious Studies last week, Form I enjoyed sampling food eaten during the Jewish Passover meal. Each girl had a script and a part to play, explaining the significance of the different foods eaten. The girls enjoyed learning more about it all. Laura Hart, Subject Leader - Religious Studies
Netball and Lacrosse - the first two weeks of term
Both Netball and Lacrosse squad training sessions have started in earnest. Mixing the year groups together has been particularly beneficial and it is wonderful to see Forms I – IV playing together, especially in Lacrosse.
We have an extremely busy term ahead of us with the U15 and U14 South West Schools’ Lacrosse tournament as well as the Ascot Schools’ Netball tournaments in all age groups. The culmination of the Lacrosse season for the teams is the National Schools’ Tournament held at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford at the end of February and beginning of March which will see over 100 schools competing in 5 different categories.
As always, spectators are extremely welcome to all events.
Wendy Reynolds Director of Sport
Skiing - British Schoolgirls’ Races, Flaine
Taking place on 25 and 26 January, the two-day event which features racers from schools across the UK is an important part of the British Alpine racing calendar. Historically it has proven to be a breeding ground for young British talent, with Olympian Chemmy Alcott and Paralympic sight guide Charlotte Evans being previous competitors.
The race consists of Giant Slalom and Slalom and three of our girls are entered: Catharine Reid, Alex Tromans and Minna Samengo-Turner. Catharine Reid raced last year too and won the Kandahar Prize for Racing Potential which awarded her one week’s training at the Kandahar Race Camp in Austria. You can follow all the action via the BSR Facebook page and Twitter - @BSRaces and #BSR2016. Good luck girls!
Jeremy Hart Director of Sixth Form
Clubs and Activities
With the new term well underway, the girls have embraced the numerous lunchtime and after school clubs and activities on offer. These include Art, Badminton, Debating, PEPS (Philosophy, Ethics, Psychology and Sociology), Crest Science Awards, French and Spanish Vocab Express, Business Lunch Clinic, Meditation, Coding, A Capella and Football, to name but a few. Girls are actively encouraged to try out new activities.
Fencing
On 6 December 2015, Judy Fakhera entered the Surrey County Novice and Intermediate Fencing competition which took place at Epsom College. Congratulations to Judy for her win in the Intermediate group. Well done Judy!
Equestrian
The term has got off to an excellent start with girls already signed up for the Winter Inter-Schools Polo Tournament starting at the end of January. The league will culminate in a Championship Day on Sunday 20 March. Bury Farm on Saturday 23 January is the first show jumping qualifier for the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Heathfield team will be competing here.
We have two exciting new riding schools for the Sunday riders and we are also hoping to ride on Mondays or Thursdays at 4.30pm.
It is not to late for any girls who are interested to sign up for any of the Equestrian activities; please just get in touch with me via email: gglimmerveen@heathfieldschool.net
Gill Glimmerveen, Equestrian Co-ordinator
Seacole Weekend, 9 & 10 January
The first Saturday morning of the new term started with all teams out on the pitch for lacrosse training despite rather damp weather. However, as the morning progressed the rain became heavier and all girls returned for a hot shower and straight in to prep before an early lunch for those on the historic tour of Winchester Trip. By this time it was raining hard and the difficult decision had to be made to postpone the trip until the river Test is less swollen and we have some blue sky. So, the contingency plan was put in place and Form III plus a few Form IV girls headed to Basingstoke for a bit of free time to look around and shop in Festival Place, so avoiding the downpours. This was enjoyed by all and we all look forward to discovering Winchester on a future Seacole weekend. Meanwhile Forms I and II also headed for Basingstoke after lunch where they discovered the history of rail transport in the area as well as using old money to buy treats in the old fashioned shop.
In the evening there was a choice of two movies to watch in school and girls of all ages enjoyed putting on pyjamas and heading across to the theatre to relax in front of the screen. This was a welcome couple of hours off for those girls who had been studying all day for mock examinations.
On Sunday after Chapel the weather appeared brighter and again Forms I to III headed out to the coach after an early lunch. They arrived in Woking in time to buy some sweeties before the pantomime performance of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ began. Everybody enjoyed the show and particularly the shout out to ‘Heathfield School, Ascot’. Both Aureil and Sophia were pleased to have their birthdays remembered by the cast. The older girls had the option of either seeing ‘Star Wars - The Force Awakens’ or ‘Joy’ at the local cinema or a relaxing swim in the pool between their revision sessions.
Kemp Head of House – Seacole
Somerville Weekend, 16 & 17 January
The girls started their busy Saturday with Prep and Netball training. Later on, 11 Form IV girls were Confirmed in Chapel in front of a large congregation of parents and grandparents where the Choir and the Top 12 sang beautifully.
Meanwhile, Form II spent the morning at the Dulwich Picture Gallery for the Escher exhibition, led by Head of Art, Jocelyn Leibovici and Housemistress, Colleyn Beresford. Mr Benjamin, their Maths teacher, had taught them the Mathematics behind Escher's designs in class this week, giving the girls a greater understanding of Escher’s work and they enjoyed inspecting the prints for themselves.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr Benjamin organised a fantastic cartoon workshop with professional cartoonist, Neill Cameron. Neill started by giving a talk on comics, cartoonists and female comic book artists. Then the workshop began with the girls designing their own cartoon character and producing a four-part story. This was followed by a special master class for anyone interested in learning more about the technical side of drawing. Neill was very impressed by some of the girls' work and told Sasha Khaneeva (LVI) that she had surpassed the point where he could advise her!
Also on Saturday afternoon, Mrs Benjamin helped the girls in Forms V and LVI to prepare for their IGCSE Maths examination which they are sitting this week.
The day finished with a school disco in the Theatre, with a full light and sound set up and a professional DJ. Girls enjoyed dancing to a popular mix of current and classic tracks. This was good preparation for the socials with Eton and Harrow which are coming up later this term.
On Sunday after Chapel, Forms I and II had an afternoon of Ten Pin Bowling. Forms III and upwards spent the afternoon in Reading town centre.
John Doyle
Head of House – Somerville
