Birkonian Week at Birkenhead School 2019

Birkonian Week 2019

Birkonian Week

Welcome to Birkonian Week I look forward to welcoming you to a number of events during our inaugural Birkonian Week, a move designed to showcase so much of what we are proud of within our community.

Over the next few years, the programme will evolve to provide what we hope will be an annual highlight: a marvellous opportunity to come together as a community throughout the last week of the School year to celebrate the numerous individual and collective achievements of our students.

We hope that the programme of events outlined overleaf provides something for everyone, celebrating the diverse talents of our students and the breadth of co-curricular opportunities which both balance and enhance academic enjoyment and achievement.

This year, as always, we will be saying goodbye to some talented musicians, who have contributed widely to the musical life of the School. We look forward to enjoying their talents one final time at the Summer Concert on Monday 1st July. The legacy they leave is in good hands, showcased by the Year 6 production of ‘Annie’ the previous week and the Little School Summer Concert on Wednesday 3rd July.

This year has seen us enter our second decade of full co-education at Birkenhead School and it is therefore appropriate that we welcome to the School as our Guest Speaker at Prize-Giving, Lucy Pearson, former Head of Cheadle Hulme School.

Lucy was at the very forefront of co-education, both in the North-West and nationally, during her time at Cheadle, and is currently enjoying her role as Head of FA Education. A brief synopsis of Lucy’s career to date is contained within and we look forward to hearing what she has to say at our Prize-Giving Ceremony.

The quality of teaching and educational outcomes will always remain the pulse of any school and this year we will be saying goodbye to a number of distinguished colleagues, three of whom have accumulated almost a hundred Birkenhead School years between them. I look forward to the opportunity that Prize-Giving on Friday 5th July will provide to thank them wholeheartedly for their collective contribution. The day will be an emotional one for our Upper Sixth Form Leavers, many of whom joined in Pre-Prep back in the early years of the millennium. We look forward to marking their time appropriately, with a breakfast at the start of the day, and finishing with their Leavers’ Ball at Thornton Hall in the evening.

As one year draws to a close, we look forward to next year, which will see the introduction of a number of initiatives, not least the launch of a bursary campaign aimed at making a Birkenhead education even more accessible to the wider community. It is an important part of who we are and what we stand for within the Wirral. In the meantime, students returning after the summer break will benefit from a number of capital improvement projects including the refurbishment of some common room areas, landscaping around Overdale and the addition of the ‘Sutton Futures Room’, which will act as a hub for careers provision within the School. Exciting times lie ahead.

I hope you enjoy Birkonian Week and I look forward to welcoming you in person.

Beati mundo corde.

Paul Vicars Headmaster

Birkonian Week

Birkonian Week

Programme of Events Wednesday 26th – Friday 28th June 7.00pm

Wednesday 3rd July

‘Annie Jr’ Musical Prep Production

Prep Hall

2.00pm

Little School Summer Concert

7.00pm

Sports Awards & Dinner

Outdoor Classroom Marquee

Sunday 30th June All day

Golf Day for Parents and Pupils

Caldy Golf Club

6.30pm

Old Birkonian Choral Evensong & Summer Serenade

Chapel

Thursday 4th July 10.00am

Pre-Prep Celebration Assembly

Prep Hall

7.00pm

Prep Prize-Giving

Marquee

Monday 1st July – Friday 5th July Art and Design & Technology Exhibition

Bushell Hall & Sixth Form Centre

Monday 1st July 6.00pm

Arts Awards & Summer Concert

Marquee

Friday 5th July – Speech Day 9.00am

Breakfast for Upper Sixth Leavers

10.00am

Leavers’ Chapel Service

11.00am

Prize-Giving

2.00pm

Prize-Winners Reception

7.30pm

Leavers’ Ball

Dining Hall School Chapel Marquee Bushell Hall Thornton Hall

Tuesday 2nd July 10.00am

Sports Day – Years 5 to 8

School Field

Ticket information will be available on the School website and details will be sent to parents.

Birkonian Week

Music & Arts Arts Awards & Summer Concert Monday 1st July, 6.00pm, Marquee This event is a celebration of the creative and dramatic arts. The evening will be an opportunity to award prizes and colours to our high achievers in Music, Drama, Art, Photography, and Design & Technology.

The Summer Concert will include performances from across the whole school, and feature our range of ensembles including Big Band, Senior and Prep Orchestras, Chapel Choir, Senior Choir, Brass Ensemble, and much, much more!

We will also be treated to a special performance from our departing Upper Sixth Form musicians – always a tear jerker!

Birkonian Week

Art and Design & Technology Exhibition Monday 1st July – Friday 5th July, Bushell Hall & Sixth Form Centre Visit the exhibition featuring the work of our students which will be on display for the duration of Birkonian Week. This year saw our students display their art work in the Williamson and Lady Lever Art Galleries and win a number of prestigious design awards.

The exhibition will open on Monday 1st July and close on Friday 5th July.

Birkonian Week

Chapel Old Birkonian Choral Evensong & Summer Serenade Sunday 30th June, 6.30pm, School Chapel and Outdoor Classroom The final Choral Evensong of the year is an opportunity for the School community, both past and present, to come together and bid a fond farewell to our Upper Sixth musicians as they embark on careers or further study.

The service will be followed by live jazz and a reception in the Outdoor Classroom.

Birkonian Week

Prep Musical Production ‘Annie Jr’ Wednesday 26th – Friday 28th June, 7.00pm, Prep Hall

“You are special. Never stop believing in that.”

A wonderful production performed by our Year 6 students, directed by Mrs Delaney, Mrs Keating and Mr Stockdale.

Synopsis: In the depths of the 1930s, Annie is a fiery young orphan girl who must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Her seemingly hopeless situation changes dramatically when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy munitions industrialist, Oliver Warbucks. Quickly, she charms the hearts of the household staff and even the seemingly cold-hearted Warbucks cannot help but learn to love this wonderful girl. He decides to help Annie find her long lost parents by offering a reward if they would come to him and prove their identity. However, Miss Hannigan, her evil brother, Rooster, and a female accomplice, plan to impersonate those people to get the reward for themselves which put Annie in great danger.

Birkonian Week

Sport Golf Day

Sports Day – Years 5 to 8

Sunday 30th June, tee times from 11.20am, Caldy Golf Club

Tuesday 2nd July, 10.000am onwards, School Field

An opportunity for parents and students to come together and play a round of golf and enjoy dinner together afterwards.

One of the highlights in the School’s sporting calendar, Sports Days see students and parents coming together to cheer on the athletes as they compete for their House on track and field.

Please email Miles Pillow, mep@birkenheadschool. co.uk, for tickets and further information.

Sports Awards & Dinner Wednesday 3rd July, 7.00pm, Marquee The Sports Dinner is an opportunity to thank students and staff for their commitment to this vital part of School life. All participants in teams are invited to share a meal and congratulate achievers in our key School sports. Parents of prize-winners will also be invited.

This year the event is made more poignant as we say farewell to Mr Lytollis on his retirement.

Sports Day – Years 5 to 8 Tuesday 2nd July // School Field

Birkonian Week

Prep Celebrations Little School Summer Concert Wednesday 3rd July, 2.00pm, Outdoor Classroom A joyful celebration of music and performances from some of our youngest pupils in Reception to Year 2. This year the topic is ‘Inspiration’.

Pre-Prep Celebration Assembly Thursday 4th July, 10.00am, Prep Hall Children from Pre-Prep will be singing their way through the topics that they have covered this year, which include: ‘Ourselves’; ‘Under the Sea’; ‘Weather’; Life on the Farm’; ‘Journeys’; and ‘Holidays’.

Prep Prize-Giving Thursday 4th July, 7.00pm, Marquee The annual Prize-Giving in Prep is a celebration of the progress and achievement of all pupils in Junior Prep (Years 3 to 6). This year, the prizes will be presented by Miss Julie Yardley, retired Head of Merchant Taylor’s Mixed Infants and Junior Girls’ School. Prior to the awarding of the prizes, Mr FitzHerbert will give his annual address and, following the prize-giving, the children will sing for us before Miss Yardley gives her speech. It will be a wonderful occasion to round off another year in Junior Prep.

Birkonian Week

Speech Day – Friday 5th July Breakfast for Upper Sixth Leavers 9.00am, Dining Hall Each year we have to say goodbye to our leavers. Upper Sixth students and their parents are invited to join us for this celebratory breakfast as we prepare to bid them farewell and good luck.

Leavers’ Chapel Service 10.00am, Chapel Upper Sixth students, and their parents, are invited to attend the Leavers’ Service taking place in Chapel.

By offering a unique School community that transcends school boundaries, our leavers will now join a network of alumni, who keep in touch, not only through the long-lasting friendships that they have built during their time at the School but also through the numerous alumni events held both locally and nationally.

Seniors’ Prize-Giving 11.00am, Marquee Our traditional Prize-Giving receives a make-over this year, taking place on the last day of the School year. The event will reward academic achievement across the School, but in particular the achievements of our Upper Sixth students.

Refreshments are available for prize-winners and their parents in Bushell Hall following the event. Parents of our Upper Sixth are invited to the Leavers Breakfast and Chapel Service, followed by the Prize-Giving.

Birkonian Week

Guest Speaker

We are delighted to be welcoming Lucy Pearson as our guest speaker for this year’s Prize-Giving.

Lucy Pearson is Head of FA Education, the department that qualifies the football workforce in England; it is a workforce that includes all coaches, technical directors, talent scouts and medical staff from grassroots to the professional game.

Prior to taking up this post in August 2018, Lucy was Head of Cheadle Hulme School for 8 years, having previously been Deputy Head of Wellington College, Berkshire. She is a former international cricketer, opening the bowling for England for 9 years between 1996 and 2005, and is now an independent non-executive director of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Birkonian Week

Leavers’ Ball Friday 5th July, 7.30pm, Thornton Hall Upper Sixth leavers are invited to celebrate their years at Birkenhead School in style at the Leavers’ Ball.

Guests will be treated to a champagne reception followed by a meal.

Birkonian Week

Leavers’ Ball Friday 5th July, 7.00pm, Thornton Hall Upper Sixth leavers are invited to celebrate their years at Birkenhead in style at the Leavers’ Ball. Guests will be treated to a champagne reception followed by a meal.

A wonderful and fitting way to mark the end of their time as a student at the Birkenhead School.

Summer Social Saturday 29th June 7.30pm, Marquee Organised by the Parents’ Association A wonderful opportunity for all parents to come together and socialise at a summer social organised by the Parents’ Association. The evening will include a drinks reception, BBQ and disco.

The Parents’ Association raises invaluable funds to support a wide range of additional activities within the School. We would like to thank the Parents’ Association for organising the Summer Social event and for their continued work throughout the year for which we are extremely grateful.

Birkonian Week

Birkenhead School, 58 Beresford Road, Oxton, Wirral, CH43 2JD Tel: 0151 652 4014 Email: enquire@birkenheadschool.co.uk /birkenheadschool

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www.birkenheadschool.co.uk