Summerhill

SUMMERHILL HOUSE

We kick started off the year with winning the House Music and ensemble. The great enthusiasm shown from the House prefects, expertly led by Rose and Rex, made this event a real highlight of the year.

Rose Niamh

Our winning streak continued with being victorious in the House Cross Country, Senior House Debating competition and the Senior and Year 10 House Hockey competitions. The new year also saw the fi rst editions of the ‘Summerhill Sum Up’, set up by Zara, which is the termly House newsletter.

We had girls in Years 9-13 involved in Drama performances including DNA, Antigone and the Year 10 devised assessments which starred our very own Dasha, Harriet, Kim, Florencia, Cecilie, Elsa, Praeasha, Katya, Bea, Lala and so many more!

Within the Music Department there were so many things for people to get involved with. Summerhill was represented in choir, KJO, orchestra rehearsals, the Abbey Carol Service, Spring Concert, Mid-Somerset Festival, lunchtime concerts and many more. One of the highlights was the Summer Concert in which we enjoyed individual performances from Polly, Elsa, Anna, Naomi, Eloise and Niamh. We also heard KJO play which included Mary, Polly, Elsa, Poppy, Phoebe H, Charlotte, Phoebe, Poppy and Anna.

To bring these two Art forms together, we had our glamorous KATS awards. The evening didn’t fail to match the vibrancy of the outfi ts. Phoebe, Dasha and Ayomikun won and presented awards, and we were treated to acting and singing performances from Summerhill pupils. It has been such a successful year for both Music and Drama, and it was a delight to also see the talent of so many at the Art and DT summer exhibition.

It was amazing to see the number of Summerhill girls involved in both School and House sport. In the hockey term, we had an impressive cohort of Year 11s in the 1st team. Not only did we make up most of the team, it was captained by our own Phoebe and Ciara D, with Anisha in goal. We also had Ciara O and Mia representing the 1st Netball, Rose captaining the 1st Tennis team, and Anisha the Swimming team. This talent was summed up in our great success at some of the House matches. Finally, the Summer term saw numerous girls step up for the House gala, with the inter girls excelling, despite having only three swimmers for a four-woman race! We then had a great turn out for the infamous Cross-Country Relay.

Summerhill is known for its compassion and generosity and the House always shows this through the charity work we do. We made well over 200 Christmas care packages for Genesis Trust. On top of this there have been amazing individual charity efforts: Marnie with her 5-hour Spinathon, raising money for Cancer Research; Bea completing the Mallorca312 bike ride in aid of Mind; the Big Bath Sleep Outs with both Niamh and Sophie getting involved, as well as the whole House helping with Open Arms Malawi events.

We can’t talk about the successes of this year without mentioning the tremendous work from all the tutors, duty staff, matrons and of course Mrs Matthews; she has been the beating heart of Summerhill and has embodied what Summerhill stands for, celebrating achievements large and small, and fi nding opportunities to help and support others whenever possible. She is going to be greatly missed in the House but we know it is in very capable hands with Mrs Lopez and her team.

Rose Bates and Niamh Weldon

(Year 13)

PRIZE WINNERS

• Good Egg Award: Aoife Targett & Ayomikun Thomas • Perseverance Award: Bea Meadowcroft & Coco Cox • Summerhill Dragon Award for Sport: Gaby Davies & Poppy Squires • Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Award: Niamh Weldon

Leaving poem from Mrs Matthews to all in Summerhill, July 2022

I am glad I have been your Houseparent I’ve come to know you so, I can’t believe the end is here I’m sad to see you go

I’ve watched you learn and grow And change from day to day, I hope all the things we’ve done Have helped in some small way

We’ve done so much together We’ve laughed, cried and learned I feel privileged to have been part of your journey Now enjoy the summer break you’ve earned.

Remember to come and visit There will always be biscuits and a cuppa, I would love to hear your news And we can have a catch up and good old chatter.

So it’s with happy memories that I send you all out the door, With great hope and expectations For what the next few years hold in store.

Remember all the good times we’ve had In all the things we’ve done, Thank you everyone here today For making my time so fun.

Keep being Summerhill stars And helping each other out, I will always support Summerhill And in House events continue to give you a big shout.

From myself to you I wish you the best, Please always remember Courage and kindness will be your keys to success.

FAREWELLS AND THANK YOUS

I wish all the leavers the best of luck in their new adventures and massive thanks goes to Rose and Niamh for all their hard work in making sure the House ran smoothly.

A big thank you to Miss Robinson who has been a tutor in Summerhill for 12 years. She is someone who has always been there for her tutees. We wish her every success in her new role in the Prep School. We say goodbye and a huge thank you to Mrs Herlinger from the tutor team, as she takes on her new role as Head of Middle School. Big thanks also goes to Miss Elliott for all her help with boarding duties over the last 7 years as Resident Assistant. We are so grateful for all her support she has given the boarders that have come under her care. And finally to Mrs Opie who, after 30 years, is leaving Kingswood. She gave so much to Summerhill over the last 12 years, and we thank her for always being so caring, kind and supportive. Mr and Mrs Opie will be massively missed and we wish them well in their retirement.

Mrs Alex Matthews (Senior Houseparent)

Head of House:

Rose Bates

Deputy Head of House:

Niamh Weldon

Senior Prefects:

Ciara Dyer Anisha Gofton Phoebe Hall Marnie Lister Madi Sayce Naomi Waheed Eloise Weinberger

As Head of Boarding, I found myself in House most evenings listening to all kinds of stories which never failed to entertain! From fajita nights, rounders, karaoke, Just Dance, BTS, boarders’ bake off, as well as many trips and our awesome Christmas dinner, this year has really emphasised what boarding in Summerhill is all about! Niamh