Friday 15 February 2013 IS S U E 22 3

What’s New? Weekly Newsletter from New Hall Senior School

In this issue, Design Trip P.2 Cross Country P.3 Ice Skating P.3

Forthcoming Events

FRI 15—TUE 19 FEB Years 9-11 Madrid Trip SAT 16—FRI 23 FEB Years 8-9 Ski Trip to Switzerland MON 18 FEB Own a Pony Day at Runningwell Equestrian Centre MON 18 FEB 10.00am—3.30pm Year 12 A Level Art Workshop SUN 24 FEB Boarders return

Lent Begins During Lent we are asked to: pray, give generously to others and to fast. At New Hall we will be having ‘soup lunches’ from time to time and the money we save will be given to charity. The Chaplaincy team will be organising events to raise money for the Religious Community’s work in Africa and also CAFOD. This started on Tuesday when a team, led by the Chaplaincy Prefects, sold pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.

As we start the period of Lent, Father Nick reminded us that the notion of ‘giving something up for Lent’ isn’t done so we can find favour from God, but that we should use this time to find ways of seeking Him further. NEW HALL IN TOP 50 New Hall School has been announced as being one of the top 50 co-ed boarding schools in the UK, in the independent boarding schools league tables, based on A Level results for 2012. We are immensely proud of our students’ results, which enable New Hall to be part of this elite group of schools.

ASH WEDNESDAY The Senior School marked Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent with a lunchtime Mass attended by students, parents, staff and friends of New Hall. During the Mass, Father Nick distributed Ashes to those attending. Ashes are traditionally obtained from the burning of Palm Crosses from the previous year’s Easter celebrations and gives Ash Wednesday its name. They remind us of our own mortality and call us to repentance.

BBC RADIO QUIZ All this week, New Hall Senior School has been taking part in the BBC Essex School Quiz. Each day a different teacher and student competed against each other, live on the radio, answering questions from their chosen specialist subjects. After a fierce battle all week, the staff are currently in the lead with 7-6. The final round will take place this afternoon, at around 3.25pm, between Mr Sidwell and Connie Day (Year 8). You can listen by tuning to 103.5 or 95.3fm or online at bbc.co.uk/essex.

MON 25 FEB Day students return U14A/B Girls Netball v Bishop’s Stortford College

MUSIC EXAMINATIONS Congratulations to Elizabeth Read (Year 7) who passed her Grade 5 Theory examination at the end of last year.

7.00—8.00pm Sri Lanka Cricket Tour Parent Information Meeting 1

LUNCHTIME CONCERT Many thanks to all the performers at Wednesday’s vocal concert. Jessica Bowden-Goody (Year 7) began with Mozart’s song about a zither - Komm, Lieberman Zither, Komm. Then Jack Martin (Year 9) sang a very jazzy version of Cry Me A River in duet with his teacher Claire Harper. The concert ended with Natasha McKinnon (Year 12) performing a fantastically articulated Silence from Tim Minchin’s ‘Matilda’. The next Lunchtime Concert will feature A Level students on Wednesday 27 February in Chelmsford’s Cramphorn Theatre.

BOARDING Boarding students at New Hall have been making pa n ca k e s , celebrating Chinese New Year and making Valentine’s Day cards this week. Students had lots of fun making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday and there was a very competitive pancake flipping contest in Campion House. We wish all of the boarding students a safe journey home for the half term break.

ART EDUCATIONAL DAY

SENIOR PREFECTS Sixth Form students and staff have begun the process of nominating new Senior Prefects. All those in Year 12 are eligible to apply for a post after half term. There will be a selection committee and, after due process, it is anticipated the successful students will be announced before the end of the Lent Term. DESIGN MUSEUM TRIP On Friday 1 February, a group of Year 9 and 10 students took part in a workshop at the Design Museum, London. The ‘Eco Products’ workshop challenged the students to look at products from a different perspective as many of the products they were analysing started life as different products. Students were given an unusual product to analyse through drawing, observation, touch and by testing the product through use. They then had to create their own ideas. Students had the opportunity to look around the Museum where they visited the current exhibition ‘Unexpected Pleasure: the Art and Design of Contemporary Jewellery’. This exhibit challenged our preconceived ideas about what jewellery is and presented pieces in a new and unusual way. Students also had access to the permanent collection of design classics from designer chairs to the classic red phone box.

On Saturday 9 February the Art Department hosted 30 pupils from a number of local preparatory and primary schools for an exciting morning of art. The pupils, who were led by staff and sixth form students, worked tirelessly to create a giant masterpiece in oil paint. They each took a canvas and were given a part of the façade of New Hall School to depict. At the end of the day, the canvases came together and the famous frontage of New Hall School was visible. Congratulations to all who were involved in the day. BOARDING TASTER DAY

NHVS FASHION SHOW Tickets are now on sale for the NHVS Fashion Show on Wednesday 13 March. Booking forms are being distributed—please contact Mrs A Wilson for more information in the NHVS Office or via email to a.wilson2@newhallschool.co.uk. Once again, we would very much appreciate donations of vintage clothing (any good quality high street or named brand) for us to sell on the evening and raffle prizes. Donations and raffle prizes can be handed in at the Senior School Student Reception, marked for NHVS. Thank you in anticipation of your generous support.

Students from Magdalen and Earle Houses hosted a special day on Sunday 10 February. Over 30 Year 6 pupils, from schools all over South East England, came to meet our current students and find out more about boarding life at New Hall. After a tasty lunch, they were treated to a treasure hunt in the New Hall grounds and a session on the giant inflatable in the swimming pool. We look forward to welcoming these pupils to the New Hall boarding family in September.

UNIFORM SHOP Orders are now being taken for the Senior girls’ summer blouse. Please contact the Uniform Shop for details.

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FENCING FELIX COMPETING FOR COUNTRY Congratulations to Felix Fardell (Year 9) who will be making his England debut in Paris over half term against fencers from all over Europe and America. Also good luck to Felix in the 2013 Public Schools Fencing Championships at Crystal Palace on Wednesday 20 March.

DANCE DANCE SHOW TICKETS Tickets are not yet on sale for the ‘Moving Pictures’ Dance Show at Chelmsford Civic Theatre. They will be available from Tuesday 2 April by calling the Civic Theatre Box Office. DANCE MERCHANDISE New Hall Dance School t-shirts and other items are available to purchase on the New Hall School website, until Friday 1 March. A link is available to do this on the Performing Arts page. After the closing date, no orders will be accepted. If you have any queries about the merchandise available to order, please contact Mrs Molina or Mrs Warren.

ICE SKATING JESSICA IS OFF TO HOLLAND After Jessica Wakelin (Year 10) qualified for the GB International Development Team earlier in the year, she was notified last week that she has been selected to represent Great Britain in Holland at The Challenge Cup 2013 during half term. This competition is held for both young skaters, such as Jessica, and seniors, who may prepare or qualify for the World Championships two weeks later, in Canada. Jessica will have the honour, of not only representing her country, but also of skating alongside those world class skaters. Jessica is going to The Hague with the goal of trying out experimental jumps in a new programme. She is hoping to improve on her national rankings by beating her season's best score.

VOLUNTEER WITH ESSEX LIBRARIES Essex Libraries are inviting students, aged 14 and over, to volunteer during the summer holidays to help staff encourage children to take part in the National Summer Reading Challenge. Students could use this opportunity to gain work experience within their community. For more information, please speak to Miss Tait in the Library or visit the Summer Reading Challenge Volunteer page on the Essex Libraries website: www.essex.gov.uk/libraries.

CAREERS TALKS During the Lent Term, speakers will be visiting New Hall to talk to students in Years 9—13 about a range of career options. Parents are welcome to attend these talks with students. The presentations will take place on the following Wednesdays at 4.45—5.45pm:

NETBALL RESULTS

6 March—Probation Service, Law, Police, Social Services Lynne McKay (Communications Manager, Essex Probation Service) 20 March—Renewable Energy Chris Streatfield (Director, Renewable UK) 27 March—Finance Jenny Barber (Financial Skills Partnership & Directions Online Careers Service) Places are limited, so if you wish to attend, please advise Miss Haddrell by email: s.haddrell@newhallschool.co.uk.

Sport CROSS COUNTRY STUDENT QUALIFY FOR SOUTHERN COUNTIES On Wednesday 6 February, students from Year 7 and 8 attended the Essex Country Schools Athletic Associations Cross Country Championships. Congratulations to all of the students that took part, everyone did well to finish considering the tough wintery conditions on the day. Four students qualified to attend the Southern Counties event, from Essex, on Saturday 23 March. Congratulations to Charlie Boden (Year 7) who came 18th out of 310 boys; Tom Brown (Year 7) who came 13th out of 310 boys; Jessica Whiley (Year 7) who came 2nd out of 312 girls and Max Williams (Year 8) who came 9th out of 316 boys.

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Team

Opposition

Result

Player of the Match

U16

Boswells School

Won 18-11

Grace Langley

U15A

Bancroft’s School

Lost 27-19

Eleanor McCaffrey

U14B

Bancroft’s School

Lost 5-12

Isobel Godolphin

U14A

Bancroft’s School

Lost 24-27

Kirsty Thomas

U15B

Bancroft’s School

Won 20-2

Amy Murphy

U14A

Brentwood Ursuline Convent School

Won 29-10

U14B

Brentwood Ursuline Convent School

Won 26-2

Hannah Rothman & Georgia Tinson

U13A

Brentwood Ursuline Convent School

Won 22-2

Phoebe Wickham

U13B

Brentwood Ursuline Convent School

Won 19-2

Amber Wright

BRAIN CHALLENGE The solution to last week’s brain challenge was: 1. change U to a P and get Panda 2. Change the last T to a R and get Polar 3. Change the first R to a B and get Brown 4. Change the B to an A and get Koala 5. Change the second S to a Y and get Honey Congratulations to George Morgan (Year 9) who successfully solved last week’s challenge. This week’s challenge is: What has radio got to do with radioactivity?

PICTURE OF THE WEEK This week’s picture is courtesy of Lucy Chapman (Year 11).

What’s New? is issued every Friday during the school term. If you have any news which you would like to be published in an edition of What’s New?, please contact Miss Powell by email to e.powell@newhallschool.co.uk before 4.00pm on Wednesdays.

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