in the
Ringwood News
All the latest news from Ringwood School ~A National Teaching Academy~
Spring Half Term 2014
In this edition...
Spelling Bees, Duke of Edinburgh, Stamp collecting, Alumni and much more!
Christmas Carol Concerts
O
nce again, the Music Department produced three fantastic Carol Concerts during the last week of the Autumn term. Nearly two hundred students performed to combined audiences of seven hundred and fifty people, who were very appreciative of the range of styles of music presented. Before the concert, the audience was greeted with music from the string quartet and flute ensembles and was able to enjoy these Christmas pieces with a glass of mulled wine and some traditional German Christmas delicacies. Students from all year groups performed in vocal and instrumental ensembles as well as in the huge finale of The Twelve Days of Christmas, which has become the traditional end to the annual concerts. This year Ian Hawkins, who arranges the humorous masterpiece included celebrations of the two hundred year anniversary of the birth of opera composers Verdi and Wagner; the 50 year anniversary of Dr Who; last year's School Production of Cats, and
some hints at this year’s production: Miss Saigon, amongst many others. The concert started with a dramatic performance of O Fortuna by Carl Orff and was followed by Children of Eden, from the musical of the same name, by Stephen Schwartz. The first act included choir
performances, congregational carols, the famous Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah interspersed with traditional readings from the Bible and Christmas poetry. The first act finished with an uplifting performance of Joyful Joyful, with the opening solo sung by Shona Graham in Year 13. All instrumental ensembles, including string and brass groups, flute choirs, saxophone and clarinet ensembles and senior and junior jazz bands showcased Christmas pieces they had been preparing this term. The Big Boys Breakfast Crooning Club performed a difficult arrangement of the well-known Christmas song All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. They looked very smart in their gold ties! Praise for the concerts was received from many staff, Governors, parents and members of the public. Thanks to those of you who wrote in. Thanks go to all the staff involved in creating such a large concert, all the students who performed and worked as technical crew, and to all audience members who supported this important formal School occasion.
New Year's Honour for Don McMath Foundation
A
nne McMath was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years honours list for her work in education in The Gambia. Anne is a trustee at the Don McMath Foundation, which Ringwood School activity supports. The Don McMath Foundation started in 2001, and is named after Anne’s
late husband Don, who passed away in 1991. Anne went on holiday to The Gambia and noticed that there were a lot of children on the streets every day because their parents could not afford to send them to school. She began sponsoring a couple of children at local schools and rallied friends to sponsor a few more. This grew until she decided that she wanted open a school to help
lots of children instead of just one or two. The school is called The Don McMath Foundation and schools 340 children from aged 5 to 17. The school is the first and only completely free school in The Gambia. They provide the schooling, books, equipment and uniform.