South

Houses South

From the Housemistress

Despite the strange end to this academic year, South continued to thrive in 2019-2020. As I reach the end of my first year as South Housemistress, it is a joy to reflect

on all that South has achieved.

The Autumn Term began with a drive to prove South’s musical talent in the house song competition. Phoebe Simpson, Phoebe McCutcheon and Genevieve ten Have worked tirelessly on a beautiful part-song production. These girls, along with Lauren Mapstone, also worked the rest of the House hard in preparing an uplifting version of Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’ for the unison. It is credit to the hard work of these girls, and the enthusiasm from the rest of the House, that South took the double win - well deserved I think!

It was not just house singing that the girls threw themselves into this year. From debating to sporting events, the hotly contested pancake race and the new and improved house film competition, the girls are always keen to throw on their purple tops and face paint and represent the House. Some highlights were the senior A team winning the house hockey, the South girls coming top amongst the girls’ houses in the pancake race and also winning the senior cross country. During Summer Term, house athletics competition took place remotely and, as always, South girls threw themselves into it with enthusiasm and commitment. We were sad not to be able to compete in the usual Summer Term competitions but pleased to find new ways to continue some challenges remotely.

Before school closures and the lockdown, South managed to squeeze in their charity event, this year choosing to raise money for the Lucy Rayner Foundation. The theme was the Roaring Twenties, and the girls enjoyed taking the dining hall back 100 years, creating a retro feel in black, gold and purple. The parents were hugely impressed by the talent on show across the year groups. Katy Hardy began the evening with a beautiful poem relating to the Lucy Rayner Foundation. We had several musical acts from across all the year groups, the house unison and part-song performances, and the Sixth Form ended the evening with a flash mob across the whole dining hall!

The girls always enjoy a good house event and, with the introduction of house families this year, enjoyed spending the house Christmas party in the Old Chapel celebrating in their families. There were several competitions, including a gingerbread house making competition, and a Christmas carol karaoke competition. We were not able to hold our summer BBQ but know that when school returns we will be celebrating in style again.

Competitions

WON THIS YEAR: House singing - part song House singing - unison Cross country

The girls in South continue to amaze with their range of skills across all disciplines. Throughout the Autumn Term, not only were many of the girls competing against other schools in fixtures, but county and national level competitions were taking place from girls from the Lower Fifth through to the Upper Sixth in both hockey and netball. Zoe Ryan has continued to excel with her swimming, competing at a national level and she works incredibly hard to balance her school and swimming commitments. Isla McDonald spent her summer dancing in the LCB Ballet Shoe’s production in London and it has been a delight to watch the BBC recording of this during lockdown. Within school, many of the girls have been involved in impressive musical and drama productions, and it is always a pleasure to support the girls across their many talents.

As I write this, South is a very quiet house with the countrywide lockdown and closure of schools. Boarding has continued to be popular across the years so it is strange to not hear the general hub-bub of a boarding house on an evening. The girls adapted really well to school remotely, and Mr Hughes, our Assistant Housemaster, created a lockdown decathlon in which the girls completed a variety of tasks (from baking, to drawing, to making, to sporting) in order to be in with a chance to win a prize! We have loved seeing their efforts and look forward to celebrating with them all when they return.

Special thanks must go to our House Captain Phoebe Simpson and her team of prefects, as well as, Phoebe McCutcheon, who has continued to support the House hugely in addition to her responsibilities as School Captain. I also extend my huge thanks to the South tutor team, our wonderful Matron, Karen, and the cleaners who keep the House running. It is a happy house of which we can all be proud.

Isabel Morgan, Housemistress

HOUSE COLOURS

Such a warm, exciting and supportive house

From the House Captain

Though my time in South was considerably shorter than most of the girls, because I joined in Lower Sixth, I have loved watching South come together for house events throughout the last year, approaching them with both a competitive edge but also a large sense of enjoyment and community.

We kicked off the year successfully with the house music Cambridge to UAL. These were hard-earned and wellcompetition. Here we shared with the rest of the School deserved offers which I think truly reflect the breadth of our rendition of ‘Mamma Mia’, complete with choreography interests and the ability within this group of girls. and some rather enthusiastic singing from our Sixth Form. Our small singing group performed House netball came around sooner their own mash up of the Black Eyed than expected, but you can bet the Peas’ ‘Where is the Love’ and Mika’s South girls were there to take on ‘Happy Ending’. Clearly, the judge was the challenge. With lots of girls keen drawn in by our minimal clapping and to take part, it was exciting to get bobbing up and down, as we managed out onto the pitches and show the to bag ourselves top spot in both! It House some support. The girls played was amazing to see all the girls scream well but unfortunately didn’t make it and chant with excitement and was through to the final. However, after truly one of the highlights for South our recent victories, I’m sure the this academic year. South girls would tell you that we were letting the other houses take a win. Our South girls then prepped Nevertheless, it was a joy to see the themselves with purple face paint and House come together for the last bit headed to the hockey pitch, where of competition the year would hold. they managed to bag themselves a place in the final against Gloucester. Before our year came to a sudden It was an intense match to watch, end, we were able to transport our but the South girls weren’t going parents back to the 1920s for our to make it easy for them, meaning house charity night. I loved watching the match went to penalties. With all the girls do their part, whether supporters and spectators standing by that was singing, serving or creating a the sidelines, the team and our goalie, Kahoot, which was won by our own Molly Warner, did an amazing job and Mr Rao, for our parents to enjoy. My won the penalties, giving South top highlight from the night has to be the spot and another moment of pride. MASCOT Sixth Form ‘High School Musical’ flash mob, complete with the choreography With Christmas approaching and the House becoming overwhelmed with PANTHER from the film, which was a joy to both rehearse and to perform. tinsel and Christmas music, the Lower Sixth girls worked with Mr Hughes to Our final day in South was sprung upon create a successful face-painting stall us, and our final year in South was cut at the Christmas Market. This was short. Despite this, we enjoyed a true enjoyed by many paying customers and South send off, including a personalised also the girls themselves. The fair was poem by Mrs Morgan, big hugs from followed by the annual boarders’ Christmas dinner. Karen and, as you could guess, a considerable amount of Topping off a great day, it was then the Christmas rock tears. But I know that every one of us will look back on concert, where it was a joy to see the talent and bravery the purple painted walls and messy of many South girls who got up in front of peers to share kitchen fondly, and always be proud to their musical talents. have been members of such a warm, STRENGTHS: exciting and supportive house. Music As winter rolled around, the Upper Sixth were submitting our university applications and receiving many impressive Phoebe Simpson, House Captain Hockey offers, which ranged from film to economics, and 2019-20