HIGHLIGHTS Autumn Term 2012
CELEBRATING 140 YEARS OF THE GDST
TALKING HEADS – MEET OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMS WHY LANGUAGES ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CURRICULUM
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talking heads
Talking Heads – meet our Leadership Teams Mrs Laws
by a couple of curious friends and they spent
Headteacher
the next 15 minutes quizzing me about my
What initially attracted you to joining BHS?
day and my life and giving me their thoughts
I was attracted to the idea of being Head of
on all sorts of fascinating topics. I was totally
a GDST school as I knew, by reputation, that
charmed and impressed by their social skills
they were excellent schools. Also, having
and confidence. What other job would allow
previously been Head of a stand-alone
me such entertaining lunch companions?
school, I liked the idea of being part of a family of mutually supportive schools. Then
What do you think makes BHS so
once I had visited Blackheath High, I was
remarkable and different to other schools?
captivated!
I think there are many factors including: • the way in which our girls and staff are so
What are the most interesting and
wholehearted about all that they do. They
enjoyable aspects of your role?
give of their time so generously to support school events and activities.
I love my job for two main reasons: Firstly -
• the diversity of the school community and
working with our committed, talented and interesting girls is a constant pleasure and
the way in which we all enjoy and value the
secondly for the scope and variety of the
differences. We are fortunate to have girls of a wide range of nationalities from varied
tasks and activities for which I am responsible. Each day is different but also very busy and
enjoying interviews with each of our Y6 girls
cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds
intense. There is no time to be bored and
who are so articulate and interesting. One
which provides a rich, cultural mix which
I can go from dealing with a difficult and
of the days I had lunch in the Junior Dining
stressful problem to being delighted by a class
Room. Within seconds, a Y2 girl got up from
• The friendly atmosphere; and
assembly or watching our girls perform at a
her table, picked up her plate of food and
• The breadth of the educational experience
concert.
came to join me with the words “and how are
which nurtures the all-round personal
Recently, I spent a few days at Juniors
you today Mrs Laws?” She was soon joined
development and high academic
Dr Pascoe
benefits us all.
Deputy Head
realised what a special place it was. I was
This brings a real sense of community and
convinced that I would be very happy at
creates a happy and creative place to learn
What initially attracted you to joining BHS?
the school and would fit in with its ethos.
and develop.
Having previously worked in a GDST school,
Needless to say, I was very excited to be
I was fully committed to the benefits of
given the chance to join such a diverse and
What do you try to instil in our girls?
delivering single sex education. I was looking
busy school.
Take every opportunity that is presented to you to learn and experience new things. To
for an opportunity to develop professionally and to take on new challenges. The more
What are the most interesting and
reflect on things that go wrong – learn from
I found out about the school, the more I
enjoyable aspects of your role?
them and move on! Also to always strive
Learning new things every day! Being part
to achieve YOUR best, not just to compare
of the Leadership Team is a very busy and
yourself with others.
fulfilling job. I know I am very lucky to be working with such an experienced staff
What are you working on at the moment
and wonderful students. I am particularly
that will help improve or enhance the
interested in teaching and learning and really
learning experience we provide for our
enjoy evaluating and improving current
girls?
practice.
I am currently working with many of the Heads of Faculty to ensure that we are ready
What do you think makes BHS so
for the changes to GCSE and A-level courses.
remarkable and different to other schools?
I am always keen to explore pedagogy and
Blackheath High is such a very friendly
to ensure that the current excellent teaching
school. The size of the school means that
is always continuing to improve and that
it is big enough to be a busy and dynamic
we are progressing with improvements in
place, but small enough for the students
technology. It is my responsibility to ensure
to know each other and the staff very well.
that the education we provide is relevant and
2 Blackheath High School Autumn 2012
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talking heads achievement of our pupils. What do you try to instil in our girls?
What would you like BHS to be known for?
me were our girls’ successes in the Ahead of
The many achievements of our confident,
the Game competition and the Beckenham
interesting and talented girls.
Festival; six Upper Sixth girls gaining
The same sort of values and qualities that
interviews to Oxbridge; and I was hugely
I know their parents also promote such
What have been your particular highlights
entertained by “Daisy Pulls it Off”, the Nursery
as the value of hard work and always
of the Autumn Term?
and KS1 Nativity performances and the Junior
doing one’s best; resilience – an ability
There were many but particular highlights for
Carol Service.
to persevere through disappointment & challenging situations; high self-esteem
Mr Parsons Assistant
and confidence alongside respect for
Head
others and their views.
What initially attracted you to joining BHS?
What are you working on at the moment
I’d previously worked in a boys grammar
that will help improve or enhance the
school, an international school in Budapest
learning experience we provide for our
and a crumbling independent school in
girls?
Bermuda, so I thought I’d try an all-girls
We are never complacent and are always
school. It was clearly the right choice as this
looking for ways to improve the education
is the longest I’ve ever worked in the same
that we offer our pupils.
place. I love the Tardis-like qualities of our
Currently we are evaluating the benefits of
school site – it’s utterly labyrinthine, full of
senior girls using their own electronic devices
character and strongly contributes to the
in lessons and are also trialling the use of
school’s strong sense of community.
ipads – particularly at juniors. We are also giving thought to ways in
What are the most interesting and
which we can improve the “lunch time
enjoyable aspects of your role?
experience” at both Juniors & Seniors.
Much as I love to see our girls working hard,
We are planning new serveries at Seniors
enjoying themselves and making steady progress, I find it similarly satisfying lending a
and improvements to the menus and also
helping hand when things aren’t going so well. Our girls are incredibly supportive of one
refurbishment of the Junior Dining Room.
another, so a few kind words of encouragement and advice from someone with age and
Improvements to the accommodation at
experience behind them is often all it takes to get things back on course.
seniors are also being discussed with the GDST Estate’s Department, in particular a
What do you think makes BHS so remarkable and different to other schools?
new Sixth Form Centre.
BHS is very much an inner London school with a very cosmopolitan studentship; so many languages, nationalities, cultures, religious and political beliefs. Such an
stimulating for our students.
environment, coupled with a curriculum tailored to the specific needs of our girls, helps engender an internationalist outlook that will serve them well in our increasingly
What would you like BHS to be known
globalised world when they leave us.
for? I would like Blackheath High to be known
What do you try to instil in our girls?
as a place where students achieve and
Imagination, confidence, resilience, habitual critical engagement, high aspirations
develop beyond their own expectations
specific to the individual and the will to succeed.
and leave with many wonderful happy memories that will last a life-time.
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve or enhance the learning experience we provide for our girls?
What have been your HIGHlights of the
I am currently developing KS3 Philosophy and the KS4 Matrix of Knowledge history of
Autumn Term?
ideas course, both of which are unique to BHS having been designed specifically for our
Settling into the new Deputy Head role
girls. Followed by IB Theory of Knowledge in the Sixth Form, these courses aim to equip
and having the opportunity to further
our girls with the critical thought that will help them navigate their way through the
develop my Leadership Skills. Planning a
bewilderment of this age of information and to further enable them to compete during
trip to India and feeling the excitement
the Oxbridge and Russell Group application process.
build of all the students who have signed up. Accompanying “Team Hamper” to the
What would you like BHS to be known for?
‘Ahead of the Game’ Final. I was so proud
Producing intelligent, informed, open-minded, confident and articulate young women
of them; they worked so hard and did
who enjoy challenge and are keen to embrace what life has to offer. We are a small,
extremely well to get into the final. The
friendly school that gives the girls the individual attention they deserve and need to take
excellent performance of “Daisy Pulls it Off”
control of their lives and open opportunities.
was so impressive. It takes a huge amount of time, effort and courage to put on such
What have been your HIGHlights of the Autumn Term?
an event. I have great respect for all the
Osmington Bay with Year 7, drumming with the ukulele players at the Year 8 Talent Show
students and staff involved.
and leading BHS Iron Woman Club after school every Wednesday... usually from the back!
Summer 2012 Blackheath High School 3
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talking heads
Mrs Maddison
enhance the learning experience we provide for
Assistant Head
our girls?
What initially attracted you to joining BHS?
on Saturday mornings to be classroom assistants
I joined BHS as Head of History 12 years ago.
and minibus supervisors. This involves them
When visiting the school, I liked the fact that
giving up their time to support the children
the girls were sparky and asked questions in my
who are part of the project. They have taken
demonstration lesson. I thought that they would
responsibility for the practical aspects of the
be great fun to teach – and I was right!
project, organising the staffing of the volunteers
The Shine Project involves our girls volunteering
for example plus attending every week. In terms What are the most interesting and enjoyable
of their learning experience, they have proven
aspects of your role?
leadership qualities and organisational skills. They
I still very much enjoy teaching, particularly the
have demonstrated care and commitment for the
Russian History course for GCSE, but this year I
children and they have been totally responsible and reliable – beyond the level expected in a sixth
have worked much more closely with staff looking at staff training and development as my role has changed.
former. This will undoubtedly enhance their university applications and, it is an aspect of the project that I would like to develop further
What do you think makes BHS so remarkable and different to
next year.
other schools? BHS is part of the local community; we are not elitist but we do have
What would you like BHS to be known for?
very high expectations of every student and every member of staff.
I would like it to be known as a school where girls are passionate about
BHS girls genuinely care about other people; they are passionate
education and all of the life-long benefits it can bring.
about charity fundraising and this always makes me very proud. What have been your HIGHlights of the Autumn Term? What do you try to instil in our girls?
My highlight has been the SHINE project – staff and students gave
I try to instil a belief that they can overcome obstacles, that they
up their own time to provide exciting and creative Saturday morning
should reach for the stars and always aim to try their hardest. They
sessions for 10 year olds from the local area. We have been humbled
should be proud of their achievements and proud of their colleagues
by these children and I have been humbled by the dedication shown
when they achieve their goals.
by our staff and students who have committed themselves to this programme from December to February. The SHINE programme
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve or
Mrs Elliot
Head of Sixth Form
What initially attracted you to joining BHS?
shows what BHS’ community spirit is really about!
Enjoyable: Sharing my days with the fun and
our EPQ programme and participation
intelligent young women who make up our
as we encourage students to take up the
Sixth Form. We work hard but have many
Extended Project Qualification. It is an AS
laughs along the way!
level qualification that helps students to develop their research and presentation
A friend of mine worked here and was very happy and couldn’t speak highly enough
What do you think makes BHS so
skills, by completing an extended piece of
about the school and its pupils.
remarkable and different to other schools?
work about a topic outside of their normal
BHS is all about developing the ‘individual.’
curriculum. The EPQ is valued by university
What are the most interesting and
We know all of our students very well and
tutors, because of the independent learning
enjoyable aspects of your role?
this really does help them to aspire to and to
skills it encourages in students. Similarly, in
Interesting: helping students through the
achieve their very best.
order to give the girls opportunity to examine subject areas in more depth, we have
university application process to achieve the place to which they aspire.
What do you try to instil in our girls?
introduced a series of weekly Masterclasses
The idea that hard work really is the key to
and TED lectures. Each is hosted by a subject
success. That resilience is needed throughout
specialist, who then guides students through
life. Also that humour will get you through
relevant questions and discussions. This is a
the tough times…and to be kind to others.
much valued opportunity, which is attended by many students.
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve or enhance the
What would you like BHS to be known for?
learning experience we provide for our
Enabling students to do their very best and to
girls?
grow into balanced, outgoing young women.
I am putting together a programme with a team from Trust Office which will focus on
What have been your HIGHlights of the
the skills required to work independently and
Autumn Term?
help with university applications.
Six interviews at Oxbridge for our talented
I am also working on further developing
students! Fingers crossed!
4 Blackheath High School Autumn 2012
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talking heads
Mrs Skevington
Head of Junior School
Ms Daly Acting Deputy Head of
Junior School and Head of Key Stage 2
What initially attracted you to
What initially attracted you to
joining BHS?
joining BHS?
I joined BHS from a challenging state
I was initially attracted to
primary school and was drawn by
Blackheath High school as a
the sense of calm and the happy
prospective school for my own
atmosphere which prevailed here. I
daughter and having attended a
wanted to enjoy teaching instead of
very welcoming Open Morning
managing difficult behaviour and I have
I knew that Blackheath High
certainly been able to do that here.
school was just the school for my daughter. I was proved right. My
What are the most interesting and
daughter flourished under the care,
enjoyable aspects of your role?
guidance and teaching that she
I love the daily inter-action with our
received. The junior building itself is
girls; they are sparky, witty, kind individuals who always have something
stunning and in many ways it reminded me of my boarding school.
interesting to say. What are the most interesting and enjoyable aspects of your role? What do you think makes BHS so remarkable and different to
I joined the staff in September 2004 as a Year 5 class teacher
other schools?
with responsibility for Science. Since then my role has evolved
I think BHS is remarkable in the way that we allow individuality to grow in
and developed quite considerably. It has been extremely
a nurturing environment. The fact that all the staff care so much about the
interesting to be part of the management team in thinking about
girls, lets them feel comfortable and secure at school, ready to have a go at
and contributing to the future development of the school. I
the many opportunities on offer.
am delighted to be part of this successful team and it has been professionally rewarding to have our efforts acknowledged by
What do you try to instil in our girls?
parents as well as inspectors. The best part of my job is working
I want our girls to be resilient and strong characters, willing to try
with the girls and I am fortunate enough to teach several year
new challenges and taking the odd set back in their stride. I love Ms
groups as part of my working day.
Eastaugh’s mantra with our Reception girls; “be brave and strong when little things go wrong”. It is a motto that works well for all ages – adults
What do you think makes BHS so remarkable and different to
included.
other schools? Blackheath High is a very vibrant and busy place to work in, no
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve or
school day is the same, there is no other profession I can think
enhance the learning experience we provide for our girls?
of that, in a single week, I might be taking pupils to the National
I am very excited by two initiatives at school at the moment. The Library
Gallery, teaching Year 6 PE, delivering an assembly on Internet
has been transformed with the installation of beautiful, new furniture
Safety and dressing up as a book character for Book Week. I am
which will show off our amazing book collection. At the same time,
always so proud of their achievements.
teachers are busily working on developing the use of the iPad in Juniors. It sums up our approach to learning, combining the best of the traditional
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve
with the most innovative.
or enhance the learning experience we provide for our girls? I think that we are always striving to provide our girls with a
What would you like BHS to be known for?
curriculum full of different experiences that are going to prepare
I would like BHS to be known for creating a springboard for confident,
them for their futures.
well-rounded, well-educated girls, providing them with opportunities to excel in so many different ways.
What would you like BHS to be known for? That Blackheath High School is a place where everyone is
What have been your HIGHlights of the Autumn Term?
welcome, where learning can take place, where challenges can
There have been many highlights already this year but the Chamber
be taken on, achievements are reached and, above all, a happy,
Choir’s success at the Beckenham Festival for the third year stands out.
friendly place where adults and pupils can learn together.
The standard of singing was remarkable and, as ever, I was amazed by the confidence and poise of our girls. With a very different flavour, the Diwali
What have been your HIGHlights of the Autumn Term?
evening was another joyful event. We are incredibly lucky to be blessed
There have been two particular highlights for me this Autumn,
with parents who support and contribute to the life of the school and this
the first was when our Junior School Chamber Choir won the
was a true family evening celebrating the diversity of BHS.
Beckenham Festival Singing Competition for the third year
I have also been delighted that Florence the Labradoodle has settled
running, a marvellous achievement, and the second was the
into school so well. The girls love her and she feels the same way about
Junior School Carol Concert, when all the girls delivered their
them! We have been trying her out as a “listening dog” for girls practising
readings and performed their pieces with confidence and
their reading; judging by the wagging tail, it is going well! An added bonus
enjoyment, it was a wonderful way to end a very successful term.
is a regular procession of small visitors to my room throughout the day who come to stroke Florence and have a quick chat. Autumn 2012 Blackheath High School 5
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talking heads
QUOTE from Independent Schools Inspectorate: “The quality of the school’s leadership and management is outstanding. It enables the school to excel in meeting its aims and strategic goals.” Mrs Donnelly Head of Key Stage 1
Mrs Eastaugh Head of Early Years Foundation Stage
What initially attracted you
What initially
to joining BHS?
attracted you to
I was attracted to BHS by the
joining BHS?
confidence, enthusiasm and
The ethos of a high
excitement that exudes from
achieving all girls
the girls as they go about their
school which is stated
daily routines.
so clearly by the Leadership team and
What are the most
followed through by a
interesting and enjoyable
committed staff.
aspects of your role? The most enjoyable aspect
What are the most
of my role is teaching and
interesting and
working with the girls They
enjoyable aspects of
can always be relied on
your role?
to contribute something different and love to share their own
The most enjoyable aspect of my job is spending my days with my
experiences.
lovely class who, on a daily basis, delight and amaze me and make me laugh !
What do you think makes BHS so remarkable and different to other schools?
What do you think makes BHS so remarkable and different to
Blackheath High School enables girls to reach their potential in any
other schools?
area of the curriculum, not only academic subjects, resulting in
The most remarkable aspect of BHS is the truly international feel that
confident young people who are not afraid to try new things.
it has, so many of our girls are so well travelled and many of, even our youngest pupils, are fluent in two or more languages - amazing !
What do you try to instil in our girls? I try to instil in the girls that it is ok to make mistakes as that is how
What do you try to instil in our girls?
they learn and move forward. In addition¸ I try to encourage them to
We try to instil into, even our youngest pupils, a reserve of
have a go at different things even if they are unsure.
resilience, we have a mantra in the EYFS ‘Be brave and strong when little things go wrong’
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve or enhance the learning experience we provide for our girls?
What are you working on at the moment that will help improve
Over the past three years, I have been responsible for the
or enhance the learning experience we provide for our girls?
introduction of the Creative Curriculum to Key Stage 1. This has been
This year we are working on making the most of our new iPad
an exciting challenge and the girls have most definitely responded
technology; check out the RSE Nativity animation on the portal -
well, showing great enthusiasm for our topics. I am still very much
it’s brilliant and we are looking forward to adding to our portfolio,
involved in improving the Creative Curriculum, liaising with other
we will keep you posted !
GDST schools and looking for new ideas. I remain deeply committed to this as I see first-hand the impact it has had, and continues to have
What would you like BHS to be known for?
on our girls.
Innovations in education combined with traditional values.
What would you like BHS to be known for?
What have been your HIGHlights of the Autumn Term?
I would like BHS to be known for giving all girls opportunities to achieve
The highlights of the Autumn term were the learning we do outside
excellence in any area of the curriculum, not just English and Maths.
the classroom and the two visits we made, one to the Maritime Museum and one to The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood.
What have been your HIGHlights of the Autumn Term?
There are so many exciting opportunities for the girls on outside
Being responsible for our Charity fundraising work, my Autumn Term
trips and they are such a treat to take out as they are always so
highlight was the incredible generosity of our girls and their parents
good. But of course the best highlight of the term was watching
in supporting a variety of worthy causes, especially in this difficult
the Hillbilly Angels skipping and clapping with such energy and
economic climate.
enthusiasm to Cotton Eye Joe in the Christmas Nativity!
Meet Mr Sutherland our Business Manager and also a member of the Leadership Team, in the next issue of HIGHlights and learn how he makes things happen here at BHS! 6 Blackheath High School Autumn 2012
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gdst 140th anniVersarY
GDST 140 Anniversary th
on 7th June 1872 a public meeting took place in the royal albert Hall to discuss the establishment of schools to advance the education of young women. this led to the establishment of the girls’ public day school company, now called the gdst. to mark the 140th anniversary of this historic occasion, we have been celebrating in many different ways and engaging with pupils, staff and parents of other gdst schools. the range of activities highlight the fun and variety provided by a gdst education and include sports, science, history, film, foreign languages, creative writing and even a cookery competition to find the best birthday cake!
Bake oFF
We hosted one of the gdst ‘Bake-off’ semi-finals and were delighted to be given the opportunity to show other students our super cookery room and to also taste the delicious entries! the wonderful aroma of baking filled the air as the thirteen girls whisked and stirred to carefully create their version of a lemon Victoria sponge cake, as detailed in a recipe designed by ‘Queen of cakes’ mary Berry, herself a former pupil of a gdst school. local food journalist and restaurant critic, michael Breese, joined us with the enviable task of tasting and judging the cakes, all of which were produced to an exceedingly high standard. the girls presented their entries in many different ways including one contemporary display on a slate tile with flowers and fruit and another student adorning her cake with specially made ribbon printed with “gdst 140th anniversary.”
continued on page 20
Autumn 2012 Blackheath High School 7
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transition
Smoothing the transition between key stages Super 7s settle in superbly! the new school year arrived and, with it, our new cohort of year 7s. However, for the majority of them, the senior school was not all new as they had been coming here for taster lessons, summer school and evening events all designed to help them settle in really quickly. We enjoyed many activities on our induction day which had been planned to enable everyone to get to know each other really well and the school buildings. after spending time with their form tutors, the year 7s had the run of the school, following our fun and exciting “school trail” – learning where key classrooms, labs and studios are in the school. lots
of House points were earned! they also played drama games with me and we all got to know each other a little better and i practised remembering the names of the girls who i had so much enjoyed visiting in their primary schools in June, throw in some sport’s games and what a busy morning we had! i noticed friendships blossoming across the year which were further cemented during our fantastic osmington Bay trip, where the girls learned new skills, conquered fears and supported each other throughout. our year 7s have settled in exceptionally quickly and are now moving around school with confidence and a smile. Well done girls! Mrs Tyrrell, Head of Year 7
awesoMe osMington Bay! on a lovely late summer’s day in september, our fresh-faced year 7s travelled down to the dorset coast for the outward bound activity weekend that would forge friendships as the girls faced and met the challenges together. there was the giant swing, aptly named, which
“I really love the Resources Centre as there’s so much information available and we can go there after school too.” “The school trail was great on the first day, it really helped me familiarise myself with the school buildings.” “I really was welcomed with open arms and love it here. Children in Need day was great fun and I raised £28 by wearing my ‘onesie’ to school.”
“I didn’t go to the Junior School but I wasn’t nervous on my first day as I made lots of friends at the Summer School where we did lots of art including appliqué and had great fun trampolining.” “It’s great to have more independence than at my old Junior School, there’s so much going on and we have lots of interesting things to do.”
leaves your stomach behind as you swing down through almost 180 degrees and a vertical plunging experience that the girls just couldn’t seem to get enough of! We also went dragon Boating and discovered our inner Vikings. We comprised three boats, three teams and the open water of the off-site olympic Water sports facility, where team gB had participated just a few weeks before. it was beautiful on the water under the glorious sunny skies. later, as we walked on the beach at osmington Bay, with the shore stretching out to the horizon, the pgl leaders told us stories of pirates, smugglers and treasure. some girls even found small pieces of jewels on the beach before moving on to play Beach assault. the next day was an altogether different story with the weather – downpours of rain meant we had to go inside for activities, but this didn’t dampen our spirits as we happily moved from the individual challenge of trapeze or abseiling to the team challenge of ‘drying out’ plus fun team games led brilliantly by the pgl staff. all too soon we were packing up to return to london, knowing that, in the elements and energy of the weekend, firm friendships had formed to ensure the happiest of schools days ahead. Mrs Tyrrell, Head of Year 7
8 Blackheath High School Autumn 2012
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transition “Our Osmington Bay adventure was a great chance to make new friends, especially as I came here knowing no one! We enjoyed so many different activities; trapeze, dragon boating, abseiling and also deafening everyone whilst we screamed ourselves hoarse on the dreaded (but fun!) giant swing! Everyone had the time of their lives. We had so much fun and I would love to do it all again.” Ashviny Srinayagam Y7
terriFic tea Party in october, having settled in and already feeling truly part of life at Blackheath High school, our y7 girls invited parents, Junior school teachers and Headteachers to a celebratory tea party. the delicious spread of finger sandwiches, biscuits and beautiful cupcakes, all washed down with cups of tea or coffee, made a splendid sight and proved very enjoyable. the colourful array of cakes was matched by an exciting programme of entertainment from the talented piano playing of lacey reid to the upbeat songs of the “out of the Blues” choir.
”We had a wonderful time at the Y7 Tea Party. First Ashviny read out a beautiful speech about her time in Y7 so far, then I played ‘Carnival in Rio’ on piano. The Y7 Choir then sang ‘I’ve got Rythym’ followed by the Y7 ‘Out of the Blues Choir’ singing the popular Jessie J song ‘Pricetag’ and everyone loved Maureen’s rap! Afterwards there was African Drumming and then we all sang the Blackheath High School Song. We all loved it and, from the look on their faces, everyone in the audience loved it too! Lacey Reid Y7
New EYFS Girls – Happy from the Start! at Blackheath High school we place a lot of importance on smooth transitions between key stages. in the eyfs we ensure that girls enter the nursery in a calm and happy way and, when they move from nursery, or join us from other settings, that their experience is as pleasant and stress free as possible.
We liaise with families at every step to make sure that any small concerns or worries are quickly and sympathetically resolved. We view the eyfs (nursery and reception) as a complete unit and aim to make the transition between the classes as seamless as we possibly can. our girls’ happiness is paramount and we are always keen to meet with parents individually to discuss any queries you may have.
transition into nursery in the november preceding the girls’ entry, we host play dates for provisional girls and siblings. this involves the children coming into nursery, along with their parents, and having the opportunity to experience a play session and meet the nursery staff. in January, we hold informal interviews with mrs skevington, Head of Juniors and then offers of places to join us are made. in the summer term, play dates are hosted for those who have been offered a place for the following september but, on this occasion, parents leave the children and go for a talk with both ms eastaugh, Head of eyfs and mrs skevington; giving the children the chance to experience the nursery environment independent of their parents. once children have been allocated to classes, the nursery staff visit the children either at home or in their pre-school setting. this allows the children to meet their new teachers in a familiar setting so that they feel completely comfortable with the transition. to further assist with the settling in process, we stagger the intake of girls in september, giving them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the nursery environment and school day in smaller groups.
time, en route to somewhere else in the school. reception teachers spend time in the nursery classes so they are known by the girls. We arrange for the nursery and reception classes to engage in activities together such as sports days and drama or dance workshops, so that they are used to each other and familiar with the teaching staff. in the summer term, prior to moving into the reception classes, we arrange regular, time- tabled visits for playing and story time sessions in their new class groups. We hold a new parents’ coffee morning in the summer term so that we can all meet each other informally and staff can answer questions about the daily routine, uniform etc. We also invite all of the new girls to their new classroom for a ‘moving up mornin’g in July so that everyone has a chance to meet up with their new or old friends ! to further welcome the girls into reception, the class teachers write to all of their new girls during the summer Holidays with a friendly letter – a touch that is very much appreciated by the children and parents.
transition to recePtion cLasses girls from our own nursery are familiar with popping into reception class from time to Autumn 2012 Blackheath High School 9
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languages
Why languages are an important part of the Blackheath High School Curriculum
M
ost people would agree that learning a foreign language takes time and dedication. They would also agree that the end result makes the effort worthwhile. London is the melting pot of the 21st century with over 600 languages being spoken here alone. Learning a foreign language helps to prepare young people for the globalised world of tomorrow but, even if our daughters decide to never leave this city, they will come into contact with friends, family and colleagues who don’t have English as their first language. Speaking a foreign language allows people to widen their horizons in terms of higher education and career aspirations and achievement. If their work involves regular contact with speakers of foreign languages, being able to talk to them in their own languages will help to make sales and to negotiate and secure contracts. Knowledge of foreign languages can also increase their chances of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas. Our girls are very lucky to be able to learn in a state of the art Modern Foreign Languages lab with the latest technology to enhance their learning experience; along with excellent teachers delivering interesting, engaging lessons and arranging many ‘outside of the classroom’ language related activities and events.
Many English speakers seem to believe that wherever you go on holiday you can get by speaking English, so there’s no point in learning any other languages. If people don’t understand you, all you have to do is speak slowly and turn up the volume. You can more or less get away with this, as long as you stick to popular tourist resorts; however, if you want to go beyond such places, knowing the local language really is necessary. A basic ability in a foreign language will help you to ‘get by’. If you have a more advanced knowledge, you can have real conversations with the people you meet, which will add a new dimension to your holiday. I also believe that, when somebody at least tries to learn the language of the country they are visiting, it shows a lot of respect. People really appreciate it. Communication in another language, however, isn’t just practical. It gives you a better understanding of another culture and way of thinking. It is the key that opens the door to the literature, poetry, films or music of another world. It’s even been proven to delay the onset of dementia! Learning what a fellow human speaks, teaches you about humankind as a whole. The more languages you know, the more you understand our species and that is beneficial, regardless of the situation. Mrs Pheiffer, Head of Modern Foreign Languages
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languages Taking the learning out of the textbook - Some of the fun language-based activities our Senior girls enjoyed during the Autumn Term:
Poetry Day European Day of Languages Letters to Santa in foreign languages German Exchange Open Day – French café with year 11s serving in French Classroom performances of Snow White and Cinderella in French ...and plans for Spring Term include:
BFI study days – using film as a tool for language learning MFL Spelling Bee competition “I love you” wall project with Art Department Celebrating Chinese New Year – (snake) Experiencing a Flamenco Gala French Camp in school
SOME EXCITING FOREIGN TRIPS PLANNED FOR 2013: February India Y10-13 April France Y8 June France (PGL) Y6 August Borneo Y11-13 August France Y7 entering Y8 in September October New York Y10-13 October Sorrento, Italy Y7-9
Blackheath High School en français Our ‘French blog’ on the school’s portal was created with the idea of developing our students’ confidence and fluency in writing ‘outside the textbook,’ about topics in which they are interested. Some students write about their visit to a music festival or other interesting event, some about a previous trip to France. The blog allows creative and more spontaneous writing in French. It facilitates real communication through sharing ideas or experiences, understanding, reacting, commenting or expressing views and opinions. For example, Year 10 were recently writing book reviews which they posted on the blog, they were then asked to read and react to each other’s reviews for homework. The blog was created last summer and is becoming an integral part of the learning process for some classes.
“I really enjoy the French blog and it is simple to use as work can be uploaded very easily. I enjoy reading other people’s work, especially work from the older girls as it is useful to read different work levels and also very interesting. I think the French blog is a very useful resource and is fun to use too.” Harriet Aubertin “I think that the French blog is very useful because it helps us practise our French and to learn more vocabulary. I also like the fact that it enables us to interact with others.” Katy Hillier
We are delighted nded to have recently expa clude our MFL Team to in ts: Language Assistan anish, Ms Celda Real – Sp ch and Ms Arnaud – Fren Ms Tatzel – German
“Kolik jazyků znáš, tolikrát jsi člověkem.” “You live a new life for every new language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.” (Czech proverb) Autumn 2012 Blackheath High School 11
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senior sport
Gibraltar Netball Tour 2012 – BHS girls ‘Net-it!’
O
ur long awaited Netball Tour to Gibraltar departed senior school on Friday 19th October. Netballers from the U14 and U15 squads, plus two Sixth Form helpers and three PE teachers made up the 28-strong party. After a very early start on Friday morning, we were greeted in Gibraltar with sunshine and a warm welcome from the tour representative. It was wonderful to escape the rain in London and be in sunnier climes. Our hotel rooms enjoyed either sea views or a view of The Rock with monkeys hanging around on the balcony. After refreshing, we set out to get some lunch and explore the beach surrounding the Hotel. We were in a great location and our first afternoon was spent relaxing on the
beach, followed by exploring the central shopping and café area, Casemates Square. Day 2 was action packed. The continental breakfast was plentiful – just what we needed before setting off on a busy day of sight-seeing and the all-important netball practice. Our guide, Eddie, drove us through the major tunnel under The Rock and explained the occupancy and history of Gibraltar, particularly its involvement during the World Wars. We then came to the lighthouse and enjoyed views across the Straits to Africa. We jumped on the bus again and headed up the rock to explore St Michael’s Cave. This is a network of limestone caves located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, at a height of over 300 metres above sea level. It was great to explore and take in the stalagmites and
stalactites. Upon exiting the caves, the monkeys decided to drop in – quite literally! A few of us had monkeys on our shoulders and some great photos were snapped. The afternoon was dedicated to Netball and we arrived at the Victoria Sports Centre to meet our netball coach, Keisha, who plays for the Gibraltar National Team. She set out drills to target key skills, and it was great to challenge ourselves. Plus, it was wonderful to be playing outdoors in the sunshine. Immediately after our intense training session, each squad played a friendly match with a local club team. We were all nervous but keen to play. The U14 team had a great match and really demonstrated the driving and dodging movements practised in training. It was an excellent game and the U14s came out
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senior sport
on top, winning 16 – 12. the u15 squad had to face much tougher opponents and the score line was not as close. despite this, players held their heads high and the performance standard was outstanding. day 3 sunday, included two morning netball matches. We were quite tired from such a busy day previously, so everyone had equal opportunity to substitute and rest. again, it was great to play different teams and to try out the skills we learnt in the training session. Both gibraltar club teams were very good and played to a high standard. they were challenging opposition teams and it is fair to say we were all well and truly exhausted after our games. We thanked the opposition and made our way back to the hotel for lunch on the terrace. later in the afternoon, we set off to the harbour for a dolphin Boat tour. it was great fun trying to spot the dolphins as they swam alongside the boat and jumped through the waves. it was a wonderful way to finish the day. day 4. monday morning was spent relaxing on the beach and by the pool. We played ‘kick-rounders’, built sand castles, swam and enjoyed the sunshine. the weather was glorious and it was wonderful to be able to relax. after lunch in casemates square, and one final opportunity to go shopping, we returned to the sports stadium for our final two hour training session. our focus this session was ‘clear leading’ and ensuring our passes were firm and flat. We also practised some
set plays from the centre pass. final day. sadly, on tuesday 23rd october, we had to depart gibraltar and return to london. Before checking out of the hotel, every player was presented with a small token award in honour of memorable moments on tour…and there were many! But it didn’t stop there… even our flight home was eventful. We were delayed in departing, so the flight captain invited passengers to view the cockpit and chat with the co-pilot. Before we knew it, with all the discussions about buttons and
monitors, we were back in our seats and in the air. in no time, at all the coach was pulling up to the senior school and it was time to start our Half term holidays. our netball tour to gibraltar was a success and great fun was had by all. Miss Reed
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senior sport
Senior Sport
A
utumn 2012 saw the senior students returning enthused after a wonderful summer of excellent sport in London. Riding on this enthusiasm, we started the term with Netball training and went straight into playing matches. We have been concentrating on developing the teams into squads across the board and this is starting to pay off; U12, U13, U14, U15 squads have all had significant wins against teams such as St. Dunstan’s, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar and Dartford Grammar Schools. At the Kent Tournaments so far this year we have produced confident team performances against other teams from throughout the county, including Kent College, Farringtons School, Langley Girls’ School and Bromley High School.
Our commitment to developing team sports and extra-curricular activities remains very high and, with the addition of several new ventures, our girls have had the opportunity to learn many new skills. During the Autumn Term we enjoyed basketball coaching sessions by Joel Moore from Greenwich Sport Academy, who taught and motivated a determined group of Year 10 students in an after school club. They have made such progress within a short space of time and are now ready to challenge other schools to matches. Our girls have also shown great enthusiasm in cross-country practices, despite the poor weather, in readiness for competitions this term. We have also had the Sports Field mapped for Orienteering which our Year 10 and 11 students are very much enjoying.
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junior sport
Junior Sport
t
he autumn term began another busy start to the academic year for the Junior Pe Department. girls in years 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been involved in numerous sessions at the field and lots of inter-school matches. Our school also hosted a very successful Under 9 Netball Tournament. The Year 6 Netball team are yet to lose a league game and are training hard, as they have some tough games in the Spring Term. Our Year 4 and 5 teams have played well in both their game fixtures and tournaments and show great potential for the future. Year 3 have had some excellent training and practice opportunities. They have also had a practice match against Blackheath Prep and look set to follow in the footsteps of the teams that went before them. In October, 40 Blackheath pupils travelled to Bromley High to take part in the Tony James Memorial Cross Country Competition; there were some fantastic team and individual results. The Year 6 Hockey team also travelled far afield for a very successful Hockey tournament. We finished off the term with the Y5 and 6 annual inter-house Netball Tournament where we saw some very close fought
matches and some excellent play, plus delightful displays of House pride!! During the Spring Term, the sporting events programme continues to grow with Hockey, Netball and Cross Country events hosted by Blackheath and other local schools.
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senior art
Senior Art Head of Art, Mr Whitfield, reflects on his first term at BHS
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hat an action packed first term! I have been given a warm welcome by the pupils of Blackheath High School into their Art department, and that’s what it is: theirs. By the time a girl has reached the 6th form, the art department has become her own art studio and is no longer just a classroom. that’s just what i want for it too; for it to be a space where every pupil can feel comfortable to bring in any idea and test it out in an open and experimental environment where everyone is included and participates in their own way. We have a beautiful mix of individual ideas and group discussion and criticality. this is what it’s like: i am standing in the middle of the studio turning slowly around: there is a group of y8s making a huge snake costume with a red floppy tongue; there are three y11s jacked into imacs researching their exam work; and there’s that y12 student weaving a huge sculptural net on the ceiling
like a spider; two y12s melting plastic bits together to make accessories for their plastic jerkins; six girls from several year-groups are continually walking around a table to some very funky music rehearsing for the fashion show; and there’s leah’s face with an enigmatic mona lisa expression, projected massively onto the wall. on the other wall there is a slowly rotating china doll, and over there is the threemetre square year 9 collaborative painting being jigsawed together. clay sculptures are drying, life drawing easels are standing nude, the print press is pressing, pencils are scratching, paint is splatting, sewing machines are gnashing, laser-cutters are shooting, fruit still-lifes are slowly rotting, trompe l’oeil are tripping the eye, shutters are snapping, stuffed birds are keeping very still and squeegees are splurging… What a great thing to be standing in the middle of this. i’d better leave it there as i just need to check there is nobody inside that trunk paola is sawing in half!
cara eddie, y4, art capturing ‘speed’
self-Portrait rag Doll planning
“It has been a real pleasure to encounter such passion and talent, and to begin to belong to it.” 3Dimensional Art Experimentation
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What a term, full of exciting creative activities!
junior art
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hildren in Nursery have been very busy learning about ‘Celebrations’ and creating some outstanding string paintings of fireworks and most recently, some charming Christmas decorations out of salt dough. Reception girls produced some fantastic self-portraits as part of their topic on ‘Ourselves’. By looking in mirrors, they thought carefully about using appropriate paint colours and pasta. They also learnt about celebrations and used clay to make divas for Diwali. As part of their topic ‘Yum Yum’, Y1 looked at various still-life art works depicting fruit. They researched the work of ‘Giuseppe Archimboldi’ and used paint to create their own fruit portraits! This term, Y2 also based their art work on their creative
curriculum topic ‘Deep Down Under’. They explored a variety of media, from watercolour paintings based on Monet, to clay fish. Y3 were very busy celebrating Autumn and used sponges to create eye catching Autumn leaf prints. They also made three-dimensional Autumn leaves to use in the Harvest Festival assembly. Y4 have been studying Abstract Art and used topics on ‘Dreams’ and ‘Movement’ to capture speed and explore different perspectives. Along with the wonderful year group art, we have also participated in various school wide activities including the GDST’s Christmas Card competition and designed Christmas cards to purchase.
Allanah Bonnar, NFT, Salt Dough Christmas Decoration
Ice-Cream Sculpture for the Heath
Reception Self-Portraits
Junior Art - Ms Drummond, Art and Design specialist for Y5 and Y6 reviews her first year with BHJS I have now been teaching Art and Design to girls in years 5 and 6 for a whole year at Blackheath High Juniors. I teach one day a week here and spend the rest of the week working on my own art commissions and projects for galleries and museums across the country. I love my time at Blackheath High as it allows me to get back to the core of ‘making’ and reminds me why I love art and why I became an artist (rather than constant meetings, fundraising and emails that my own art work often involves). I also find it very inspiring working with the girls; absorbing their excitement and enthusiasm every time they try a new technique or discover a new artwork that they like. My approach to teaching art is rooted in a desire for the pupils to make work that is directly meaningful to them and which relates to contemporary art and design practice.
In Y5 I put this into practice through a self-portrait project, in which the pupils design and make a self-portrait Rag Doll. Here, they must consider carefully how they want to represent themselves through choice of clothing and this allows them to think more critically about how we read the semiotics of clothing in everyday life. The project is complimented by learning the principles of how to draw a face and the study of both historical and on trend rag dolls. In Y6, pupils explore their local environment and social setting through a ‘public art project’ and a ‘branding project’ for a local market. In the Autumn Term they were focusing on the public art project, for which they were briefed to ‘design a public sculpture for the Heath.’ In order to do this, they had to research the history of the heath and the surrounding area and also consider
its role today, as well as thinking about how they use it or would like to use it. There is a strong conceptual side to this project which, for many, is the first time of working in this way and can be a challenge but one worth taking on. The girls have developed some fantastic ideas from giant ice creams that actually contain real ice cream inside to platforms that the public are encouraged to stand on and declare their beliefs in response to the Blackheath Suffragettes. Through this project, the girls have been introduced to conceptual art but also have developed their drawing skills and learnt new sculpture techniques when making their models. I am looking forward to seeing the end results of the Spring Term’s projects during which the Y6 girls will rebrand Lewisham Market and make a series of print designs to showcase their new brand.
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senior drama
‘Daisy Pulls it off!’
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or two evenings in November our school theatre was transformed into ‘Grangewood Boarding School for Girls’. We performed “Daisy Pulls It Off” by Denise Deegan. It was a tremendously spiffing evening, watching our heroine Daisy (Hannah Good) prove her worth and that her scholarship to a prestigious school was well deserved. She made lifelong friends including Trixie Martin (Lucy Englefield) and overcame difficulties, namely the exceedingly mean Sybil Burlington (Poppy Cracknell). All of the girls played their roles with conviction and energy, making the scenes of treasurehunting full of suspense, the hockey game a triumphant sporting achievement and the dare-devil rescue at the end an extremely exciting scene. There was an excellent sense of ensemble from the girls and we all enjoyed the witty script. Well done girls and thank you for your continued commitment to Drama.
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Junior Drama
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n the Autumn term, Drama played a key role across the curriculum and throughout the year groups. We have held numerous events, workshops and Christmas productions, displaying a high standard of skill and enthusiasm in all year groups. Foundation Stage girls have taken part in a number workshops, including ‘Mermaids and Pirates’.” A Divali workshop also took place, where pupils in Reception and Nursery re-told the story of ‘Rama and Sita’ through role play and movement. The highlight of the Drama activities in KS2 this term was the Gadesden Competition, which took place on Thursday 29th November. Girls in each year group, from Year 3 to Year 6, formed groups of two to four from the same House to write and perform their own plays; which had to be no more than three minutes long. Each year group was given a different scenario from which to develop a script, for example ‘The Suitcase’ for Year 3 and ‘The Shed’ for Year 6. At the end of a week having been spent developing, writing and learning their scripts, the children from each year group got together to perform their plays. Each group was awarded a mark, graded from ‘Pass’ to ‘Distinction’ and winners were chosen from each House to perform at the Finals held the following week. The girls had a fantastic time producing their plays, and some brought in costumes, props and even sound effects to enhance their performances! Meridian House won, with a superb act from Clementine Simpkin, Anna Hadingham and Freya Burton-Franklin. The girls were given a prompt called ‘The Pet’, and
junior drama
came up with the idea of a ‘Ware Hamster’. The girls demonstrated superb acting and were very funny and performed their story with an unusual twist! Towards the end of the Autumn term, KS1 performed a fantastic Nativity called ‘Prickly Hay’. Reception performed a superb dance to ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ dressed as Hill-Billy Angels. Nursery also performed a beautiful version of the Christmas Story. The term ended with a wonderful interactive pantomime of Hansel and Gretel. Isobella in 1VW said “I loved it when Gretel made a spell and the handkerchiefs came out of his pocket!” It was a wonderful end of another successful term, with fantastic acting and script writing. Well done!
“It took a lot of hard work and practice, but in the end, our performance was put together well and we made it funny. I enjoyed the week of writing and performing and look forward to it again next year!” Clementine Simpkin 4TS
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gdst 140th anniVersarY
World Record Science Attempt Who says girls don’t do physics? on tuesday 13th november, we attempted to enter the World record Book. a science experiment involving over 2,300 girls at 26 schools across the country – 62 of them from Blackheath High school – measured gravity in a bid to set the record for the world’s biggest practical science lesson in multiple venues.
“It’s really exciting to be part of this world record attempt and participating in a lesson that involves girls from all over the country. I can’t wait to see if we’ve managed to make science history!”
the experiments measured the value of acceleration due to gravity. one measured the time taken for an object to drop a set distance, and the other timed a swinging pendulum. We were delighted to hear, on 9th January, that we had, indeed, done it!
“We’re hugely excited to have been part of making science history particularly as recent studies have shown that women who go to girls’ schools are more likely to study stereotypically male subjects like physics and chemistry, both at school and at university. We know this to be true from our own experience, with around 25% of our girls studying A-level physics, compared to the national average of 1.6%. Taking part in this world record has created even further enthusiasm for science.” Mrs Laws
Foreign language spelling bee competition arounD the worLD in 140 worDs our girls have also been participating in the gdst’s first foreign language spelling Bee competition and, during the autumn term, girls have been practising their spelling skills in four modern foreign languages, including mandarin!
the competition is designed to showcase the linguistic talents of our girls and to encourage the study of foreign languages, enabling our girls to leave school with the confidence and the competence to succeed in an increasingly globalised society.
the preliminary rounds have taken place in school and 18 girls, from year groups 8 and 9 have been chosen to represent our school in the inter-school rounds this term.
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fundraising
Senior Fundraising Autumn was another busy term of fundraising at the Senior School, which began with an impressive Harvest Festival ‘Cakefest’, an event where the four Houses competed to produce the most impressive array of cakes (or one big cake) for sale at breaktime. My particular favourites this year were the ‘Teapot and Cups,’ and the ‘Burger, fries and ketchup’ platter! Our ‘Children in Need’ fundraising efforts culminated in a highly entertaining Year 8 Talent Show. Mufti days were held to raise money for the ‘Jeans for Gene’s campaign and the Trust’s Bursary Fund. An impressive £475 was raised for the ‘Marie Curie Cancer Fund’ In addition to fundraising for the ‘Poppy Appeal’, the ‘Samaritan’s and ‘Action Aid’, the term’s charitable activities climaxed shortly before Christmas with a frenzy of fundraising for the ‘Crisis at Christmas’ charity. Nail bars and hair salons were set-up, festive sugar canes were delivered and Mr Parsons auctioned himself as a Personal Assistant for
the day, ultimately to a syndicate of girls in Year 7! In was an impressive performance that ultimately raised £923.36 for those less fortunate than ourselves. The total raised for the Autumn Term was an impressive £2,927.30. Well done, girls! Mr Parsons
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Fundraising
Junior Fundraising the autumn term was packed with charity events. the first of these was the ‘Dahlicious Dress-up Day’ in aid of roald Dahl’s charity for children with neurological disorders. the children and staff came to school disguised as one of the many and varied dahl characters. it was great fun and quite a spectacle! not long after this followed ‘Jeans for genes’ and ‘Breast cancer awareness’. the girls again enjoyed the opportunity to come to school in ‘mufti’ in exchange for £1 towards these worthy causes. Harvest festival was celebrated in october and the generous offerings of food were donated, as usual, to the salvation army to be distributed to those in need.
the charity prefects worked hard this year to sell all of the poppies we had in support of the royal British legion, ensuring that we made a fantastic contribution. on 16th november was the children in need day. as usual there were several fund-raising events going on, ranging from pudsey cookies for sale to ‘guess the weight of the cake’. the girls had a fantastic day and, most importantly, managed to raise lots of much needed money. We have continued to support the noah’s ark and schools in Kenya through the nasio trust. during the autumn term we sent girls’ school summer dresses and toothbrushes, kindly donated by our parents. they were very much appreciated by the trust and the children themselves. as ever, we are extremely grateful to the continued generosity of our parents and enthusiasm of our girls and staff which allows us to support so many different, important charities.
“It has been wonderful to see the entrepreneurial and community spirit shown by so many of the girls in arranging their own fund raising activities. All should be congratulated with a special mention for Dilmi Gunatilake, Jasmine Bassi. Suki Harris and Phoebe Jones.” Mrs Skevington children from the noah’s ark school proudly wearing Blackheath high Junior school summer dresses and holding toothbrushes, all of which have been kindly donated by our parents.
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“I took the Toothbrushes to Noah’s Ark School where there were so many to choose from that, rather than be handed a toothbrush each, the children were able to choose their own one. Thank you so much for bringing a smile to all of their faces.” Nasio Trust 06/03/2013 14:18
ForthCoMing eVents
Forthcoming Events March Bhsa easter Fair 9th March, 11am-3pm, Junior School year 5 anD 6 concert 14th March, 4:00pm, Junior School Hall
020 8858 7755 or from the Box OďŹƒce in person year 3 anD 4 ProDuction 26th March, 6:30pm, Junior School Hall
sPring concert 20th March, 7:30pm, Senior School the teMPest ProDuction 25th March, Greenwich Theatre Tickets available from the theatre www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk,
Note from Blackheath High School Old Girls’ Association BHSOGA (www.bhsoga.org.uk) after serving over 30 years on the committee in various roles caroline owens has retired as chairperson and Jane allerton has now taken over the role. Jane has been on the committee for the past six years and is a teacher at Bromley High school. caroline was presented with a gift from the members at the agm and reunion which was held at the Junior school at the end of september and was attended by around 60 members. the next agm and reunion will be on 12th october 2013. the oga has recently launched its new website www.bhsoga. org.uk which allows members to keep in touch more easily with each other and the oga, and also provides a forum to share memories and photos and talk about current and future activities and events.
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