News
UK Maths Challenge 2010
Monday 1st March 2010
Students from years 9, 10 and 11 recently participated in the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge, a national competition aimed at the top 30% of students in the country. 26 students were awarded certificates: 17 bronze; 6 silver; 3 gold.
Particular congratulations go to the three gold certificate winners (Amy Glover, pictured, Claudette Hewitt and Emma Crompton) as they have qualified to participate in the next round of the competition, to be held later this month. We wish them good luck, and well done to all those that took part in the challenge.
Sanskrit Trip To Malta
Monday 1st March 2010
During what is becoming an annual trip, several lucky pupils were taken to Malta by their teachers this half-term to study Sanskrit. And here's why!!
Pupils had tutorials in Sanskrit in pairs, one receiving individual attention. They also spent three hours a day studying their other subjects. We stayed, as last year, in a lovely hotel in a remote part of the Maltese coast overlooking the neighbouring islands of Comino and Gozo. The hotel had indoor and outdoor pools, both of which were used, despite the time of year!
Head of Sanskrit Mr Warwick Jessup writes:
Several people have wondered why in the last two years we have taken senior pupils to Malta to study Sanskrit in February. Year 11 pupils who went this year perhaps answer this most eloquently. Olivia Palmarozza summed her trip up thus:
‘It has been incredibly insightful both educationally and personally. There was a perfect balance between the academic studies and sight-seeing adventures in the afternoon. The Sanskrit sessions we had with our teachers showed us a greater depth and meaning - especially with the Bhagavad Gita verses - an aspect that is not necessarily apparent in the classroom. The atmosphere of Malta, with its ancient and beautiful temples, helped me to maintain a peaceful and focused mindset. I was especially inspired by the talks from Dr and Mrs Zammit, both lecturers at the University of Malta, as they opened my eyes to an entirely new and exciting culture...'
Jazz Night at the Girls' School!
Wednesday 10th February 2010
What an amazing enterprise and what a glorious evening for the lucky ones who got tickets to the fabulous Jazz Night organised and presented by the Jazz choir last Friday.
Most Friday evenings are good for falling on the sofa but this audience were really ready to be entertained and were riotously appreciative of the wonderful feast of modern music spread out before them. Solos, duets and choral pieces were performed with joy and delight as the guests enjoyed the wine and delicious food prepared by the girls themselves in an Assembly room turned Jazz club complete with pinky/red lighting and round tables.
Where to start with a programme that ranged from beautiful blues solos to ravishing choral renditions? To give just a flavour, we laughed and we cried as comic duets followed solo heart-breakers. All performances were outstanding but to name a few key moments, who could forget Mia Bekvalac's 'Cry Me a River', Alice Wyatt(pictured) and Lydia Labram's ' Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?', and the whole choir singing 'Lullaby of Birdland' and 'When Sunny Gets Blue'. But that would be to miss out Natasha Rieffel's mature bluesy voice as she sang solo or in a duet with Hannah Azuonye singing ''La Mer'. Not forgetting the lovely voices of Ruth Kitson-Smith, Rebecca Meltzer, Isabelle Kettle, Nicole Watson, Anu Henriques, who also played solo clarinet and Nathalie Indge(pictured) with her lovely stage presence and retro look! The retro theme was complemented by the erudite presence of Dr Josef Craven who took his job as compere to heart in his DJ and with his best seedy jazz club voice! He regaled us with delightful items of trivia and kept the crowd highly amused with his mispronunciation and banter with musicians.
The girls gave us all something to dine out on and the school is still resonating with conversations about how sensational the evening was and commiserations to those who could not get tickets. Here's one reviewer who is convinced that the precedent has been set for years to come and is booking a ticket in advance for next year. Hearty congratulations to Hannah and Natasha for the organisation of their first event and to all the supporting staff, in particular, Mrs Annabel Lubikowski, Mr Peter Holloway, Miss Selah Perez-Villar on piano and Miss Polly Hewetson, who not only teaches the girls to sing but gave two fullsome renditions herself of 'the Boy From Ipanema' and 'All of Me'.
Not without cause was there a standing ovation as the evening finished with the full choir singing a 'Gershwin Showcase'. I can only repeat: More, more, more!
Choir Tour to Rome 2009
Friday 5th February 2010
The Chamber choir set off on the 8th December to Italy's capital city, Rome. This trip, organised by our very special head of music, Mr Holloway, was the first of its kind. We would have the opportunity of serving worship in famous churches and buildings, such as the Santa Maria Maggiore, the Pantheon and even St Peters.
When we arrived we were taken to a village just outside Rome, and were delighted to see the sun shining after leaving snowy London. Moreover, we were lucky enough to stay in a beautiful old monastery overlooking a lake with Rome in the background.
Murder in the Library
Friday 5th February 2010
Year 7 pupils enjoyed finding innovative ways to promote their favourite books at Booked Up Club today. Pupils were divided into teams and tasked with playing a role within the publishing industry such as advertisers and critics. One group presented their book review of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' in the form of a TV show called ‘The Big Book Debate' while another enacted the slaying of Dumbledore in their dramatic advert for Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. Booked Up Club meets once a month during Form Period in the Library. All Year 7 pupils are welcome to attend.