joseph and the amazing technicolor...

ST NICHOLAS’ NEWSLETTERSUMMER TERM 2018

VOLUME 59

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Senior pupils have staged a colourful production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. One of the most enduring musicals of all time, it tells the Biblical story of the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel’s favourite son. With a wonderfully diverse musical score and a cast and crew of nearly sixty pupils, supported by a ten-piece band, the energetic production was a truly colourful event. There was a dazzling array of spectacular costumes, including, of course, the coat! The show proved great fun, with music ranging from the Country and Western style of “One more Angel” to the rocking ‘50s Elvis pastiche of “Song of the King”.Senior pupils Catherine Harris, who played Joseph, and Charlotte Hutchinson and Jessica Phillips, who were the Narrators, were outstanding, showing great stamina, vocal quality and stage presence.Director and Head of Drama Josie Downer said, “Everyone has worked so hard and it is very rewarding seeing the girls put on such a slick and thoroughly professional production.”

ST NICHOLAS’ SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - SUMMER 2018

Year 10 student Kitty Grosse recently won the Rotary Young Chef National Final 2018 which took place at the Abraham Darby Academy, Telford.

The judging was presided over by Robert Bird who trained as a chef with Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre White. Also judging were Louise Newman, who is Head of Design and Technology at the Academy, and last year’s winner Tabitha Steven. Seven participants prepared and cooked a nutritious three-course meal for two, in two hours. Competition was extremely strong and all of the youngsters, whose ages ranged from 13-16, worked hard to present their attractively laid out meals.

The winner was Kitty Grosse whose menu comprised a smoked haddock and leek tartlet starter which was followed by a main course of pancetta wrapped pork with Dauphinoise potatoes, baked carrots, Romanesco cauliflower and a vermouth sauce. The meal was rounded off with a perfectly set and flavoured rosewater panna cotta, decorated with poached rhubarb, lemon balm and delicate tuiles.

The prize of a two-day trip to Toscana Saporita cookery school in Tuscany and a glass shield was presented to Kitty by Denis Spiller, the President of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland.

“I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead such a fantastic school in the next stage of its development. St Nicholas’ School has, at its heart, the nurturing of every individual and its philosophy of child-centred education is one that I share. I am very much looking forward to getting to know the staff, the pupils and their parents and am excited about how much we will achieve together.”

Dr Wright was a founding member of Sherfield School when it opened in 2004 and she held various management positions at the school, most recently Head of Seniors and Head of Boarding. As well as the day-to-day management of the senior school, she was responsible for pastoral care and safeguarding and played a significant role in the strategic development of the whole school. Dr Wright has been a Team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate since 2010 and has inspected a variety of day, boarding, single sex and co-educational establishments.

Dr Wright is a highly qualified and dedicated English teacher and has taught in both the private and maintained sectors. She has also lived and worked in a number of countries and has travelled extensively. Dr Wright has taught English Language and Literature GCSE, A Level and the International Baccalaureate. Until recently, she was a GCSE Language Examiner for Edexcel.

As well as an Educational Doctorate from Winchester University, through which she explored teachers’ knowledge of English grammar, Dr Wright also holds a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in English Literature, as well as a PGCE in Secondary English.

Dr Wright is a committed, if slow, runner and enjoys keeping fit. Her hobbies include silver jewellery making and listening to music. She is married to Ian and has two daughters, one of whom will join St Nicholas’ School in September.

ROTARY YOUNG CHEF 2018 NATIONAL FINAL

THE STAFF ANd GOVERNORS ARE dELIGHTEd TO ANNOUNCE THAT dR OLWEN WRIGHT HAS TAkEN Up THE ROLE OF HEAdMISTRESS OF ST NICHOLAS’ SCHOOL.

A group of enthusiastic students from Years 9 and 10 recently visited Chinatown in celebration of the Chinese New Year. The morning was spent carrying out surveys of Chinese supermarkets and questioning pedestrians. The students, who are all studying Mandarin, used their language skills to converse with some of the people in Chinatown.Then, everyone enjoyed an authentic meal in a Chinese restaurant, accompanied by traditional jasmine tea, before returning home, carrying the beautiful lanterns which they had been given.

LET’S CELEBRATE!

Senior students celebrate the Year of the Dog in Chinatown

Kitty with her winning meal.

A group of Year 8 girls recently visited the Microsoft Headquarters, at Reading, where they heard a talk from Cindy Rose, CEO of Microsoft UK, on the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is now happening and the role of women in Science and Technology. Hiayan Zhang, who is on BBC’s ‘The Big Fix’ programme and is CEO of Microsoft’s Creative team in Cambridge, also spoke about how creative and novel applications of technology are being used to transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis and other degenerative illnesses.The girls worked together on coding a Microbit to make a program to solve the parking problems at the front of the school. They devised a traffic light and parking system to improve the flow of traffic and car space allocation for parking! The girls had a special mention for their creative ideas and presentation skills.


dIGIGIRLZ EVENT AT THE MICROSOFT HEAdQUARTERS

Year 8 pupils visited Tate Britain to study the paintings of the French Impressionists who sought refuge across the Channel because of the 1870 Franco-Prussian War.

The pupils were delighted by the exhibition at the Millbank gallery which presents works by Monet, Tissot, Pissarro and their compatriots whose experiences in London, and the friendships that developed, not only influenced their own work but also contributed to the British art scene.

MAkING A GOOd IMpRESSION

Year 10 students spent four action-packed days on the Isle of Wight, completing the fieldwork element of their Geography GCSE.

The girls assessed the coastal defences at Freshwater Bay, to determine whether they would protect the area from flooding, by looking at land values and elevation. Ventnor Esplanade was the focus of their human geography investigation. They carried out environmental quality assessments and managed to persuade people to answer their questionnaires, despite the freezing temperatures!

OH, WE dO LIkE TO BE BESIdE THE SEASIdE!

Senior students recently enjoyed resilience workshops from the Positively MAD team which were delivered in a lively, fast-paced, highly interactive, high-energy way.

The inspiring workshops looked at the demands being placed on today’s teenagers and showed them how to find balance, look after themselves, become resilient and take control of their future lives. There were a number of interactive activities, including meditation, which the students thoroughly enjoyed.

pOSITIVELY MAd: STUdY SkILLS

GCSE music students enjoyed laying down the beat in a Samba Drumming workshop, led by Russell Simonot from Inspireworks.

The students learned two pieces of music; the first was a traditional piece from Rio, and the second was in the style of Samba Reggae. They also composed their own piece of music.

The students all worked really hard during the afternoon workshop, taking it in turns to play each of the different instruments and their respective rhythmic patterns, before giving a performance to the rest of the school at the end of the day.

BANGING THE dRUM FOR SAMBA

Year 8 visit Tate Britain


Year 10 students have enjoyed a variety of work experience placements.Year 10 students were at Shakespeare’s Globe for the acclaimed ‘Playing

Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank’ production of “Much Ado About Nothing”, the Bard’s comedy of turbulent romances, intrigue and double crossing.

It was a wonderful opportunity to see a Shakespeare play performed in an authentic setting.

The morning began with a guided tour of the replica Globe Theatre with some useful background information provided on the origins of the playhouse and popular pursuits of Elizabethan times.

The girls took part in an hour-long Lively Action workshop, led by an actor from the Globe, providing an insight into the language of the play, characters and key themes, and the girls were able perform too.

The performance of “Much Ado About Nothing” followed lunch. It was energetic, fast-paced and witty, designed to engage young people and make Shakespeare accessible to them.

WORk EXpERIENCESTUdENTS FINd INSpIRATION AT THE GLOBE

Congratulations to Serena Macpherson, Erin Wylie and Anika Razdan whose entries on “A Different Perspective” have been put forward to the District round which will be judged in April.Beth Maloney and Erin Wylie were also awarded prizes for their poems on the Royal Wedding.

In the foyer of Shakespeare’s Globe - the project to rebuild it was initiated by the American actor, director and producer Sam Wanamaker

ROTARY YOUNG WRITERS’ COMpETITION

The Senior Chamber Choir took part in the Basingstoke Music and Arts Festival in March. They were awarded the Whittock Shield.

BASINGSTOkE MUSIC ANd ARTS FESTIVAL

The Senior Chamber Choir

SENIOR GAMES NIGHTSenior girls formed teams and enjoyed three rounds of quizzes, alternating with physical challenges involving Maltesers and a cup! The successful event was organised by the PTA.

Year 6 pupils enjoying a workshop with the Reverend Tara Hellings

RS WORkSHOp

HAMpTON COURT pALACE Year 5 pupils visited Hampton Court Palace as part of their History topic, ‘The Tudors’, and enjoyed an audience with Henry VIII himself! The day began with a tour of the Tudor Kitchens. Next, they visited the Chocolate Kitchens, where King George I had his very own chocolate maker. Then, the girls explored the Chapel Royal. Although much of this original Tudor chapel had been modernised, some original features remain, such as the impressive ceiling. After lunch, the girls explored Henry VIII’s apartments, including the Great Hall. Here, they were lucky enough to witness a dramatization – a meeting between Catherine Parr and Henry VIII. Afterwards, the girls were invited to meet the king and ask him questions. They discovered many interesting facts, including details of the variety of animals Henry kept on his grounds. Lastly, the girls enjoyed a wonderful walk through the magnificent gardens surrounding Hampton Court Palace, including a view of the Great Vine. From the gardens, the girls could clearly make out the Tudor and Georgian parts of the building and observe the differences in the style of architecture.


ROTARY YOUNG MUSICIAN COMpETITIONSt Nicholas’ pupils took part in the District heat of the Rotary Young Musician Competition.

There were two sections for the competition: a vocal section and an instrumental section, with one winner from each progressing to the next round.

All of the girls performed to a very high standard, each delivering an excellent programme. Sophie Robins won the vocal section and Mia Lamb was the runner up of the vocal category. Sophie and Mia, both in Year 11, went on to compete in the District final.

Sophie Robins

Mia LambYear 6 geography field trip to King’s Ridge

Year 6 travelled to a sunny but slightly blustery King’s Ridge, in Frensham, for their geography field trip. The girls made field sketches of the landscape. They identified the different vegetation and used clinometers which they had made themselves to measure the angles of slopes.

Year 9 students recently visited the Bayer laboratories, in Reading, to find out about pharmaceutical research. They also used the education laboratories there to extract a sample of their own cheek DNA which was later made into a necklace souvenir.

YEAR 6 GEOGRApHY FIELdTRIp

YEAR 9 VISIT TO THE BAYER LABORATORIES

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW HEAd GIRL LILY WALkER ANd HER TEAM

Twelve pupils from Year 6 visited Ash Manor School to take part in a building challenge. The girls had to work very hard as a team to reconstruct a model building out of coloured wooden blocks. They had to devise a budget as well as remember what the original design was like. The girls listened to an interesting talk about life in the construction industry. One of our teams won the challenge and the other team finished in second place.

BUILdING CHALLENGE

An audience with Henry VIII

In the Tudor kitchen

Year 5 enjoying their visit to Hampton Court Palace


The Junior Orchestra performing at the Junior Music Evening

kIdZANIA

STONEHENGE-WHERE HISTORY COMES TO LIFE

Year 4 pupils recently visited KidZania in Westfield, London. On their arrival, they discovered a child-size city full of exciting, role-play experiences which gave them the chance to be independent and responsible.Throughout the day, the girls could earn KidZos, KidZania’s very own currency, by completing jobs around the city. They were able to broadcast radio shows, write a newspaper report, treat patients in a hospital and even pilot a plane!

Year 3 girls visited Stonehenge as part of their History studies. After visiting the iconic stone circle and walking around the stones, they participated in workshops in the purpose-built Education Centre on the site.

The girls spent time in one of the Neolithic houses, grinding wheat into flour on a stone quern, as well as handling some of the tools and weapons of more than 4,500 years ago. They helped to make a wattle and daub wall and dressed up in some clothes worn during that period.

JUNIOR MUSIC EVENING

AN ENCHANTEd EVENING OF MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

This year’s Junior Music Evening included all pupils from the junior school. The concert began with the Junior Orchestra performing Bouree by Handel and Kremlin by Thomas Gregory. This was followed by the Junior Chamber Orchestra’s performance of Andante Cantabile by Haydn and Drowsy Maggie, a traditional Irish reel. All of the girls had enjoyed learning the challenging repertoire and performed to an excellent standard.Other ensembles included the Junior Guitar Ensemble, who played Marcha by the Argentinian composer Julio Sagreras, and the Junior Chamber Choir who sang Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken and a traditional sea shanty called Donkey Riding. The concert also featured Year 6 soloists who sang or performed on the violin, piano or clarinet.The concert finished with the whole of the junior school singing a selection of songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman.

St Nicholas’ School’s Senior Music Evening took place in April in the Pritchard Hall. The concert began with the Senior Orchestra performing Handel’s La Réjouissance, followed by a medley of themes from Star Wars. This was followed by the Chamber Orchestra who gave a lively interpretation of Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, and the Jig from Gustav Holst’s St Paul’s Suite.The concert also featured solos performed by the Year 11 GCSE music students. There were three vocal solos, which included show tunes from The Phantom of the Opera and The Pirate Queen as well as the jazz standard ‘Round Midnight. The instrumentalists included a trumpet solo of Tchaikovsky’s Ballet Suite arranged by Paul Archibald, a drum solo of The Spark, the Flame and the 2nd movement of Grieg’s 3rd Violin Sonata.The concert’s other ensemble items included performances by the Senior Chamber Choir, singing Let There be Peace on Earth and the upbeat Seasons of Love. The Swing Band gave enjoyable renditions of Stevie Wonder’s Superstition and Feeling Good, before the concert finished with the Senior Choir singing arrangements of I’ll Be There and Fix You.

CRONdALL CHURCHYear 3 pupils recently visited Crondall Church. They enjoyed exploring the church under the supervision of the Reverend Tara Hellings and even designed their own stained glass window! The girls were very busy asking questions and learning about the church, much of which dates back to the Norman period.

Twenty-six girls from Years 4 to 7 all gained a merit or distinction in their examinations in ‘Speaking Verse and Prose’ and in ‘Acting Duologues’.

LAMdA SUCCESS

Year 3 pupils exploring Stonehenge

News from Branksomewood

Dentist Dr Seehra visits Reception children

Year 2 enjoy a multi-skills event with Mr Nicholls

Year 1 learn about Staying Healthy

World Book Day

Winners of the Infant Easter Egg competition

The Easter Egg Hunt

organised by the PTA


It has been another busy term for the children and they have enjoyed a number of activities.


SPORTING SUCCESS

St Nicholas’ School, Redfields House, Redfields Lane, Church Crookham, Hampshire, GU52 0RFTel. 01252 850121

Well done to 5N, who raised £172 for Cancer Research, and to 8S, who raised £100 for Save the Children.

The fantastic sum of £265 was raised for Sport Relief. Pupils brought in £1 to wear a sports kit of their choice or to dress up as their favourite sporting hero. Cricket whites, ski suits, football kits and riding gear were all on display. Pupils also tackled an obstacle course during a PE lesson, with prizes for the fastest finishers in each year group.

In March, St Nicholas’ hosted a Year 5 Festival of Netball. Pupils from several local junior schools attended. The pupils were all mixed together to create new teams and they enjoyed an afternoon of netball-based games followed by a fun tournament in these teams. The aim of the festival was to improve the girls’ skills and to enjoy some competitive game play. The girls all worked hard and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Pupils in Years 5 and 6 recently enjoyed a day of hockey fun with Alex Danson, who won gold at Rio 2016 as part of Team GB’s women’s hockey team. Miss Danson hosted the day for 350 local schoolchildren, at the Hart Leisure Centre, to inspire them to pick up a stick and give the sport a try. “Everyone Active” has joined up with Miss Danson to introduce an innovative hockey programme into schools and at its centres. It was a unique opportunity for the children to learn skills and drills from the Olympic champion herself.

The Year 9 netball team attended the annual district netball tournament. They faced tough opposition, playing seven games against the other top pool A teams, but fought hard to the end, displaying excellent teamwork and determination. The girls finished as runners-up and gained silver medals. Well done!

In February, six pupils from Years 5 and 6 attended the first round of the Primary National Swimming Championships at the Hart Leisure Centre. It was the first year that St Nicholas’ has entered a team. The girls were competing against thirteen other schools who all have ‘swim teams’ so they certainly faced some tough competition. Despite this, the girls swam extremely well and finished fifth out of the fourteen teams. The team comprised: Rosalind Torr, Tamsin Wheeler, Jessica Adams, Ella Woodford, Isabella Holtzhausen and Isla Roddick. Well done, girls!

Also in February, fifteen pupils from Years 7 to 10 attended the annual GSA Swimming Gala at St Catherine’s School, in Guildford. Again, it was the first time that St Nicholas’ has attended the competition. The girls all tried their very best and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They only suffered two disqualifications out of fourteen races and did not finish last!

CHARITIES

YEAR 5 FESTIVAL OF NETBALL A dAY OF HOCkEY FUN

YEAR 9 NETBALL TOURNAMENT

GIRLS TAkE THE pLUNGE!

Year 5 Charity Bake Goal girls: St Nicholas’ pupils do their bit for Sport Relief

joseph and the amazing technicolor...

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