End of term letter Lent 2009

Dear Parents

I have just returned to the House from the netball courts where I was able to watch our Junior A team clinch victory in the Inter-House competition – what a fitting end to a fantastic term for House 8. In spite of tiredness, the girls in both A and B teams put everything into the game, running with boundless energy and supporting each other. The Juniors have added this impressive victory to that in the lacrosse last term.

Number 8 has won almost everything available to win this term! The first half of term saw the House play festival, newly revived as a competition and the House performance of “Husbands Supplied” was awarded the accolade of Best Play. This was well-deserved, thanks to the direction of Clare Hughes and Hannah Campbell, stage management of Verity Bramson and brilliant acting of Jenny, Amy, Imogen, Cindy, Kathy, Tara, Hebe and Katya.

Throughout the winter months our cross-country runners have been turning out Saturday after Saturday, come rain or shine, to run the various courses which make up the inter-house league. After the final race last Saturday, Number 8 were declared clear overall winners. Thanks and congratulations are due to Stephanie Ong (who was also the best of all the girls over the whole league), Imogen Bexfield, Maria Schacker, Anna Kuntz, (our regular runners) and Alex Page and others who turned out occasionally. The girls also retained the cup for the best girls’ House team in the Ledder. We were able to field a strong team of nine runners, the first five of whom counted for the team competition. Well done to Imogen, Stephanie, Maria, Kathy and Alex. Imogen retained her Number 8 Ledder tankard, awarded to the first Number 8 girl home.

Monday saw the finals of the House Music competition. With four girls in the final of each category, we were always going to be in contention for the trophy and indeed, after some stunning performances in the Category A final, Verity Bramson was placed fourth, Beth Lloyd fifth and after some totting up of points, Number 8 were deemed to be the overall winners for the third year running. We certainly have musical strength in depth, with participants from the FY through to the Upper Sixth.

Well, I have always believed that Number 8 girls have enormous talent and this term has proved that. There have been many individual achievements too: Among them were Lucy Henshall fencing for Great Britain, Hannah Campbell being invited to Parliament as a guest of Sir Michael Spicer following victory in a local debating competition, Claudia Wells playing regular first team hockey for Stourport Ladies, Yeng Yeng Shang having one of her paintings displayed in the Tate Modern gallery in London.

The girls have benefited once again from the dedication of my team of House tutors and assistants, who have organised many extra social activities this term. These have included a bowling trip, quiz, regular cookery sessions, pancake-making, smoothie-making and Easter egg hunt. We are sorry to be losing one of our team, Mrs Beki Mace, who is leaving with her husband to take up a post at Warminster School. Mrs Mace has been a wonderful House tutor and offered friendly advice and company to many of the girls during her two terms with us.

The Easter holidays mark something of a transition in the House, as the Upper Sixth go off to concentrate fully on their revision and hand over their responsibilities to the Lower Sixth. I am delighted to welcome the new House leadership team of Katherine Rogers (Head of House), Maria Henshall (First Deputy) and Katya Berger and Beth Lloyd ( Second Deputies). I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing team of Danielle Moyles, Bam Hutaserani and Vanessa Forstner for their hard work, loyalty and commitment to the House over the past year. Congratulations also to Maria on being elected as our representative on the School Council.

All of the girls have plenty of academic work to do during the holidays, especially those with public examinations next term and I encourage you to ensure that a suitable amount of time is spent on quiet and organised revision. May I remind you also that the Summer Term Half Term holiday does not start until Saturday 23rd May as the annual Commemoration Service and Speeches is held on the Saturday morning. Permission to miss this must be sought from the Headmaster, with a letter or e-mail to me in the first instance, which I can pass on.

I very much look forward to seeing you at the many events which are planned for next term. The House social event for parents will take the form of a family barbecue, followed by our traditional Number 8 concert. The provisional date for this is Saturday June 13th.

I wish you and your families a restful and enjoyable Easter holiday.

With very best wishes,
Pam Richardson