A Specialist Science College - Hitchin Girls School
A Specialist Science College - Hitchin Girls School
A Specialist Science College - Hitchin Girls School
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HITCHIN GIRLS’ SCHOOL<br />
A <strong>Specialist</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Summer Term 2011<br />
Term ends at 12.30 pm on Friday 22nd July.<br />
Students moving into Years 7, 12 & 13 return for the new academic year at 8.40 am on Monday<br />
5th September. Year 13 Students will leave at 12.30 pm that day and Year 12 students at 1.30<br />
pm. Years 8, 9, 10 & 11 return at 8.40 am on Tuesday 6th September.<br />
Year 12 and Year 13 students are expected at 11.00 am on Tuesday 6th September.<br />
Welcome to our end of year newsletter for the<br />
academic year 2010-2011. It has been a busy,<br />
interesting and sometimes challenging year as<br />
we have worked to address the Government initiatives<br />
which have been introduced over the past twelve months.<br />
Our conversion to Academy Status is progressing well and<br />
I will update you on this on our return in September.<br />
We have said goodbye to our leavers this term with our<br />
traditional Leavers’ Supper and Founders’ Day service. The<br />
music in the church for Founders’ Day was beautiful and the<br />
whole day provided a wonderful memory for our girls of their<br />
last day at <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’. In the afternoon this year, for the first<br />
time, there was an Enterprise event which ran during the sports<br />
events, to raise money for the building works by the Music<br />
<strong>School</strong>. he whole day saw a wonderful mixture of tradition<br />
and enterprise, with some outstanding sporting achievements<br />
as well. Many thanks go to all the staff and students who<br />
made the day so special. I wish all our leaving students the<br />
very best for the future, whatever their chosen path, and look<br />
forward to being there when the results arrive in August.<br />
Other key events this term have included the legendary Gym<br />
and Dance Display, the Art Exhibition and Summer Music<br />
Concert as well as a variety of trips, including the Year 10<br />
trip to Berlin. The sheer number, quality and variety of<br />
events that take place within the school are notable and my<br />
ongoing thanks goes to our staff who take the time to<br />
organise and oversee these events for the girls.<br />
SCHOOL UNIFORM / DRESS CODE<br />
Please ensure that your daughter’s uniform is appropriate for<br />
return in September. Skirts must be knee length or longer and<br />
so if there has been a growth spurt, please ensure that you have<br />
As always we have some staff leaving us at the end of this<br />
term:<br />
Mrs. Pritchard, Administrative Assistant, who has been<br />
covering a maternity leave;<br />
Miss Tofts who has been working temporarily in the Music<br />
Department;<br />
Mr. Baker, <strong>School</strong> Sports Co-ordinator whose post finishes<br />
this summer;<br />
Mrs. Moffatt, <strong>Science</strong> Technician, who is taking early<br />
retirement;<br />
Miss Hobbs, English Department, who is relocating to<br />
Oxford and taking a post in a new school;<br />
Mr. Matthews, Technology Department, who is retiring;<br />
Mrs. Powers, Modern Foreign Languages Department, who<br />
is retiring;<br />
Mrs. Self, <strong>Specialist</strong> teacher in the Student Development<br />
Department, who is retiring;<br />
Mrs. Outen, Head of Physics and Head of Curie House,<br />
who is retiring.<br />
I wish all these staff the very best for their future and thank<br />
them for their ongoing loyalty and commitment to the<br />
school. We have successfully filled all our vacancies and<br />
are fully staffed for next term.<br />
Finally I would like to thank all parents for their ongoing support<br />
for their daughters at <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’. I wish you all a very happy<br />
and healthy summer and look forward to welcoming you all<br />
back in September, alongside our new Year 7 students.<br />
Frances Manning - Headteacher<br />
bought a new skirt for the new school year.<br />
Sixth Form students are reminded of the requirement to wear a<br />
suit, either skirt or trousers with matching jacket. Skirts must be<br />
knee length or longer and those made from stretchy fabrics are<br />
not permitted.<br />
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<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS END OF YEAR<br />
REPORT<br />
Managing change is a permanent feature in our lives and<br />
education is no exception. If the final arrangements are<br />
concluded as planned, by the time we return in September,<br />
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong> will have joined the growing number<br />
of the new, high achieving Academies. Whilst we will not<br />
notice much difference in the day to day activity of the<br />
school, the new status will offer opportunities to influence<br />
our future to a greater extent. For instance, in our survey<br />
of parents, staff and pupils this year, most respondents<br />
were concerned about our resources and accommodation.<br />
I hope that we will be able to address these issues with<br />
greater success. I am encouraged by our modest but hard<br />
won achievement in getting planning permission to<br />
upgrade our tennis and netball courts.<br />
Financially, we are soundly based at present. However, we<br />
know that like all community secondary schools we may<br />
face reduced income in the coming years. You may be<br />
sure that any such changes will be managed effectively.<br />
We are fortunate to have Governors who are deeply<br />
committed to our school and community. They devote their<br />
time, skills and energy behind the scenes and we owe them<br />
our thanks for all their support.<br />
On behalf of the Governors, I want to thank the Head,<br />
Senior Management and Staff for another wonderful year<br />
of achievement in all aspects of school life. Most of all, our<br />
warmest thanks go to the students who are a credit to our<br />
community, our school and to themselves.<br />
Colin Minton - Chairman of Governors<br />
AWARDS & PREFECTS<br />
Each year at the Founders’ Day assembly, a number<br />
of awards are presented to recognise achievement<br />
and service to the school. The following are<br />
congratulated on their awards:<br />
The Rand Award - presented for outstanding<br />
service to the school is awarded to Lucy Keen.<br />
The Helen Porter Award for Biology is awarded to<br />
Abigail Bevan.<br />
The Cathy Taplin Award for Art is awarded to Ria<br />
Ma.<br />
The Wendy Fitzgerald Award for English is<br />
awarded to Frances Clarke.<br />
The Frank Ellis Award for Chemistry is a new<br />
award and is awarded to Kelly Hibbert.<br />
The Beryl Wearmouth Award for Citizenship is<br />
Awarded to Caroline Ward.<br />
Also at the assembly, the outgoing Head Girl,<br />
Katie Mills, presented Ambir Mann<br />
with the Head Girl badge for 2011/2012.<br />
The Prefect Body for next year was also confirmed and the<br />
following are to be congratulated on their<br />
appointments:<br />
PREFECT BODY 2011-2012<br />
Head Girl - Ambir Mann<br />
AUSTEN HOUSE<br />
House Captain : Emma Poynter<br />
Performing Arts Prefect : Millie Morris<br />
Charity Prefect : Millie Evanson<br />
Sports Prefect : Candy Campbell<br />
Public Relations Prefect : Rosie Cowling<br />
BRONTE HOUSE<br />
House Captain : Tara Anderson-Bonner<br />
Performing Arts Prefect : Elissa Grainger<br />
Charity Prefect : Lydia Embleton<br />
Sports Prefect : Georgia Wood<br />
Public Relations Prefect : Amy Dinsey<br />
CURIE HOUSE<br />
House Captain : Rebecca Dawson<br />
Performing Arts Prefect : Beth Copping<br />
Charity Prefect : Sophie Pease<br />
Sports Prefect : Ellie McGurk<br />
Public Relations Prefect : Flora Perry<br />
FRANK HOUSE<br />
House Captain : Sophie Cross<br />
Performing Arts Prefect : Olivia Speakman<br />
Charity Prefect : Committee<br />
Sports Prefect : Lucy Swinburne<br />
Public Relations Prefect : Emily Ellwood<br />
JEWEL HOUSE<br />
House Captain : Georgia Tomkins<br />
Performing Arts Prefect : Stephanie Sims<br />
Charity Prefect : Megan Pease<br />
Sports Prefect : Faith Ndebele<br />
Public Relations Prefect : Grace Woods<br />
TERESA HOUSE<br />
House Captain : Emma WIlding<br />
Performing Arts Prefect : Lucy Nottingham<br />
Charity Prefect : Natasha Kumar<br />
Sports Prefect : Holly Hunt Mount<br />
Public Relations Prefect : April Knapper.<br />
TRANSPORT REVIEW<br />
How will your child get to school from September 2012<br />
A consultation on the future school transport network for<br />
statutory age pupils, following the County Council’s<br />
decision to adopt a statutory only school transport policy,<br />
will run from 13 June to 15 August 2011. This consultation<br />
covers five key proposals.<br />
If you wish to discuss any aspect of this consultation, please<br />
contact Sarah Vize, Transport Strategy and Policy Manager<br />
(CSF) by email to transportreview@hertscc.gov.uk. The<br />
consultation document and online response form is<br />
available on www.hertsdirect.org/csfconsultations.<br />
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<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
SPECIALISM<br />
PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT<br />
The photographic equipment that Stephanie Smith of 10A<br />
won for the school back in the Autumn is now being used<br />
throughout the school. June saw our first Enterprise Month<br />
that aimed to develop students’ ability to make a profit out<br />
of a £10 investment. Stephanie and her team used the<br />
photographic equipment to take family and friendship<br />
pictures on Founders’ Day with the support of Mrs. Molloy<br />
and Mr. Murray-Smith. Stephanie and her team will<br />
continue with this venture at appropriate times of the year<br />
i.e. in the lead up to Christmas, Mother’s Day and Father’s<br />
Day so keep an eye out on Parentmail. Stephanie and her<br />
team will also start Photography Master Classes in the new<br />
term to disseminate their knowledge and understanding to<br />
other students in order to train them to use the equipment.<br />
HGS COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS<br />
This year’s cohort not only continued the excellent standard<br />
established by last year’s group but have also made the<br />
scheme their own. Both in school and in the wider<br />
community the praise for what our girls offer and contribute<br />
is overwhelming. From performing demonstrations in<br />
class, helping girls with their reading here in school,<br />
running dance classes in one of our family of primary<br />
schools or training dogs, our girls have been dedicated,<br />
enthusiastic and engaged.<br />
In order to mark their achievements, Mrs Manning<br />
presented our Ambassadors with certificates during a<br />
Celebration Breakfast on Thursday 21st July. This was<br />
folllowed by the handing over of their Ambassador badges<br />
to the new Year 12’s. We would like to thank all the<br />
Primary school staff and community group colleagues for<br />
their continued support and enthusiasm for this scheme<br />
which promises to grow even more in September.<br />
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD<br />
We are extremely excited to have established a learning<br />
partnership with The Chapin <strong>School</strong> in<br />
New York. Chapin is among the top three<br />
girls’ schools in the US and we are very<br />
grateful to local business man, Sam Isaly,<br />
for the suggestion that we could partner<br />
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<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
with them. Through two visits to the school during this year,<br />
we have now established key relationships that promise to<br />
provide exciting opportunities and an enhanced learning<br />
experience for all our girls. While the focus so far has been<br />
on joint Art projects, we are very excited to welcome<br />
Chapin’s Head of Music during the last weeks of term<br />
which promises to open up even more avenues.<br />
In September both schools are going to hold an ‘Our<br />
<strong>School</strong>’ photography competition where girls from each<br />
school will try to capture the ethos of their school and share<br />
the images with each other. This is going to be a great<br />
opportunity to further enhance our existing ‘Identity and<br />
Diversity’ week in which our Year 7’s participate.<br />
In addition students from both Art departments will<br />
contribute to a fantastic international Art project called ‘The<br />
Memory Project’. The project aims to provide<br />
disadvantaged children from around the world, with a<br />
painting or drawing of themselves. Growing up in<br />
orphanages or living on the streets, these children do not<br />
have family photos or the memories provided by them. Our<br />
girls will therefore have the very important task of creating<br />
an image of a designated child and through Art will<br />
provide them with an invaluable gift.<br />
During the Autumn term we also hope to establish further<br />
learning partnerships using our Learning Platform as a<br />
medium through which girls at both schools can<br />
communicate. Possible links so far include the Civil Rights<br />
movement in History, US v’s UK healthcare in Social<br />
<strong>Science</strong>s and joint Scientific research.<br />
We hope that our link with Chapin will mean that we are<br />
successful in our application for the Full International <strong>School</strong><br />
Award. Our applications for the Foundation and<br />
Intermediate stages of the Award will be submitted before<br />
the end of term. As the full Award has to encompass the<br />
partnership learning we undertake we envisage our<br />
successful completion during the 2011-2012 academic year.<br />
I would like to thank all the students and staff for their hard<br />
work and commitment to us being a <strong>Specialist</strong> <strong>College</strong> this<br />
year. In particular, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Alison and the<br />
<strong>Science</strong> and Maths departments respectively, Mrs. Bridge<br />
and Mrs. Dixon for the work they do as Primary Coordinators,<br />
Mrs. Wheelock and Mrs. Sahota for running<br />
our Diabetes Support Group and Mrs. Goose and Mrs.<br />
Cheetham for their fantastic monthly Book Club.<br />
Mrs. R. Cooper - Director of Specialism<br />
MATHS DEPARTMENT<br />
MATHS ROADSHOWS<br />
The Maths department have been extremely busy visiting<br />
primary schools throughout June and running the <strong>Hitchin</strong><br />
<strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong> Roadshow for Years 5 and 6. Teams of four<br />
competed against each other by solving mathematical<br />
problems and puzzles including Tangrams, Cross<br />
Numbers, Pentominoes and Anagrams. The teams had a<br />
few minutes to answer as many questions as possible at<br />
each table before they moved on to the next table. The<br />
pupils became more and more competitive as they moved<br />
around the room and were eager to collect as many marks<br />
as possible on each puzzle. It was fascinating to watch<br />
these young people work through each different type of<br />
problem, a skill which will benefit them as they move on<br />
to the next phase of their education.<br />
On 29th July five of the winning teams from the<br />
Roadshows came to <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong> to compete in<br />
the Roadshow Finale. The competition suddenly became<br />
even fiercer as the teams competed against pupils from<br />
other primary schools. Again the pupils used their skills<br />
brilliantly and although the final scores were extremely<br />
close the winning team came from Samuel Lucas. Well<br />
done to all the pupils that took part!<br />
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-4-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
MATHS AMBASSADORS<br />
This year we have had 21 very impressive Year 12 students<br />
who have acted as Maths Ambassadors both here at <strong>Hitchin</strong><br />
<strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong> and in six primary schools. They have a variety<br />
of roles including supporting primary classes, Key Stage 3<br />
classes, mentoring younger pupils in the school and assisting<br />
at our very busy Maths Club. All of these girls have shown<br />
initiative, sometimes by finding suitable tasks to assist a Year<br />
8 pupil who is having difficulty understanding a concept, or<br />
by finding out which topic the class they are supporting is<br />
working on so that they can be fully prepared to help in the<br />
lesson. They have been a tremendous support to the<br />
department and have hopefully used skills which will help<br />
them in their future career choices. Well done to the following<br />
girls:Cassandra Kennedy,Beth Copping, Naomi Cave, Emily<br />
Ellwood, Natasha Kumar, Julia Speakman, Sasha Gatselyuk,<br />
Lucy Green, Emily Auld, Zoe Bothamley, Ambir Mann,<br />
Sophie Cross, Georgia Wood, Becky Dawson, Emiko Kemp,<br />
Flora Perry, Imogen Sheldon, Ella Thomas, Pavan Ghag,<br />
Eashani Haria and Deepika Dhillon.<br />
Mrs. S. Bridge – Maths Department<br />
JUNIOR MATHS CHALLENGE<br />
Fifty nine girls from Years 7 and 8 took part in the Junior<br />
Maths Challenge in May. They did particularly well and<br />
gained a total of 41 certificates.<br />
Rhea Janjua, 8F, was Best in <strong>School</strong> and was awarded a<br />
Gold certificate.<br />
Other pupils from Year 8 who gained Gold certificates<br />
were: Hannah Dixon 8F,<br />
Anahita Mahmoudzadeh 8T, Josie West 8J, Rhianna<br />
Browne 8J, Freya Nobbs 8B<br />
A further 19 girls gained Silver certificates while 16 obtained<br />
Bronze certificates. Congratulations to all girls who took part.<br />
Mrs. S. Morgan – Maths Department<br />
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT<br />
YEAR 9 CREST DAY - BUCKETS OF WATER<br />
In June our Year 9 students spent a day investigating water<br />
in order to gain a CREST Bronze Award. We were joined<br />
by Ted Casey from Veolia Water, who started our day off<br />
with a thought provoking talk. The day was centred around<br />
water and during the challenge students worked in teams<br />
to complete a variety of activities including: cleaning river,<br />
calculations of water loss and the cost of energy wastage<br />
resulting from dripping taps, creating the fizziest bath<br />
bomb and finally a water taste challenge. Special<br />
congratulations to the Gifted and Talented Water Audit<br />
team who spent some time on the day planning for<br />
extended projects.<br />
CREST is an acronym for Celebrating CReativity in<br />
Engineering, <strong>Science</strong> and Technology. BA CREST is a<br />
nationally recognized accreditation scheme for project<br />
work in the fields of <strong>Science</strong> and Technology. Aimed at<br />
students aged 11-19, BA CREST Awards encourage<br />
students to develop their scientific curiosity, problem-solving<br />
and communication skills. The project was partly funded<br />
by our <strong>Specialist</strong> <strong>School</strong> status.<br />
Many thanks to all the staff and students who helped the<br />
day to run so smoothly. If you haven’t yet paid the £4 for<br />
your award please bring it to the office so you can receive<br />
your award in September.<br />
SCIENCE CLUB<br />
The <strong>Science</strong> Club have been very busy this term! Just before<br />
Easter they spent several weeks building volcanoes from<br />
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<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
paper maché, painting them and then creating spectacular<br />
volcanic eruptions. Their next project was to design some<br />
rockets with the Physics department. After several weeks<br />
of hard work, some very impressive looking rockets were<br />
fired on the pitch with fantastic results. Their current project<br />
is a "Whodunit" using forensic investigation skills including<br />
fibre analysis, trace analysis, chromatography and digital<br />
analysis to try and figure out who committed a crime.<br />
Thanks to Cassandra Kennedy for helping every week and<br />
Verity Hime, Mrs. Outen and Miss O'Reilly for organising<br />
the Rocket Club.<br />
Mrs. L. McAdam<br />
CHEMISTRY<br />
ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY ANALYST<br />
COMPETITION<br />
We entered a team of three Year 12 students, Zoe<br />
Bothamley, Cassandra Kennedy and Georgia Wood for<br />
the regional heat of this annual competition and they came<br />
first out of the sixteen teams that entered. The competition<br />
involved analysing some samples to a high degree of<br />
accuracy and being able to process the results<br />
mathematically. Their success meant that they went forward<br />
to the national finals in Reading, in which they also<br />
performed creditably although they did not win.<br />
BIG BANG SCIENCE FAIR<br />
The team of Year 8 students who came First in the <strong>Science</strong><br />
Fair, Rhea Janjua, Kiran Janjua, Anahita Mahmoudzadeh<br />
and Elly Jenkins, displayed their project at the Big Bang<br />
<strong>Science</strong> Fair at Duxford on 13th July. Their original project<br />
involved researching the history of hovercrafts and since<br />
then they have been busy making one of their own that is<br />
large enough to transport one of them.<br />
OTHER NEWS....<br />
As part of our outreach work to junior schools, Mr. P.<br />
Jackson presented the Potions Roadshow to over 150<br />
students in two sessions in the penultimate week of term.<br />
The mixture of exciting flashes and bangs never fails to<br />
impress!<br />
Mr. P. Jackson - Head of <strong>Science</strong><br />
of wildlife. Most students realised that a<br />
balance between entertainment and<br />
conservation has to be maintained for a zoo<br />
to be successful. We have had lots of entries<br />
for the photography competition and prizes<br />
will be awarded before the end of term.<br />
BIOLOGY SOCIETY AND<br />
AMBASSADORS<br />
The Biology Society was started in 2009 by two of our<br />
Year 13 students. This is a club run by Sixth Form students<br />
for the younger year groups. This year they have been<br />
working on a bumble<br />
bee project and the<br />
Ambassadors have<br />
installed a tropical fish<br />
tank in the Biology<br />
corridor. They also<br />
have plans for the<br />
development of an<br />
indoor wildlife area.<br />
JUNIOR SCHOOLS<br />
Mrs. Dixon and her Ambassadors have been working with<br />
the junior schools on electricity, healthy eating and ecology<br />
projects.<br />
They have also worked with Gifted and Talented students<br />
on physical and biological aspects of microscope work.<br />
William Ransom JMI <strong>School</strong>, Year 5 students, visited in<br />
May to take part in The Great Pond Dip 2011,and they<br />
are returning with Year 2 to do the same again before term<br />
ends. It is wonderful to see our wildlife area being used to<br />
such great effect.<br />
BAYFORDBURY<br />
In May all Year 13 Biologists took part in our ‘Ecology in<br />
a Day’ course at the East of England <strong>Science</strong> Learning<br />
Centre. Some students were able to improve their practical<br />
skills which will boost their A2 exam results.<br />
BIOLOGY<br />
WHIPSNADE ZOO<br />
On 15th June all Year 7 went to the zoo.<br />
The aim was to consider whether zoos<br />
should be banned. The students learned<br />
all about the work that zoos do behind<br />
the scenes and their role in conservation<br />
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<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
AFRICA 2011<br />
We leave on July 28th for our second Africa Conservation<br />
trip. The girls are getting excited and a little nervous as<br />
they prepare for the expedition. Here is a note from one<br />
Year 12:<br />
On the 28th July 30 Year 12’s and 13’s along with Mrs.<br />
Dixon, Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Monks will be jetting off to<br />
South Africa. The first week will begin with a 10 hour<br />
journey from Johannesburg Airport to Kruger National<br />
Park. The week will comprise of field activities, surveillance<br />
of wild animals and birds, survival techniques and a series<br />
of lectures about the type of species and biodiversity we<br />
are likely to encounter whilst there. We will then transfer<br />
to Sodwana Bay to begin either our scuba diving training,<br />
for those of us who aren’t already qualified, or for those<br />
that are they will be doing their first dives and carrying out<br />
reef ecology surveys. There will be some hard work<br />
involved as for most of us we will be using the long<br />
journeys between transfers to brush up on our scuba<br />
knowledge as the theory test for the PADI qualification we<br />
are taking requires a lot more revision than we bargained<br />
for! For those of us who have been studying Biology at A-<br />
level it is a once in a life time opportunity to see the things<br />
we have been learning about in the classroom in real life,<br />
but for everyone it will be a great experience to learn a lot<br />
about South Africa’s varied and interesting wildlife! by<br />
Flora Perry, Year 12<br />
Mrs. M Dixon – Head of Biology<br />
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-7-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
BIOLOGY SOCIETY - WHAT BUMBLEBEES DO<br />
YOU HAVE IN YOUR GARDEN<br />
Bumblebees are crucial pollinators of our flowers and crops<br />
across the UK, such as apples and strawberries. Without<br />
insects to pollinate our crops the food industry would not<br />
be able to have enough food in the supermarkets for<br />
everyone to buy and therefore live.<br />
In the UK we have 25 different species of bumblebee, but<br />
three are now extinct and six species have declined by at<br />
least 80% in the last few decades. We have seen a huge<br />
decline in bee numbers in the wild for a number of reasons.<br />
This term the Biology Society has been taking part in a<br />
National Bumblebee Conservation project in association<br />
with the organisations ‘Conserve Me’, ‘Bumblebee<br />
Conservation’ and ‘Greenstack’. The aim of the project is<br />
to research which species’ of bumblebees are in the area<br />
and also to find out what flowers they forage. The students<br />
were very diligent in their preparation and are now<br />
recording data. They began by planting seeds of<br />
bumblebee friendly plants into hanging planters. Whilst<br />
waiting for them to flower they started research into<br />
different bumblebee species. They are now putting their<br />
research to work as they observe the bumblebees each<br />
lunch time. Unfortunately the seeds have been slow to<br />
flower but they have adapted the scientific method to<br />
include the plant species already growing in school.<br />
Get involved! Have a look in your garden over the summer<br />
months and see which flowers they like to forage. You can<br />
even try your hand at identifying them by logging onto the<br />
school Learning Platform for a bumblebee identification<br />
chart.<br />
Mrs. A. Salmon – Biology<br />
PHYSICS<br />
TES SCHOOL AWARDS FOR 'OUTSTANDING<br />
TEACHING RESOURCE OF THE YEAR'<br />
We are delighted to announce that Mr. Jackson has won<br />
the National TES <strong>School</strong> Award for 'Outstanding Teaching<br />
Resource of the Year'. Mr. Jackson has led our highly<br />
successful Astronomy Master Classes over the last seven<br />
years. He recently developed a<br />
presentation from these classes<br />
which was short listed for the<br />
TES <strong>School</strong>s Awards 2011. The<br />
beauty of this particular work,<br />
which has grown from his own<br />
expertise and enthusiasm, is<br />
that it can be used by teachers<br />
throughout this country and beyond to inform and inspire<br />
young people about the wonders of the Universe.<br />
Astronomy Master Class 2011 in action!<br />
Mrs. P. Outen – Head of Physics<br />
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT<br />
‘POETRY MATTERS’ – POETRY COMPETITION<br />
In the Spring term, our budding young writers were given the<br />
opportunity of entering the ‘Poetry Matters’ competition which<br />
involved students from Year 7 to Year 13 writing poetry about<br />
what matters to them. Eleven of these entries were successful<br />
in being selected for publication in the ‘Poetry Matters 2011’<br />
anthology. Selection was based on their imaginative choice<br />
of language, expression and creativity. A copy is available<br />
in our school library, the anthology can be found in The British<br />
Library and further libraries across the UK and Ireland for the<br />
public to enjoy. We are very proud of those students who took<br />
part and congratulate them - their work is displayed in the<br />
Lower <strong>School</strong> Block.<br />
YEAR 7 TRIP TO SEE<br />
‘THE LION KING’<br />
It was a pleasure to take our Year 7 students to a<br />
performance of ‘The Lion King’ on Thursday June 23rd.<br />
This opportunity was offered to encourage the girls’<br />
interest in theatre and staging, which forms part of their<br />
studies in English. The show was a real hit amongst the<br />
students, who were impressed with the set design and<br />
costumes, and had memorised most of the songs by the<br />
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end of the evening! Thank you to all the staff who<br />
helped on the trip.<br />
Mrs. C. Eveleigh<br />
‘THE TIMES SPELLING BEE’ COMPETITION<br />
Our Year 7 spelling team won the regional heats and reached<br />
the semi-finals of ‘The Times Spelling Bee’ competition. On<br />
Thursday 26th May we travelled to Cambridge to compete<br />
against teams from around the country. Team members Amy<br />
Grocott, Laura Jones, Violet Pritchard and Megan Kennedy<br />
did extremely well and were supported by team managers<br />
Isla McLachlan and Choong-Ling Liew-Cain. The team finished<br />
an impressive 7th. All the girls worked incredibly hard and<br />
were a credit to <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Ms. H. Walker<br />
WRITING MASTER CLASS WITH MICHAEL<br />
MORPURGO<br />
On the 7th and 8th of June, I arrived at Ashlyn <strong>School</strong> with<br />
Dora Housham to commence a writing master class which<br />
was hosted by Michael Morpurgo.<br />
Michael introduced himself and gave us numerous tips on<br />
our own writing and informed us that the main ingredients to<br />
a good writer are imagination, a daydreamer and a liar!<br />
Each day we began with a starter activity which involved a<br />
picture and in groups we invented a story-line to match. Once<br />
our minds had begun to tick away, we had the chance of an<br />
hour session with Michael – which I enjoyed the most! He<br />
was so creative, had a great sense of humour and an<br />
extremely odd perspective on life.<br />
To end our time at Ashlyn <strong>School</strong>, Michael signed each of our<br />
books and wished us luck. Overall, it was an amazing<br />
experience I will never forget and shall treasure as long as I live!<br />
Danielle Martingano - Student from 7C<br />
MODERN FOREIGN<br />
LANGUAGES<br />
AU REVOIR MRS. POWERS<br />
On behalf of the Modern Languages department and all<br />
those students in her classes, I would like to extend my own,<br />
enormous thank you and best wishes to Mrs. Powers who is<br />
retiring this year. It has been a pleasure to work with such a<br />
dedicated, talented and professional colleague and I know<br />
that I speak on behalf of the other MFL staff and all her<br />
students when I say that we will miss her very much next year.<br />
We hope you enjoy a long, fruitful and very happy<br />
retirement!<br />
ET ENFIN......A MFL DEPARTMENT<br />
CHALLENGE.....<br />
Are you going abroad this summer to a country where you<br />
don’t speak the language If so, your challenge is to learn<br />
5 phrases in the new language whilst you are there and to<br />
impress your languages teacher next September by saying<br />
them when you return!<br />
Bonnes vacances!<br />
Mr. Dellar - Head of Modern Foreign Languages<br />
SOCIAL SCIENCES<br />
YEAR 12 SOCIAL SCIENCES TRIP TO<br />
PARLIAMENT<br />
On Tuesday, 28th June, the Social <strong>Science</strong>s department took<br />
23 Sociology and Health and Social Care students on a visit<br />
to The Houses of Parliament in Westminster. We embarked<br />
on a tour of the buildings including both the Commons and<br />
the Lords and then had a workshop with another school<br />
where we saw an insight into power in the UK and the ways<br />
in which we can influence it.We also had a meeting with our<br />
local MP, Peter Lilley, who was grilled mainly about the<br />
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Classes also in other areas<br />
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Come & Join In<br />
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You’ll discover the history of elementary education<br />
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what did they keep in the parlour and the scullery<br />
Lots to see – Lots to do, Rain or Shine!<br />
Department for Education quality checked tutors<br />
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Extra summer holiday openings<br />
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-10-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
government’s policy of raising student tuition fees and the<br />
debt that this will create for young people.<br />
The day was really useful for both sets of students who need a<br />
background of how the law is made, who benefits from it and<br />
the role of social policy when they go on to study their A2<br />
courses. In Sociology we are looking at crime and deviance<br />
including the role government plays in crime prevention and<br />
dealing with crime and in Health and Social Care we will be<br />
looking at political issues in the UK care system considering<br />
the politics of the welfare state and the NHS.<br />
Mr. I. Osborne - Head of Social <strong>Science</strong>s<br />
MUSIC DEPARTMENT<br />
The Summer term has been a busy one for the Music<br />
Department. The concert involved many ensemble<br />
performances, lead by Sixth Form students, Mr. Chambers,<br />
Miss Tofts and the peripatetic North Herts Music <strong>School</strong> staff.<br />
Many hours have been given up (in and out of school time)<br />
for rehearsals, and I think it’s safe to say the result was worth<br />
it! The concert was also an opportunity to say farewell to the<br />
Sixth Form students who have supported the Music<br />
The GCSE and A Level Music students have been working<br />
very hard on their ensemble and solo pieces for private<br />
concerts, and we would all like to thank Mr. Chambers and<br />
Miss Tofts for the time they have given up for these.<br />
The highlight of the year as per usual was Founders’ Day.<br />
This is the school’s opportunity to say goodbye to the Year<br />
11’s and 13’s who won’t be returning for another academic<br />
year in the coming September. For many girls, it is the last<br />
opportunity to perform as part of the HGS Music Department<br />
in Senior Choir. Even with the annual speech about ‘the joys<br />
of new beginnings’ many tears did flow; (and not all from<br />
the soon-to-be ex-students!). This year the event was<br />
organised by <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong> and the fanfare was<br />
composed by Bethany Murray of Year 11. Well done to all<br />
those girls involved.<br />
Mr. Chambers and Miss Tofts would like to thank Isla Mclachlan<br />
for writing the Music Report for the Summer Term 2011.<br />
ART DEPARTMENT<br />
ANNUAL ART SHOW JUNE 22ND 2011<br />
The Art department were delighted with the standard of work<br />
on show this year from over 60 candidates at AS and A<br />
Department so much throughout the years. Although some<br />
were not present, they were not forgotten, and the time and<br />
effort they have given up has been much appreciated by the<br />
Music Department.<br />
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-11-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
Level. The Art rooms and main school corridor were<br />
transformed into a gallery space for the private show of<br />
painting, sculpture, photography and ceramics. The evening<br />
was very well attended and friends and family were justly<br />
proud of their daughters’ and sons’ achievements.<br />
I would like to thank my staff for the hard work which went<br />
into making sure our candidates work was displayed and<br />
celebrated. Our GCSE Art show will be in November.<br />
Ms. S. Wallace - Head of Art.<br />
BUSINESS STUDIES &<br />
ECONOMICS<br />
ECONOMICS MASTERCLASS<br />
In May 2011, the A Level Economics students of <strong>Hitchin</strong><br />
<strong>Girls</strong>' <strong>School</strong> were delighted to welcome Ray Powell to the<br />
school. Ray is a Senior Examiner for AQA and also author<br />
of the text book used by students. Would-be Economists from<br />
Year 12 and 13 of both <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>' and Boys' <strong>School</strong>s<br />
enjoyed hearing Ray speak and discuss issues of current<br />
significance. Useful revision tips were provided and we are<br />
hopeful that this will have inspired students to undertake<br />
further independent research and consider studying the<br />
subject beyond school.<br />
ENTERPRISE MONTH<br />
During June Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 worked in teams to<br />
develop their entrepreneurial skills coupled with research,<br />
problem solving, team working, innovation and creativity.<br />
This culminated in 48 enterprising activities being held during<br />
Founders’ Day. A wide range of goods and services were<br />
available from very enthusiastic sellers who were very keen<br />
to create as much profit as possible which will be contributed<br />
to the development of the new sports facility. Enthusiasm for<br />
maximising profits has spilled over into the coming week<br />
when the Enterprise Sale is to be held.<br />
We would like to acknowledge sponsorship from: Asda,<br />
Boots, Morgan Davies, Pink Blossom, Sega Games, Tesco,<br />
Tom Cubis Photography, Waitrose, parents and individual<br />
private sponsors.<br />
Thanks also to our Sixth Form Business Studies pupils who<br />
were able to use their enterprise experience and made an<br />
invaluable contribution to the success of Enterprise Month.<br />
Mrs. J. Molloy – Head of Business Studies<br />
FOOD TECHNOLOGY<br />
PAUL HOLLYWOOD VISITS HITCHIN GIRLS’<br />
SCHOOL.<br />
Following Mr. Simon Ferguson’s success in winning a ‘Grain<br />
Chain’ competition to find the UK’s most inspiring Food<br />
Technology teacher, celebrity<br />
chef and master baker Paul<br />
Hollywood, gave A-Level<br />
Consortium students a<br />
Masterclass in making bread<br />
and scones. Paul shared his<br />
knowledge of the food industry,<br />
employment opportunities and<br />
his vast knowledge of baking<br />
bread with the students and staff.<br />
Mrs. R. Richards – Head of<br />
Food Technology<br />
STUDENT<br />
STRENGTHS AND INTERESTS<br />
VILLIERS PARK ‘STEPPING STONES TO<br />
EXCELLENCE’<br />
A group of Year 10 students went to Villiers Park Educational<br />
Trust, near Cambridge. Villiers Park is a national charity that<br />
helps very able young people achieve their full academic<br />
potential and gain places at leading universities.<br />
Marisha Wallis, Emily Jackson, Joanna Hankin, Nicola Ip,<br />
Gaia Brooker and Lucy Foord, took part in a two day<br />
residential at Villiers, alongside students from other local<br />
secondary schools. The event involved various workshops,<br />
challenges and a visit to Cambridge University.<br />
The girls in front of the The Corpus Clock, presented to<br />
Cambridge by Prof. Stephen Hawking<br />
Ms. S. Wallace - Student Strengths and Interests<br />
DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S<br />
AWARD<br />
At a recent Awards<br />
Ceremony, held at Princess<br />
Helena <strong>College</strong>, 25 Year<br />
11 students were awarded<br />
their Bronze Duke of<br />
Edinburgh’s Award. The<br />
awards were presented by<br />
-12-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
Mike Perham who, at 17 years of age, became the youngest<br />
person to sail single-handedly around the world. The school’s<br />
award unit leader, Sara Edwards, was also presented with<br />
the Chairman’s Award for long standing contribution to the<br />
running of the award in North Herts.<br />
CITIZENSHIP NEWS<br />
PSHEC ( Personal, Social, Health Education & Citizenship) is<br />
being re-branded and next year will be called ‘Learning4Life’.<br />
New modules such as first aid will be included.<br />
A PSHEC group were set the challenge to design a new<br />
front cover for next year’s work booklets. Congratulations<br />
go to Jemima Ross of 7C whose winning design has won<br />
her a Boots voucher and House points.<br />
HORTICULTURAL CLUB<br />
Broad Beans were a big success this year, it is always a<br />
pleasure to crop and eat the produce!<br />
Our<br />
annual House<br />
potato growing competition yield suffered from the early<br />
drought this year. On weighing Frank was a clear winner<br />
with over twice the weight of the lowest House. Mrs.<br />
Pearce, Head of Frank House has been awarded the silver<br />
potato masher for the year.<br />
THE COUNCILLORS SURGERY CANVASSING<br />
STUDENT VOICE- ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP<br />
On Wednesday 22nd June, Councillors David and Judi<br />
Billing together with Margaret Bracey (NHDC) met at<br />
lunchtime with an enthusiastic group of students to discuss<br />
local issues for young people in the area.<br />
discussed at the last session and then raised issues which<br />
included the dell, the shops in <strong>Hitchin</strong> and vandalism at<br />
local parks with suggestions for further discussion.<br />
The students were great Ambassadors for the school and<br />
our thanks go to Maia Perry in Year 8, Josie and Holly<br />
Teschner, Lauren Gardner, Hannah Skeels, Ellie<br />
O’Mahony, Florence Allard, Tiegan Fox and Immy<br />
Blackburn-Horgan in Year 7.<br />
EMILY’S GARDEN<br />
Emily’s Garden continues to enhance the well being of us<br />
all and we extend a big thanks to the dedicated weekly<br />
club members especially the Co-ordinators Hope Abbott,<br />
Elizabeth and Jenny Anderson.<br />
LIBRARY NEWS<br />
The library has been quiet this term as girls have used the<br />
study facilities to revise for internal and external exams.<br />
We continue to be grateful for our parent volunteers who<br />
help at lunchtimes, but we will be asking for more parents<br />
to come forward in September.<br />
Our reading group has had an exciting term. In May we<br />
took six girls to a Red House Book Award discussion event<br />
at the <strong>School</strong>s’ Library Service, where they also heard Ali<br />
Sparkes talk about her life as an author. Our lunchtime<br />
meetings have revolved around the Carnegie and<br />
Greenaway Medal nominations. The girls were delighted<br />
that ‘Monsters of Men’ by Patrick Ness won the national<br />
award as this was their clear favourite.<br />
Our Adult Book Group continues to challenge itself with<br />
different genres and this term we have read ‘Stuart: A Life<br />
Backwards’ and ‘Sacred Hearts’, both of which provoked<br />
strong opinions and considerable discussion.<br />
Mrs. L. Cheetham & Mrs. M. Goose – <strong>School</strong><br />
Librarians<br />
SPORTS’ REPORT<br />
The summer term sports’ programme has yet again been<br />
full and varied, with a large number of events being<br />
packed into a relatively short amount of time.<br />
We started the Easter holidays with our second Sports’ Tour<br />
They fed back progress and updates from concerns<br />
-13-
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-14-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
to Holland, where 51 students took part in a busy week of<br />
coaching and fixtures. The students were excellent<br />
Ambassadors for the school both on and off the sports’<br />
field.<br />
Congratulations go to Mr. Chambers, Head of Music, who<br />
completed the London Marathon in April.<br />
Our cricket players competed commendably in the second<br />
round, after winning the ‘Lady Taverner’s Trophy’ before<br />
Easter. They came across some tough opposition and<br />
played well throughout the day. We have also been very<br />
fortunate to gain some additional cricket coaching on<br />
Monday lunchtimes this term, with many thanks to <strong>Hitchin</strong><br />
Cricket Club.<br />
One Year 10 PE group took part in the Firefit project at<br />
<strong>Hitchin</strong> Fire Station in their PE lessons this term. They have<br />
had an insight into how a fire station is run, climbed<br />
ladders, run out hoses, cut car doors off and encountered<br />
obstacle courses, whilst wearing “smoke” goggles! I’m<br />
sure the students will agree that it has been good fun and<br />
very informative, but hard work and we would like to thank<br />
<strong>Hitchin</strong> Fire Station for the opportunity!<br />
Our examination students for PE and Dance have been<br />
heavily involved in the final stages of their practical work<br />
and the P.E. Revision Saturday in May was well attended.<br />
Our Year 11 dancers delighted an audience of family and<br />
friends, with an evening performance of their compositions<br />
before their final examination.<br />
Our Gifted and Talented athletes were also given the<br />
opportunity to undertake an afternoon of intensive<br />
coaching before the athletics season got underway.<br />
Within school, we pride ourselves on giving opportunities<br />
for all to take part at whatever level they wish and on a<br />
recreational level. The Inter House League has been well<br />
attended with Years 10, 9, 8 and 7 being involved in Inter<br />
Form Tennis and Rounders. Many of our students have also<br />
participated in the ‘Race for Life’ at several venues across<br />
the county, raising a great deal of money for this very<br />
worthy cause.<br />
A large Year 7 team took part in a sporting festival at<br />
Knights’ Templar, where they participated in a wide range<br />
of new activities including street dance, badminton and<br />
track cycling. National <strong>School</strong> Sports’ Week gave all<br />
students the opportunity to take part in a range of fun<br />
activities and we were delighted that “Christians in Sport”<br />
were able to deliver exciting and fun, lunch time and after<br />
school sessions, which included “Sports Day Activities”,<br />
like egg & spoon and sack races.<br />
Our Sports’ Leaders are coming to the end of their level 1<br />
and 2 Awards, continuing to develop their coaching and<br />
leadership skills in school, in our local feeder schools and<br />
at local festivals. We shall introduce the Level 3 Award<br />
next year and will be able to deliver the Football Leaders’<br />
Award next term. Ten of our Year 10 netballers will<br />
complete their Netball Leaders’ Award before the end of<br />
term. The term will end with HGS hosting a Primary<br />
Rounders and a High 5’s Netball Festival.<br />
Once again, our athletes have performed to the highest<br />
standards this season. We have competed at County and<br />
District level, and in the County Championships and District<br />
Championships.<br />
We started the term with the County Multi Events<br />
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Rackham, Alice Sunderland and Fran Maydom finishing in<br />
2nd place overall. Individually, they all finished in the top<br />
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selected for the Herts team in the regional final at<br />
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At the Individual County Championships, the following girls<br />
either reached the finals or finished in the top eight; Alice<br />
Rackham (High Jump 2nd and 300m 3rd), Fran Maydom<br />
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-16-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
(Javelin 4th), Caroline Willis (1500m 4th), Alice<br />
Sunderland (Hurdles 4th), Alessandra Stevens (800m 7th),<br />
Emily Evans (Hammer 2nd), Ellie Mann (100m 5th). Alice<br />
Rackham was subsequently selected to represent<br />
Hertfordshire in the High Jump at the National <strong>School</strong>s’<br />
Finals in Gateshead.<br />
At District level our Year 7 (A and B teams), and Year 8 (B<br />
and C) teams performed well across 3 fixtures per age<br />
group, with the Year 9, A team, and the Year 10, B team,<br />
finishing first in the District Leagues.<br />
Our senior and junior A teams competed at County level<br />
with the junior team finishing 9th in their division and the<br />
senior team finishing third in theirs. The senior team then<br />
went on to compete at the County Finals (top 8 County<br />
teams) where they finished in 7th place overall.<br />
The Senior District Championship took place the evening<br />
before the examinations started<br />
and we were delighted that our<br />
senior team finished in 3rd<br />
place overall. However, the<br />
District Championships for other<br />
years started off with some<br />
excellent performances in the<br />
morning but unfortunately was<br />
cancelled due to poor weather in the afternoon.<br />
We continue to challenge all of our students who are taught<br />
athletics in lesson time, to complete the 5 star Award<br />
Scheme; this year, the top award of 5 stars go to Sophie<br />
Butler and Molly Kerr-Barr (Year 7), Ellie Mann, Alessandra<br />
Stevens, Sadie Lenbergs, Jasmine Goold, Renee Williams<br />
(Year 8), Olivia Dixon (Year 9), Vicky Marquiss, Alice<br />
Sunderland and Fran Maydom (Year 10).<br />
We finished the term with Sports’ Day, where we saw a<br />
number of excellent performances. This year the Junior<br />
Trophy was jointly won by 7T and 7C, the Intermediate<br />
Trophy by 9B and the Senior Trophy by Year 12. Teresa<br />
House rose to the occasion and won the overall House<br />
Trophy, which Mrs. Outen was delighted to accept on<br />
behalf of the House!<br />
Three of our athletes continue to perform to the highest<br />
standard with Maria Verdeille becoming County<br />
Champion in the 100m and 200m at the County Disability<br />
Athletics Championships. Also, Fiona Montgomery was a<br />
silver medallist in 100m and 200m at County level. Both<br />
students were selected as part of the East Region team and<br />
will compete at the National Championships at the end of<br />
this term. Maria and Fiona were also part of the North<br />
Herts. team that succeeded in becoming County<br />
Champions in Boccia at senior level. Maria also achieved<br />
the prestigious Jean Ratcliffe Award for her contributions<br />
to the development of Boccia this year. Sophie Plummer<br />
has been selected for the East Region team for the National<br />
Athletics Championships and achieved a silver medal in<br />
this year’s Hertfordshire <strong>School</strong> Games Competition.<br />
Our rounders teams have continued to play well this<br />
season, still competing in the league right up to the end of<br />
term. At the District Tournaments, the Year 9 and 10 teams<br />
are yet to play due to their competition being hit by bad<br />
weather on two occasions. However, the Sixth Form team<br />
finished in 3rd place and the Year 11 team finished as<br />
winners of their tournament. The Year 7 team were<br />
narrowly beaten in the semi finals and the Year 8 team<br />
were winners of their Championship.<br />
In tennis, our Under 13 and Under 15 teams won the<br />
North Herts Nicola Mabbitt League. They both went on<br />
to compete in the County finals where they both finished<br />
in 5th place. The teams consisted of Ally Antoniou, Lucy<br />
Foord, Brittany Sprawson and Fran Maydom (Under 15)<br />
and Serena Brooker, Bhavini Patadia, Sophie Taylor, Juliet<br />
Todman, Katherine Morley, Jasmine Pandit and Molly Kerr-<br />
Barr (Under 13).<br />
Tennis clubs have been well attended with some close<br />
matches in the District Leagues, with seven Year 7 doubles<br />
pairs enjoying a school tournament at the end of the term.<br />
The District Tournament for Under 13 and Under 15 had<br />
to be abandoned due to rain.<br />
Congratulations to Elizabeth Hodge (Year 8) and Alice<br />
Turner (Year 7) who played commendably through the<br />
early rounds of the Harpenden Lawn Tennis National<br />
<strong>School</strong>s’ <strong>Girls</strong>’ Doubles Tournament, where, against some<br />
tough opposition, they qualified for the semi finals,<br />
narrowly missing out on a place in the finals.<br />
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-17-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
A special mention to Charlotte<br />
Reid in Year 11 who has recently<br />
competed in the National<br />
Championships for swimming in<br />
Sheffield, where she finished<br />
13th in the 50m backstroke, she<br />
also qualified for the National<br />
Youth Championships, to be held<br />
at the end of July. Congratulations to Carmen Au (Year 7)<br />
who competed in the Herts. Youth Games in Badminton,<br />
where she was a part of the winning North Herts. Under<br />
12 team. Congratulations also go to Alysha Stojko-Down<br />
who has been selected to play for the Under 15’s Arsenal<br />
Ladies Football Academy.<br />
At the time of going to press, we are still working towards<br />
our annual Gym and Dance display. We had our very<br />
own ticket crisis to rival that of London 2012, when nearly<br />
600 available tickets were sold out within three days! We<br />
look forward to three evenings and a matinee of excellent<br />
performances from the numerous dancers and gymnasts<br />
who are taking part this year. Numbers at gymnastics and<br />
dance clubs continue to increase year by year and the<br />
display is an excellent forum for students to perform their<br />
work.<br />
Following the display week, we are holding “Get Set”<br />
week whereby the Years 7, 8 and 9 students will have a<br />
chance to get involved in activities that will raise<br />
awareness of the Olympic and Paralympic values. Lunch<br />
times will be full of activities to encourage the three main<br />
values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship, with the<br />
students having opportunities to take part in a full<br />
programme of Olympic and Paralympic events.<br />
Well done to everybody for a highly successful summer<br />
term! We are always proud of the achievements of all our<br />
students.<br />
Mrs. D. Maydom - Head of Physical Education<br />
AUSTEN HOUSE<br />
I would like to thank our outgoing prefects, particularly<br />
Megan Baker, Amryta Barhey and Emma Bamberough for<br />
their work in Austen House over the last year and would<br />
like to introduce our new prefects for the coming academic<br />
year; Emma Poynter, Candy Campbell, Millie Morris,<br />
Millie Evanson, Rosie Cowling and Joely Dodds who have<br />
already been effectively participating in their roles.<br />
We hope to round off a successful year raising money for<br />
Great Ormond Street by sponsoring Miss Rai in her efforts<br />
to climb mount Machu Picchu in Peru in the summer. If any<br />
parents would like to do so please contact us by email or<br />
through your daughter.<br />
Well done to 7A, who came 3rd on Sports Day and to 8A<br />
and 9A who came equal 2nd in their groups – an excellent<br />
effort. As a House we came 2nd overall. Well done to all<br />
participants.<br />
I wish all our students who are leaving us this term in Years<br />
11 and 13 the very best for their future and all the girls<br />
returning a very restful summer.<br />
Mrs. J. Cornell – Head of Austen House<br />
BRONTE HOUSE<br />
Throughout the term there have been many successes for<br />
the students of Bronte House:<br />
Year 7: their group routine and their “fours” routine won<br />
them first place in the Gym Competition. Individual<br />
achievements also include Izzi Norrington gaining 73% in<br />
her first singing exam and Kailan Johal was awarded a<br />
gold medal for dance. Year 8: Renee Williams took part<br />
in the District Athletics competition and was awarded with<br />
a silver medal. Freya Nobbs achieved a merit in her piano<br />
exam. Year 9: Samantha Hodges completed the ‘Race for<br />
Life’ earlier this month. Sarah England, Lizzie Henton-Pusey<br />
and Hannah Malyon are working towards their Silver Crest<br />
Award in <strong>Science</strong>. Kirsty Bateman Foley won the Javelin<br />
event after throwing 24m28cm at Ridlins Athletics Track.<br />
Year 10: raffles have been held to raise money for the<br />
Great Ormond Street charity. Georgia Philipson and<br />
Bethany Palmer took part in the District Athletics<br />
competition where Bethany came 3rd in Long Jump.<br />
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-19-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
Founders’ Day: The whole event<br />
opened with Leavers’ Supper and<br />
it was lovely to see all the Year<br />
13’s in their finery. Caroline<br />
Ward of 13B won the Beryl<br />
Wearmouth Award for<br />
Citizenship for her enormous<br />
contributions to the House and the<br />
school.<br />
The Founders’ Day Service was followed by a myriad of<br />
enterprise stalls and fantastic displays on the field and<br />
track events as part of Sports<br />
Day.<br />
Just when I thought the day<br />
could not get any better the<br />
news came through that 9B<br />
had swept the board in<br />
Intermediate Sports and<br />
Eleanor Laws had won a<br />
laptop in the HGFSA Poetry Competition. Lots of pictures<br />
and news about the events are being posted on the<br />
Learning Platform. Take a look and see if you can spot<br />
yourself!<br />
Have a lovely summer holiday and get plenty of rest as we<br />
have a busy term planned for the Autumn.<br />
Miss Stojko (Head of Bronte House) and Victoria<br />
Hodges (Public Relations Prefect)<br />
CURIE HOUSE<br />
This term has been one of great success but also great<br />
change for Curie House.<br />
Firstly at the start of the term Mrs. Johnson took maternity<br />
leave and is now a proud mother to baby Harry.<br />
This term has also seen the appointment of a new set of<br />
prefects to fill the shoes of our departing Year 13 students.<br />
I would like to express my personal thanks to the outgoing<br />
prefect team of Robyn Wootton, Laura Webb, Danni<br />
Brown, Zoe Greenbank, Eiben O’Connor and House<br />
Captain Aarti Patel. The time and effort that these students<br />
have put into House events has been immense, both in<br />
terms of visible projects such as our Christmas reindeer<br />
contest and, more importantly, behind the scenes<br />
organising charity projects and working with the <strong>School</strong><br />
Council.<br />
The newly elected prefect body for 2011/12 is: Rebecca<br />
Dawson - House Captain, Flora Perry - Public Relations<br />
Prefect, Sophie Pease - Charity Prefect, Beth Copping -<br />
Performing Arts Prefect and Ellie McGurk - Sports Prefect.<br />
In the annual Sports’ Day, Curie House performed strongly,<br />
leading the overall competition after the field events and<br />
eventually finishing joint first in the Year 7 competition and<br />
4th overall.<br />
The first “Curie House Stars” were awarded this term to<br />
students who have performed far above and beyond<br />
expectations and I hope to be able to award many more<br />
into next term.<br />
Finally a Curie House Alumni Society has been set up for<br />
our departing students which will both allow ex-House<br />
members to stay in touch and also to provide advice and<br />
guidance to current students on life after HGS.<br />
To all our departing students and all those who have taken<br />
examinations this term, I wish you the best of luck on results<br />
day and wish you all a safe and relaxing summer break.<br />
Mr. A. Jackson - Head of Curie House<br />
FRANK HOUSE<br />
7F have had a very good term. The Enterprise teams have<br />
worked enthusiastically and industriously. Sophie Taylor<br />
has been a very organised and efficient Sports Captain.<br />
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<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
Dora Housham has been very effective as <strong>School</strong>s Council<br />
Rep whilst Emily de Nooijer has been a popular Form<br />
Captain. Kiera Brunton and Emily Harding were elected<br />
Music Captain and Charities Prefect respectively. Well<br />
done to everyone in the form for all their contributions.<br />
8F have shown their potential and pulled together really<br />
effectively with their sporting activities and Enterprise<br />
ideas, particularly Aminah Elnemr. Special mentions needs<br />
to go to Rhea Janjua who was one member of the team in<br />
the <strong>Science</strong> Fair, which came first. Maia Perry has done<br />
an amazing job with the form on their video clips.<br />
9F have worked hard and coped with the difficult business<br />
of choosing their GCSE options. Lauren Batten has done<br />
an excellent job of putting together teams for House League<br />
and Sports Day. Both 9F Enterprise teams worked really<br />
hard and despite some setbacks and challenges have put<br />
together very good stalls. Well done in particular to Jayd<br />
Johnson and Lameez Jamil for leading the groups.<br />
10F have had an extremely busy term, organising their<br />
work experience and sitting a large number of internal and<br />
external exams. A number of members of 10F performed<br />
in the Gym and Dance Display which was amazing.<br />
11F have been working extremely hard on their GCSE<br />
subjects and have recently sat their final exams. 11F are<br />
such kind, confident and hard working students who have<br />
worked tirelessly in order to make success happen<br />
12F have had a busy term, with most of their energy going<br />
into their AS exams. They have continued to work hard as<br />
Ambassadors, and many have helped with forms lower<br />
down the school with many PE activities, the Horticultural<br />
Society, the Choir and Orchestra. Ambir Mann, our new<br />
Head Girl, has started to take on her responsibilities, and<br />
our new House Prefects are ready to take on an active role.<br />
We have had a wonderful 6 years together, and I am<br />
immensely proud of you all. I will have a tear in my eye<br />
on July 22nd, when I say goodbye; I leave them - and all<br />
of Frank House - with my very best wishes for the future.<br />
From Mrs. Powers.<br />
Year 13 are off to pursue a wide variety of university<br />
courses, college courses, gap years and careers.<br />
Particular thanks need to go to our House Prefect team:<br />
Sarah Wingfield, Emily Norman, Ella Rosser, Roxie<br />
Houghton and Jasleen Singh, led by Jessica Boyle. They<br />
have led Frank House with enthusiasm and determination,<br />
and have left a lasting legacy. Congratulations also to Ria<br />
Ma for being awarded the Cathy Taplin Award for Art<br />
Well done to Sophie Taylor and Jodie Kramer in 7F and<br />
Caitlin Coogan in 10F for excellent achievement on Sports<br />
Day and to everyone else who took part.<br />
It just remains for me to say, on behalf of all your tutors, I<br />
hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable summer<br />
holiday, and to those of you who are going on to different<br />
places, good luck; we will miss you.<br />
Mrs. D Pearce, Head of Frank House<br />
JEWEL HOUSE<br />
With another school year coming to an end, it is good to<br />
reflect on the many successes enjoyed by the staff and<br />
pupils of Jewel House.<br />
First and foremost, I must congratulate all the girls for the<br />
manner in which they have conducted themselves<br />
throughout the school this year. With only a very few<br />
exceptions the girls have been rewarded by being the<br />
House which has lost the least amount of House points due<br />
to poor behaviour. This is an excellent reputation for Jewel<br />
House which both the Tutors and I are very proud of. I<br />
sincerely hope the girls get their deserved prize of ‘Fish<br />
and Chips’ on the lawn this summer. Well done girls.<br />
It has also been a year in which Jewel House completed<br />
its task set four years ago to raise enough money to<br />
purchase a special chair to be used in intensive care at the<br />
Lister Hospital. I was very proud to accompany a selection<br />
of our Charity Prefects and Mrs. Rowe’s family to a cheque<br />
presentation ceremony. We managed to make an article<br />
in the local press, an extract of which is below. Thank you<br />
to all girls and Charity Prefects, past and present, for your<br />
amazing contributions. You deserve to feel proud.<br />
Pupils and their parents raise over £1,500 through<br />
dedicated fundraising efforts to buy a special chair to aid<br />
rehabilitation - Rebecca Cheesman, the Trust’s fundraiser<br />
commented “We are extremely grateful to The Jewel House<br />
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-22-
<strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong><br />
pupils and their parents. This is a wonderful example of<br />
how the local community can make a contribution which<br />
has far-reaching benefits for patients, making the difference<br />
between a good hospital, and a great hospital.”<br />
STAFF CHANGES<br />
Having chaperoned the girls of 13J through the past 7<br />
years of schooling, it is now time for Mrs. Rowe to start the<br />
cycle again. However her excellent skills as a tutor have<br />
not been overlooked, and consequently Mrs. Rowe has<br />
been drafted in to support another House. It is with much<br />
regret that we must say goodbye to Mrs. Rowe, at least for<br />
now. I should like to thank her personally for all her<br />
excellent support and contributions made to me and Jewel<br />
House over the years.<br />
Dealing with change is always difficult, but on the positive<br />
side it allows us to welcome new people into our group. I<br />
am delighted that Miss Marchant will be joining us in<br />
September and wish her many successes in the role of tutor<br />
for the new 7J.<br />
Finally, all that remains is to wish the families and the girls<br />
of Jewel House a very happy summer holiday. I am very<br />
proud of all their successes this year past, be them large<br />
or small.<br />
Mr. S. Ferguson - Head of Jewel House.<br />
TERESA HOUSE<br />
What an amazing group of people make up Teresa House!<br />
I am writing this at the end of Founders’ Day when it has<br />
been wonderful to see our athletes triumph as House<br />
winners. We witnessed some superb performances with<br />
all competitors contributing to our final result. Well done!<br />
Our enthusiastic entrepreneurs have also been busy<br />
planning and making items for their stalls. They have now<br />
embarked on selling and generally working hard to raise<br />
as much money as possible. Well done to you also!<br />
As far as Teresa House is concerned, this is also a special<br />
day as we say goodbye to our Year 13 students and wish<br />
them well for the future. I would particularly like to thank<br />
Looking Good<br />
FancyDress<br />
for every Occassion<br />
Telephone:<br />
01483 72 22 71<br />
Opening Days:<br />
Wednesday, Thursday,<br />
Friday & Saturday<br />
Stevenage Indoor Market<br />
our House Prefects who have done such a marvellous job<br />
this year. In their places we welcome Emma Wilding<br />
(House Captain), Natasha Kumar (Charity Prefect), Lucy<br />
Nottingham (Performing Arts Prefect), Holly Hunt-Mount<br />
(Sports Prefect) and April Knapper (Public Relations<br />
Prefect).<br />
As usual, Teresa House students have continued to raise<br />
money for charity over the year. We have supported a<br />
student in Ecuador, raised money for our chosen House<br />
charity of Breast Cancer Awareness and also continued to<br />
support Hearing Dogs for the Deaf thanks to the work of<br />
Miss Collis. Bethan Gay (our present House Captain) also<br />
worked with a group of friends to raise over £2,000 for a<br />
cancer charity.<br />
This is my final newsletter report as Head of Teresa House<br />
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the<br />
dedicated and caring team of Teresa House tutors with<br />
whom I work. I would also like to thank our Teresa students<br />
whom I have truly enjoyed being with over the years and<br />
finally, of course, thanks go to their parents. Good luck<br />
and very best wishes for your futures whether you are<br />
continuing at <strong>Hitchin</strong> <strong>Girls</strong>’ <strong>School</strong> or move on to further<br />
ventures.<br />
Mrs. P. Outen - Head of Teresa House<br />
Stevenage Indoor Market<br />
01438 72 22 71<br />
Open: Wednesday, Thursday<br />
Friday & Saturday<br />
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