FHS Newsletter Spring 2012 - Forest Hill School

SPECIALIST SCHOOL IN PERFORMING ARTS
ISSUE 20 SPRING 2012
making a difference through creative learning
Calendar of events
APRIL
02-13 Easter Holiday
16-20 Mock Examinations
19 Year 7 Parents’ Evening
23-24 GCSE Drama Performance
25 Jazz & Blues Concert
MAY
07 Bank Holiday
08 Start of AS Examinations
10 KS4 Achievement Evening
14 Start of Public Examinations
24 Year 8 Parents’ Evening
JUNE
04-08 Half term
20 Parents’ Forum
25-29 Bitburg trip
JULY
05 KS3 Achievement Evening
07 Forest Fest
16 Year 10 Mock Examinations
19 KS3 House Activities Day
20 Last day of Summer Term
Community Dance See page 4
INSIDE
Message from
Steve Brady, Headteacher
As the Spring Term draws to a close it
is once again time to reflect on
another busy and eventful few months.
Reading this edition of FHS will provide
you with a flavour of the extensive range
of opportunities and experiences afforded
to the boys but please do remember you
can keep up to date with current news
and information via the school website:
www.foresthillschool.co.uk
The New Year witnessed the start of
what I am confident will be a highly
prosperous partnership with ʻFusion
Lifestyleʼ, the Local Authority Leisure
Services Provider. Fusion will take on
responsibility of the management for our
Sports Centre community dimension
which we believe will both enhance the
quality of the client service delivery and
provide an enhanced activity programme.
For further details of activities,
programming and booking please visit
www.fusion-lifestyle.com
Two new events on the school calendar
were introduced this term. The ʻYear 9
Careers Fairʼ informed the options
process with a variety of professionals
present from Health, Engineering, Sports
and a range of other professions. They
talked about the opportunities within, and
pathways to careers in their professions
and commented on how impressed they
were by thoughtful and insightful
questions from the boys.
Our first ever ʻArts Oscarsʼ were
presented to a packed house, rewarding
It Kickz Music Project See page 4
the contributions of students in KS3/4/5
across the Art, Dance, Drama & Music
disciplines. The event culminated in the
presentation of ʼLife Long Achievement
Awardsʼ to Zac Evans, Andrew Watkins,
Jack Butler and Lou Neville–Ball in
recognition of their talent, and most
importantly their commitment and
contribution to raising the profile of
performing and visual Arts during their
time at FHS. Congratulations to all those
who received awards or indeed
nominations they are richly deserved.
Most importantly, the constant focus
throughout the term has been on the
preparation of our KS4/KS5 students for
the rapidly approaching 2012 summer
GCSE & AʼLevel examinations and a
desire to maximise the potential of each
and every student. The indicators are
positive, with large numbers of boys
attending February Half-Term sessions
and at weekends – including a Friday!
Such dedication deserves reward and I
am confident that the boys will perform
very well this year, if they maintain their
current effort and we will once again
continue our positive upward trends.
I would like to take this opportunity to
say a big ʻthank youʼ for your continued
support for the school through your
communications and attendance at the
events, performances and at parent
consultations – it is much appreciated by
all staff.
Finally please accept my best wishes
for an enjoyable Easter break.
Steve Brady Headteacher
2 Coming to the end | Forest Hill School Arts Oscars 2012 | The Holocaust and Drama
3 Year 9 Options Event | International Musical Futures Training at FHS | The National Plan for Music
4 Dance Opportunities | Stretch and Challenge | On Your Marks...Festival Countdown | Music in the Making
5 Blue Peter Book Award | Play up, Play up and Play the Game | D&T Food Technology
6 National Cup Tie | The Good Life | First Parents’ Forum | Catch the Sun Challenge

PAGE 2
drama
The Holocaust and Drama
Coming to the end
As we are working towards the end of
our two year BTEC Performing Arts
(Acting) course we have found that not only
have we improved our acting skills but that
we have developed as people.
At the start of the course we worked on
learning monologues for auditions, which
even if we were not going on to Drama
College would still be useful for interviews
where we would have to present ourselves.
We also had challenging scripts where we
had to learn a lot of dialogue; this too was
good for our memory development.
After successful productions of plays
such as East, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
and A Raisin’ in the Sun we are currently
working on our last play called Realism.
We will be performing this on Wednesday
28th March 2012 in the FHS drama studio
to an invited audience. We cannot wait to
complete what has been a fantastic two
years and we would like to thank very
much Ms Montague-Gibson and Ms
Sullivan for their valuable teaching.
Jennifer Odinnuta, Rapheen Thompson
and Ashleigh Williams Sixth Form
‘Someone mentioned the ‘Holocaust’ the old
Jewish man said ‘no’
Such word I do not wish to hear that
happened years ago
Then he slowly folded up his sleeve and
numbers etched in blue
Told of the sufferings he’d known and all he
had been through’
When I came to explore the Holocaust
in drama I didnʼt know much about the
subject but I found out so much that was
tragic and heartbreaking. I learnt that
everyone was a target of the Nazis – Jews,
black people, gypsies, LGBT, trade unionists,
intellectuals and many more.
We were able though our weekly lessons
to act out being the perpetrators and feel
what it would feel like to be them as well as
FOREST HILL SCHOOL ARTS OSCARS 2012
Jason Kubilius, Head of Arts, reports: We held our first Arts Oscars at Forest Hill School on 7th February 2012. It was
a celebration of the artistic and creative talents of our students from across dance, drama, art and music. Here are
some thoughts and comments from the audience and people who were involved:
“The Arts Oscars
evening was a tense
and thrilling night. I
saw some amazing
acts and talents I didn’t
even know the school
bred! There was a
charming atmosphere
and a comedic and
dramatic host injected
an upbeat feel. The
awards seemed to be
awarded where they were worth, and the
ceremony was presented professionally.
All the factors contributed to a heart
warming, and proud experience for all...”
Zac Evans, one of the winners of the
Lifetime Achievement Awards
"An inspiring and uplifting event. It was
lovely to see not only the talent but also
the warmth and maturity of the boys. To
me it went beyond celebrating our
specialism, I think it really expressed the
ethos of the school."
Parent attending the night
“Ms Matthews liked our drama scene and
decided it was right to put us forward for a
nomination and performance at the Arts
Oscars. We worked on our piece during
lunchtimes and at the end of about nine
rehearsals we had a good structured piece
of drama. On the night we were all nervous
but we all pulled through and made an
excellent performance. Unfortunately we
’Life Long Achievement Awards’ went to Lou Neville–Ball, Jack Butler, Andrew Watkins and Zac Evans,
in recognition of their talent, and their commitment and contribution to raising the profile of performing
and visual Arts during their time at FHS
didn’t win but next year we will be back
better and stronger and ready to win.”
Alex Dobson and Finlay Holdaway, whose
drama group were nominated in Best Group
Award
“I wasn’t hugely disappointed about not
winning the Oscar for Best Key Stage 4/5
Music because I mainly see it as a stepping
stone until I reach my biggest achievement.
It motivates me even more to do better and
to try harder for next year and in life. I’m just
proud to be in the nominations list really,
that’s a big achievement.”
Andre Rhule nominated for Best Key Stage
4/5 Music
“It was a stunning night because Mr Salmon
was entertaining. The performances were
good as were the smart clothes everyone
was wearing. It was really entertaining and I
really enjoyed it – no doubt about it.”
Emmanuel Dasho nominated for Best Key
Stage 3 Dance
“A fantastic showcase for the school, its
ethos, approach...and of course talent!”
Parent email
Above, Best Group Award won by Leon Wood D10F,
Gloidie Leka R8G, Harry Morrish H9G, Sam Turpin
D10F, Luca Filip H8G, Peter Jamieson H10G.
Left,
Kieran
Lang
H11G,
nominated
for Best
Solo
Award

PAGE 3
victims and survivors. We watched
documentary footage, films and read letters
and diary entries. All this helped to activate
our thinking around a subject that happened
so long ago and enabled us to create drama
to help us understand. This scheme of work
affected me at a deep level.
Chris Saraiva R9F
Year 9 Options Event
It was an honour to be chosen to represent
the Drama Department and speak to both
the students and parents about GCSE
Drama. It was a great opportunity to share
our experiences and express our feelings
about why we chose the subject.
The whole evening was a good occasion
for the Year 9 boys as they could be given
an insight from a studentʼs point of view
rather than a teacherʼs. It was good for the
students to ask their own personal
questions and learn more about the subject.
A lot of the Year 9s showed passion and
confidence about drama.
To show off previous work produced, a
film played of a unit 3 practical exam with
previous students who had achieved A*.
The parents showed surprise at the high
standard of work shown but we felt that it
was the norm that was expected of us.
Good luck Year 9 students and we would
like to thank Ms Montague-Gibson for giving
us this opportunity.
Xavier Baker R10F, Jeremiah Bent Russell
H10F, Aaron Mann D10F and Matthew
Riley H10F
music
International Musical Futures Training at FHS
Our Musical Futures Champion School
status was called on once again to
provide training to the teachers and senior
staff from a range of schools, this time
visiting us from Ontario, Canada.
The day served as an introduction to the
informal and non-formal teaching styles
that we use throughout the music
curriculum at Key Stage 3 with the hope
that these practices can be implemented
straight away by everyone attending.
From working in small bands to
Japanese Taiko drumming the day
provided hands-on experience of practical
music making and independent learning as
well as time to reflect theoretically on how
this approach works within a school
curriculum setting.
A selection of our students also
The National Plan for Music
The NPFM was published last year in
November. It contains some very bold
and inspirational statements for music
making across the country. Importantly it
includes a strong commitment to equality of
opportunity.
The NPFM replaces Local Education
Authority providers such as Lewisham Music
Service with a new model of music HUBs.
Music HUBs will be focused around a closer
partnership between schools, community
and music organisations. Forest Hill School
has been playing a key role in the
development of the Lewisham HUB. As a
result we are well placed to continue to
develop the music provision for students at
school as well as making stronger
connections and clearer pathways for
progression.
Unfortunately despite the rhetoric there
are some worrying issues which may well
compromise the commitment to make music
performed for the delegates and stayed for
a question and answer session that gave
a real insight into how music education is
experienced at Forest Hill School.
The day was led by our head of faculty
Jason Kubilius with support from the music
department team.
Mr Coggle Senior Music Specialist
inclusive and improve quality. For example
there is considerably less money for the
new HUBs (despite being expected to do
much more). There was a significant cut
for Music Services this year and the Plan
allocates less money each year – £75 –
£63 – £58 million, making nearly a 40%
cut over four years. Further to this at times
the plan paints a very narrow picture of
progression routes for young people and
seems much less inclusive.
It could be that the practicalities of
considerably less money coupled with an
ideological favouring of certain
progression routes might hamper music
making opportunities for the majority
rather than improve them. However we
are at very early stages and hopefully a
strong school presence in the HUBs will
be able to make a strong case for
developing the equality of opportunity.
Jason Kubilius Head of Arts

PAGE 4
dance
Dance Opportunities
Any student interested in taking up an
opportunity in dance should see Mr
Oudkerk or Mrs Humphrey.
Mr Oudkerk Head of Dance
Stretch and Challenge
This term has been a very busy one for
the community dance team at Forest Hill
School. Over 100 Year 5 students have been
lucky enough to participate in the Stretch and
Challenge dance project with Head of Dance
and Dance AST Mr Oudkerk and Dance
Specialist Michaela Rispin. Students from
Eliot Bank, St Bartholomewʼs, Christchurch
and St Michaelʼs primary schools have been
gaining confidence in exploring maths and
science subjects through dance. The
studentʼs creativity and engagement in the
project has been exceptional. It has also
been great to see their enjoyment in dance
heightened.
The three week programme of dance
workshops in each school has given
students a wider understanding and further
engagement of their knowledge of shapes,
angles, symmetry and life cycles. The
project has culminated in the creation of a
short dance piece which was performed and
shared within the group and is hoped at a
later date to be performed to a wider
audience within their schools.
Michaela Rispin Performing Arts
Administrator and Dance Specialist
Community Connections
On Your Marks...Festival Countdown
With the countdown to the London 2012
Olympics in full swing, here at FHS
weʼre in a race of our own as the days and
weeks until our 4th annual community arts
festival, Forest Fest, simply speed by.
Forest Fest 2012 takes place on Saturday
7th July, 12-5pm, and inspired by the great
ʻGamesʼ, this yearʼs festival will adopt the
Olympic and Paralympic values (respect,
excellence, friendship, courage, determination,
inspiration and equality) as its theme.
In keeping with the ʻGamesʼ spirit of
inclusivity and core to the festivalʼs ʻby the
community, for the communityʼ ethos, this
year we want to involve even more people,
of all ages and from all sections of the local
community, than ever before!
Already in the pipeline are a series of
collaborative community projects with local
primary schools and senior citizens groups
that will culminate in a range of exhibition
and performance pieces, including whatʼs
billed to be an amazing set by a mass choir.
Forest Fest 2012 will also host its first ever
public auditions, offering coveted festival
performance slots to talented residents and
members of the community. So if youʼre an
emerging artist, a rising talent or have a great
performance piece and would like a platform
on which to shine, then take the plunge and
sign-up for our live auditions.
But you donʼt just have to be a performer
to get involved. There are a myriad of
different ways you can participate in the
HELP US TO FUNDRAISE
Do you live in SE26, SE23 or SE4?
Could you help us to fundraise and
publicise Forest Fest at the same time?
Pedder Estate Agents have agreed to
sponsor Forest Fest 2012 and will donate
£10 for every residential board arranged
to publicise the event.
We are now looking for volunteers who
live in Forest Hill, Sydenham (particularly
upper Sydenham near Kirkdale/Cobbs
Corner) or Brockley (as close to Forest
Hill as possible), willing to host a
residential board outside their home. The
boards, which will display both the Pedder
and Forest Fest 2012 branding, will be
professionally erected approximately two
weeks before the festival and removed
shortly after.
For more information or to volunteer
contact Sasha Leacock on 020 8613
8422 or email
s.leacock@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
Your help is most appreciated, and as we
know, every little helps. Thank you.
festival – for example as a stall holder,
workshop leader, exhibitioner, trader,
volunteer, steward, even as a programme
partner and/or sponsor. For more info about
how to get involved, contact one of the
representatives listed below.
Auditions & Performance Programming
Stuart Livingstone
s.livingstone@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
Marketing & Publicity
Barbara Bryson
b.bryson@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
School Liaison & Volunteers
Peter Stevenson
p.stevenson@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
Sponsorship & Workshop Programming
Sasha Leacock
s.leacock@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
Stalls & Traders
Michaela Rispin forestfest@hotmail.co.uk
General Information
forestfest@hotmail.co.uk
Regardless, weʼd love to hear your views
and ideas on what would make Forest Fest
2012 a great day. So donʼt delay... the
countdown has started!
Sasha Leacock
Community Performing Arts Manager
Forest Fest 2012 is sponsored by EDTE
Music in the Making
‘It Kickz’ is a weekly music project held on
Fridays, 5.30pm-7pm, for 13-16 year olds
who live or attend school in Forest Hill or
Sydenham. Sessions focus on instrumental
tuition, song writing, vocal and performance
skills, and includes music industry and
performance visits, collaborative and holiday
projects, plus opportunities to perform and
record your music, as well as complete an
Arts Award.
For more information, or to sign up for this
year or next yearʼs programme (starts
September 2012), contact:
itkickz@hotmail.co.uk or call Sasha
Leacock (Community Performing Arts
Manager) on 020 8613 8422.
Sasha Leacock
Community Performing Arts Manager
It Kickz Music
project is
funded by
Youth Music

PAGE 5
curriculum
Blue Peter Book Award
Only ten schools in the
country are invited to
participate in reading and
voting for the winning books.
Our boys have read 4 books
in a very short space of
time, the votes have been cast and posted
– we await the outcome with bated breath.
Congratulations to our super fast Year 7
readers: Joe Heathcote-Hatcher, Nathan
Roland, Louie Gomez, Nathan Cortes-
Rojan, Ben Lekaj, Riccardo Duberry,
Dasharn Anderson, Adam Buckle, Joe
Garwood, Feranmi Oshifolu, Cole Bailey,
Alex Mijatovich, Louis Vuillermoz, Daniel
Drynan, Kashif Mahmood.
Watch the Library pages on the website
for more information.
Carol Webb Librarian
Play up, Play up and Play the game
hat are we doing here?” was the
“Wquestion Wilfred Owen asked in
his war poem Exposure. That was exactly
the question on our lips as we took our
seats in the Imperial War Museumʼs
conference room. As an AʼLevel English
Literature class, we have been studying
war poetry and novels and so we made a
visit to the Museum, which has a strong
focus on the causes and consequences of
the war. Our question was soon answered
as the resident poet Mario Petrucci began
speaking and the conference commenced.
Through the lecturerʼs speeches and the
activities, we not only gained a deeper
insight into the poems, but also a better
understanding of how the war changed
literature and language generally. The war
“generated a shift in peopleʼs minds and
hearts”. The social, physical, mental,
political and emotional aspects of the war
changed poetsʼ style of writing causing a
followed trend of a different attitude and
style towards writing poems and how
people read and interpret them.
When questioning the class on how they
D&T Food Technology
Hi all, as you know, our new food room
has been open now since September
and what a joy it is to see students learning
to cook and improving skills, such as
poaching eggs, making fruit smoothies,
cakes, sauces, crumbles, cheese cake,
meringues, cookies, quiche, pastry and
pasta (from scratch!), learning about
healthy eating and how to act safely in a
food room, and even washing up!
feel the trip and conference has affected
their understanding, the feedback was all
positive. They felt the conference was
interesting and that it gave them a different
insight with useful content. But it was quite
intense and complex to understand, which is
inevitable when youʼve been sitting in the
same room hearing the same voice talk for
hours! This was why it was such a relief
when the activities began. The class found
this part of the conference very useful as it
meant we all got to actively participate.
This trip taught us a lot about gaining a
better insight into the poems. We have learnt
that in order to gain a stronger understanding
of the poems, you not only have to assess
the context of the poetʼs lives but also place
yourself in their shoes. How would you feel?
What would you do? Would you try to rebel
against the war like Sassoon in his
Declaration or would you accept your
position in the war and “play up, play up and
play the game.”
Ausegui Koreli Year 12
The students thoroughly enjoy these
practical lessons, especially when it comes
to who can produce the best finished
product!
The wonderful smell of food wafting
around the ground floor is delightful, it has
both staff and students mouths watering.
A thoroughly enjoyable subject for all
students, defying all stereotypes.
Nancy Scotting Food Technology Teacher

PAGE 6
sport
National Cup Tie
On the 7th of February the Year 7
Football team departed for Plymouth
for their last 16 National Cup tie. With all
aboard the luxurious coach at 6.45am the
trip down was long and at times a little
scary in the countryside. When we arrived
at Ivybridge Community College it was
lunch time and their pupils were all staring
at us and were a little intimidating.
After a fair play handshake and a talk
from the referee the game began. We had
a slow start and were 1-0 down after 2
minutes when our defence left their striker
with a free header from a corner. Charlie
played in Jardel who wriggled in the box
before being tripped for a penalty. He
picked himself up and sent the keeper the
wrong way for 1-1.
Too much space outside our box allowed
their number 11 to unleash an unstoppable
shot – Stanley had no chance. We showed
strength and character coming from behind
again to draw level after Korreyʼs corner
wasnʼt cleared very well and Yazid was
there to head it home.
A fine run from Korrey minutes later
found Jardel in the box, who took one
touch before nutmegging the goalkeeper to
make it 3-2 to FHS going into the break.
After some words of encouragement
from Mr Hollidge we set about increasing
our lead. Tahjae, who had been brought on
at half time, was found by Jardel after
some nice interplay but his shot was
palmed onto the bar by the goalie. The ball
fell to Declan who waited what seemed like
ages for the ball to drop before volleying it
home.
The best was yet to come as Jardel
jinked past two defenders before lifting the
ball over the onrushing goalkeeper for 5-2.
After some nice pressing of their defence
the ball was won back by our strikers and
after beating three players, the ball was
lashed home by Korrey to finish the scoring
at 6-2.
This made the journey back a lot easier
especially as we got KFC for our efforts
from the teachers. We now look forward to
our Quarter Final vs Glynn School.
The FHS Year 7 team were Stanley,
Joe, Riphi, Yazid, Tyreese, Luke, Josh,
Charlie, Declan, Korrey and Jardel. Subs
were Tahjae, Jamie, Aiden, George and
Casey.
Report by Jardel Francis-Adeyinka
(S7F), Korrey Henry (D7G), Charlie
Baker-Mullings (R7G), Josh Ukario-
Stevens (H7F) and Tyreese Collins-
McIntosh (D7G)
enrichment
The Good Life
The erratic weather, which has seen
seasons turned on their heads, may
have left the most experienced of gardeners
tested to the limits, but the Garden Club has
risen to the challenge and subsequently
been awarded the Mayor of London’s Best
Secondary School Edible Garden and
furthermore selected to grow for this yearʼs
Chelsea Flower Show. Our previous
attempt resulted in a bronze medal and
therefore, like many of our Olympic
competitors this year, we are going for gold!
The boysʼ efforts were rewarded with the
opportunity for two of our Year 11 pupils,
Dean Carter and Ircan Ahmet, to spend the
day working as chefs at Jamie Oliverʼs
Fifteen restaurant. After donning their chef
whites they watched the chefs do a service,
tasted some of the dishes and got involved
themselves by making pasta, gnocchi and a
number of other dishes. Head chef, Lucien
Green, was extremely impressed with their
efforts and presented both boys with a
signed copy of Jamieʼs 30 Minute Meals and
an offer of an apprenticeship for Dean!
Inspired by their award the school garden
now supplies the school kitchen with herbs
which are used in the making of the school
dinners. If you would like to be part of our
team ‘growing for gold’ just come along
after school on Tuesdays to room 37a.
Garden Club runs from 3.15-4.30 and is
open to pupils of all years.
Sharon Curtis Teaching Assistant
PTA
First Parents’ Forum
The Parent Governors, with the support of
the PTA, have recently organised a
Parentsʼ Forum offering carers the chance to
discuss topics which are relevant to us all.
During the well attended evening the school
librarian Carol Webb led a session on
ʻsupporting our sonsʼ readingʼ. The
importance of reading was outlined and
parents were asked to highlight any
problems they had. Carol then shared some
effective strategies. Marcia Marriott spoke of
her role as school counsellor and described
the themed parentsʼ evenings she runs. It is
hoped that future Forums will be organised –
if any parents are keen to be involved,
please contact the Governors via the school
office and check the website for details.
Elizabeth Jamieson Chair of Governors
school council
Catch the Sun Challenge
On the 26th May 2012 at 5.07am a small
staff team will endeavour to complete a
65km Extreme Triathlon comprising of a
37Km cycle, a 2km canoe and a 24km trek.
The challenge is for the team to complete
the course before the sun sets at 9.14pm.
This event is being run by Widehorizons.
They are a charitable organisation who run a
number of outdoor centres across the
country and provide the opportunity for
youngsters from London and the South East
to experience outdoor and adventurous
activities.
Our link with Widehorizons goes back
nearly 40 years, and to this day they still use
the school building in Bryn Coedwig that
was once owned by our school. Each year
our school sends a number of groups of
Year 7 students to two of the centres
Widehorizons run in North Wales on a team
building adventure holiday.
In order to compete in this challenge our
team are aiming to raise over £3000 to help
the trust continue to provide these great
opportunities for young people in the local
community. Please support in our challenge
– our donation page can be found at the
following URL...www.charitychoice.co.uk/
fundraiser/aarondavey/catch-the-sun
We would like to express many thanks for
your support.
Mr Stevenson, Mr Hollidge, Mr Davey
and Mr Thomas PE Department
contact us
Forest Hill School
Specialist School in
Performing Arts
Dacres Road, London SE23 2XN
For general school and
curriculum enquiries:
Tel: 020 8699 9343
Email: info@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
For Specialist Status and Community
Performing Arts enquiries:
Tel: 020 8613 8423 / 8422
Email:
p_arts@foresthill.lewisham.sch.uk
fhs newsletter is edited by
Michaela Rispin and Cathryn Brown