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Friday 27 May 2022 |
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As we break for the half term week, we reflect on the emotional ‘au revoirs’ shared with Year 11 and 13 as they begin exam leave and the school is beginning to feel somewhat empty. With end of year assessments completed for the rest of Senior School though, we were all able to enjoy the Jubilee celebrations in school today – more on this below. It has been a short but busy first half of term and students have certainly earned the break. I hope that, whatever else you are doing, you manage some quality family time over the coming week particularly with the bonus Bank Holiday! I would like to remind you that parents have the opportunity to meet our new Head – Dr May Lee – on Thursday 9 June where she will be keen to talk to you about her vision for the school and hear your views too. Please book your place here. In response to parent questions about our relatively new communications portal, we are running a trial during the week after half term. Some parents have expressed frustration at the ‘once per day’ collation of School Post messages into one digest email. Concerns include the difficulty in locating an school communication on a particular topic. Whilst our research suggests that generally parents would prefer to get one daily message rather than several individual ones, we are going to send each message individually for the week after half term. At the end of the week, we will seek parent feedback on which system works better. Whilst ‘communication’ is a hot topic in all schools, with some parents feeling they don’t get enough and others feeling there is too much, we are keen to get as good a balance as possible. It is worth mentioning that should you log into Firefly (to which all parents have login details) you can see each School Post message relating to your child individually. You can also search the messages easily by keyword too. I look forward to hearing your feedback and ensuring we communicate with you as effectively as possible. Have a lovely half term break. Mrs O’Doherty |
The week ahead |
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Monday 6 June Tuesday 7 June Wednesday 8 June |
Thursday 9 June Friday 10 June |
Platinum Jubilee Celebrations |
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Today in school, we have been delighted to come together and celebrate HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. As the Jubilee takes place over half term week, we wanted to make sure we commemorated this special occasion in true Northampton High School fashion! We kicked off the day with a whole school assembly in the Senior Hall, where Junior and Senior School students and staff met for a special start to the day. The bleachers were awash with red, white and blue (and purple, the official colour of the Platinum Jubilee!) as students dressed for the occasion in their patriotic colours. We also saw some amazing themed costumes from some of our Junior School members, including our very own mini Queen Elizabeth II! After students received their commemorative badges (and books for the youngest of our pupils), Mrs O’Doherty led the assembly and gave a wonderful talk all about Queen Elizabeth II, her reign and her past Jubilee celebrations. At lunchtime the kitchen was transformed, with the Union Flag flying high across the dining room for our special Jubilee ‘street party’-style lunch. The Catering Team prepared a wonderful banquet lunch for our community to enjoy, with themed menu items including tasty Coronation Chicken, the eye catching red, white and blue eggs and the very popular Victoria Sponge! |
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Activities continued throughout the day, reflecting on the whole school Jubilee Bake Off competition capturing the imaginations of our budding bakers all across the school. You will read more about this further down the newsletter, but huge congratulations to all of our worthy winners – the standard of the entries was fantastic and it was certainly a tough decision for our judges Miss Hair and Miss Knight! Junior School pupils enjoyed a series of Jubilee-themed activities in their House groups during the morning, before concluding their day after lunch with a special assembly, where they sang songs and had the opportunity to wear the crowns they had made earlier in the day. Students and staff all had an amazing day, joining to celebrate this hugely significant British milestone. We hope all of our families have a wonderful half term break, and we hope you all enjoy your own Platinum Jubilee celebrations next week. Mr Nash |
Platinum Jubilee Bake Off Competition! |
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As you will have read earlier in the newsletter, as part of today’s school Platinum Jubilee Celebrations we were delighted to hold a special whole school Jubilee Bake Off competition! Students of all ages were eligible to enter, with prizes being awarded to the winner in Early Years, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Senior School, along with a category for our staff too! We saw a record number of entries submitted, with the quality of the entries being simply fantastic! Our judging panel of Miss Hair, Head of Junior School, and Miss Knight, Subject Leader Food, spent much time deliberating the winner of each category, before ultimately deciding on the following worth winners: Early Years: Jasmine I A huge congratulations to all our winners, and to all of our fantastic bakers who entered the competition. You all did amazingly well! Mr Nash |
Meet the Bus Drivers - Mark |
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Each week, we look forward to introducing you to one of our school minibus drivers. They will talk a little bit about themselves, and what they enjoy most about working at Northampton High. This week, we are delighted to talk to Mark, who drives the Towcester route. Tell us a little bit about your career: I began my career as an apprentice in the print industry. I quickly made my way up to middle and then senior management. At around 50 years old, I made the decision to take a step back and have since taken various driving positions. |
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What do you like to do in your spare time: I love spending time with my grandchildren and I watch a lot of rugby and Formula 1. I look forward to hopefully taking up golf again soon. What is your best memory of being at school: Being selected to play for Northamptonshire Rugby U16’s in an assembly in front of the whole school. What do you enjoy most about working at Northampton High: Being part of what is a great team at a highly renowned school. Oh, and the school holidays! To find out more about our school transport offer, please click here. Mr Nash |
Book of the Week |
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Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin – recommended for Year 9 and above Derry. Summer 2016. Aidan and Iona, now eighteen, were both born on the day of the Northern Ireland peace deal.Aidan is Catholic, Irish, and Republican. With his ex-political prisoner father gone and his mother dead, Aidan’s hope is pinned on exam results earning him a one-way ticket out of Derry. To anywhere.Iona, Protestant and British, has a brother and father in the police. She’s got university ambitions and a strong faith. |
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At a post-exam party, Aidan wanders alone across the Peace Bridge and becomes the victim of a brutal sectarian attack. Iona witnessed the attack; picked up Aidan’s phone and filmed what happened, and gets in touch with him to return the phone. When the two meet, alone and on neutral territory, the differences between them seem insurmountable.Both their fathers held guns, but safer to keep that secret for now. Click here to find out more details about the Carnegie Shortlist. Miss Buxton |
Sports Day |
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Sports Day this year is on Friday 10 June. The children need to wear a t-shirt in the colour of their house along with a school skort, sports leggings or athletics shorts. Pupils can come into school wearing their sports day outfit along with a drink, hat, sun cream and a waterproof top so that they are prepared for all weathers! Parents are invited to join this event from 9.30am on the school field. Please bring a picnic lunch with you to eat with your daughter and/or other parents, along with a blanket and/or seats to ensure you are comfortable. All pupils will be provided with a packed lunch. We are looking forward to a successful event but in case of bad weather, our back up day will be Tuesday 21 June. Mrs Littlewood |
Cultures Day – Friday 17 June |
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We are currently planning to host a Cultures Day event to deepen our school community’s engagement with and understanding of culture, thereby adding to an ongoing conversation that forms part of the Inclusivity Undivided agenda. We are coordinating a range of themed lessons in the morning and a number of activities, workshops and speakers for the afternoon. If we have any parents or friends of the school who would be willing to run a workshop, deliver an activity or give a talk about any aspect of Cultures, we would be delighted to hear from you. These sessions will take place in the afternoon of Friday 17 June, between 1pm and 3.30pm. We are looking forward to celebrating the cultures of our students and staff community, with the aim of everyone being able to contribute, learn, have fun, and feel included. Should you be able to support us on this day, or should you wish to discuss this event further, please contact Mrs Carr, Deputy Director of Sixth Form, at j.carr@nhs.gdst.net. Mrs Wilmot |
Raise Her Up - Periods, Pregnancy & Policy: Why Women’s Health Is Everyone’s Business |
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The latest edition of the Raise Her Up podcast is out now, with this episode being titled ‘Periods, Pregnancy & Policy: Why Women’s Health Is Everyone’s Business’. Our guest for this episode is a leading voice in women’s health. Professor Dame Lesley Regan is Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust at St Mary’s Hospital, London. She remains only the second woman, and the first in 64 years, to be elected the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Professor Regan joins us to share her experiences and insights on the importance of open communication around periods and women’s health, gained from her decades of experience in this area, both in the UK and with the WHO in Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s a fantastic episode and we’re sure everyone will be wishing Professor Regan was their doctor – we sure do! To listen, please click here or download from wherever you get your podcasts. Mr Nash |
'Parent Talks' - Forum with Dr May Lee |
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The next event in our Parent Talks series this year is a Parent Forum. It is timely, therefore, to invite parents to attend this event and meet our new Head, Dr May Lee, who will be leading the School from September 2022. The event will take place on Thursday 9 June, from 6pm to 7pm in the Theatre. Light refreshments will be served. Please would you let us know if you plan to attend by booking your place here. Mrs Wilmot |
Backchat Magazine: We Need You! |
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This summer term, the Backchat team are putting together an arts edition, but we need your help! We are looking for art, photography, poetry, creative writing, film, music and fashion reviews. If you would like inspiration for an article, why not write about the rise in podcasting or how TikTok can be used to discover new artists? This upcoming half term is the perfect time to get involved in your school student magazine! Also, why not come to our meetings? We meet every Monday lunchtime from 11:50 to 12:15 in the ideas room and we would really appreciate your contribution! We hope to see you soon! The Backchat team |
Reunion Lunch - Saturday 9 July 2022 |
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Tickets for our Summer Reunion Lunch are on sale now! Taking place on Saturday 9 July, the Lunch is a highlight of any year, where alumnae from both the Derngate and Hardingstone sites get together for a delicious two-course meal and to catch up with friends old and new. For more information and to book your tickets, please click here. We are also delighted to share with you the latest edition of our Alumnae Newsletter. To take a read, please click here. Mrs Wilmot |
Daddy & Daughter Breakfast - Wednesday 15 June |
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Creative Arts Season: Arts Festival |
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We are delighted to invite you to attend our annual Arts Festival on Tuesday 21 June, from 6.00pm-8.00pm. There will be a programme of performances and exhibitions taking place throughout the school celebrating the talents of students in Art, Drama, Fashion & Textiles, Food and Music. The evening will include exciting collaborations within the creative and performing arts. Please let us know if you will be attending, by completing the form by Monday 13 June. Mrs Beacroft |
Northampton High Presents: Seussical the Musical |
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We are delighted to invite you and your family to our Senior School’s performance of Seussical The Musical, on Thursday 23 June 2022 at 7pm. The performance is suitable for all ages, so please bring along family and friends. We hope you will be able to attend what promises to be an exciting and fun-filled performance. We would be grateful if you would complete the form to let us know whether you would like to come along, and the anticipated number of family and friends that you would like to bring along by Friday 17 June. Mrs Marriott |
Inclusivity Bulletin: May |
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We are delighted to share with you the latest Northampton High School Inclusivity Bulletin. The above graphic outlines what will be happening throughout this month, but to read more and to view the bulletin in full, please click here. Mrs Wilmot |
Community Nursery Sessions |
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Athletics Club |
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Term Dates 21/22 |
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Term Dates 22/23 |
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Northampton High School |
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