Nothampton High School
High News

High News 1 March 2019

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a girl starting a new school must be in want of a friend.

Little wonder, then that the topic of friendships dominates much of life in school in the first year, and often periodically in the years beyond.  Sometimes, especially when we are growing up and exploring our identity, things go awry and, when this happens, it can be hard to avoid being engulfed by the emotional fall-out.   ‘Girls on Board’ – our programme for tackling these issues (which Mrs O’Doherty wrote about in her High News article recently)  – starts from the premise that, while we all need friends, managing our friendships can be tricky.  It works towards the goal of empowering girls to manage the ups and downs of their friendships  – building them, keeping them, salvaging them, changing them, leaving them behind  – while also staying focused on the bigger picture of school life and its many demands and delights.

With the Annual Alumnae Reunion Lunch still fresh in my memory, though, I want to focus on the other side of the equation and consider the gifts that friendships, especially lifelong friendships, bring.  The din of talk and laughter in the Dining Room on Reunion Day, Saturday 26 January, spoke volumes (literally, one might say) for the wonderful gift of friendship.  Dozens of women, some regular attenders, others first-timers or decade specials, converged at school to reconnect and reminisce.  They came from all over the country (as they always do) to be there.  Some, who left school perhaps sixty years ago, were given lifts.  Some, from far-flung places, were offered space in spare rooms and on sofa beds so that they could make a weekend of it.  All were drawn by the power of friendship –  the bonds that begin in childhood and are forged in the vivid milieux of our schooldays.   The years peeled away as memories (of misdemeanours, as often as not) and jokes were aired and traded, and stories ripened by years of retelling, like vintage wines.

Read more here

Dr Stringer
Headmistress

Week Ahead

Monday 4 March
Senior School Assembly – Digital Leaders (Mr Rickman)
Netball – 12A vs U12/ U13 County Netball
Netball – U13A vs U12/ U13 County Netball

Tuesday 5 March
Big Sister / Little Sister Pancake Race
U4 Open PREP Assembly with HRi
U5 Form Breakfast
Netball – U15A vs U15 County Netball

Wednesday 6 March
Y12 MEDSOC Envigo Visit
Pupil School Council Meeting
L4 Class Assemblies
German Exchange Information Evening

Thursday 7 March
Drop Everything and Read for World Book Day
School Production Rehearsals
Open Evening
Zanzibar Information Evening
Netball – 1st VII vs GDST Spring Rally
Gymnastics – U18A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley
Gymnastics – U11A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley
Cross Country – U18A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley
Cross Country – U11A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley
Cross Country – U12A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley
Cross Country – U14A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley
Football – U11A vs GDST Spring Rally – Bromley

Friday 8 March
International Women’s Day
Open Morning
Senior School Assembly – International Women’s Day (Miss Robinson)
Netball – U9A vs The Grove Independent School
Netball – U9B vs The Grove Independent School

Art & Classics students' trip to Rome during half term

During half term, a group of L5, U5 and Sixth Form students travelled to Rome for an Art and Classics trip. We set off from school at school at 5.30am and arrived in Rome in the early afternoon. We had a very busy schedule and, once we had dropped off our bags at the hotel, we walked to Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the biggest Basilica in Rome, and then to another beautiful church. After this, we went back to the hotel to have dinner. In the evening, we had a long walk to the Trevi Fountain, however the views were well worth the wait and we got to eat gelato in front of the incredible fountain. Then we all walked home for a much needed rest.

On day two, we visited the Palazzo Massimo museum in the morning to see the amazing Greek-style statues, including the famous discus thrower. Then we walked to the Ara Pacis museum, another museum housing one artifact; the huge Ara Pacis. After this, we walked along the scenic river Tiber to the Piazza Navona and Pantheon, which has the largest unsupported dome in the world and contains the grave of the Renaissance painter Raphael. Then we walked back to the hotel for our evening meal before our evening venture to the Spanish Steps.

On day three, we visited the Vatican museums which contained countless pieces of Christian art, from some of the earliest religious art to the incredible painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, as well as other pieces of famous artwork by Michelangelo and other painters. We also saw the huge collection of statues, including Greek-style statues of Selene and Demeter. After the Vatican museums, we went to St. Peters Basilica, which was, again, beautifully painted and decorated. We took the Metro back because we were all very tired, teachers and students alike. For our last evening outing, we went to Termini train station to buy souvenirs and presents for our families.

On our final day, we took the Metro to the incredible Colosseum where we looked around the spectacular building, and learnt more about what it was used for and how it would have looked when it was first built. We then climbed the Palatine, visited the Roman Forum and climbed six of the seven hills of Rome, by far the most tiring activity of the week! We then travelled back to Termini for our last gelato, picked up our suitcases and went to the airport, all excited to go home after such an exhausting but enriching time in Rome.

The below photo with the girls and Mr Laubscher are girls in Selene House in front of the Selene statue in the Vatican museum.

Elena
U5

To view more photos from the trip, please click here

Philosophy and Ethics students visit Candle Conference

On Friday 15 February, the 6-1 Philosophy and Ethics class went to Oxford to attend a Candle Conference entitled Happiness?’ hosted by Dr Peter Vardy, famous Philosopher and author of many of the texts we use during our studies including ‘The Puzzle of…’ series.

At this conference, we listened to philosophical discussions on the Teleological argument and the Problem of Evil. Additionally, we listened to ethical lectures on the Utilitarian approach and Euthanasia, including a debate with other schools, to which several of our girls contributed. All of these topics are big parts of our A Level specification, giving us further insight and deepened knowledge and understanding. We also got useful tips on exam technique and analysis.

This trip was very informative in broadening our awareness of the subject. Many thanks to Miss Robinson for taking us on this incredible trip.  

Emelia
6F1 

To view more photos from the event, please click here

Textiles students visit 'Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams' Exhibition

On Tuesday, 10 students plus Miss Lycett and Mrs Bull visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for Textiles Research, but primarily to view the highly anticipated “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition. On arrival at the museum, we took some time to explore the Fashion Gallery before making our way to the exhibition. It was very busy, but once inside we were able to take pictures of particular garments which corresponded with our projects. The exhibition was beautiful and explored the work of all the designers that have worked for the brand and their collections, and although each designer was unique in their own way, they followed the design principles established by Dior in the 1940s.  

Each room had a different theme, for example the first room had a wall that looked like the front of a stately home, and my favourite room had a ceiling which changed patterns with the lighting. In the exhibition, Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday dress was on display, which I found very inspiring and interesting to read about. It was apparently her favourite dress of all time. Another of the brilliant rooms had a wall which displayed many of the magazine covers on which Dior’s designs have featured, in colour order, which looked amazing. On the opposite wall there was a display showing different accessories, garments and miniature garments on small mannequins, which was, again, in colour order, starting in grey and ending in blue. I think everyone had a great time during the exhibition and enjoyed looking at the garments.  

After the exhibit we had an opportunity to go to the exhibition shop and then went off into smaller groups for lunch. Following lunch, we explored the museum, finding the specific exhibits that we had identified prior to the trip that linked with our project theme. We took the opportunity to do some primary drawing and photography for our projects and sketchbooks.   

Thank you to Miss Lycett and Mrs Bull for taking us on the trip and we would definitely recommend going to the exhibition if you are able to.  

Freya
L5N

To view more photos from the event, please click here

L5 students take part in Roman Bake Off!

L5 Latinists have taken part in a Roman Bake off to complement their studies of Ancient Rome at GCSE and the topic of leisure and dinner parties. The task facing the girls was to choose an authentic Roman starter, main or dessert to cook in 1 hr and 15 minutes.

Recipes varied from honey cake, custard tart and apple cinnamon tart to minced beef burgers, omelette with honey, pancakes and baklava, with students enjoying a taste of the banquet of food at the end of the lesson.

Many thanks to Miss Knight for supervising the girls.

Miss Mason
Teacher of Classics

To view more photos, please click here

Northampton High awarded prestigious Green Flag Award as part of the Eco Schools programme

The Eco Team are proud to announce that we have recently been re-awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award as part of the Eco Schools programme; this is the third time we have now received this award, which will last for two years.

This reflects the hard work put in by students and staff to improving our environmental awareness and performance at Northampton High School, including the initiative this year pioneered by Mrs McCue to replace all plastic in our school canteen with biodegradable materials and the regular litter picks of the school grounds undertaken by Eco Team members.

Over the coming months the Eco Team will be continuing to work on environmental projects, including a zero food waste week and encouraging as many people as possible to participate in Earth Hour at the end of March.

Mr Earp
Head of Humanities

Creative Arts Spotlight

This week’s Creative Arts Spotlight falls onto Freya in L5.

Here is Freya with a selection of her textile design work based on birds and feathers. Freya has explored a range of creative textiles techniques including cut work, screen printing with foils and printing with etching onto fabric. Well done Freya!

Miss Lycett
Subject Leader for Textiles

School Sport

In preparation for a busy weekend and week ahead, the Sports faculty has been a little quieter. However, the U16 Netball team showed great preparation for the National Finals later this month with a comprehensive win over Bedford Modern School on Wednesday. Good luck to all the competing teams this weekend, the U15 A & B team at the Uppingham Invitational Tournament and the U11 & U13 teams away for the weekend at the Condover Hall GDST Netball weekend.

Mrs Hackett
Director of Sport

Netball

Continuing our nearly unbeaten season, the team were determined to keep our winning streak going when we played Ratcliffe College.  With several members of our squad unavailable, Tilly Poole & Georgia Milburn joined the team.  We started the match as we meant to go on, and with some strong accurate passing and some excellent shooting against an extremely physical side, the first quarter ended 6-2. The team continued to play well with great defence from Amy, Jelly & Georgia, allowing the ball to be taken back to our circle with ease. We extended our lead and the score at half time was 11-4, with Tilly getting some excellent goals.

In the third quarter we really got into our stride and played the netball we know we can play.  The team used the court space well and the defence prevented any more goals being scored by the opposition in the third quarter.  Tilly and Jess continued to work really well in the circle with some excellent passes in from Maddie Down, and Jane Ampiah finished with some lovely goals, extending the score even further to 18-4 after the 3rd quarter.  In the final quarter the team decided to try some different positions, with Jane moving from C to WD, Maddie to C, Katie to GD and Georgia coming into attack at WA.  The team continued to keep up the pressure even though we had sustained a few injuries throughout the match. Overall the team played really well and the match ended in a 22-5 win.  Player of the Match was Jane Ampiah.

Jess 
U14 Netball Captain

Cross Country

U13 National Cross Country Championships: Ruby competed in the U13 Girls age group at the Cross Country National Finals in Leeds last the weekend. Over 400 runners competed for the best in the Country and Ruby achieved a very respectable 252nd placing.

Primary and Year 7 National Cross Country Championships: Congratulations go to Ella Darby and Ruby Curtis-Free who have been selected for the Northamptonshire Schools team to go to the Primary and Year 7 National Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Hall in March! This is an amazing achievement and we wish them all the very best for the weekend.

Mrs Littlewood
P.E Teacher

Book Review

The Dog Who saved the World by Ross Welford

When eleven-year-old Georgie befriends an eccentric retired scientist, she becomes the test subject for a thrilling new experiment: a virtual-reality 3D version of the future.

But then a deadly disease threatens the life of every dog in the country and Georgie’s beloved dog, Mr Mash, gets sick. And that’s only the start of her troubles.

Soon, Georgie and Mr Mash must embark on a desperate quest: to save every dog on earth, and maybe even all of humanity …

… without actually leaving the room.

Miss Buxton
School Librarian

World Book Day on Thursday 7 March

Pancake Day at Northampton High School

Kings Camp Summer Sessions

We are happy to say that Kings Camp UK will again be bringing the fun this summer to Northampton High School. Book your places today by clicking here!

Dates for your diary

Term Dates

Northampton High School
Newport Pagnell Road, Hardingstone Northampton NN4 6UU
T: 01604 765765 nhsadmin@nhs.Gdst.Net