High News 16 March 2018

Events and activities

Monday 19 – Friday 23 March

U5 Tutorials

Monday 19 March

L4 HPV Vaccinations
L5 Full Report available on Firefly
6.1 Parents’ Evening

Tuesday 20 March

U13 In2Hockey Regional Finals
Classics Trip to Loughborough High School

Wednesday 21 March

6.1 Particle Physics Masterclass
National Theatre Writing Workshop (L4-6.2)
U5 Component 2 GCSE Practical Drama Exam

Thursday 22 March

Sixth Form Business Trip to Chocolate Atelier
Whole School Production Rehearsal (Weekly Event)

Friday 23 March

6-2 Full Report available on Firefly
U5 Full Report available on Firefly
End of Spring Term

Sports Fixtures

Monday 19 March

KS3 & KS4 Regional Finals, Badminton (A) U16, U14

Tuesday 20 March

In2 Hockey Regionals (A), U13 U3

Wednesday 21 March

Wellingborough, Netball (H) U12A U3, U12B U3

Bilton Grange, Hockey, (H) U13A L4

Saturday 24 March

Gresham’s Tournament, Hockey, (A) U13 L4

On Tuesday 13 March, 14 U6 girls travelled to the Scott Bader chemistry laboratories in Wollaston. We gained hands on experience of life as a chemist by completing several experiments. Firstly, we were given a health and safety briefing, then we were taught about the theory of the practicals we were about to do, and toured around the labs. We saw all the equipment available to identify compounds. Next, we got the chance to measure the pH of a mixture we made using a Bluetooth pH meter. We also tested the viscosity of the mixture using specialist equipment. For the second half of the practical, we synthesised a polymer and half of us added a cross-linking agent (MBA) – this turned our mixtures into something like jelly ice.

We would like to thank Dr Carr for accompanying us and organising the trip. It was a great treat to break up our revision.

Lara, U6

Last Friday six girls, two from Junior School and four from Senior School, went to the GDST Techathon at South Hampstead High School. The theme this year was music. We all had a very fun time and we all got a lot out of it.

When we arrived we had a lot of fun testing out the music technology they had for trialling. Since this year’s theme was music there were lots of different things related to music in tech. There were the big feet pianos, where you play piano with your feet. Also, something called Makey, Makey Kits. These kits caught the eye of Lizzie and I. Why? Because these kits connected to the computer by a crocodile wire. The other side of the crocodile wire was attached to a banana. Then all we had to do was hold one of the clips in our hands to make the connection, tap the banana and then the banana made a noise from the computer. This was really interesting.

Next we sat down at our tables and were given a warm speech from Emily Davis, who worked in the Classic FM stations. Her speech really inspired me. Our challenge for the day was announced: we had to make an app or website to help someone with their music careers or help them to learn. Ruby Howard in Year 10 had a very good idea to make an app to help people to practice their aural tests for exams, since there are not enough resources available. We split ourselves into groups to make: a PowerPoint, the App, the trailer and the logo for our product. We also took part in a workshop using an App called ‘Sampler’, where you could edit the sound of your voice to make music.

At the end of the day the judges looked at all the products and we got to see what the other schools had produced. There were some very exciting ideas and some that I would love to use to help me with my music.

Nikki Atife, Year 6

From 16 – 23 March 2018, we will be taking part in the GDST Girls Run The World Challenge, which has been organised by Croydon High School.

Approximately 19,000 pupils, 3,500 staff and 75,000 alumnae from the GDST family have been invited to take part in the challenge. Between us all, we will be walking, or running around the globe, along a route that has been calculated as 25,046.7miles.

Every pupil will run or walk a distance during Sport Relief week in their timetabled PE lessons and will be asked to donate a minimum of £2.

On Thursday, Film Studies students experienced first-hand the potential for a successful career in film special effects on a visit to Artem Studios in London. The company specialises in animatronics, models, pyrotechnics, prosthetics and props. They recently created all the live-action effects for ‘Paddington’ and ‘Paddington 2’. We were taken on a tour of the studio by Paul Gorrie, who started out in the business by creating the infamous helicopter crash in ‘The Matrix’. Paul told us the secrets of cinematic effects, demonstrating fire, wind and smoke as well as explaining the physics involved in small detonations that can make a bullet wound seem realistic and can explode a blueberry. We saw how snow is created on set and understood why hot water on film has to be simulated due to the effect of steam on the camera lens. Phoebe and Ezri showed how special props enable an actor to punch through glass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAjjr7Ika9k&sns=em) without hurting themselves. We saw an ‘Inception’ style circular camera rig that will enable Artem to film an actor sitting in a chair while the room spins round. Work experience will be offered through the link with Artem and allow our students to get a start in the exciting and expanding film industry.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the day and will now view films in a completely fresh way – I didn’t expect Artem to work with so many different types of special effects. I was particularly astonished by the incredibly life-like torso and head skin created by Artem in a horror film, with intricate and realistic cuts – we were told it had taken roughly four weeks to make.”
Beth Harris 6.2

“The Artem Trip was very exciting and showed a more creative side to film. It really proved that everyone can be a part of the film industry! We got a real insight to what goes on behind the scenes on a film set and saw how much work goes into tiny details in film.”
Amelia Simpson 6.2

“Visiting Artem Studios really opened my eyes to the ins and outs of filming. Whether it be pyrotechnics, atmospherics, or prosthetics, the effort, time, and consideration invested into each prop, big or small, was astounding. Even such a seemingly small thing as a campfire must be carefully controlled to be just right, to fit the wants of the director! The trip has further inspired me to pursue a career in the film industry. Thank you Ms Heimfeld for arranging the opportunity for us!”
Ezri Mannion 6.1

Ms Heimfield, Subject Leader Film

Northampton High -Senior Sportswear
As part of the school rebrand we are delighted that we have had the opportunity to update and renew the sports clothing, and would like to show everyone the new sports clothing. This will be available for all girls from September 2018. The in no requirement for girls to purchase the new kit but as they change their sports kit this is what the replacement items will be like. The compulsory warm layer will now be the cobalt blue mid-layer top and the optional warm layer which is currently the tracksuit top will be replaced with the soft shell jacket. We are sure that the girls will all really like the look, feel and warmth of the new kit as well as an improvement to the functionality of the garments. If you have any questions please contact me.

Click to download the PDF.

Mrs Hackett, Director of Sport

On Wednesday 14 March, the 6-1 Biology class visited the pathology labs in Northampton General Hospital. After being guided through a myriad of seemingly never ending corridors (which all happened to look the same), we reached the blood results lab where we were fascinated by machines sorting small tubes of blood. From time to time the tubes would drop unexpectedly drop out of another machine with a clunk, making the girl in front of it jump! We were also lucky enough to look down what was, in my opinion, a more advanced version of our school light microscopes, and we saw different types of blood cells. Lastly, we were taken up to the Microbiology Lab which was my favourite, as we were shown MRSA bacteria growing on petri dishes; apparently this was not as dangerous, nor as contagious, as the media made it out to be.

Overall, this was a very interesting trip as it allowed us to see more intimately a typical day of working in a hospital as well as some of the areas we wouldn’t normally have access to.

Matilda Ong 6C1

Imagine a world in which the Suffragettes failed and 100 years later women have yet to achieve the vote…
• Make an original short film of 2-3 minutes in length
• Prizes for KS2 (Years 5 & 6), KS3 (U3, L4 & U4), KS4 (L5 & U5) and KS5 (Sixth Form) entries
• Deadline: 20 April 2018

For more information see https://northamptonhigh.fireflycloud.net/film/nhs-film-competition or email l.heimfeld@nhs.gdst.net see Ms Heimfeld in C2.

A reminder about our clothing recycling facility at school. We have teamed up with Starlight Children’s Foundation, a charity that brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children, so that for every kilo of clothing and other items recycled, Starlight receives 10p and FoNHS receives 40p.

Through our recycling efforts over the last three or so years, we have raised over £2,000 for FoNHS so a huge thank you to everyone who uses the facility – over 5 tonnes of items going to good use (and possibly saved from landfill) and a huge boost to FoNHS funds at the same time, and we are also supporting Starlight’s incredible work with every kilo of items we recycle.

So if you can, please do consider using the recycling facility whenever you have a clear out. The collection “bank” is bright yellow and is situated on the pathway alongside the Junior School car park. The recycling company accepts all men’s, ladies’ and children’s clothing, paired shoes (tied together please), handbags, bags, ties, belts, towels and bedlinen. Any uniform carrying school or team logos is not accepted. Please put all items in a plastic bag before depositing them in case the bank is not watertight.

Thank you very much for your support.

FoNHS

The winning number for this week is Eve Welton with number 98.

Built by Roma Agrawal

Imagine you woke up one morning to find everything created by engineers had disappeared. What would you see?

No cars, no houses; no phones, bridges or roads. No tunnels under tidal rivers, no soaring skyscrapers. The impact that engineering has had on the human experience is undeniable, but it is also often invisible.

In BUILT, structural engineer Roma Agrawal takes a unique look at how construction has evolved from the mud huts of our ancestors to skyscrapers of steel that reach hundreds of metres into the sky. She unearths how engineers have tunnelled through kilometres of solid mountains; how they’ve bridged across the widest and deepest of rivers, and tamed Nature’s precious – and elusive – water resources. She tells vivid tales of the visionaries who created the ground breaking materials in the Pantheon’s record-holding concrete dome and the frame of the record-breaking Eiffel Tower. Through the lens of an engineer, Roma examines tragedies like the collapse of the Quebec Bridge, highlighting the precarious task of ensuring people’s safety they hold at every step.

Miss Buxton, School Librarian

The sporting highlights this week have been the U15 team who beat Quinton House emphatically 53-12 which meant that they have finished the season undefeated. The U12 A team put in a great performance on Wednesday beating Oundle School. We were delighted to host the GDST staff for cricket INSET on Thursday and are feeling very excited for the Summer term. Today we start the Sport Relief Mile and as GDST we are hoping to run the distance of the world, please all use our #GDSTgirlsruntheworld.

Parents are reminded that there will be no sports clubs before, or after school next week.

Mrs Hackett, Director of Sport

Netball

U12 A

On Wednesday 14 March, the U12 A team played Oundle School. We got off to a sensational start with our defense and attack playing fabulously and at the end of the first quarter we were 8-0 up! Continuing to play well, the shooters consisting of Evie King and Bella Spokes shooting every shot. Moving into the third quarter changes were made but not our playing mentality. We once again played exceptionally well. The score ended 24-10 with a great team effort which meant that we came out on top. Well done to all that played.

Phoebe Haynes, U12 A Captain

U12 B

On 12 March, the U12 B team played Oundle School. The team played well in the first quarter with good defending from Eliza Ali and Laibah Choudhary, keeping Oundle’s score low. Both our Centres (Grace Crowley and Harriet Williams) played extremely well, keeping the ball travelling up and down the court. On the attacking front there was good shooting from Grace Rivers-Lambert, Simran Sandu and Anjola Ogunsola . It didn’t always go our way, and at half time we were 2 points down. In the second half we brought it back and by the end we finished with a 7/7 draw. A very exciting game with Harriet Williams as our player of the match!

Cecily Bullock, U12 B Captain

U12 C

On 14 March, the U12 C team played their first ever match together against Oundle School. At first, we were getting used to playing as a team for the first time but as we went on we began to improve, which lead us to coming a close second with 8-5. Both teams played extremely well, and the player of the match for our team was Megan Do who scored an incredible 5 shots. We all enjoyed the match and well done to all who played!

Katie Maybin, U12 C Captain