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High News
High News 16 November 2018
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Those of us old enough to remember Chernobyl will recall the sinister grip of fascination it had over us at the time – an unthinkable disaster, a silent, invisible threat to life, an early harbinger of the collapse of a crumbling regime in the USSR. Few are able to say that they saw at first hand the devastation of that world-changing event, let alone that they were instrumental in ensuring that lessons were learnt from it by governments worldwide. What a privilege, then, to hear Professor Helen ApSimon, Alumna of Northampton High and internationally renowned expert on air pollution, at our Awards Evening last Friday. Her address to students, parents and staff ranged across many topics – the impact of her schooldays, the immense variety and challenge encompassed in her extraordinary career, the importance of volunteering.
Recalling the influence upon her of one of her teachers, who encouraged her into a life in Science at a time when this was a highly unusual path for a woman to take, Professor ApSimon reminded us of the importance of such role models in feeding our ambitions and shaping our destinies. For teachers, this is one of the greatest privileges (and responsibilities) of the role, and Awards Evening is a suitable occasion to honour the contribution my colleagues make in this way. Helen wears her great learning lightly, as she does the eminence she has achieved in a career spanning over fifty years, which has earned her a CBE and other accolades.
Accolades are, of course, part and parcel of the occasion, as we celebrate the achievements and contributions of our current students and most recent leavers. In keeping with our ethos of valuing the 360˚ person, we recognised attainment, progress and contribution in the full spectrum of school activities from academic to volunteering via the creative and sporting.
In an evening brim full of proud moments, two particular highlights shone out. The first was the sight of our 2018 leavers crossing the stage to collect their certificates and awards, marking their transition from students to Alumnae, and receiving the salutations of the school community on their successes. In the dozen paces it took for them to make that journey, I recalled the story of each individual – an array of talents and interests, of hurdles surmounted and experiences shared. Every one of them is ready to pursue her own unique path and make a positive difference.
The second was the inauguration of our Governors’ Cup for Volunteering, presented by the Chair, Mrs Deirdre Newham, to Teni Ramos in recognition of her outstanding contribution to communities in Uganda and her hometown, Milton Keynes, as well as in school. Teni was a truly worthy winner, and the knowledge that the list of possible recipients for the Award was very long indeed gives rise to great optimism about the future, when the next generation of leavers strides out into the world to become the women leaders of tomorrow.
Dr Stringer
Headmistress
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Week Ahead
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Monday 19 November
Demeter Bath Treat Charity Sale and Raffle
U5 Consultation Evening
Tuesday 20 November
Demeter Bath Treat Charity Sale and Raffle
Sixth Form Psychology in Action Trip
Reading to Relax – L4S
Wednesday 21 November
Demeter Bath Treat Charity Sale and Raffle
Reading to Relax – U4N
Thursday 22 November
Demeter Bath Treat Charity Sale and Raffle
The Time is Now Sixth Form Conference
Friday 23 November
Demeter Bath Treat Charity Sale and Raffle
Film/Business Trip to Warner Brothers
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Wednesday 21 November
Hockey Sevens Girls – U11B vs Winchester House (A)
Hockey Sevens Girls – U11D vs Winchester House (A)
Hockey Sevens Girls – U11C vs Winchester House (A)
Hockey Sevens Girls – U13A vs Winchester House (H)
Hockey Sevens Girls – U13C vs Winchester House (H)
Thursday 22 November
Swimming Girls – U14A vs Warwick 100 (A)
Swimming Girls – U16A vs Warwick 100 (A)
Swimming Girls – U18A vs Warwick 100 (A)
Friday 23 November
Hockey Girls 0 U14A vs GDST Bath Weekend (A)
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Awards Evening 2018
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Pioneering Women was the theme of our 2018 Awards Evening held last Friday in the School’s 140th anniversary year. Indeed, as Dr Stringer writes in her editorial for this year’s Highlights compendium, the establishment of Northampton High School in 1878 was itself a pioneering event; 40 years before women gained the vote and 70 years before women were able to graduate from Cambridge University.
It is always a delight to welcome back our leavers from last year and to hear all about the many adventures they have already embarked upon in that short space of time. The evening is a fitting ending to, and celebration of, their time at the High School.
Our pioneering students were awarded so many, varied prizes and certificates during the ceremony and we could see all subject areas and a wide range extra-curricular areas covered. In addition to the prizes and certificates gained for achieving highly in a particular area, we also recognised those students who have given back, through service, to the community of the school, the town and further afield. We were delighted, this year, to award the new Governors’ Cup to Teni Ramos in recognition of the vast range of volunteering she has undertaken during her time at school.
The presentation of Awards was interspersed with two artistic performances; the first being two monologue performances by Grace Gee and Ezri Mannion. The second was a beautiful Kohler piece, Study No. 10 performed by Katie Ratcliffe. All three, pioneering young women in the field of the Arts.
But the final word on pioneering has to be about our guest speaker and alumna of the school, Professor Helen ApSimon, CBE who could not have given a more powerful yet understated account of her extraordinary life and career. From her research into the transport of radiation, in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, to her work with the United Nations, she is an expert on Air Pollution and a pioneer in her field of work. I am certain that her speech will have given our students much inspiration and confidence to stride out ahead in whatever their chosen field.
Thank you all who attended the Awards Evening and make it a fitting celebration of the students’ achievements.
To view more photos from the event, please click here
Mrs ODoherty
Deputy Head (Pastoral Care & Guidance)
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140th Birthday Gala Concert tickets available now
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On Friday 7 December at 7pm, we are delighted to be able to host our 140thBirthday Gala Concert at All Saints’ Church in the heart of Northampton. The concert is a collaboration between pupils and staff of Northampton High with The Orchestra of the Swan, an English professional chamber orchestra of international renown, based in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The Orchestra of the Swan is the Resident Orchestra at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and we have enjoyed a number of collaboration events with this ensemble at Northampton High in the past.
This event promises to be a magical musical celebration, hosted at All Saints’ Church, which was historically the spiritual home of the High School. Northampton High girls and the Northampton High Community Chamber Choir will be performing alongside Concert Master and violinist, David Le Page, and Rebekah von Lipinski, making for an evening not to be missed!
Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (children and seniors) and are limited, so please secure your tickets as soon as you can. Tickets are not required for girls performing in the concert. To book your tickets, please go to: https://www.trybooking.co.uk/GUF
We look forward to spending the evening with you at this finale event of our 140th Birthday Year.
Mr Nash
Marketing and Communications Officer
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Children in Need Cookie and Sweetie sale a success!
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During break time today, we were happy to be able to hold a Cookie and Sweet bag sale, all in aid of Children in Need.
We are delighted to announce that from this event, we raised a massive £141.40! Thank you to all who supported us during this event for your continued support.
Mrs McCue
Catering and Hospitality Manager
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Thank you from the Equestrian Team
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The Northampton High School Equestrian Team would like to say a huge thank you to RB Equestrian for their generous sponsorship.
RB Equestrian have kindly agreed to sponsor the latest addition to our kit, the new silk hats, in the High School colours. We debuted them as a squad at last month’s Eventer Challenge at Beachborough as seen below.
Thank you RB Equestrian!
Mrs Hodgetts-Tate
Head of Science Faculty
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School Sport
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Wow, what a busy week for our School Hockey teams! The highlight from last Saturday was a superb win for the U15A team, securing a comprehensive 3-1 victory against Wellingborough. This week, the U13B team put on argubly the performance of the day, winning 2-0 against a strong Beachborough. However, the highlight without a doubt was the amazing performance of the U14 team at the tier 2 Midlands Zonal Finals. The girls beat Leicester Grammar School and Kings’ High to finish winners and now progress to the regional finals. Congratulations girls, a remarkable achievement!
Mrs Hackett
Director of Sport
Hockey
On Thursday, the U14 Hockey team played a Midland Hockey zonal round against two very strong teams; the first of these was against Leicester Grammar. Scoring one goal in the early minutes, we stayed strong with another goal at the end of the first half. After many attempts on goal and some amazing saves from goalie Georgia Milburn, Leicester unfortunately scored a goal. Forgetting about the goal we played strongly until the end of the match, and ended on a 2-1 win. In our second match against Kings’ High we had a strong first half with 3 goals scored. In the second half, we unfortunately let in a goal finishing on a 3-1 win. With wins in both matches we advance to the next round. Well done girls!
Eve
U14 Hockey Captain
On Saturday, the U15 Hockey team took on Wellingborough. We had a slow start to the game just taking a few minutes to wake up, and our opposition had the majority of the possession – but we didn’t let this faze us. Our stand-in keeper, Charlotte Morris, made some great saves and we continued to work the ball up. Despite the ball getting into our attacking d a few times, we struggled to take our chances in the first half. Within the first few minutes of the second half, we conceded a goal, however, instead of letting this get us down, we used it to spur us on. We worked well as a team to get the ball up and quickly managed to score. We continued to play hard and kept the energy up, tightening up our passes and using every opportunity we had. Due to this, we were able to score another two goals and win, with the final score being 3-1. A special well done should go to Charlotte Morris who stood in last minute as goalie to gain opposition’s player of the match, as well as Izzy Pearson who won player’s player.
Jodie
U15 Hockey Captain
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Book Review
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Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
No one is better equipped in the struggle for wealth and worldly success than the alluring and ruthless Becky Sharp, who defies her impoverished background to clamber up the class ladder. Her sentimental companion Amelia, however, longs only for caddish soldier George. As the two heroines make their way through the tawdry glamour of Regency society, battles – military and domestic – are fought, fortunes made and lost. The one steadfast and honourable figure in this corrupt world is Dobbin with his devotion to Amelia, bringing pathos and depth to Thackeray’s gloriously satirical epic of love and social adventure.
Miss Buxton
School Librarian
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Northampton High School
Newport Pagnell Road, Hardingstone Northampton NN4 6UU
T: 01604 765765 nhsadmin@nhs.Gdst.Net
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