High News 18 May 2018

Monday 21 May

L5 Internal Exams
6.1 Internal Exams
U3/L4 Internal Exams
A Level Art Exam

Tuesday 22 May

L5 Internal Exams
6.1 Internal Exams
U3/L4 Internal Exams
A Level Art Exam
Junior School Inter-House Debate
Year 6 Welcome Evening

Wednesday 23 May

L5 Internal Exams
6.1 Internal Exams
U3/L4 Internal Exams
A Level Art Exam

Thursday 24 May

L5 Internal Exams
6.1 Internal Exams
U3/L4 Internal Exams
Whole School Production Rehearsal
6.2 Leavers Reception

Friday 25 May

L5 Internal Exams
6.1 Internal Exams
U3/L4 Internal Exams
Research Breakfast
6.2 A Level Study Leave Begins

Please note that there are no sports fixtures this week

U5 celebrated their last formal day of KS4 before their study leave began on Thursday 10 May, by concentrating on final subject revision sessions in P1-6.

However, there was time to celebrate their memories too, with girls enjoying breakfast in form rooms with tutors before an impromptu year group dance at break time, followed by a lunchtime edition of ‘Bad Education’ in the quad with guest members of staff appearing as princesses to be captured.

In the afternoon, Rena Baines’ superb video of memories moved us all to laughter and tears, and we finished with ice cream, shirt signing, more photos and a final dance together. We wish the U5 the best of luck for written GCSE examinations, which began on Monday, and look forward to welcoming them back for Sixth Form Induction in June and the next stage of their journey.

Mrs Mason, Teacher of Classics

The aim of a social enterprise is to tackle social problems. Where the business profits, the society profits. Our aim was to help local women in need, and in a search for a charity to support, we came across Baby Basics; a project ‘aiding new mothers who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby’. Baby Basics provides much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families who are unable to provide these items for themselves; including but not limited to teenage mums, people seeking asylum and women fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking.

As part of our work for this charity, we held a bake sale with goods kindly donated by Central Foods Ltd. The hugely popular event was a massive success, and we would love to thank everyone who donated to this wonderful cause.

We are proud to announce that soon we will launch our collection for Baby Basics. We will have a collection basket outside the staff room where we would be so grateful if you could kindly donate any old baby toys, nappies, bottles or anything you think could help a vulnerable baby in need. Any donations would be so appreciated and would go to a loving home. We will also have wrist bracelets if you wish to donate any loose change and take one to support Baby Basics.

The Social Enterprise Team: Sadie, Ezri, Imy, Maya, Ellie, Kerryn

Last week, Northampton High School students from U3 paid a visit to the residents of St Christopher’s Care Home in Northampton, as part of the School’s Outreach programme. The girls were really excited to meet the residents and talk to them about their lives and experiences, and they were also keen to share their current eTwinning project with the people there, which is titled ‘Don’t judge a person by their face’.

“The aim of our visit was to find out what kindness means to others. We found out that to the residents, kindness means helping them with everyday life and generally being kind.”

As well as this, other topics for discussion were talking about how the girls celebrated ‘Kindness Day’ and ‘Inclusion, what it means to others’. The pupils found it to be a very rewarding experience, and loved the time they spent with the residents at St Christopher’s – and they even had the chance to talk to a former Northampton High Headmistress who resides there!

We thank all of the lovely people at St Christopher’s for their time and hospitality, and we hope we can come back and visit you all again soon!

Please follow the below link to view a video the girls put together about their day:

https://vimeo.com/269580475

Mrs Diez, MFL Teacher

On Saturday 12 May, Mrs Jones and her friends took part in this year’s Moonwalk, an event designed to help raise funds to charities close to the entrants’ hearts.

Having to walk a gruelling 26.2 miles, Mrs Jones was able to raise a staggering £1,800 for Breast Cancer Research, and had this to say about her achievement:

“A group of eight ladies took part in this years Moonwalk. I can honestly say it’s the hardest thing I have ever done, walking 26.2 miles through the night in our bras. So far we have raised just over £1800 for Breast Cancer Research, which is absolutely fantastic”.

Mrs McCue, Catering and Hospitality Manager

The draw date for the South Africa Tour 50-50 club is fast approaching!

Letters have been sent to all parents but if you would like more information then please contact the PE department.

Remember, the more tickets we sell the higher the prize money!

Mrs Ford, Teacher of Physical Education

To Be a Machine by Mark O’Connell – Wellcome Book Prize Winner 2018

What is transhumanism? Simply put, it is a movement whose aim is to use technology to fundamentally change the human condition, to improve our bodies and minds to the point where we become something other, and better, than the animals we are. In To Be a Machine, Mark O’Connell journeys down the rabbit hole and presents us with the first full-length explorartion of transhumanism: its philosophical and scientific roots, its key players and what it might mean for our possible futures.

https://www.waterstones.com/category/cultural-highlights/book-awards/the-wellcome-book-prize

Miss Buxton, School Librarian

We are delighted to announce that we have entered into partnership with Northampton Swimming Club to run the Queen’s Cross Swimming School from our own swimming pool from September 2018. We will be offering swimming lessons for all levels, which, where appropriate, will then feed into the Northampton Swimming Club coaching programme.

Lessons will run from Tuesday to Friday from 3.45 – 5.15 pm and will be split into three 30-minute sessions daily. Lessons will also run on a Saturday morning. Northampton Swimming Club will employ all swimming teachers, and they will all be qualified to the ASA swimming teacher requirements.

If you are interested in booking a place for your daughter or would like more information, please call 01604 622264 or email coach.smith@northamptonswimming.com.

140th Anniversary Charity Ball

There are still a few tickets available for the FoNHS 140th Anniversary Charity Ball on Saturday 16 June.  Don’t miss out! Please contact either the Junior or Senior School offices for an application form.

The ball is a fundraiser for School and The Cynthia Spencer Hospice. Raffle and auction prizes would be much appreciated; if you are able to donate any prizes, please contact Mrs Esther Sooriah – nhsadmin@nhs.gdst.net.

Family Fun Day – Save the Date!

In conjunction with FoNHS, we are hosting a whole school Family Fun Day on Saturday 30 June 2018 as part of our 140th Anniversary celebrations. Make sure you save the date, more information to follow soon!

Mr Urquhart, Head of Junior School

Our cricket teams have faced very strong opposition this week and have fought well, learning a number of lessons which they can now build on in the coming weeks.

We are looking forward to the Inter-House swimming galas next week for Upper 3 and Lower 4, and know this is always a hotly contested House competition.

A reminder that the are no sports clubs taking place next week before or after school due to school exams, but the fitness suite will be open as normal until 5pm.

Mrs Hackett, Director of Sport

Athletics

On Wednesday 9 May, the U17 and U15 Athletics teams traveled to Rugby to compete in the District Athletics Championships at the Ken Marriott Stadium. Temperatures were ideal with the weather cooling down from the past few days highs. Some of the most notable performances to mention from the teams were as follows:

U15:
Lucy Shepherd 1^st in the 200m and 3^rd in the 75m Hurdles
Matilda Neuhoff 3^rd in the 1500m
Radhika Pandya 3^rd in the Long Jump
Hannah Gibson 4^th in the High Jump
The relay team finished in a very respectable 4^th

A combined effort from the whole team resulted in the U15s coming 4^th out of 12 competing schools.

U17:
Georgina Forde-Wells came 1^st in the High Jump with a PB of 1m 56cm,
Alicia Breuer 3^rd in the Long Jump
Olivia Foster 3^rd in the Discus
Georgina Forde-Wells 3^rd in the Shot
Anna Sighbodlha 3^rd in the 200
Chloe Mercer 4^th in the 80m Hurdles
The relay team finished in 3rd position

A combined effort from the whole team resulted in the U17s coming 4^th out of 11 competing schools.  Congratulations to all the girls who competed, with a special mention going to Lucy and Georgina who qualified to represent the District on Saturday 9 June at the County Championships.

Mrs Littewood, PE Teacher

Skeet

Congratulations to Kirstin in 6J2 who competed in the 3rd Welsh Selection Shoot for Olympic Skeet over the weekend.

Kirstin smashed the minimum score to be considered for the National Team, and she now looks forward to attending her next selection shoot after her exams, which should seal her place in the Welsh OSK team.

Congratulations Kirstin on a fantastic achievement!

Mrs Hackett, Director of Sport

Do you enjoy making music with like minded people? Would you like to have fun, develop your singing skills in a relaxed, friendly environment?

The Northampton High Community Chamber Choir would like to hear from you. We meet once a week, 7.30-9.00pm in School and sing everything from Coldplay to Mozart, Paul Simon to Mendelsohn.

Ladies and gentlemen from our parent body, friends of the School and the wider community are most welcome, with or without previous choir experience. You don’t need to be able to read music; you just need to be able to carry a tune and be keen to join in.

To find out more please contact us via our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/198274523979162/ or email Mrs Arkell on e.arkell@nhs.gdst.net.

As you will be aware, we have been in the process of designing and ordering our new sports kit for the upcoming academic year.

We are now delighted to be able to show you the finished article! We are really happy with the products and we are sure you will be too. The items are on display in the Sports Centre foyer, so please feel free to pop along and take a closer look!

Mrs Hackett, Director of Sport