High News 7 December 2018

Monday 10 December
Senior School Assembly – LAMDA Christmas Readings
Junior School Dress Rehearsal
GDST Day of Dance (A)
Rome Trip Parents’ Information Evening

Tuesday 11 December
Key Stage 2 Christmas Celebration: Straw and Order

Wednesday 12 December
Senior School Christmas Jumper Day

Thursday 13 December
Sixth Form Mocktails & Mince Pies for Staff
Big Sister-Little Sister Christmas Party
School Production Rehearsals

Friday 14 December
Celebration of Giving
Junior School Christmas Jumper Day
House Plays
Junior School Christmas Parties
Term Ends

Saturday 15 December
U3/L4 Ski Trip

Sunday 16 December
U3/L4 Ski Trip

On Monday 3 December, a select group of girls from GDST schools were invited to attend one of the premier events in women’s sport – the BT Sports Action Women Awards. In an event that recognises excellence and celebrates inspiring females, it was very fitting that Northampton High pupil, Ellie Robinson, was invited to attend the prestigious ceremony.

Ellie, accompanied by Mrs Hackett, Director of Sport, was one of seven GDST students invited to attend the awards in recognition of their sporting achievement over the past calendar year. Ellie added Commonwealth Gold to her impressive trophy cabinet earlier in the year, another outstanding achievement in the young career of the Paralympic Gold medallist.

Ellie and her peers were invited to a personal reception at the BT studios, based at the Olympic Park, ahead of the start of the event, and had the opportunity to talk to and seek advice from their heroes, including two time Olympic Gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold and Commonwealth Gold medallist Dina Asher-Smith.

Asher-Smith was named BT Sport Action Woman of the Year 2018 in the televised ceremony that followed, where Ellie and the rest of the GDST students were given a special mention by host, Clare Balding, who stated they were ‘stars of the future’. Ellie gave a fantastic interview, talking about how women are ‘breaking down barriers’ in sport and how this is inspiring young athletes like herself to strive to achieve their dreams.

A special occasion full of memorable moments and inspiration for Ellie and her peers, as we look forward to another prosperous year in women’s sport in 2019.

Mr Nash
Marketing & Communications Officer

On Wednesday, students of Northampton High were treated to a special event, as Mrs Hodgetts-Tate and the Science department hosted their now annual Ele-Mental Chemis-Tree Science Extravaganza.

In a mind blowing event, Mrs Hodgetts-Tate told the audience the story of a typical Christmas day in her family home, and brought the story to life by showcasing a series of mesmorising scientific experiments.

A captivated audience were left ‘ooooooing’ and ‘aaahhhhhing’ after each of the 16 experiments, showcasing colour changing potions, big bangs and the biggest sliver bauble you have ever seen!

A fantastic event which left all in attendance enthralled. Stay tuned as we will be bringing you a video of the event next week, but for the meantime, please see below a picture of Mr Turney demonstrating an experiment named ‘Here comes the funshine!’

Mr Nash
Marketing & Communications Officer

On the 30 November, six L5 and eleven U5 students went to the Good Food Show in Birmingham. When we arrived, we split off into groups and explored the stalls. Our favourite stalls we visited were the Chinese, biscotti and cheese. We watched demonstrations on how to use some of the gadgets and the equipment.

When we finished looking around the different stalls we had lunch and went to watch a food show with Nadiya Hussain. She made date and orange crescents as well as spinach and paneer kati rolls.

It was an amazing experience and we would all really recommend it.

Maaya and Anna
L5

On Wednesday this week, GCSE Drama candidates had their Component One devised practical examination. As part of this examination, the girls performed an original piece of theatre inspired from a stimulus, and all groups demonstrated excellent performance skills.

Also this week, our L5 students performed their mock practical, which gave them a flavour of what to expect next year. Well done everyone!

Please click here to view more photos.

Mrs Care
Director of Theatre

This week started with an exciting evening at the BT Action Woman Sports Awards, at the BT studios based at the Olympic Park. Ellie Robinson and I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening chatting to elite sportswomen such as Lizzy Yarnold, the England Netball Team, as well as a chance to talk to Clare Balding and gain some valuable advice media advice. A memorable evening celebrating the achievements of some truly inspiring sportswomen.

Yesterday at the District Cross County, all girls ran really very well. We had five top ten finishes with the highlights being Ruby Curtis-Free finishing 8^th in the Under 13s and Lucy Shepherd finishing 7^th in the Under 15 age groups.

We look forward to our last matches of the season tomorrow against Princethorpe College. We will not be running any sports clubs next week before or after school, however you can look forward to next term’s extracurricular timetable, distributed this week via SchoolComms. Sports clubs will start next term on Monday 7 January.

Mrs Hackett
Director of Sport

Cross Country

On Thursday 6 December, three teams competed in the District Cross Country Championships. We are delighted with the excellent performances by all the girls who ran in almost ideal conditions, despite being a little slippy under foot and with the threat of rain at any time.

The top 16 usually qualify for the next round at West Glebe Park, Wellingborough on Saturday 19 January. Well done to all who competed, results as follows:

Mrs Littlewood
Teacher of P.E

The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Mila and her sisters live with their brother Oskar in a small forest cabin in the snow. One night, a fur-clad stranger arrives seeking shelter for himself and his men. But by the next morning, they’ve gone – taking Oskar with them. Fearful for his safety, Mila and her sisters set out to bring Oskar back – even it means going north, crossing frozen wild-lands to find a way past an eternal winter.

Miss Buxton
School Librarian

This evening from at 7pm, we are delighted to host our 140^th Birthday 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 Rebecca 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. Tickets are available on the door at All Saints Church this evening.

We look forward to spending the evening with you at this finale event of our 140th Birthday Year.

Mr Nash
Marketing and Communications Officer