October 2015

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This afternoon we closed the doors on Hazeldene for this half term. Already I feel the sense of new history being forged with your girls in House. Standing in the Common Area, I can easily hear the beautiful harmonies of our House song, see banners emblazoned with ‘Go Team Hazeldene’ made on the floor for House Hockey and recall the enduring smell of toast consumed at break time. This has perhaps been the busiest half term I have experienced in my eight years at Bromsgrove, but exhilarating – there is never a dull moment in this House! I am exceptionally proud to be houseparent to your daughters and would like to take this opportunity to outline some of the many successes we have had in House in the past month.

Whilst a chronological approach might seem sensible, I have to start with our crowning glory of the term: Hazeldene winning this year’s House Song competition. After weeks of rehearsing and practicing, from orchestral parts to chorus work and dance moves, last Tuesday we finally took to the stage in the Arena to perform our rendition of ‘Summertime Sadness’ by Lana Del Rey. Having watched the girls constantly enhance and improve the quality of this piece throughout the term, I felt quietly confident in our chances beforehand, and knew the hard work they had put into it had resulted in a strong entry. Watching them on stage, they went above and beyond – it was magical. If you have not yet seen it yourselves, it can be viewed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25RhwhIMknQ





A special thanks has to go to the enviably calm Brittany Collie, our mastermind for the musical score, and our inspirational Conductor. She worked especially hard on this and had many sleepless nights worrying about doing it justice. Additionally, thanks to Taome Jennings, our Coordinator of the Arts, whose organisation and presence in House motivated everyone to be prompt and sing! Alice Elt likewise ran many of the rehearsals, sharing her musical talents with the House to help their precision in the song. Our band also deserve special mention: Katie Moore on drums, Daisy Scott and Anya Sharma-James on violin, Heidi Collie on bass guitar, Sasha Johnston on acoustic guitar, and Miss McCanlis as our pianist (though Esme Weston did a sterling job in rehearsals too). Something that resonated me more than the Song itself perhaps was the amazing spirit and sense of tradition instilled in your girls. From holding hands on the journey from House to the Arena to the 6th Formers wearing their House ties as headbands in the performance, the House song has particular memories for all our girls. The chants of ‘We Love you, Hazel, We Do’ were echoing throughout the House on our victorious return after the verdict.


This week also saw the House Hockey Competitions for 2015-16. On Wednesday, our Senior Teams played for the Cup and the Plate. Having spent our lunchtimes in a ‘banner extravaganza’ to create some beautiful artwork to rally our troops on with, the teams were excited to play. They competed with energy and zest, but were sadly defeated; the Cup team came in third place, and the Plate team in second place. Well done to all the girls who took part: Cup – Olivia Robbins, Anastasia Brantingham, Esme Weston, Emily Coleman, Alianne Silk, Charlotte Goodall, Megan Longden, Hannah Sparkes (GK), Anna Murray and Claire Humphries. Plate – Imogen Sapstead, Sophie Greensmith, Brittany Collie, Taome Jennings, Abbi Davis, Jemma Salmon, Alice Elt, Ellie Day and Nathalie Plummer.

  








This Thursday, the Junior House Hockey Competition also took place. With our supporters once again lining the astro, our girls showed some incredible skills, especially from our new L4 recruits. It was a challenging set of matches; in the Cup, we initially lost our first match. This galvanized the team, and with greater fire and determination, they increased their intensity and won our final match 3-0, putting us into 1st place on goal difference. Elated, our winners celebrated in hilarious style with Jess Fullard running through the newly created banners as ticker tape! A wonderful memory. Our Plate team equally fared well; with some intense huddles to confer on strategy after each match, they showed their skills too and also managed to secure a win for the House. This, coupled with House Song, has made for an exceptionally memorable (and successful!) week in Hazeldene history. A huge congratulations to our Junior teams: Cup - Ella Longden, Mollie Trow, Ella Gardner, Grace Grenfell, Jess Fullard, Heidi Collie (GK), Martha Edge, Fleur Gallagher, Siena Horton and Kitty Luscombe. Plate – Grace Harker, Lauren Whensley, Kiren Doyle, Jade Jenkins, Maddie Bache, Isabella Breithaupt, Abigail Mitchell, Beth Hambling, Anya Sharma-James, Olivia Dalby and Lauren Court.


In case everything House-orientated seems somewhat extra-curricular, we have also had a really positive start to the year in academic matter. I wish to congratulate the girls on their grades this half term; they are nearly all working to a very high standard and have settled in well to routines. Thank you for your continued support with them, and in the help and guidance you provide at home. I would be appreciative if you could ensure all communications come through the House, either through myself as houseparent or through your daughter’s tutor, to ensure we are kept fully informed of the academic wellbeing and progress of your child. This half-term Cara Houlcroft and Abbi Davis received the Headmaster’s Commendations and deserve a special mention; many girls were additionally awarded School Commendations for their efforts – well done.

Many of the girls have shown their determination and dedication, in completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Those awarded with Silver this term include: Kara Doyle, Josie Wiklund, Amy Staniland, Imogen Slater, Ellie Miners, Sasha Johnston, Emily Coleman, Kate Allely, Abbi Davis, Esme Weston, and Alianne Silk. Bronze Awards were additionally awarded to Courtney-Mae Neuberg and Holly Foster, in addition to the many girls who achieved them earlier this half-term.

Individual sporting successes cannot be overlooked; Beth Hambling has continued to show prowess on the Badminton court winning Silver in Singles in the U17s Worcester Badminton England Tournament on Saturday 10th October and acquiring Bronze in Singles and Gold in Doubles in the U17s at Gloucester on Sunday 4th October. Candy Lockett has continued to move from strength to strength in Athletics, perfecting her hammer throw and shot to achieve new personal bests throughout the Athletics’ Season, especially with her National Level silver medal, throwing over 50 metres in the Girls’ Hammer. Siena Horton has been selected to represent GBR with the British Ski and Snowboard Youth Alpine Team at the international races scheduled in Andorra from 23rd -29th January 2016.

Musically, we saw further individual successes in October. At the Informal Concert in the Old Chapel, Olivia Dalby sang a delightful version of ‘I’m not that Girl’ from Wicked on the 8th October. At this year’s Scholar’s Concert on 1st October in Routh Hall, Anya Sharma-James made her Senior school debut with ‘Black Coffee’ on the piano; Heidi Collie performed a violin duet, playing ‘Palladio’, and Brittany Collie, in her final year as a Scholar, played Georgia Vale’s ‘Courante’ on the violin. Music certificates were also awarded, including to Anya Sharma James for Grade 5 Trombone, with Distinction.

In Drama, casting is now complete for the main school production, ‘Sweeney Todd’. We are thrilled to have many talented actresses in the House to rival our sporty ladies – Brittany Collie, Katie Moore and Rachel Xuereb have all been cast in ‘Sweeney Todd’, to be performed at the Artrix in March 2016. Our 4th Form girls have also had success, in being selected to be in the cast of our Fourth Form production of Patrick Marber’s The Musicians for National Theatre’s Connections Festival. This will perform in school in late February, then transfer to the Birmingham REP in May. Cast: Taylor Williams, Lauren Court, Hannah Jones, Maddie Lee, Lily-Rose Faulkner-Schuett, Abbie Gill, Anya Sharma-James, Gabriella Brown.

As the leaves have turned golden yellows and rich reds, so we celebrated the changing seasons with our Harvest Festival. Thank you for all your generous offerings and donations. There was lovely singing in the Anthem in particular from our Choristers in the House. Additional thanks needs to go to Sophie Greensmith for her work collecting money for our Own Clothes’ Day last Friday, in support of Cystic Fibrosis UK.

We held our first House Event, the Scavenger Hunt and Great Hazeldene Bake Off, on September 18th with hotdogs, samosas, salads and a well-stocked bar to boot. The girls had a fantastic time hunting down the locations to 30 different clues across the school campus, from the obvious (‘The place where Christmas Tree typically goes’) to the subtle (‘The place where the Head Boy and Head Girl could live if they were married’). Mrs Golightly and her nearly won, but it was Kara Doyle, Amy Staniland, Charlotte Goodall and Ellie Miners who were the overall winners, for their creative interpretations of some clues. We were utterly spoilt by the amazing array of cakes and deserts contributed. Our celebrity judge, the Mary Berry of the school perhaps, was Mrs Hallows, the Head of Senior School’s wife. She tested and tried everything, and whilst it was a difficult decision, it was Maddie Bache’s delectable coffee and tiramisu cupcakes that won the day, awarding her our specially-created Hazeldene Star Baker apron. A huge thanks to our PA, for their efforts and support in arranging the evening. A special thanks to Mrs Sharma-James and Mrs Goodall for catering the event – the food was a particular highlight and absolutely delicious – and to Mrs Wiklund and Mr Spurgin for their work behind the scenes in marketing and coordinating the event. Thank you to all the parents and students who attended and helped make this such a successful evening.






The minutes from this half-term’s PA Meeting will be circulated in a separate newsletter, with further details of our Snow Ball in January.

Our L4 enjoyed their Malvern Hills Walk, we have had German Exchanges in House, CCF Field Weekends, DofE training, Regional and Country netball and hockey sessions attended by our girls, and guiding on Open Mornings by our L6. They have all managed to stay enthusiastic about school in spite of the physical exertions placed on them. They deserve a holiday, certainly.




The Best Decorated Study Noticeboard competition also occurred, with some stunning entries in particular. Krispy Kreme doughnuts were awarded to the winners, our L6 Study, for their beautiful collage of photos; the runners-up were our U4th Study who also enjoyed a few Krispy Kreme’s too. The U4th have their eyes firmly set on the gold this Christmas when decorating their studies… I sense a friendly rivalry emerging! Filming took place in House for the new school video prospectus, capturing life at break and with students enjoying cups of tea in their studies; for those captured on film, they will find it a lovely way to remember their time at school.

Next half term we have a pizza and karaoke night to look forward to, Laser Quest trips, Christmas market trips, carolling and much, much more!

I would like to thank all the Tutors for their hard work and effort, in helping your daughters to achieve their potential and in supporting them pastorally. UCAS applications have dominated Mr Williams and Miss Tansley’s time in particular; I thank them especially for the extra work this takes, with nearly half of the U6 having sent off their applications. Excitingly, offers are already starting to trickle in… I would also like to thank Zoe our wonderful Housekeeper. Reliable and organised, she is a delight to have in the House to help and support our girls, ensuring their environment is as friendly and tidy as possible.

If you have any issues, queries or wish to share any of your daughter's successes with me, please do not hesitate to contact me. My email address is lmckee@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

I hope you and your families have a restful and relaxing half term.

With best wishes,

Lucy McKee
Houseparent of Hazeldene