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HIGHCLARE CELEBRATES 75 YEARS IN STYLE

Highclare School in Sutton Coldfield celebrated 75 years of educating young people in the town, this week.  Big celebrations were staged on all three of Highclare’s sites, for current pupils and staff on Friday 14th September, the exact day the school opened in 1932.  Then on Saturday evening a Reunion for all past pupils and staff was held at Highclare The Abbey the school’s Junior and Senior site in Erdington.

The celebrations for current pupils on Friday included a Thanks Giving service, and then a tree planting, which will also include planting 75 bulbs on each site.   Pupils were then treated to their very own party celebrations, finishing in the afternoon with party cake, a commemorative gift and balloons.

On Saturday, past pupils and staff gathered to celebrate and reminisce.   Many had travelled many miles  – from places as far afield as Cornwall, Shropshire, Bedfordshire and even Shanghai. Some had left the school in a very different era, as far back as 1938, and some much more recently.  Entertainment was provided by current members of the school’s musical ensembles. Later Mrs Bullock, who taught music herself at the school for many years entertained everyone by reminding them of the many different shows and musicals the school had performed over the years.

Mrs Viles, Headmistress said “The school has a very rich history in Sutton Coldfield and everyone has enjoyed celebrating the school’s achievements over the last 75 years.  Looking forward we are now working towards many new initiatives and hope that the high standards current pupils are achieving will be celebrated in the future”.

The school now has an active Alumni Association, which we hope will now be able to organise new and varied events to keep all our past pupils in touch with the school and their friends. 

 

              

 

                   

French Exchange Trip to Dreux - May 2007

In March nine Highclare girls participated in an exchange with the Institut St. Pierre-St Paul in the town of Dreux in France.

This is the fourth time Highclare girls have taken part in this successful French exchange with boys from Bishop Vesey Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield.

The French group came to Sutton in March and participated in a wide range of activities including a visit to The Black Country Museum, a day in Stratford and Warwick Castle and a meeting with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. They were also shown around the Abbey site and were very impressed by the Interactive Whiteboards.

The Highclare girls and two teachers went to France in May. They had a very enjoyable time visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, Parc Asterix, Chartres Catedral and Rouen. They tried to practise their French and sampled the delights of French cuisine!

 

            

 

 

Morocco Trip - October 2007

I really enjoyed the trip to Morocco as it was a lot of fun.

The best part of the trip was when we traveled across the desert to a place called Mezouga in the Sahara Desert.  We stopped in the middle of nowhere to get off the coach and into 4 wheel drives to set off across the bare sand on no apparent road. Only the next day did we see our unusual hotel surrounded by sand dunes.

We had breakfast overlooking miles and miles of sand, we swam in the hotel pool and tried to use a sand board on the sand dunes.

Then we went on the camel ride. We rode across the sand and up to the top of a dune where we stopped to watch the sunset which was very pretty. Even though we had fun on the camels it was a bit scary, especially the getting on and

I will have many memories of Morocco but my stay in the Sahara desert will be the most memorable.

M.W.

 

         

 

My trip to Morocco made me realise  how lucky I am. The culture  is very different to ours here in England. The food is different and they do not have big supermarkets like we have . There are many little corner shops which sell your every day needs. They are not really shops,  more like market stalls.   We went into the medina - a huge market with many narrow alleys where donkeys carrying goods have right of way.

If we had not had a guide we would still be finding our way out!

We went into one shop full of leather goods and from it we looked out over the area where they prepared and dyed the leather.

Spices and herbal treatments are all kept in large bottles.   When we bought some they were put into little packets.

Altogether it is a very different way of life.

D.B.

 

speech day smiles - 2006

Everyone was smiling at Highclare School on Friday evening, when the achievements of Senior School pupils past and present were celebrated at the School's Annual Speech Night and Prize Giving, held at the Ramada Jervis Hotel.

'Happiness' was the theme of the speech given by the Heasdmistress, Mrs Margaret Viles, whilst guest speaker for the evening, Dr Joann Fletcher, told pupils about her career in Egyptology, which has brought happiness since the tender age of 6 years old.

Four Highclare pupils were particularly happy too. They were presented with A level certificates and celebrated their total of 60 years at the school between them. Each of the four girls have been in the school since their introduction to the kindergarten class at the age of 3 and followed their studies at the school through to their success at A level last summer. Mrs Viles, Headmistress, said "It is lovely  to see how the girls have developed and flourished in the fifteen years they have spent with us. The Highclare ethos has prepared them well for the next stage of their lives".

Dr Fletcher gave pupils and their parents an insight into her now flourishing career as a journalist, author and historical advisor to the BBC, all of which has been driven by her love of Egyptology, emphasising that happiness is reached when you follow your dreams to their conclusion.

The success and achievements of every girl in the senior school were celebrated, and Dr Fletcher presented certificates and prizes for sports, music and drama, house trophies, and achievement and effort prizes.

 

spanish Club

During this school year Highclare has run a very successful Spanish Club.

As part of our enrichment programme, seven girls from the U5 & L5 have spent time after school each week learning some basic Spanish.

Prior to the Easter holidays, all of the girls: Hannah Watson, Rachael Canty, Rachel Palmer, Emily Collins, Lauren Starkey, Laura Milburn and Holly Evitt achieved Grade 1 at Breakthrough Level in the OCR Asset Languages Scheme in Spanish Reading, Writing and Listening.

Enhorabuena!

Well done!

  

SLEEPING BEAUTY - just a little different - Christmas 2006

The sixth formers at Highclare School took a break from their A level studies on the last day of term, in order to perform their version of 'Sleeping Beauty' for the rest of the school and staff. 

Lots of audience participation was well received by the rest of the school and staff alike.   The highlight of the performance was the search for a Prince Charming which culminated in a competition ironically known as 'the P Factor'

The Fairy Godmother and her helpers soon overcame the evil of the wicked witch and Prince Charming was found and duly saved the sleeping Princess.   The wicked witch was rounded up and sentenced to a life time of Orchestra Practice!

Mrs Embury, Head of Sixth form, said "The Sixth Form have been working on this project and rehearsing since the summer, and carried out the whole production with very minimal help from staff, including script writing, costume and set design, sound and lighting.  I also think they have learned a lot from working as a team on the whole project.    It was a great end to the term."

 

Day Trip to Boulogne - July 2006

To improve their conversational French, girls in the Senior School enjoyed a day trip to Boulogne at the end of June, a well deserved outing after all the examinations. The visit included a chance to make your own croissants in a French bakery as well as opportunities to speak French in the local shops and of course the all important chance to buy some of the great French delicacies available. A long trip in 24 hours, but well worth the travel was the opinion from both girls and staff !

 

Katie makes it home to highclare school - September 2006  

On Friday 22nd September, Katie Miller, a past Head Girl at Highclare school in Erdington, made it back to school to talk to pupils and staff about her amazing experience, sailing single handed around Britain.  

Her amazing journey started last April from Southampton, and she finally arrived back at the Isle of Wight in August.     The girls at Highclare School have followed her trip on their own map and by accessing Katie’s own website, where she kept in touch whilst on her travels.   The pupils at Highclare were able to present her with a Cheque for £1,800 towards her target of £10,000 for the Ellen McArthur Trust.  This was money they have raised through holding their own non-uniform day, a sponsored run and other smaller activities.

Katie’s journey took place during her Gap year and she is now setting off on her University life studying for a degree in Yacht Manufacture and Surveying at Southampton University.   She will naturally be close to her boat ‘Elektra’ which will be taking a rest in safe harbour nearby in Southampton.

At Friday Assembly, Katie spoke to all the pupils and told stories of her trip; how Ellen herself was there to meet her when she finished and the amazing work that the Ellen McArthur Trust does in restoring confidence to young people who have suffered with cancer and other similar diseases.   She is now looking to any other local organisations who would like to engage her as a speaker in exchange for a donation towards her target for the Ellen McArthur Trust.

Margaret Viles, Headmistress said  “  Katie is absolutely amazing and a super role model to all the girls.   She took on something she had always wanted to do and with hard work and determination has achieved her goal”

 

SWIMMING SUCCESS March '07

At the Independent Schools' National Swimming Gala in November the girls from Highclare School won a fantastic total of 6 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 2 bronze medals, and  Matthew Hyde from the Boys' Junior Department won a silver medal in the backstroke.

The girls team of Pheobe McClenaghan, Kristie Hackett, Katrina Holmes, Holly Lynch, Hannah Sands and Alicia Crockford, all swam well, and represented not only their school, but also the Midlands team alongside other Independent Schools around the area.    The Midlands team were delighted to be placed third overall in this national event.

 

Athletic success - June 07

A fantastic finish to a rather "damp" season. Well done to all members of the athletics teams

Results of the Sutton Coldfield Senior Schools Athletics Championships

Year 10 & 11  event took place in May                              1st

Year 9

     Highclare             1st               70pts

     Sutton Girls          2nd              47pts

Emma McLoughlin,   Holly Lynch,   Liberty Duignan,   Naryman Ahmed,   Amy Johnson,   Jessica Mordue

Year 8

     Arthur Terry         1st               52pts

     Highclare              2nd=            48pts

     Fairfax                  2nd=

     Sutton Girls           2nd=

Natasha Forrester,   Jade Gutteridge,   Laura Kenny,   Niamh O'Dowd,   Katrina Holmes,   Sophie Beattie,   Kelly Palmer.

Year 7

    Arthur Terry           1st               53pts

    Highclare                5th               35pts

Faye Dixon,   Daisy Broad,   Niamh Conway-O'Carroll,   Lucy Davies,   Alison Hunt,   Brona Cooley,   Sarah Carr,  

Antonia Adams.

 

european day of languages

Do you speak Russian, Welsh, German or Spanish  -   Well girls in Year 6 at Highclare school in Erdington were given the opportunity to try out all of these languages on the National European Language Day.  |With help from some talented teachers they spent the day in school but concentrated all their learning on giving each of these new languages a try.

With help from special badges, posters and stickers, they were able to learn key phrases and  they all wore special t shirts for the day to show their allegiance to their new skills.

Having fun and playing games they were taught their numbers in all four languages.

Mrs Owen, Head of Modern Languages at the school said, “ All the girls gave made a lot of effort but certainly had a lot of fun too.   The highlight of the day must be when we all learned to say the name of that unforgettable station in Wales.   I hope they will remember what they have learned!”

 

 

The whole school carol service, was held in the last week of term at St Michael's Church at Boldmere with readings, poems and of course all the traditional carols.

All the staff and pupils at Highclare School wish you a very happy christmas and peaceful new year.