NEWSLETTER. With best wishes. Alexander Mitchell Headmaster. From the Librarian...

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1 HOLMWOOD HOUSE NEWSLETTER Chitts Hill, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9ST Tel: FROM THE HEADMASTER... Dear Parents, Gosh! Here we are at the end of another academic year. I am not quite sure where it went! Perhaps the unseasonal weather has had something to do with it, but we seem to have travelled somewhat faster than normal! The many events of the last few weeks of term have given me a number of opportunities to celebrate the children s a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d successes. It has been a real joy to share in their obvious enjoyment. From Golden Awards in Pre-Prep assemblies to national successes in the academic and sporting arenas, our children - your children - have achieved above and beyond what even we expect of them. Congratulations to them all! Summer Term, Week 10 Friday 6 July 2012 We have said our goodbyes to Mr Ormond, Mrs Cogan and, after over 22 years, Mrs Hollington. We also bid farewell to those children moving to other parts of the country and abroad. Prizes and honours have been awarded across the board and this afternoon those accolades came to a climax for the Pre-Prep children at their Prize- Giving in the Sports Hall. The children entertained SCHOOL NEWS... School Uniform Shop The shop will be open over the summer as follows: Fri 27 July Fri 3 Aug Mon 3 Sep Wed 5 Sep 10am-12 noon 10am-12 noon 10am-12 noon am If you have any questions, please call Mrs Cappabianca at a reasonable time in the week, but not over the weekends. Please leave a message if necessary and she will respond in due course. Please High Jump: 3rd in the Nationals bear in mind that your message may have been left when she is away on holiday. Photographic Display We should be grateful if parents could take photographs of their children over the summer holidays. The theme is reading a book in an unusual place. Prints should be brought into school at the start of next term for a photographic display which is to be created for Book Week. us with beautiful singing and the prizes were presented by Mrs Fiona Rogers, mother of Mungo, Head of Land. We look forward to tomorrow s Speech Day and Prize-Giving, where we recognise the achievements of the Prep School children and bid farewell to our wonderful Year 8s, as they move on to over a dozen different senior schools. On behalf of Helen and my family, may I take this opportunity of wishing you a wonderful summer holiday and I look forward to seeing you refreshed in the autumn. With best wishes Alexander Mitchell Headmaster From the Librarian... Leaflets from Essex Libraries will be going home with the younger children this week about the Summer Reading Challenge Story Lab. This encourages children to read six books over the summer break. Congratulations to David G in 2W who also participated in the Easter Readathon.... keep reading! Happiness is the key to progress DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saturday 7 July 10.30am Speech Day noon Prep School term ends NEXT TERM Tuesday 4 September 2-3pm All new Prep School pupils - Meet the Tutors 2-3pm All parents of new Prep School pupils - Tour with Heads of Elements 6.00pm Boarders return 6.30pm Boarders Supper & Activities Wednesday 5 September 8.30am Term begins 2-4pm Senior Rugby & Hockey - Extended Training (All Years 7 & 8 pupils) GOOD LUCK Our very best wishes to all children and staff who are leaving Holmwood House this week. Have a good holiday everyone! Q: Which member of staff has driven a tank? Last Week s Staff Fact The member of staff who has worked in Hitler s Eagles Nest is Miss Rachel Godman, Head of Languages SUMMER HOLIDAY COURSES A wide range of summer holiday courses are available for children from age The information booklet and application forms are available to download from: sch.uk Please note that places in our Nursery Holiday Club are now fully booked. FOHH BREAKING NEWS: A Quiz Night will be held on 13 October. The School Ball will be held in the first half of the summer term.

2 Page 2 Friday 6 July 2012, Summer Term, Week 10 SCIENCE... Higgs Boson Discovery Following Mr Kershaw s visit to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Switzerland in Easter 2008, the Science Department was delighted to hear of Wednesday s announcement that recent evidence from this major experiment suggests, with 99% certainty, the existence of the Higgs boson. The LHC is an enormous piece of scientific equipment stretching the full length of a tunnel which is 27km in circumference and 100 metres below ground. The tunnel spans the border region between the Jura mountain range in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. It is within this tunnel that tiny particles called protons, travelling in opposite directions, have been accelerated in tubes at almost the speed of light. At this speed they have been deliberately crashed into each in order to reveal their inner workings. This latest discovery by the scientists at CERN is being ranked as one of the greatest discoveries, alongside those of Einstein and Newton. The Higgs boson is a particle which is vital to understanding how the fabric of the universe is held together and is thought to be the key to matter. The discovery of the particle, the existence of which was predicted 60 years ago by Professor Peter Higgs, is only the beginning. When the electron and DNA were discovered, it took many years to appreciate their great potential. ACTIVITIES RC Model Car Building The group managed to get the engine running, the wheels turning on command, there were no fuel spillages and the tank didn't blow up! Congratulations to Miss Godman and the boys on a job well done. YEAR 8 VIBES SPECIAL

3 Page 3 Friday 6 July 2012, Summer Term, Week 10 YEAR 2 Picnic at The Orchard HOLMWOOD IN THE COMMUNITY Air Charity Day Children in Air have held a series of walkathons to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Water Charity Day At Water s final Element Meeting yesterday, Abbey and Fergus presented Caroline Bates from CoHoC with cheques totalling almost 1000! Well done to all of Water for their magnificent swimathon fundraising efforts. Colchester Schools in Bloom Holmwood s Environment Club won the Outstanding Achievement award at the Colchester in Bloom awards ceremony earlier this week. Pre-Prep pupils also received a Commendation for their beds, tubs and insectaries which they have worked on this term.

4 Page 4 Friday 6 July 2012, Summer Term, Week 10 PRE-PREP TRIP TO FRINTON

5 Page 5 Friday 6 July 2012, Summer Term, Week 10 YEAR 8 PLAY YEAR 8 VISIT Maureen Lipman Year 8 had a very special visit by actress Maureen Lipman on Monday 2 July. The children were treated to a reading and given advice on their performances in the Year 8 Play yesterday.

6 Page 6 Friday 6 July 2012, Summer Term, Week 10 SPORT Pre-Prep Sports Day Prep School Sports Day More photographs are available on the Gallery Page of the school website: