STRANDS. Week 7 Autumn Term 2014

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1 STRANDS Message from the Principal Harvest Festival Dear Parents Just a short note this week to thank you all for the tremendous support that you have shown in the very busy half term. It was particularly nice to see so many of you at the Harvest Service yesterday at St John s. The staff have been commenting on the great spirits that the girls have been in and it has been a real joy to see them at assemblies, activities and fixtures taking so much from what is on offer. I hope that the girls will make the most of the break and come back prepared for a very busy run up to Christmas. The full community of Moira House came together to celebrate Harvest Festival at St John s Church in Meads. Full report on page 7. Mr James Sheridan, Principal Please note that the date for Founder s Day and the Summer Ball is Saturday 30 May 2015 Megan Lee gave a very assured performance of Bianconi by Richard Clayderman in this Friday s assembly. This piece is very demanding as the texture demands that the player takes great care to bring out the melody over a very complicated left hand - and Megan coped with this admirably. Well done! Click this link to watch a video of Megan s performance on our Youtube channel,

2 Music It has been a busy couple of weeks in the Music Department. On Saturday 4 October you may have seen various students busking in Eastbourne town centre as part of Eastbourne Unplugged - an event organised by the Eastbourne Schools Partnership. We were strongly represented on the day by Rosie Moore (Year 11). In the evening Rosie was joined by Zoe Langford (Year 13) for a concert given by students from various Eastbourne schools at the Birley Centre. The girls gave a fantastic performance and it was good to see some of our other students and parents in the audience. Last Saturday, 11 October, girls from Years 3 to 7 wowed a large Seaford audience at the annual Seaford Proms Concert. Lana Harffey-Burkhill sang a beautiful solo in Pie Jesu, and was joined by Taliah Maidens and Pippa Carrington for a performance of Naughty from Matilda, which the audience lapped up! For many girls it was their first public performance as part of a Junior Choir, and despite their nerves they sang confidently and with superb concentration. The audience sang along with the World War One Medley, clearly enjoying every minute. It was lovely to have Year 7 involved in the concert, and their performance of two songs from Oliver was very well received. Congratulations also to Dr Swingle-Putland, who sang beautifully, and Mrs Cooper, whose performance of The Lark Ascending captivated the audience. Both Mr Neill and Mr Cousins were delighted and proud of all the performers very well done indeed! Many thanks to Mr Neill for organising this event. The department made a wonderful musical contribution to the Harvest Festival at St John s Church, Meads yesterday, with Choirs from across the whole School performing as part of the celebration. Meanwhile a group of 30 students set off for Paris this morning, where they will be performing a selection of instrumental and choral items in public concerts at La Maison des Parents (Saturday 18 October) and Disneyland Paris (Sunday 19 October). Looking ahead we have several concerts coming up, notably a Recital Evening for solo performers (Years 7 to 13) on Thursday 6 November (6.30 pm in Swann Hall) and also for Year 7 to 13 students the Autumn Concert is on Wednesday 12 November - don t miss this - we will be including one or two highlights from our Paris Tour and there will be a meeting about our next touring venture - to New York! Shortly after half term we will be announcing details of our first Musical Theatre Production for the year, which will be at The Devonshire Park Theatre in the Spring. If you fancy seeing a show over half term, we recommend you go and see Oliver at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne. Ellianna Manville from Year 10 will be amongst the performers and it is being presented by the Young EODS. It runs on Tuesday 28 October at 7.30 pm, Wednesday 29 October at 2.30 pm and 7.30 pm, Thursday 30 October at 7.30 pm, Friday 31 October at 7.30 pm and Saturday 1 November at 3 pm. Tickets are from

3 Pre-Prep This week in the Pre-Prep the girls in Reception have been thinking about their own homes and the many different types of homes we live in. Year 1 have been learning about Victorian houses and Year 2 have been writing poetry based on the poem The Magic Box by Kit Wright. Junior Parent Reminder: An example of a Victorian home made by Year 1 If you are collecting your daughter from the Junior School after 5.15 pm, please use the side door near the Pre-Prep. Please also remember that we have a Junior School Office address juniorschool@moirahouse.co.uk; Miss Difrancesco has access to this and will be able to answer any questions you may have during the half term break. Key Stage 2 I was extremely proud of our Key Stage 2 girls on Saturday night, watching them perform in the Seaford Proms. They sang beautifully, with incredible solo performances and a beautiful rendition of a World War One medley cleverly arranged by Mr Neill. The girls were a credit to themselves and the School and it was lovely to hear such positive feedback from all who attended the concert. on the importance of note-taking and why it is beneficial in writing an explanation. In Maths they have been looking at column addition and subtraction with the girls really challenging themselves with using 4 digit numbers and in some cases more than 2 sets of numbers to work out. In Year 6 children have been learning about negative numbers in context and have extended their knowledge of fractions by comparing fractions with unlike, but related, denominators, understanding that fractions are parts of numbers. In English we have been studying war poetry, in particular In Flanders Field by John McCrae. The girls analysed the imagery used and then used their knowledge of the war to write their own war poetry. Year 5 have been investigating subtraction and looking at real life problems in Maths this week. In English they have been finishing off their Wind in the Willows Unit and the girls created their own character. The highlight of the week must be when the girls used their ipads to present some research on one of Henry VIII s wives. The presentations were lively and very original. Well done, girls! In Literacy this week Year 4 have been looking at instructions and explanations. They are focussing

4 Key Stage 2 continued. Year 3 have been looking at mental methods used to calculate difference in numeracy this week and applying these when faced with word problems. In Literacy, the girls are learning to perform a range of poetry pieces expressively and employ imagery to create poems of their own. In Science, the girls are investigating a question of their choosing, looking for trending patterns between body shape and performance in different physical tasks. Year 3 and 4 girls were also lucky enough to visit the Eastbourne Ancestors exhibition at the Redoubt Museum this week (this is a free exhibition that continues until Sunday 16 November). Entitled A story of life from the bones of the past, the exhibition features the results from archaeological Key Stage 3 Last week KS3 students were treated to a cello recital with the aim of encouraging any innercellists to shine through to start to learn the instrument. Do please let the Music department know if your daughter is interested. The Fireworks Fayre is on the first Friday after half term (Friday 7 November) so please remember to both plan and get your equipment for the stalls. digs, scientific analysis and 3D reconstruction. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project began in 2012 with bone analysis dating back to Neolithic times, and it is the first time such an extensive examination has taken place on one collection in the UK. With twelve skeletons selected for further analysis, the girls were able to examine a skeleton for clues about who they once were and how they lived. They learnt about the techniques used during archaeological digs and were able to apply some of their historical questioning skills and their knowledge of Anglo Saxons and Neolithic Man in context to learn more about their ancestors. Our thanks goes to Jo Seaman at the exhibition for hosting us. Please can parents remember to bring lots of small change (20 pences and 50 pences for example) so that you can have a go at all the stalls! Helen Grout in Year 9 and her four squad teammates from Uckfield Gymnastics Club, qualified for Regionals in Gymnastics after this weekend s County Meet congratulations Helen. Key Stage 4 The girls in Year 11 took their Morrisby tests this week and they are now looking forward to getting their results and looking into their career choices/options. Year 10 took their Yellis tests on Wednesday. Parents Evening for Year 11 is taking place on Tuesday 4 November. We are adopting a new process this year and your daughter will be making appointments for you with each of their teachers. Sixth Form This week, Year 13 have been busy completing their UCAS applications. We also very much enjoyed welcoming some Year 11 girls from local schools to our Sixth Form Scholarship morning. It was very interesting to learn about their aspirations and enthusiasm for their preferred subjects. I sincerely hope that we will be welcoming them into the Sixth Form at Moira House next September. The Fireworks Fayre has been launched by the League and they will be working with Tutor groups to run their stalls on Friday 7 November. We look forward to welcoming everyone to what has always been a very memorable evening.

5 Ms Holland wins First Senior Female in the Tempo 10K run Frances Smoker wins Silver in Sussex Diving Competition Our Director of Marketing, Communications and Development, Ms Hannah Holland, won First Senior Female in the Tempo 10K run on Sunday 12 October. Ms Holland also achieved a PB, with 46 minutes and 10 seconds, and was positioned fourth female and 36th out of 150 runners. This was a great event for Eastbourne and a first by the local specialist running shop, Tempo. Ms Holland is now gearing up for her next race, the Beachy Head 10K on Saturday 25 October. Frances Smoker, Year 12, won Silver in the U18 Sussex Diving Championships and the Ladies Open. Last week, she also became the Eastbourne Ladies Open Diving Champion. Well done, Frances, on a really fantastic achievement! Woman of Flowers reviewed by Monica Isaac, Year 12 When I was first approached with the opportunity to see this play I was hesitant, for I had a high perception of productions and did not want to risk anything jeopardising that. However the Woman of Flowers has cleaned my rose-tinted glasses and finally made me see the magic and power a production can achieve. Not only was the audience captivated throughout, but you could hear a pin drop as the actors shared with us their talents. Never have I experienced sign language incorporated with a violin however Pete Ashmore s violin playing was exquisitely matched with the intricate movements of Sophie Stone. They created such a captivating atmosphere and Stone s sign language strongly conveyed the emotions of the moment. I will forever know the way to sign my joy and a flower blooming. Andrew Wheaton, Tom Brownlee, Sophie Stone and Pete Ashmore are undeniably a team made for the Gods. The production worked like clockwork and the teamwork involved between the actors was inspiring. As a person who is normally not affected by productions, I was overcome by how much Woman of Flowers touched me and evoked a lot of emotions whilst watching it. I am grateful to the actors for allowing me to go on this journey with them. Woman of Flowers has gone beyond all expectations and - along with my fellow classmates I will remember it until the end of my life.

6 Boarders Fiesta! Friday night was the Inaugural Boarders Fiesta to celebrate the jam-packed half term. All 93 boarders descended on the Dining Room to enjoy a mouth-watering Mexican feast on behalf of our excellent catering staff. There was mole pork, burritos and even chocolate chilli cookies for the boarders to enjoy. The Dining Room was decorated within the Mexican theme including giant sombreros and comedy moustaches being a big hit; even little Sam Haining from the Nursery got in on the sombrero action! To finish the evening off we had the boarders awards, with certificates being awarded to boarders for outstanding achievements such as un-tidiest bedroom, loudest boarder, and special awards for the boarder of the term. Next we retired to the JAC for some party games and dancing; who knew that Mrs Slim could do Gangnam Style! The weekend was topped off with a shopping trip to Bluewater on Saturday and board games and silly face crafts on Sunday; we even squeezed in some homework over the weekend. As we prepare to depart for the holidays, plans are already underway for the exciting activities and trips we have in store for our boarders.

7 How do our muscles help us to move? In Science, Year 3 have been looking at how our muscles help us to move and by taking part in different circuit training tasks, the girls were able to feel which muscles were working whilst carrying out different movements. Last week the girls applied this knowledge and understanding into looking for trending patterns between the size of various muscles in professional athletes and the type of event that they compete in. Why do sprinters have large quadriceps? Why do weight lifters have large upper bodies? This week the girls have chosen questions of their own to investigate, including Do people with longer arms throw further? and Do longer legs make faster runners? They are looking forward to finding out the results. Pictured: The girls carrying out their circuit training. Harvest Festival As we come towards the end of a busy half term, it is important that we take time to reflect on our achievements, our community and our place in the world and we were lucky that on Thursday morning the full community of Moira House came together to celebrate Harvest Festival at St John s Church in Meads. As the girls from Reception triumphantly cried out It s Harvest time! our festival was a mixture of reflection on the gifts we have been blessed with, an awareness of those in our local community in need and an opportunity to celebrate the gifts of the land this harvest. Revd Giles Carpenter gave our address, reminding us that, just as the young boy in the Feeding of the 5000 gave what he had to Jesus, we are called to give what we have to God. As we were asked to share and break bread in our pews we were able to reflect on the necessity and joy in giving to others. Mr Cousins, assisted by many members of staff across all areas of School, enabled our rich celebration to demonstrate all the many gifts at Moira House. We are also very thankful to the many Parents who came to join us in our service. Thank you also to the Junior School who raised in their Harvest Purses this week! Sports Success Congratulations to the U11, A and B Hockey teams for their convincing wins against Lewes Old Grammar where both teams dominated possession in their respective games. The A team won by 13 goals to nil and the B team won by 9 goals to nil. The 1st Eleven Hockey team travelled to Mayfield to play a tough match in the Sussex Knockout Cup. Anna Davison scored 2 well-worked goals to seal the win. The U12 team played some lovely netball as they recorded their biggest win of the season, beating Roedean 20-3.The U13 team also played Roedean and were unlucky to lose in a nailbiting game The girls played their best Netball of the season and they should be very proud of their performance.

8 From Mrs Vallantine, Deputy Principal Well done to all the girls for their involvement in our Harvest Festival yesterday, and congratulations to Megan Lee for her piano performance in the whole school assembly this morning. We had a great speaker for the Senior School assembly on Tuesday; Howard Wardle spoke to the girls about the Foodbank in Eastbourne and it has been great to see the girls contributions growing throughout the week. In the Junior School, Year 6 had a session with the school nurse to find out more about Ebola; as a school, we are a low-risk environment but if you or your daughter have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our school nurse for advice at any time. The first part of this term has been very rich in opportunities for the girls to achieve both in and outside the classroom. Those of you with daughters in Years 1-13 will be receiving a second set of Grade Cards by the end of today. It is a good time for girls to reflect on which subjects they have achieved well in over the last seven weeks, but also which areas they need to improve on after half term. It is now very important for them to have a well-deserved rest over the holidays and recharge their batteries before they come back to school. I look forward to seeing your daughters back at school on November 3rd. From Mr Ashby, Deputy Principal As we come to the end of an extremely busy half term I am sure that all the girls are looking forward to a well-earned break from their studies and a chance to re-charge their batteries. Please help them not to leave any holiday work to the last minute but to spread it out sensibly over the time available. Also, please note that next half term will start with WEEK A. Forthcoming Events Grade 4 Lamda Distinction Tia-Lana Chinapyel, a Drama Scholar in Year 5, recently achieved a Lamda Distinction at Grade 4 Solo. This is an incredible feat for someone so young; this level of accomplishment is usually seen in students considerably older. Congratulations Tia-Lana. Picture, Wendy Wang Y12 Thought for the week You re only given a little spark of madness, you mustn t lose it! Robbie Williams