As you may have noticed, the grindstone has not been in its usual place for a while but it returned just in time for the Jubilee celebrations. Rupert Dawnay has built a new frame for it and refurbished the mechanism. A new bridge and hardstanding were built by Richard Fry thanks to the generosity of a gentleman of the village who paid for them. There been a public grindstone on this site for over 100 years. It was last restored in 1929 and hopefully should now be good for another 70 years.
Thanks are due to Rupert for all his craftsmanship and hard work, to the willing teams of volunteers who moved it, to the person who gave the money for the bridge and to the Parish Council for sponsoring the project.
Leaving in Style
Our Leavers' Assembly seems to have rapidly become a new tradition at Testbourne! For the second time we held a special assembly for our Year 11 pupils on the last day they were together in school before beginning their GCSE study leave. They were joined by staff, parents, primary school heads, governors and members of the school council who gathered to see them presented with their National Record of Achievement, to share some music and readings and to wish them well for their futures. It was a delightful event which made us very proud of our young people. They rose magnificently to the occasion and supported each other during what proved to be quite an emotional time for us all. As last year, each student released a balloon at the end of the assembly with their own hopes and dreams. We have already received several tags back including one from North Wales!
CelebrationsWe held our own Jubilee Concert at Testbourne on the Friday before the Jubilee weekend. We couldn't quite rival the line-up and fireworks at the Palace but nonetheless marked the anniversary in style. Pupils came in mufti, a combination of 50s outfits and red, white and blue. Non-uniform donations are going towards our Jubilee Garden which will provide an attractive, sheltered, environmental space for all pupils. Thankfully the sun shone in the afternoon on our outdoor stage and Union Jack bunting. We were royally entertained by an array of talented pupils including 50s rock and rollers, big band sounds, and our very own 21st century rock group. The proceedings were brought to an end with a hearty rendition of the National Anthem, partly in honour of the jubilee and partly in hope for the World Cup to come!
Newsletter Makes the News
Our school newsletter, which we send out to parents each half term, has just won second prize in the schools' section of the Hampshire Chronicle's community newsletter awards.
Rugby Girls on the Ball
Testbourne girls did us proud when they won the trophy in the area tag rugby team tournament. They emerged victors after winning four of their five matches, including one match against some tough Southampton opposition. Well done to all involved.
School Visits
The TestbourneYear 10 Drama and Theatre Arts group visited the Watermill Theatre, Newbury on 27th May to see an evening performance of "Fiddler on the Roof". The musical was greatly enjoyed by the pupils, and was followed by a workshop, ably presented by one of the actresses.
Pupils from some of the Year10 Science groups enjoyed a day at Sparsholt College recently, taking part in various workshops related to the Science and Geography Curriculum. Some groups looked at the management of trees and timber production whilst others witnessed cattle and pig rearing in practice. Pupils also tested the water quality in the trout hatchery, using techniques not available in the laboratory.
As part of the 'Medieval Realms' and 'Christian Symbols' courses at Testbourne, Year 7 pupils visited Salisbury Cathedral for a day full of fun, facts and figures! Cathedral Guides led a tour full of fascinating tales, and the pupils made 'stained glass windows' and 'banners'.
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