At the beginning of November, a group of our Year 4 pupils joined with the Year 4 pupils of St Mary Bourne School and stayed at the Minstead Study Centre for a week. Here the children learned about the environment and sustainability issues and also carried out many activities linked to the school’s science curriculum, all in a practical way. Great fun was had during the week and many friendships were formed between the two schools.
Whilst the Year 4 pupils were at Minstead, our Year 3 pupils represented the school in a Years 3 and 4 football tournament. They weren’t at all intimidated by playing older teams and played very well, winning the only match that was against another Year 3 team.
Our Christmas production this year is entitled ‘The Miracle Squad’ and will be performed on Tuesday 12th December at 5.30pm in the school and community hall. Our carol service is on Monday 18th December at 6.30pm in St Nicholas Church, we would like to extend an invitation to all the community to join us for both the carol service and the Christmas production.
NEWS FROM TESTBOURNE
The first half-term of the year seemed to rush by. We have been pleased to welcome new staff and have been celebrating another set of successful GCSE results - which look as though they will now reach 74% A* - C grades.
“Red Red Shoes” Our latest drama production was a new departure for Testbourne. It is a serious and challenging piece telling the story of a civil war and its devastating effects on a young girl. Feedback from those who saw it has been really positive ~ commenting on the maturity and power of the young people’s performances. Particular congratulations go to the three leads: Hannah Klein, Sophie Wanless and Joe Roberts, but all the cast are to be congratulated on their committed performances. Here’s what one audience member had to say:
“I was very impressed both by the level of professionalism of the whole production but also by the selection of a disturbing and thought provoking piece that really did strike a chord with respect to how refugees are generally misunderstood and the horrors that “neighbours” can inflict upon neighbours. You must be very proud of the entire theatrical team who had obviously dedicated a massive amount of hard work to make it such a success.”
(Coming next . . . our first entry into the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival, with Testbourne delivering their version of The Tempest and providing a valuable resource for Year 9 who are studying the play in KS3.)
Suite Music! Our new Music Suite, funded with Specialist School money, is now well and truly open. Following a quarter-of-a-million pounds refurbishment, the old shabby warren of rooms has been swept away and we have a fabulous new high-tech area. It includes: three practice rooms and two superbly equipped performance and classrooms, one of which has the latest in keyboard and computer-linked composing software. The “wows” of pupils as they have entered the new rooms tell us our new Music Suite really does have the ‘wow’ factor. It will be a pleasure to make music there.
Chris Thorpe, currently Head of Music at The Cove School in Farnborough, will be joining us as our new Head of Music in January. Our previous Head of Music left at relatively short notice last term, having been “head-hunted” by a specialist Music school. We have been very fortunate that two very capable specialist Music teachers have covered for us this term but we are now looking forward to a period of what I have called “dynamic stability”. Mr Thorpe is a very experienced musician who brings with him an excellent track record of examination success and high quality, enjoyable music making.
Study zone The Library is now open as a Study Zone for an hour after school from Monday to Thursdays providing a space for pupils who might find it difficult to settle to homework when they get home, get distracted by other things going on or just need a quiet place to work.
Children in Need
Our pupils continued displaying their generous side when Year Eleven organised a “Funfair” for Children in Need. Pupils and staff packed the Theatre Hall on the Friday lunchtime to guess the weight of the Pudsey cake, have their faces painted (no staff brave or foolish enough for this one!), undertake mystery blindfold tasting and touching challenges ( the cold jelly was not nice) and various other bits of good fun. It was really well organised by the pupils themselves, who even cleared up after without being told to – and raised over £317.66 in less than an hour. Particular mention should go to James Green who ran 5000m the previous lunchtime in the pouring rain – dressed as a fairy – raising over £300.
Retiring Deputy Head
As some of you will know our Deputy Head, Dick Stevens, is retiring at Christmas after 37 years at Testbourne, including a stint as Acting Headteacher. Dick has given absolute heart and soul to the school and it is hard to imagine Testbourne without his warmth and wisdom and sense of fun. All of these were in evidence when he was our guest of honour at the annual Presentation Evening, when last year’s students returned to collect their GCSE certificates and special awards. He apologised to the gathered audience that they had to do with him after recent more famous or illustrious guests – but was greeted with an anonymous cry of “You’re the best!” – endorsed by all those present. The students had even organised their own presentation to him – a pair of slippers!
If any of you would like to send your greetings or make a donation to his leaving gift then please contact Mary Soper at school (O1256 892061)
We have regrettably decided that because of all the changes we will not be holding out Carol Service at All Hallows this year – but will be back next year all being well.
Other recent news:
We have received 161 first choice applications for our 156 places for September 2007 and will hopefully be able to offer places to all of these in due course;
The new Year 7s played their first netball match and won against John Hanson School in Andover;
Hilary Jackson Headteacher