Message from Louise Higson, Headmistress November/December

November/December 2015
Message from Louise Higson, Headmistress
What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every
cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~ Agnes M. Pharo
As a community, the girls are particularly good at remembering the true meaning of Christmas. The Prep girls
work together to deliver the Christmas post, and the Senior School girls provide boxes of wrapped chocolates as
gifts for the elderly people in the local area, and those helped by the Salvation Army. On 4 th December the
whole school wore their slippers for Shelter, the charity which supports homeless people, and we raised funds
which will go to providing a roof over their heads for those less fortunate than ourselves this Christmas.
At Farlington, Christmas is a joyful time, and one of
celebration; each section of the School celebrates the
Advent season: the Pre-Prep Nativity, the Prep Christingle
and the Senior Carol Service never fail to get everyone into
the Christmas spirit. The whole School assembly in the final
week of term gathers every pupil together, from the
youngest to the oldest, and is a really special occasion.
I would like to wish you and your families a peaceful and
joyful Christmas and my very best wishes for a happy,
healthy and prosperous 2016. I look forward to welcoming
all the girls back on Wednesday 6th January, rejuvenated
and with New Year resolutions to work hard and achieve
their best!
Pre–Prep Nativity
The children from Nursery, Reception and Preps 1 and 2 performed a heart-warming and entertaining Nativity featuring the
traditional characters and some blue aliens in this year’s excellent production.
Has 2015 been a year worth remembering?
It truly fascinates me that the
end of each year brings myriad
review programmes and articles,
often listing the Top Ten of this
and that from the outgoing year;
this year will be no different, I
am certain. It surprises me that
so many of the events, deemed
so significant and life-changing
at the time, are then so easily
forgotten:
we
move
on.
Nostalgia takes on a different
meaning today; instead of remembering just historic battles
or reigns of kings and emperors, we focus more on when the
first episode of ‘Fawlty Towers’ was broadcast or the first Fish
Fingers eaten! We seem to ‘commemorate’ more and more
than I ever remember doing in my youth. For example, in
2015 we have been reminded that it is 30 years since the first
mobile phone call was made, 80 years since Elvis was born,
25 years since Nelson Mandela was freed and 150 years since
the first publication of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’. It
all makes me wonder for how many years we will keep on
stopping to remember facts of this sort, alongside the truly
momentous events that have shaped our modern, rather
precarious world.
The memory can be a strange companion, by which I mean
that what was so significant and meaningful to you is possibly
not of the slightest importance to me! We remember things
so differently according to how affected we felt at the time.
My first mobile phone call was from the top of Mount
Longonot in Kenya where it was near impossible to find a
signal, but we did. The first Elvis songs I ever heard were
when watching his movies on a Saturday morning, with my
father trying to switch off and urge me to do something more
productive. The Specials sang about Freeing Nelson Mandela
and I was laughed at, when in a play based on ‘Alice’, as one
of the Royal Courtiers, I inadvertently squeaked out my line,
‘Inevitably!’.
A recent science programme explained to me that our brains
don’t actually fill up so that when we learn a new fact,
another has to leave. This is a great pity as I thought I had an
excuse for forgetting: I simply knew too much! The more we
learn and the more frequently, the greater number of brain
connections we forge, thus increasing our capacity to learn.
This is good to know – I think!
Each passing year, however, should remind us of a most
talked-about event: the birth of a tiny baby, in a stable and
under very difficult circumstances. It is surely worth taking
time out this holiday to consider that 2015 years ago, a small
miracle came to be and that we are still remembering it, in
one way or another, all these years on. Merry Christmas to
you all!
Frances Mwale, Prep Headmistress
Friday 29th January 2016
PTA Race and Curry Night
Tickets available in January
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PREP 2 GO BACK IN TIME
Prep 2 visited Preston Manor and the Booth Museum in
Brighton as part of their topic on the Victorians. The girls
dressed up as Victorian servants and learned what it would
have been like to have been a maid, housekeeper or butler in
Victorian times. They had a tour of the house which still has
original furniture and decorations and were able to see how
different life was for Victorians, compared to now. They took
part in a variety of servants’ tasks including preparing food,
doing the washing, cleaning boots and carpets and blacking
fireplaces and soon realised that being a child servant was
quite different to their life today!
At the Booth Museum, a treasure trove of birds, butterflies,
fossils, bones and skeletons, they learned about Victorian
taxidermist Mr Booth and how he collected species of
animals so that poor Victorians could see animals that they
might never get the chance to see in the wild. The girls were
fascinated by the hundreds of animals from all around the
world.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
On 11th November, instead of a Remembrance Service, the
girls were shown images of the trenches (carefully selected,
as many of these remain shocking, even by today’s
standards), heard about how so many soldiers simply did not
come home and that the casualties of war included many
civilian women and children, too.
After hearing, ‘In Flanders Fields’ read beautifully by Isabelle
Skinner, the Prep girls had no difficulty in closing their eyes
and prayerfully or quietly contemplating what it all meant for
them, for the duration of our two minutes’ silence.
L.I.P.Z.
CHRISTINGLE
Four of my friends and I started a lip balm (which we make)
company called L.I.P.Z. to raise money for Cancer Research and
we thought that it would be great fun and very exciting. In the
company, the five of us all have different jobs. Three of us
make different flavours and two make the special labels on the
computer. The flavours that we sell are toffee apple, orange,
lemon, strawberry, vanilla, blueberry, mint, cherry,
watermelon, bubblegum and, last but not least, candyfloss!
We made about 60 pots and sold them all in just two days and
a lot of people were already asking for more the day after! We
have already made a total of £81.53!
Florence McKenzie, Prep 6
This year’s varied and poetic
Christingle Service at St Mary’s Church
in Horsham brought to life the legend
of Babouska’s journey to search for
the newborn King. A late starter on
the search, Babouska missed the vital
warnings in the night sky that a
Saviour would be found in Bethlehem:
she was simply too busy, cleaning and
polishing and making life very
comfortable: lessons to be learned
there! By the time she decided to go, the star had
disappeared. But then she met on her way a series of folk
needing her help. Finally, it was revealed to her as she
arrived at the stable that everything she had done for
somebody else, she had really been doing for the Christ-child
himself. The girls really brought this story to life, through
their poised and clear readings, their singing and
musicianship. New items, such as the Prep 6 Voice
Soundscape, added some novelty value and the carols, songs
and pieces chosen so well by Mr Dallimore - grateful thanks
for all his time and efforts in rehearsing and leading us - all
slotted into place, making the evening’s celebrations flow.
We were thrilled by Prep 5 singing in Spanish, through
listening to Stringendo, flutes, harp and 6S’s magnificent,
percussion-led ‘Little Drummer Boy’. There was even some
enforced singing in a round for the congregation, with a
modern version of, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’. All classes played
their parts admirably, filled with Christmas spirit.
Grateful thanks go to Reverend Beresford for his wonderful
Christmas message, beautifully illustrated with a massive,
Jaffa Cake-laden Christingle - the biggest ever seen! It truly
was an awesome evening!
SCHOOL COUNCIL
The Prep School Council reps have been busy this term
planning fundraising activities such as mufti days and cake
and fruit sales. One of their plans is to raise money for
Unicef’s school-in-a-box charity which gives at least 40
children the chance to continue their education in times of
emergency and conflict.
FOREST SCHOOLS - MAKING THE MOST OF OUR BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS
This term the Pre-Prep have enjoyed their weekly Forest Schools sessions. They have undertaken a huge variety of activities
including building dens, cooking up fabulous feasts in the mud kitchen, playing ‘duck, duck, goose’ and creating many different
nature-inspired artworks. Forest Schools not only provides pupils with the opportunity to explore our wonderful campus, but
also teaches them vital skills such as team work and fire safety. Below is a photo of Nursery playing ‘Six Green Bottles’, with
their artwork propped against the trunk.
-3-
SPORT
Hockey and netball matches have been well fought this halfterm in both the Senior and the Prep schools. There have
been good hockey wins against St Paul’s and Prior’s Field and
the National Schools Hockey Tournament provided excellent
experience for the players. There are too many individuals
who have improved, played well and made great progress to
name – but well done to everyone. In netball, particular
praise must go to the U13 team for their commitment, team
spirit and development. The volleyball team also continues
to go from strength to strength with numbers regularly up to
16 on Fridays at 7.30am! Well done to the Junior CrossCountry Team who took part in their first regional finals in
Bexley in November competing well in traditional wet and
windy cross-country conditions.
Congratulations to Katie Bedwin who scooped numerous,
well-deserved prizes at the Endurance GB annual awards.
Also, well done to our triathletes: Gaby Eltham won the
Triathlon south east region championship in her age group;
Gemma Cumber came third over the series; and Amelia
Wright and Issy Hayes finished 4th and 5th, respectively, in TS3
and TS2 age groups. Anna Wilson competed at top level
diving events in Southampton and the Irish Nationals in
Dublin, where she gained top tips from Tom Daley!
English Schools
Swimming
Championships
In the Freestyle relay,
Gemma Cumber, Kate
Wilson, Lauren Pedel and
Gaby Eltham finished
28th in the country and
achieved their target time of 2.02 with a time of 2.01.79. In
the Medley relay, Lauren Pedel, Lilly Cherriman, Gaby Eltham
and Gemma Cumber qualified in 23rd place to get a place at
the finals. Their official finishing position was 22nd. Well done
to all the girls, who enjoyed their day at the London Aquatic
Centre. A great experience with some excellent swims.
Schools Biathlon
Farlington girls entered the
Schools Regional Biathlon
event in the half-term
break. In the U16 age
group Gemma Cumber
came 8th and Gaby Eltham
4th. Amelia Wright and Issy
Hayes in the U13 age group had pb's in all their events.
Highlights were the 1600m run of 5.44 by Amelia and Issy's
800m in 2.36! Amelia Eltham should be commended on her
16th place finish with Amelia Wright 2nd and Issy Hayes
winning.
Gaby, Gemma, Issy and Amelia Wright qualified for the GB
Biathlon Finals in Solihull in November. The results were: U12
age group: Issy Hayes – 7th out of 76; U14 age group: Amelia
Wright – 7th out of 54; U16 age group Gemma Cumber – 22nd
out of 30; Gaby Eltham – 7th out of 30. This is an amazing set
of results; we are very proud of all the girls who competed.
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Riding Success
During the half-term break, seven riders and their ponies and
horses attended the National Championships at Addington
Equestrian Centre. Lucia Mayhew, Millie Bubb, Suzie Lunt
and Ella Bubb competed at 70/75cm show jumping and
Jumping with Style classes, and Lucy Crichton, Emily
Saunders, Clarissa Burnell-Price and Ella Bubb competed at
90/95cm show jumping and Jumping with Style. We were just
knocked out of the top 8 in a couple of classes, so considering
there were over 900 horses at the Championships, all of
whom had to qualify in top 2 placings at an NSEA qualifier
competition, we did extremely well!
Our Grass Roots team, comprising Roseanna Savage, Lucy
Bugler and Georgia Stephens, competed at Felbridge
Showground for the Qualification to compete at the Regional
Grass Roots Championships. The results were team 1st for 50
and 60cm classes with individual placings for Georgia in 50cm
and Roseanna in 50 and 60cm. In the 70cm class they came
1st - a fantastic result. They then went on to compete at the
Regional Championships at Sands Farm on 28th November
with more great results - 50cm team were placed 2nd, 60cm
team 5th, with individual 8th for Roseanna, and team 5th in
70cm and individual 6th for Roseanna.
Watersports
The Year 11 to 13
Watersports
PE
Group
has
completed its 8week introductory
course in kayaking,
sailing and paddle
boarding.
The
instruction
took
place at Southwater Watersports Centre on Friday
afternoons. Paddle boarding was the focus of the first two
sessions where balance was key, followed by alternating
weekly instruction in kayaking and sailing. Competitive
splashing was also a feature of the classes, as was a great
deal of falling in the water! The girls learned how to sail
safely in both calm and windy conditions, working in pairs,
with one student taking control of the sail and the other
taking responsibility for the rudder. Under reefed sails in the
final week, the girls needed all their newly-acquired sailing
skills to avoid capsizing in the gusty wind!
SPEAKING
YOUR MIND
YEAR 7 WARNHAM WALK
From inspirational landscapes to scrutinising settlements,
the Year 7 girls enjoyed a geography fieldwork visit to
Warnham to launch their next unit of work which focuses on
settlements. The aim was to investigate how Warnham has
changed over time and to examine the range of services
available in the village. Mrs Edgar and Mr Dwyer were
impressed with the thorough research the girls conducted:
traffic surveys, a review of services in the village, detailed
field sketches of a variety of houses and they accurately
compared housing types throughout the village. They also
discussed the impact of all the new housing in this area of
England and the potential impact to villages such as
Warnham. A great fieldwork experience for the girls in Year
7, and most importantly the weather stayed dry!
This year we again
fielded both senior and
intermediate teams for
the
Rotary
Public
Speaking Competition
Chloe Mariani was the
main speaker for the
seniors and her title, ”Horse Play”, enabled her to give us a
fascinating and enjoyable insight into the increasingly
popular pursuit of horse ballet. Danielle Naughton chaired
with a convincing mix of charm and control, whilst Katie
Bedwin used her equine background to round off
proceedings with an assured vote of thanks. Equally assured
was Leah Nicholls, who introduced and directed the
intermediate team, and Sophie Plowright who hit just the
right note with her vote of thanks. Meg Savage gave the
main speech and it is a
tribute to her rhetorical
skills that she was able
to take a challenging
subject
like
the
colonization of space
and make it both lively
and thought-provoking.
Both teams are through
to the next round. Well
done!
YOUNG
ENTERPRISE
This year’s Young
Enterprise team, Arca,
is developing seasonal
gift boxes to ‘put a
smile
on
the
customer’s face’. In
November, they faced
their first test – the
Farlington Christmas
Fair. Having carried
out market research
with a mock stall, the girls encountered the Farlington
parents. Not all the stock arrived in time and their ’just-intime’ system needed tweaking. The girls had no time to rest
on their laurels after selling 10 pamper boxes and other
merchandise at the fair - their business plan deadline was
looming. After completing this extensive document, they
were shortlisted to pitch their plan to the judges in a
Dragons’ Den format at the Mid-Sussex County Office in
Haywards Heath. Although the result is not yet known, Mr
Cronin (Link Advisor) was delighted with their performance:
“The judges were impressed with their forecasting and
accounting procedures. They demonstrated good marketing
knowledge and impressive negotiation skills, especially
relating to their payment terms with suppliers. Their
presentation was a fabulous, polished performance. Fingers
crossed for success!”
YOUNG DRIVER EXPERIENCE
On 5th November, Year 9 were given a Young Driver taster
session. It was arranged by former Farlington pupil, Suzanna
Mitchell, Marketing Manager at local Skoda dealership,
Station Garage at Broadbridge Heath. Each girl was given a
twenty-minute lesson by the instructors from Young Driver,
which specialises in offering driving opportunities for 11-17year-olds. The girls drove the brand-new Skoda cars in a
designated area set up for them to learn and then practise a
variety of driving manoeuvres. For many it was the first time
behind the wheel of a car, so nerves were evident initially.
All the girls conquered the basics – starting the car, using the
clutch, reversing, manoeuvring through cones and braking.
Ella Bubb said, “I will definitely be more confident when
driving in the future.”
-5-
‘Make a joyful
noise unto the
Lord’
COLOURS OF AUTUMN
With well over half its pupils singing in a choir or playing an
instrument, and performers aged from 7–18, Farlington’s
Autumn Concert showed just why the school has such a high
reputation for its music. The rich tones and colours of the
season were perfectly represented by the variety on offer,
from the concert orchestra’s Slavonic Dance to the training
orchestra’s “Wallace and Gromit”, and from the swung
rhythms of Razzmajazz to the pulsating beat of the Samba
Band. As ever, the different ensembles – flutes, saxophones,
guitars, recorders and ukuleles (how popular they are!) performed to the highest level, and the strings gave a
polished performance of Vivaldi’s Triple Concerto.
The many choral items, including a delightful Junior Choir,
the ever-popular Glee and SKATZ! and the beautifully
harmonising members of Aristoskatz, entertained us with
classics ranging from “What a Wonderful World!” to “When
I’m 64” - this last performed with great gusto by the adult
choir, Farlingtonic. Then the whole audience joined the
massed choirs and instrumentalists with a rousing rendition
of Rutter’s uplifting arrangement of “When the Saints come
marching in”. What a splendid way to end the evening!
For those of you who
know Psalm 100, the
Senior
School
Carol
Service was most certainly
joyful and brought us into
His
presence
with
wonderful singing… and
much more! With a front
row seat and able this
year to relax and enjoy,
rather than think about
my own participation, I was captivated from the start - the
Clarinet Quartet, Strood Consort, Flute Choir and Telemann
Strings preparing our ears, with some Christmassy tunes, for
an evening of delights.
A diverse programme reminded us of the importance of
thinking of others, not just now but especially so over the
Christmas season. The narrative from the Readings, so
clearly delivered, told of Christmases past and present and
of that very first Christmas, when the Word was made flesh.
There was also some most joyful congregational singing,
especially evident from where I was seated: well done to the
staff and Governors too! As I listened, I tried mentally to
note some mortal words to describe the whole evening.
There were certainly spine-tingling moments; for me it was
that magical ‘Eternal Source of Light’ with soloist and
trumpet, the trumpets later heralding the Good News so
magnificently. Clear, sweet tones of voices against a
background of a shimmering Christmas tree, smooth
transitions from one piece to another giving gentle pauses
for reflection led to an evening that was both peacefully
calming and uplifting.
Congratulations and grateful thanks to Mrs Thomas, music
teachers and Farlington staff for another memorable Carol
Service. I am sure that we all felt enormous pride in being a
part of such a talented and committed community.
Frances Mwale, Prep Headmistress
ROTARY SUCCESS
Elizabeth Elliott and Eleanor Harvie, who won the
instrumental and vocal categories respectively of the area
Rotary Young Musician competition, go forward to the district
final in February. Congratulations to them both!
SENIOR PRIZE-GIVING EVENING
Lucy Parsons, a former pupil, returned to Farlington School on Friday 13 th November
to present certificates and prizes at the annual GCSE and A Level Certificate
Presentation and Prize-Giving Evening. Lucy delighted the invited guests with her
witty, well-observed and very timely speech. She said ‘I was initially honoured. What
a wonderful opportunity to pass on some ‘words of wisdom’. This honour was swiftly
replaced with the crippling thought ‘Well, why the heck are they asking me?!’
Neither Lucy nor the audience need have worried as she spoke both eloquently and
with passion about her career at school and beyond. Lucy left Farlington in 2006 and
went on to study Sociology at University. After graduation she was unsure which
career to pursue, but knew one thing for certain - she wanted her own business. After a couple of different marketing and
events roles, sourced through social media and contacts and providing invaluable experience, Lucy decided to take the
plunge and go solo. She now runs her own up-and-coming Creative Marketing Co. and works with brands including RollsRoyce plc. At the outset one of the questions Lucy posed was what she would have wanted to hear on such an occasion when
she was at school. She commented that things don’t always go to plan and that in life often we are taught how to succeed,
but not how to fail. She went on to say that ‘Happiness is a subjective term, and something that can only be defined by you.
But amongst everything else that your journey through life takes you on, seek out your happiness and share it.’
-6-
“THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE”
Words, Wolves and Wonder in abundance!
Joan Aiken – the magical children’s author – would have
been delighted with Farlington School’s recent Lower School
Production of her play The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
Aiken is a magician using words to craft other worlds, and
Russ Tunney’s stage adaptation stays true to this crucial
aspect of her work. Mark Slawinski’s directing always brings
out the best in his young students who, without exception,
performed with maturity and clear delight, revelling in the
mysteries and dastardly plots that unfold. Words are at the
heart of this play, and the sheer number of lines to be
memorised is daunting, but all the performers rose to this
challenge with ease and professionalism.
Jane Williams’ full review is on the Farlington website and
will appear in ‘Vive’.
SIXTH FORMERS STUDY AT BRITISH INSTITUTE OF FLORENCE
12 members of Farlington’s Sixth Form enjoyed a once-in-alifetime trip to Florence in October. During their five days,
the girls studied under the umbrella of The British Institute
of Florence and enjoyed walking tours of the city to become
familiar with its fascinating history.
The group was ably guided throughout the visit by Jeremy
Boudreau, the Head of History of Art at The British Institute,
who gave students an enthralling insight into Michelangelo's
early life and how he produced his works of art, which
culminated in a close viewing of ‘David’ at the Academia.
Katharina Giraldi Haller, who lectures at the British Institute,
took them to the Uffizi Gallery. She gave a fascinating insight
into many of the High Renaissance masterpieces on display.
A highlight for the students was taking part in a fresco
workshop, allowing the girls to create their own unique
souvenirs using five-hundred-year-old techniques. On the
last day, they split into two groups; the more adventurous
decided to climb to the top of Brunelleschi’s dome of
Florence Cathedral to enjoy a panoramic view of the most
beautiful red-roofed city on earth, while some went to the
church of Santa Maria Novello to view the Masaccio Trinity
fresco and Brunelleschi's crucifix.
Mrs Penny Huntsman, Head of History of Art said, “I have
been working with the British Institute in Florence for a
number of years and they have been able to tailor their
lectures to the demands of the A Level History of Art course.
Such a bespoke service at a learned and historic institution is
a wonderful opportunity for the girls.”
-7-
VIVE LECTURE
Our second Vive lecture was hosted by distinguished and
remarkable speaker, Terry Marsh, the Chair of the Winchester
Science Centre and Planetarium, an award-winning TV
producer and former executive director of WISE (Women into
Science and Engineering). She focused on how to present
yourself and make yourself stand out from the crowd. Terry
inspired the girls to think about what was good about
themselves, how to talk about their personality and what they
had achieved in their lives so far. Terry spoke about the
importance of a memorable CV, where interviewers may only
give each CV a five-second glance. Having often been part of
interview process and interviewed many students herself, Terry
knows the difficulty that interviewers face. Candidates often
don’t introduce themselves fully but just list where they go to
school and the subjects they study. This gives the interviewer
no sense of who they really are. Terry gave the girls courage to
reflect upon and develop their confidence in recognising and
presenting themselves in a positive and more assertive
manner. It was a stimulating and inspiring lecture.
WEAR YOUR SLIPPERS FOR SHELTER
On 4th December, the girls left their school shoes at home and
wore slippers to class. The fundraising initiative, run by Shelter,
aims to help the 100,000 children in Britain who wake up on
Christmas morning without a home.
BOARDING NEWS
The second half of term has been a whirlwind of
activities! The running theme has most definitely been festive
- from preparing items to sell at the Christmas Fair to
shopping for all important presents at Westfield in London, as
well as watching the fantastic Jack and the Beanstalk
pantomime in Guildford. This year saw the boarders bring in
a new tradition for the end of term with a more formal
Christmas dinner, including festive entertainment, dancing,
talent shows and a visit from Santa!
PTA
CHRISTMAS
FAIR
Well done to our fantastic
PTA who organised an
amazing Christmas Fair.
The event was opened by
actress Susan Jameson
dressed as her character
Great Aunt Loretta from CBeebies’ ‘Grandpa in My Pocket’.
With over 60 stalls, the event was a great success, raising just
short of £8000 for the school. A big thank-you to everyone
who gave their time to help make this such an enjoyable and
profitable event.
ELEANOR BELL,
RBA SCHOLAR
Farlington is the only school
in Sussex to have a finalist
selected to exhibit at the
Royal Society of British
Artists
(RBA)
annual
exhibition in London next
year. Eleanor Bell, 18, who
completed her Art and
Design A Level in the
summer, is through to the final stage of the competition.
She will have the title ‘RBA Scholar’ next to her work, ‘Seated
Angel’, at the show and will be invited to attend a private
viewing at the Mall Galleries in March next year.
Farlington School, Strood Park, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 3PN Tel: 01403 254967 Fax: 01403 272258
Email: office@farlingtonschool.net
www.farlingtonschool.net