July 2016 NEWSLETTER
Staff News
From the Headteacher
As we near the end of another busy school year, I must firstly congratulate pupils on their success in
- the
- end
- of
Iyear have
We say goodbye to a number of colleagues at the end of this term: examinations.
enjoyed reading the girls’
school reports which reflect a large amount of hard work and dedication on the part of both pupils and staff.
Mr Collins who has been of great support in the Geography Department
Mrs Gregson our Teaching Assistant, who is moving on to a new position at another school
Mr Painter retires from the Maths Department after 7 years at the school
There have also been many other activities taking place in this
summer term which add so much to the learning opportunities that the girls have at BSG. Just in the last month we have had our Art Exhibition, the Shakespeare Day for year 8, the HG Walker Debating Competition final, our year 10 and 12 pupils returned from work experience and many girls
undertook their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition,
and of course last week we all enjoyed Sports Day. You can read reports of these and many other activities in this newsletter.
Mrs Burnham retires as our Home Tutor after 13½ years at the school. My particular thanks goes to her for all she has done to support pupils who are ill or in need of extra support
Mr Travis, Head of Curie House retires after 16
years’ service to the school.
I would wish to pay particular tribute to our Senior Receptionist, Mrs Street, whose contribution to the school has been enormous. She has been at the school for 34 years having previously been a pupil here. As the welcoming face of BSG I am sure that all parents and pupils will join me in wishing her all the very best in her retirement.
My thanks go to the PSA for organising the year 11 Prom, another successful visit to Thorpe Park for 340 pupils and also supporting our outstanding summer concert. We are fortunate to have such an active PSA who really make a difference to the life of our school by their fundraising and social activities. We are delighted that they have decided to fund the equipping of one of our Design Technology rooms with computers over the summer. New helpers and committee members are always welcomed. Details of meetings and events will be sent out in September. Do get involved!
To all colleagues leaving my warmest thanks and best wishes as they move on to new adventures.
We also welcome the following colleagues in September:
Over the summer we will also be creating two new laboratories and making major improvements to our heating system which is now showing its age!
- Mrs James
- Chemistry Technician
- Cover Supervisor
- Mrs Thurgur
Mrs Watson Miss Wedge
Teacher of Mathematics Teacher of Religious Studies
Such a successful school year would not have been possible without the help and support of so many groups associated with the life of the school: pupils, staff, parents, governors and the PSA. My thanks to you all and best wishes for a restful summer break.
The following internal appointments have also been made or confirmed:
- Mrs Choy
- Receptionist
Miss Cooper Mrs Horton-Hill
Head of Curie House Pastoral Support Worker
Alistair Brien
In this my first year as Chair of Governors it has been a real privilege to lead the school’s governing body. It never ceases to amaze me the sheer range of talents that our pupils have, together with the dedication and commitment of our school’s
staff. Behind the scenes we have a dedicated governing body which always seeks to do the best for the pupils and staff in its care.
This has been a very busy year for the governing body. We have been reviewing the way that we work in our committees. With a new committee structure in place, together with regular visits to school we want to ensure that we really know our school and are able to offer effective challenge and support to our school leaders.
A working group of governors has also been meeting to make plans for a new sports facility, which would be a
fitting recognition of our school’s centenary in 2018. Such a project is likely to cost around £2million! We are therefore
looking at grants that we may access as well as applying for government funding. If any parents have any expertise in such matters we would be delighted to hear from you.
This year we say goodbye to governors Dr O’Connor and Mr Hicks and Mr Davies ,our current support staff
governor , comes to the end of his term of office. Our thanks go to all of them for their support for the governing body.
We are currently awaiting the outcome of the government’s White Paper on education and how it sees the future of
school governance. It is important that parents as well as representatives of the wider local community are represented on the governing body. We now await to hear how parents are to be appointed to governing bodies in the future. When we have clear advice we will of course be consulting with parents as to the way forward.
May I wish all members of the BSG a restful and well deserved summer break. Jane Stichbury Chair of Governors
The year 10 girls have just completed their work experience for 2016. We had 220 placements this year and we introduced more than 70 new companies.
Some of our students went to schools or pre-schools. These placements were very successful. Employers said ‘K is a born teacher, she is missed already’, ‘it was a pleasure to have C with us. She has been so productive and positive with a lovely gentle manner with all the children’, ‘R showed continuous intuition, enthusiasm and professionalism, well done!’
This year 5% of our girls went to design companies. These proved to be very successful placements with the girls designing;
posters and letterheads, using 3D printers and learning about coding. One employer said ‘she is an absolute credit to her
school and we have loved having her in the office. What she has achieved in such a short space of time is incredible and
we would welcome her back anytime.’
Many of our girls had placements at Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth University, The College, veterinary practices,
doctors’ surgeries, accountants, lawyers, retailers, dance academies and architects.
A couple of girls had a look at the TV and film industry and had a go at editing and also research & development for TV shows (and absolutely no tea making!)
Girls also went to RAF Odiham, Royal School of Signals, Cobham Mission, RNLI, Bournemouth Helicopters and Bournemouth Airport. There I believe they stripped engines, flew in helicopters and joined in with fire fighters hosing down a blaze: I think it is fair to say that they have all had a memorable experience.
With many thanks to all our very supportive staff who visited and called as many girls as was humanly possible and of course to all those wonderful employers who gave our girls such amazing opportunities.
So looking forward to next year if any parents would like to offer work experience placements we would be very pleased to hear from you! Please e-mail Mrs Lewis: [email protected].
Term begins for all pupils on Monday 5th September. Pupils should come in at the following times: Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10
09.30 13.25 13.25 13.25
Year 11 Year 12 Year 13
13.25 10.00 08.35
As parents go out and buy new uniform and school shoes for September, may I again remind you of the uniform code which can be found on the website. Please do not be persuaded to buy items other than on the uniform list. This will avoid any unnecessary embarrassment at the start of the new term. Pupils incorrectly dressed will be asked to return home to change.
We would like to clarify a few key points:
The skirt length should be no more than 8 cm above the knee (measured from the middle of the knee). The design of the skirt should not be modified in any way.
Skirts
Jackets are compulsory. If it is warm, girls should wear their jacket rather than their jumper.
Jackets
The only jewellery permitted is ONE pair of plain ear studs; decorative studs are not allowed. NO other piercings are allowed. Again, please do not be persuaded otherwise by your daughter.
Jewellery
Girls need to wear sturdy plain black shoes, as specified in their planner. We have been concerned at the number of girls wearing flimsy shoes; the backs of these readily break down, resulting in unsafe footwear.
Shoes
This route will continue to be operated by Yellow Buses, on a commercial basis from the start of school term in September 2016. Walk-on cash tickets up to the age of 19 will be priced at £2.20 single and £3.20 day return. Longer term tickets such as the 7-day and 30-day Glo network tickets – currently priced at £13.00 and £40.00 respectively will also be valid for travel on these services, and on other Yellow Buses routes during their validity.
To the following pupils who have all received Headteacher's Commendations for achieving eighty merits:
Florence Harris (7A), Olivia Minnock (7A), Amy O'Brien (7A), Leyna Parker (7A), Joey Johnson-Purdy (7A), Maaja Sorokina (7A), Annabelle Storey (7A), Sophie Wallis (7A), Eva Wigham (7A), Elanor Budge (7C), Daisy Elliott (7C), Abigail Locke (7C), Daisy Lowe (7C), Lucyna Witakowska-Bebel (8F), Jeanette Antwi (7F), Tess Donnelly (7F), Hannah Francis (7F), Matilda Marsh (7F), Andrea Shibu (7F), Keira Squire (7F), Ella Windsor (7F), Kirsty Zeineh (7F), Freya Pretty (9P), Amy Travers (9P), Jessica Williams (9P), Maisie Doucy (7P), Amelia Duguid (7P), Katie John (7P), Isabelle Topp (7P), Ella Tekeli (7R), Emily Roughton (8S), Tara Barker (7S), Amaia Echebarrieta (7S), Louisa Goodman (7S), Emily May (7S), Noon Nadiem (7S), Lauren Pell (7S), Isabella Vine (7S), Emilia Wilkes (7S)
To the following pupils who have all received Chair of Governors’ Commendations for achieving one
hundred merits:
Grace Robbins (7A), Holly Valler (7A), Georgia Hunter Radermacher (7C), Rosemary Mathew (7C), Shreeja Sharma (7C), Megan Arthur (7F), Amelia Bowering (7F), Bella Elderfield (7F), Niamh Franklyn (7F), Sienna May (7F), Eleanor Milburn (7F), Roxanne Clayton (7P), Harmony Faulkner (7P), Millie Samuel (7P), Amy Somauroo (7P), Lily Taylor (7P), Katie Dapp (7R), Ella Crussen-White (7R), Maria Balkanska (7S), Tabitha Dix(7S), Amaia Echebarrieta (7S), Mirella Di-Felice (7S), Emilia Wilkes (7S), Amy Wilson (8C), Ruby Moore (8C), Isabella Zhang (8C), Freya Baddeley (8C), Rebecca Dearsley (8F), Alexandra Newport (8F), Lili Doucy (8P)
To the following pupils who have achieved one hundred and twenty merits:
Ella-Marie Dearlove (7A), Tamsyn McKenzie (7A), Alice Kettlewell (7C), Aimee Pope (7C), Niamh Pye (7C),
Erin Child (7F), Bella Elderfield (7F), Hollie Pouncett (7F), Holly Sheridan (7P), Katie Dapp (7R), Mia Horner (7R), Sofia Ferreira (7S), Evelyn Seville (7S), Amy Wilson (8C), Isabella Zhang (8C), Lana Bown (8R), Sky O'Driscoll (8R)
To the following pupils who have achieved one hundred and forty merits:
Erin Child (7F), Lily Gladwell (7F), Hollie Pouncett (7F), Evelyn Seville (7S), Maria Jongco (8C) This has been a half term of departures and arrivals, and a lot of planning and organising for the future!
Year 13 completed their final A level examinations, and joined us for a Leaver’s Celebration assembly on June 30th. As well as an opportunity to collect leaver’s hoodies and ball tickets, the morning ended with staff and year 13 in the Common Room
to sign Yearbooks with final farewell messages whilst being served with strawberries and ice cream. This has been a most fantastically hard working and dedicated year group, and we will certainly miss them. Some students have already begun employment, or left to go on their gap year travels but we look forward to seeing them again to celebrate their exam success on August 18th – results day!
On Friday 1st July we welcomed our new year 12 sixth form for their induction day, during which they met their tutor and students new-to-BSG, and had a taster lesson in one of their subjects. All students were given information about year 12, as well as subject preparation material ready for September.
Our current year 12 spent the week following study leave doing further work experience. Students took the opportunity to work abroad or in other parts of the country, as well as locally. Students who spent the week at BSG worked on their
interview skills through Barclay’s Life Skills programme, and completed in-school projects including writing the sixth form
magazine, renovating the pond area and developing the use of inspirational quotations in subject areas. A group of Media students filmed a series of reflections about BSG sixth form that we hope to see on the website shortly. All year 12 students then returned to take part in a two-day Future Planning Conference. We welcomed speakers to talk about apprenticeships and gap years, as well as finding out how to write the Personal Statement for applications to higher education. We were pleased to be able to offer 15 subject specific talks – ranging from Art Foundation courses to Nursing, and from Film and TV Production degrees to options in Engineering. We really tried to offer something for everyone!
Year 12 have now embarked on their A2 studies – the harder 60% of the A level course. At the same time, there have been many new opportunities such as the Biology fieldtrip, open days at many universities, running the year 8 Shakespeare Festival or taking part in the Engineering Challenge; and many students are also planning their Extended Project Qualification for next year.
This has been a year of hard work for all of our sixth formers, and I hope that they will have time to rest and relax during the summer. As well as spending time with their family and friends, earning money in part-time jobs, or doing extra-curricular or super-curricular activities they should take time to reflect on just how far they have come this year.
We look forward to celebrating their examination success in August. Mrs Holman
BU SCRATCH JAM 2016
BSG was represented by ten year 8 girls in the annual Bournemouth University Scratch Jam computer programming competition. Working in pairs, they had the brief to create games featuring animals. Holly Kilgour and Emily-Antoinette Henson of 8C gained silver cups (well.. grey tea mugs) for second overall in the contest, for a set of games based on moving through a zoo. Danielle Draper and Niamh Fagg of 8A gained a Highly Commended for their octopus game, which incorporated a Caribbean sound track. The team were shown degree projects by students in animation, video effects and games programming which were truly inspirational, as BU is the national leader in computer animation and has close links with global leaders in the game and movie industries.
PSA SUMMER CONCERT
The PSA Summer Concert, ‘Bach, Bacharach and the Beatles’ took place on Thursday 23rd June in the
Performing Arts Centre. The event included drama and dance as well as music, and took place on five
different ‘stages’! An audience of over 300
enjoyed a huge variety of performances – a very successful evening!
Some of the PSA Summer Concert performers
AUTUMN MUSIC CALENDAR
AUTUMN CONCERT - Thursday 10 November BSG School Hall
‘GREASE’ (see below) Wednesday 30 November–Saturday3 December - BSG School Hall
CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT - Thursday 8 December - St Francis’s Church
BAROQUE CONCERT (with BS) - Wednesday 8 February - St Francis’s Church
INSTRUMENTAL/VOCAL LESSONS (2016-17)
If you wish to organise instrumental or vocal lessons for next year please ask your daughter to collect an application form from Reception of the Music Department as soon as possible. We are still taking applications at present.
BOURNEMOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
This year the Festival Choir was entered into the traditional music class of the School Choir category in the Bournemouth Music Competitions Festival. They won the class against stiff competition and were successful in being named Bournemouth School Choir of the Year.
The Chamber Choir were entered into two classes in the Youth Choir section and won the a cappella class with their beautiful
singing of their contrasting songs ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ and the madrigal ‘Now is the Month of Maying’.
Well done to both choirs for bringing trophies back to school. This year the Festival Choir was entered into the traditional music class of the School Choir category in the Bournemouth Music Competitions Festival. They won the class against stiff competition and were successful in being named Bournemouth School Choir of the Year.
The Chamber Choir were entered into two classes in the Youth Choir section and won the a cappella class with their beautiful
singing of their contrasting songs ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ and the madrigal ‘Now is the Month of Maying’.
Well done to both choirs for bringing trophies back to school. Rhiannyd Davies (Year 10) was fortunate to have the opportunity to sing in an Opera Gala at Hurn Court on July 2 together with Lauren Hardyman (Year 12) who played cello in the orchestra. The concert, conducted by the well-known tenor Lynton Atkinson,
was in aid of Music Therapy for children at Poole Hospital. They performed well known songs from Mozart’s ‘Marriage of Figaro’ and Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’.
The BSG Community Choir is going from strength to strength. As well as performing at the Summer Concert we spent a lovely evening at Flirt Café Bar in Bournemouth singing through our wide and varied repertoire of songs to an appreciative audience.
Our first rehearsal of next term will be on Monday 12 September in the Performing Arts Centre from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. We would love to see any of you who enjoy singing.
We are very pleased to announce that our next BSG Musical Production will
be ‘Grease’. We hope many students will be involved, whether on stage, in
the band or helping front of house or backstage.
Performances: 30 November – 3 December
Main rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3.45-5.30pm.
Students have to be available for rehearsals at these times in order to take part in the show. There will also be some lunchtime rehearsals and two weekend rehearsals near to the time of the show.
Auditions (for girls and boys) will take place at the very beginning of next term as follows:
Tuesday 6 September 3.45pm – Years 8 & 9 Wednesday 7 September 3.45pm – Years 10-13 Thursday 8 September 12.40pm – Year 7 (limited places available)
You should come prepared to sing a song of your choice from ‘Grease’ if you are interested in a solo role.
Second auditions will take place at 12.45pm on Fri 9 September and Mon 12 September FIRST REHEARSAL (FULL CAST) ON WED 14 SEPTEMBER AT 3.45PM We will also be needing technical and backstage help. There will be a show band – more details to follow next term.
Richard Burdett
Director of Music and Performing Arts The first Year 9 Performance Group presented their
piece ‘The Field of Dreams’ to an audience of friends,
parents and staff. The whole experience has been most successful and satisfying for both the girls and me. Their characters were genuinely comic and all performers and crew were very professional in rehearsal and on performance night. All aspects of the show were run by Year 9 girls guided by our technician Dave Kay and directed by me. I hope that this will be the start of a new BSG tradition.
‘The Field of Dreams’ – cast and crew
Georgia Roberts 9S wrote:
I was a ‘techie’ in ‘The Field of Dreams’ production. I had never really done anything like that before and didn’t know what to expect.
The whole build up to the show was really exciting and once they were on the stage I felt really proud of how everything came together. Overall, it was such a good experience and I recommend it to the next Year 9s to get stuck in as I know a few people regretted not being in it because of how good the end result was.
Jan Webb
Head of Drama and Deputy Head of Performing Arts On Wednesday, 29th June 2016, myself and 44 other year 8s embarked on an educational school trip (you could say an adventure of sorts) to Normandy. One can only imagine the excitement surging throughout the coach, as the peculiarly energised
girls (this was at roughly 6 o’clock in the morning) nattered to their neighbours about the French food they had been dreaming
about since May last year. And, of course, the very long ferry journey, where the odd rush of energy suddenly disappeared, and the imagined croissants were replaced with fluffy pillows and crisp bed sheets. In other words, everybody was tired.
Arriving, however, seemed to revive the magical energy and excitement of exploring new surroundings, and having to ask
for the hotel’s WiFi… in French! Je voudrais le WiFi, s’il vous
plait. The activities taking up the following few days proved themselves very interesting. For example, when we visited the impressive American D-Day graveyard, and the German graveyard later on in the week, it was amazing to be able see the difference between the two. The American graveyard was very pristine and polished, boasting white marble crosses and towering statues. However the German graveyard was smaller, and displayed stone plaques for each soldier that was killed in the landings. Exploring a coastal site peppered with ancient bomb shelters and battle ruins was my personal favourite part of the trip, because some of the shelters still stand, although very battered, and we were able to stand in the same buildings as the soldiers did back in the 1940s. It felt very special, like we