Autumn

2011 Beech House News

Reports Art Enclosed with this newsletter you should find your child’s Inside Story report. The documentation provides a clear profile of your child’s progress page 2 throughout the last academic term. • Beech House in National The staff and I have had the Naturalist opportunity during the course Finals of the last academic term to discuss individual children’s progress with parents on a • Best GCSE formal and informal basis. I Results in hope many of you will Country continue to take advantage of Again! our “open door” policy next

term. Please contact the We are delighted to report that Beech House School Art page 3 school immediately if you department achieved another successful year in the • Where are they have not received your Independent Schools’ Association (North West Region) now? child’s school report. I would Art Competition which took place at Greenbank School. ask you to return the receipt This year’s success was with two of our students in the page 4 slip to the school office in the under 16s Drawing competition: New Year. First Place - Jennifer Garrity with “Eyes“ • Beech House Runner Up - Ameer Mohammed Ali with “Flower “ in Bloom Congratulations to them both. School Awards page 5 The following pupils have Year 9H - Humza Hassan, been appointed:- Year 10D - Raeesah Shahid, Staffing • Swimming Sub Prefects : Bushra Ahmad, Year 10L - Matthew Leach, This term saw the Champions Jennifer Garrity, Shakeal Year 11G -Jennifer Garrity, departure of Mrs Mahmood and Joseph Year 11W - Aqib Hamid. Hortop after more page 5 Winfield. The Progress Awards are than nine years, and The following pupils have given to pupils who have Mrs Mills after more • Upper Prep Ski been made Form Captains for excelled in attitude, than 31 years at Champion this academic year. behaviour and performance. Beech House. We The honours for the Autumn send them both our Reception - Harvey Mills, term went to :- best wishes for the Year 1 - Ibrahim Robinson, future. Year 2 - Lucy Butterworth, Nursery Maliha Choudhry page 6 Reception Nishika The school would Year 3 - Daniel Rigg, like to welcome Miss Lakshmi Narayanan • House Results Year 4 - Adam Millington, McGeoghegan who Year 1 Zain Choudhry Year 5 - Ellie Roebuck, will be teaching in Year 2 Zain Ahmed-Dar Year 6 - Emily Cooper, both the Senior and Year 7 - Umair Ahmad, Year 3 Nicole Healey Upper Prep Year 4 Luke Butterworth Year 8R - Max Atkins, Departments. Year 8D - Libby Dunstan, Year 5 Yusuf Siddique Year 9B - Joe Hamblett, Year 6 Emily Cooper

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GCSE Success Junior Choir Belated congratulations go to Mrs Hawkins and the Year 11 boys from 2010. For the second year in succession Beech House was presented with a certificate for the Best GCSE Results achieved by Boys taking Business Studies at an English Independent School. The original notification failed to arrive by post, but better late than never. It is the third such award to be presented to the school in the past two years.

Rochdale Entrepreneur A group of Year 10 pupils attended the Rochdale Young Entrepreneur event at Rochdale Town Hall. There they were put into teams with pupils from other schools in the borough and they worked in these teams during the day on a single business idea.

British Young

The Junior Choir went to Asda in Rochdale to Naturalists entertain the shoppers. They sang beautifully, Once again the school reached the undeterred by the cold wind blowing through British Young Naturalists Finals. the foyer! Many lovely comments were made SPEECH NIGHT This year it was a special year as it about the very tuneful singing and an odd tear was the 25th Anniversary of A full Town Hall saw the Mayor appeared in the eye of some of the more the Award. The Senior pupils were of Rochdale, Councillor Alan elderly customers. The pupils were then runners up for the third time in treated to a hot chocolate and biscuits in the Godson and the Mayoress, succession. The Key Stage cafe to warm up again. Gillian Brown, present the Two pupils were also runners up for awards to the deserving pupils. the second time in three years. Both groups took home two more Year on year the programme Mad Scientist beautiful certificates of merit. The The pupils of the Senior and Upper Prep have gets longer as the number of Year 6 project was entitled ‘Save been both entertained, and in the process trophies, medals and our Trees’, where the class educated, by the ‘Mad Scientist’ who has been certificates increases. On the compared trees along Manchester attending school on a weekly basis. The pupils Road with those found in the woods sporting front the school was learnt about such diverse topics as volcanoes behind school. At Key Stage Three successful in fourteen out of and jellyfish. Their favourite activity, though, Anusia and Raeesah studied ‘Bees’ was the ‘poppers’, when they learnt about the eighteen sports on offer. over the summer holidays. gravity. They were also given experiments to The academic awards do at home. matched this with success in many curriculum areas. Harvest Festival The Bishop of Middleton attended the Harvest Festival celebrations at both the Senior and Upper Prep, and the Lower Prep assemblies. The produce WorldSkills donated by parents was given to Petrus to help the homeless of Rochdale. Along with London Mayor Boris Johnson and Business Secretary Vince Cable, a group of 28 pupils and 3 staff visited WorldSkills London 2011 in October. The WorldSkills London 2011 Competition saw almost a thousand young people battle it out to be the best of the best in a range . of vocational skills, ranging from dress making and cooking to web design in the largest international skills Competition the world has ever seen.

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Meet the MP Science

‘Question Time’ took place when Year 9H went to the MOSI to Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk be given this years’ topic for visited the school. The senior the Science Museum London pupils were given a talk on the role project. They had a team of an MP which was followed by a building exercise and games with a 'punk science' lecture. question and answer session. The pupils asked many relevant and All this was followed by a 4D topical questions, to which Simon theatre film. Hard work is to Danczuk responded with frank and follow next term to produce a thought provoking answers. sculpture which represents Science and Journalism. .

Poetry

Merits and Rainbow Awards The Nursery and Reception classes visited Rochdale Central Library in the Wheatsheaf Centre. They had a In the Senior Department the following have been awarded 20 merits and received their Bronze Certificate : Umair Ahmad, group story-time with Ray the children’s librarian and selected some books relating to our topic ‘People who Rudi Worth, Haider Hussain, Hashim Khawaja, Libby Dunstan, Zahra Naqvi and Josephine Stansfield. Rainbow Awards are help us’ to bring back to school. All children were exceptionally well-behaved and several passers-by given to pupils in the Lower Prep depending on the number of stopped the staff in the town centre to comment on how House Points they obtain. There are two winners of the Red smart the children looked in their uniforms. Award for 50 House Points. They are Lucy Butterworth and

Ateeq Ur Rahman. Big Bang Old Boys Jackson Cowie visited the Sellafield stand at ‘The Big Some of our ex-students, who progressed to Sixth Form in 2009, Bang North West’ in Liverpool, where he entered their have now moved on this year to pastures new:- competition. He managed to win a Brainstorm ‘Day & Courtney Brook: Gained A levels in Sociology, Psychology and Night Globe’ for the school, after correctly answering Media Studies. the competition questions. Ayesha Mahmood: Gained A levels in English and Law. Hannah Sultan: Gained A levels in IT, Law and English. She is now studying International Law at the University of Sheffield. Friends of Beech House Fiona Williams: Gained A levels in Law, Sociology and In November FOBH put on a Henna and Body Shop Psychology. She is now studying Law at the University of Leeds. Party. Both pupils and staff enjoyed a few nibbles and Gabrielle Wilson: Gained A levels in Dance, English Language drinks whilst having their hands beautifully decorated in and English Literature. She is now studying English Literature at Henna and watching Mrs Durrans who was getting a York (St John) University. facial. A good night was had by all. Back at school the News on some ‘Older’ pupils : Body Shop Raffle was won by Shah Hussain Year 10D. Paul-Michael Jones is to play Johnny Castle in the fastest selling By the time you read this newsletter, the Laser Quest musical tour of all time, the stage version of Dirty Dancing. and bowling night, and distribution of the Friends of Yasin Gauer is in the second year of his business course and Beech House selection boxes will have taken place. will complete the third year of his degree at Manchester The Winter Fayre took place after the Lower University. Preparatory Christmas performance again this year, Lauren Birkin continues to excel at hairdressing, recently and I am sure you will agree the Senior pupils were an winning a stylist award. asset to the School supporting the stalls.

Open Evening Parents’ Evenings These will be taking place during the Spring Term. The Open Evening was well attended as prospective parents Letters will be sent home inviting parents to make and their children from a wide range of year groups viewed the appointments with staff. Should these go astray, they school. Many thanks to the pupils who stayed behind to act as are posted on the school website. guides and were great ambassadors for the school.

Beech House News Page 4 of 6 Fire Brigade Safeguarding The Nursery & Reception children enjoyed a visit to the Year 6 visited Crucial Crew in Greater Manchester Fire Bury as part of our Keeping Service Museum in Rochdale, Safe curriculum. They took as part of their learning about part in a range of different ‘People who help us stay problem solving activities given safe’. The children toured the by the Police, Fire Brigade and museum in groups, looking at Railway Police. They all fire engines, equipment and enjoyed the day, especially the uniforms from days gone by ‘freebies’ at the end! and enjoyed trying on various Year 3 and 4 were given a firefighters’ helmets for size! presentation about Road The visit ended with an Safety. They were taken outside and shown the correct opportunity for the children to try their hand pumping out way to cross the road safely. water through a hose – great They finished with a Rochdale in Bloom fun on a hot, sunny day! presentation about how to be The School won the Gold Award for the Rochdale in safe as a pedestrian. Bloom ‘Design a Poster’ competition, which was completed in June 2011. The ‘Township in Bloom’ competition is an annual event in which Rochdale British Safety Township competes against others, including local

Oh Yes She is! challengers Bury and Heywood, to showcase their Council horticultural achievements. Olesia Tomkinson (10D) has Some of our Year 11 students been chosen to dance in the have recently gained a British forthcoming pantomime ‘The Safety Council Entry Level . Charity Wizard of Oz’ at Rochdale’s Award in ‘Hazard Awareness in Pupils on ‘Jeans for Genes Day’, were able to wear Gracie Fields Theatre. the Workplace’. I am sure you non- uniform for the day. A total of £ 256.60 was Starring alongside Olesia, to will join us in congratulating raised. Year 8 pupils were baking cakes every name but a few, are Kirsty- them. They are: Shakeal weekend to provide the hungry masses with sweet Leigh Porter of ‘Emmerdale’ Mahmood, Matthew Goss, treats. They managed to raise £112 for Get Kids fame, as Dorothy, the Harrison Kinder, Ameer Ali, Going, the charity Mrs Grange will be running for in the ‘legend’ Ken Morley, who Arifah Tahir, Lydia Nightingale, .2012 London Marathon. once played the mischievous Bethany Moat, Jessica . Reg in ‘’, Timperley and Rabia Tahir. Gareth Oliver from ‘Britain’s Book Fair Got Talent’ and Aaron Many thanks to all the parents and pupils who Sidwell who many will know Economics supported the Book Fair held at the school. A total of as Steven Beale from Year 11 Economics pupils £689 was raised. The Book Fair competition winners ‘Eastenders’. Olesia will were invited to Rochdale Town were: Harry Ashton, Jimmy Dalziel, Sara Karim and dance in 6 shows between Hall, along with prominent Emily Cooper. 24th and 31st December, members of the business Each child won a book based on their history topic. alongside other ‘amazing community, to hear a talk given dancers’. Good Luck to by the Chief Economist at the Olesia ...... Beech House has Royal Bank of Scotland. The Speech Night Success got talent! talk was followed by a question and answer session. Shakespeare Anusia Battersby particpated Public Speaking in the BBC Off By Heart The Key Stage 3 & 4 teams Shakespeare Regional Heat entertained members of the held at the Lowry. Anusia Chadderton and Oldham chose to recite a passage Rotary Club at the Bower Hotel from ‘A Midsummers Night’s in preparation for next term’s Dream’. 'Youth Speaks' competition.

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Swimming Independent Schools Gala ISA North of The Independent Schools Prep Senior Rochdale Championships The Beech House School Senior Gala, held each year in Rochdale, The School produced another large haul of Swimming Team travelled to the produced eight individual medals and three individual Rochdale swimming Liverpool Aquatic Centre for the medallists for Beech House. They champions in the Senior Schools Swimming Independent Schools North of were : Gala, held at Middleton Arena. The school England Swimming Finals. became Rochdale Team Champions in two The school picked up 6 individual Grace Prime - U 10 Backstroke - events. In addition we won 3 individual Silver medals and were runners up in Gold medals, 4 individual Bronze, 2 team Silver and 2 four relay races. Natalie El- Hage – U 11 Backstroke team Bronze. They were :- Individual. - Bronze Alex Yiatrou – U12 Backstroke – Bronze Silver Medallists Callum Salford – U 9 Breaststroke Aston Buckley – U13 Backstroke – Bronze U20 Boys – Bronze Victoria Burnett – U13 Backstroke – Silver Backstroke - Alex Hannay Adam Millington – U10 Jacob Wright – U15 Backstroke – Silver Freestyle - Daniel Matthews Breaststroke – Gold Alex Yiatrou -U12 Breaststroke – Gold U14 Boys Natalie El- Hage - U 11 James Hart -U13 Breaststroke – Silver Backstroke & Freestyle - Jack Breaststroke – Bronze Harry Hayden -U15 Breaststroke – Silver Cryer Luke Butterworth – U9 Freestyle – Yusuf Seoud – U12 Freestyle – Bronze Bronze Medallist Bronze Jack Cryer - U13 Freestyle – Gold U20 Boys Adam Millington – U 10 Freestyle – Grace Prime - U14 Freestyle - Bronze Breaststroke - Joe Winfield Silver Daniel Matthews - U15 Freestyle – Gold U14 Girls Daisi Daniels - U10 Freestyle – The relay team of Alex Yiatrou, Yusuf Seoud, Backstroke - Amy Platt Bronze Sam Clutton and Rudi Worth were Rochdale Team Champions in the 4x25m Medley Relay and Silver Medallists The school also picked up a silver silver medalists in the 4x25m Freestyle Relay. Under 20 in the U10 Medley Relay and team Aston Buckley, James Hart, Jack Cryer, Rudi Boys Freestyle & Medley Relay bronze in the U9 Freestyle and Worth (Alex Yiatrou) were silver medalists in the Matthew Goss, Harrison Kinder, U10 Freestyle relays. U13 4x25m Medley Relay and Rochdale Alex Hannay & Joe Winfield Champions in the 4x25m Freestyle Relay. The Under 14 Girls Beech House was placed fourth in U15 team of Harry Hayden, Alex Hannay, Jacob Freestyle & Medley Relay the smaller schools event. The final Wright and Harrison Groome, the U12 team of Olivia Rigg, Natalie El-Hage, Amy scores were : Olivia Rigg, Grace Prime, Megan Klymowec and Platt & Yolanda Cruz Natalie El-Hage, and the U15 team of Olesia rd st The boys were placed 3 and the 1 Forest Park – 93 Tomkinson, Amy Fryer, Victoria Burnett and th nd girls 6 in the North of England. 2 Farrowdale – 82 Olivia Rigg were all bronze medalists in their rd 3 Firwood Manor - 75 relay races. th 4 Beech House - 50 The school were placed third in both the U12 5th Clarendon Cottage - 38 and U13 events. The U15 team were placed Ski Champion fourth and the U14s fifth overall. In September, Team Beech House were proud to announce that British Indoor and European Indoor Water Polo Mini’s 1 Champion Daisi Daniels will be joining the Beech House competed in the ISA North of England area mini water Team Evolution Programme for the 2011/12 polo championships held in Rochdale. season. Daisi is an athlete of amazing potential, Beech House A Beech House B identified by Team GB Olympic star David Ryding v Beech House B lost 0:10 v Beech House A won 10 : 0 as “the most promising Mini on the British scene v Clarendon Cottage lost 0 : 4 v Clarendon Cottage won 6 : 2 right now” and marked by her coaches as a huge v Greenbank A lost 0 : 5 v Greenbank A lost 0 : 5 talent. After taking home the British & European v Greenbank B lost 1 : 8 v Greenbank B lost 0 : 8 Minis Indoor Titles in 2010, Daisi successfully v Prenton lost 0 : 2 v Prenton lost 0 : 6 defended her stake as the fastest Mini in Britain with another victory in the 2011 competition, as Beech House B were placed fourth and Beech House A were sixth in well as claiming 1st place in the AngloScottish, the competition. InterSchools and BARSC British Championships, all held in various resorts across France.

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Soccer Handball Netball U11 Tournament Under 11 Friendly Boys v St John’s lost 1 : 5 v St James lost 0 : 6 v St Michael’s (a) lost 4 : 6 v Prenton Prep (h) lost 0 : 5 v Broadfield won 2 :3 v St James (a) lost 0 : 21 Under 9 Friendly v Huddersfield (h) lost 0 :12 v Huddersfield (h) lost 0 : 7 U14 Girls Rochdale Finals v Middleton lost 0 : 6 v Siddal Moor lost 1 : 5 Under 11 League Under 11 Friendly v Holy Family drew 3 : 3 v Bamford (a) drew 4 : 4 v Broadfield (a) won 5 : 1 v Smithybridge (a) lost 0 : 29 v St John’s (a) lost 1 : 4 U16 Girls Rochdale Finals v Siddall Moor lost 0 : 2 v St Cuthbert’s lost 0 :1 v St James (a) lost 1 : 3 th Under 14 Friendly v Prenton (h) lost 6 : 10 v Holy Family lost 0 :1 4 Place v Kingsway (a) won 19 : 0 v Huddersfield (h) lost 3 : 12 v Hulme Hall (a) lost 9 :12 U16 Boys Rochdale Finals v Siddall Moor lost 0 :1 v St Cuthbert’s lost 0 :1 v Abbeygate (a) won 12 : 3 Under 11 ISA Cup v Bridgewater (h) lost 0 :18 v Holy Family lost 2 :3 v St Anne’s won 1 : 0 4th Place Under 14 League v St Cuthbert’s (a) lost 0 :1 Under 14 League v Oulder Hill (a) lost 1 :25 Friends of Beech House Christmas Bowling v Southern Cross (a) lost 4 : 8 v Shaftesbury (a) won 4 : 2 Under 15 Friendly v Brownhill (a) won 10 : 0 v Abbeygate (a) won 9 : 3

Under 14 Rochdale League Under 16 ISA North of England v Holy Family (a) lost 1 : 6 v Scarisbrick won 6 : 2 v Wardle (h) lost 1 : 4 v Hillcrest lost 5 :10 v Cransley lost 1 :11 Under 15 Rochdale League v Tower College won 6 :3 v Holy Family (a) lost 1 :4 v The Grange lost 1 : 9 v Hulme Hall lost 1 : 8 Under 16 League v Abbeygate lost 0 : 6 v Rossendale (a) won 13 :4 th Final Position 6 Place v Shaftesbury (a) drew 3 : 3 House Points Girls Basketball The Combined Lower Prep and Upper Prep Under 14 Friendly Under 14 League House Point totals this term are as follows:- v Huddersfield (a) won 40 : 10 v St Cuthbert’s C lost 0 : 1 Neptune = 946 Mercury = 942 v St Cuthbert’s B drew 0 : 0 Saturn = 829 Jupiter = 716 Under 14 League v Holy Family won 4 : 0 v Highfield (h) lost 2 : 3 v Hollingworth lost 0 : 3 v Siddal Moor lost 0 : 2 House Cross Country Under 16 League v Middleton lost 0 : 2 Senior v Highfield (h) lost 28 : 30 The overall point scores are: 1st Mercury 30 2nd Jupiter 20 rd th Cross Country 3 Neptune 15 4 Saturn 13 Rowing In the Rochdale Senior Cross Congratulations go to Cecily Senior Country Championships Jackson Morgan and Daniel Charlson Cowie finished in fifth place in the who both picked up bronze The overall points scores are: Year 11 event. Next term’s ISA medals in the under 14 and 1st Neptune 28 2nd Mercury 26 North of England Finals will be under 16 events of the 3rd Jupiter 23 4th Saturn 21 hosted by Beech House School Rochdale Schools Indoor for the first time. Rowing Championships.