SEPTEMBER 2009 Editor: Mr Ray King

S Tel: 07768 022 082

G Head’s Lines Dear Readers

W Over the summer, as testified herein, our pupils and staff have enjoyed adventures overseas and Bulletin nearer to home, pupils from within and outside the School have enjoyed successful summer courses and our refurbishment has continued to roll on. Replacement of the Sports Hall roof and those elsewhere in the School has led to farewells ‘A’ new level of results! to internal water features; new shower areas mean farewells to the smell of drains and Congratulations to all our 2009 Leavers A Level Results [ AS results in ( ) ] improvements in other areas including a new Dining Room server enable farewells to long Once again, we were extremely proud of, and delighted for, all ABCDEU our A-level candidates. This year's group of 76 girls gained a lunch queues. Mathematics 37 (2) 1 (2) (1) 1 (1) record-breaking proportion of A grades (88.7%) with 98.1% of The GCSE and A-level tables detail outstanding Further Mathematics 4 (3) all papers being awarded A or B grades. Most girls took 4 A results and I join all staff in being extremely Physics 7 (6) (1) Levels and 1 AS Level. Including AS Levels, 69 girls gained 3 or proud of the achievements of their hard-working more A grades, 14 gaining 4 As, 38 gaining 5 As, 5 gaining 6 As Chemistry 27 (1) 1 pupils. As we enter the fourth full week of this and one gaining 7 As. In total, 9 Distinctions and 5 Merits were Biology 24 (8) (2) 1 (2) (1) new academic year, many events have already gained in Advanced Extension papers in 7 different subjects. English Literature 9 (3) 1 (3) (2) (1) taken place. The official opening of the new Seven girls will be studying at Cambridge and four at Oxford English Language 3 (2) (1) 1 Drama Studio incorporated a tribute to Aerin Davidson. In August, we were deeply saddened by while others have been offered places at prestigious institutions History 12 (6) 4 the sudden death of Samantha Verschueren, one across the country to study a range of subjects from Drama to Geography 13 1 (1) of Aerin’s peers at Withington, and another highly Engineering, and from Medicine to Languages. Economics 14 (3) 2 talented and creative young woman. A full French 9 (5) 1 (1) obituary will follow in the Newsletter; Sam is German 2 (1) 3 remembered with great affection and will be sorely missed by her many Withington friends and Spanish 4 (1) by all who knew her. Our thoughts remain with Latin 10 (1) 1 her sister, Sara, and her parents, Paul and Jane. Greek 21 The second week of term also saw the first (and Religious Studies 9 (1) 1 (2) therefore now traditional) Introductory Evening Music 2 (1) (2) for parents of Lower Sixth Formers and the Art 3 (1) following week included the already traditional Government and Politics 13 1 (1) Third Form Introductory Evening. The Third General Studies 59 (3) 9 2 (2) Formers have now enjoyed one of the two Psychology 6 (3) 1 (1) residential weekends at Ghyll Head. Mrs Menzies’ request for fine weather was granted, the Peer Drama & Theatre Studies 3 1 (1) Supporters were wonderful, all the girls had a Chinese 11 great time (when I enquired how they rated their Persian 1 weekend as they got off the coach, one girl TOTAL 274(50) 29(17) 4 (8) 2 (2) (1) (1) Continued on page 2 Head’s Lines continued said 11 out of 10!) and thanks go to Mrs Menzies GCSE - Result! and her willing staff teams. In an age where Health & Safety bureaucracy is in danger of Our pupils also celebrated outstanding GCSE results. Over 97.7% of grades replacing common sense and the spirit of awarded were A* or A, with 73.9% of these at A*. The celebrations were adventure, such experiences – along with the culmination of two years of hard work by pupils and teachers alike activities such as DofE, World Challenge, voluntary and the results will form an excellent basis for A-level studies in a wide work in The Gambia, Voluntary Service and Citizenship Days – provide memories and skills range of subjects. that will persist long after academic facts have been forgotten. Other early events have included the second WiGS for Life event – bigger and better and hopefully generating more sponsorship than ever –and I thank all parents, friends and relatives – and pets – who participated, along with the girls and staff. The enjoyable Gambia Promises Auction raised over £4,000 and was again an example of great Withington teamwork. The fourth weekend of this term included the GCSE Results Senior Club (now re-named Withington Onwards) A* A B C AGM with pupil representatives from the 1940s to Mathematics (IGCSE) 67 14 1 the present day. Such occasions are a real joy and the accompanying tales of yore are always Physics 30 5 illuminating and amusing. Withington links really Chemistry 34 1 do crop up in the most unexpected places. Roger Biology 32 3 Hand, semi-retired Physics teacher at MGS and Science – Core 34 13 initiator of the combined MGS/WGS Uganda trips, was taken by surprise when he stayed at a B&B in Science – Additional 30 14 3 the south of England earlier this year. Roger and a English 68 14 fellow member of the Long Distance Walkers English Literature 57 25 Association were taking part in the Wessex 100 History 34 20 1 1 mile walk. The friend in question had booked the accommodation; upon arrival, Roger quickly Geography 32 6 established common Ugandan experiences with French 41 8 1 the man of the house. When he realised Roger German 12 8 4 taught in , the host talked about a Spanish 18 7 1 great Aunt of his who had also been to school in Manchester and went off to find her hockey Latin 15 6 2 brooch, which Roger quickly identified as Greek 1 originating from Withington as soon as he saw Religious Studies 24 1 the Ad Lucem crest – see photo on back page. Art 3143 It has, as ever, been a joy to see our new pupils in Music 8 both Junior and Senior sections of the School Technology (Food) 56 settling in so well – likewise with our new members of staff. It is, I know, going to be a real Information Technology (Short Course) 61 20 wrench to leave at the Summer Term but I relish Drama 111 the prospect of my remaining two and three- (Chinese*) 2 quarter terms, including many opportunities to TOTAL 577.5 186 16 2 meet with the readers of this Bulletin. In at the deep end Dramatic dedication Sixth Former Harriet Bullough helped the British Gas sponsored GB Junior Diving Team to fifth place in the overall medals table in the European The official launch of the extended Zochonis Drama Studio served as a fitting Championships staged in Budapest in July. memorial to Aerin Davidson, one of Withington’s first A-level Drama students, Harriet, who specialises in the 1m and 3m who died in 2007, aged 22. Springboard events, is a member of Sheffield In their tribute to Aerin in the launch programme, Headmistress Mrs Janet Diving Club and has been pursuing the sport for Pickering and Head of Drama Mrs Jen Baylis described her as a “trailblazer at about five years. She has her sights firmly fixed Withington…who had enormous passion, imagination and talent.” on the London Olympics of 2012 and hopes to be a member of the British squad heading for New No one who watched Aerin and her fellow students in Vinegar Tom, the first Delhi for the Commonwealth Games next year. ever examination piece performed back in 2002 could have been in any doubt that giving Aerin, and girls like her, the chance to study Drama was the right thing to do. She went on to read Drama and Theatre at university and had almost completed an MA in playwriting at Royal Holloway College at the time of her death. Special guests at the launch included Sir John Zochonis and Mrs Elizabeth Lee, Chair of the Governors and girls from every year group since the Studio was first opened in 2001. The programme featured extracts from Shakers by John Godber and Jane Thornton (performed November 2001); My Mother Said I Never Should by Charlotte Keatley (performed March 2004); Darning Jilly by Aerin Davidson (first performed at the Edinburgh Festival July 2008) and Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker (performed November 2002). After the formal presentation, refreshments for all were served in the Bistro and a disco was staged in the Drama Studio.

Virtual swap shop School community trading online is booming and www.schoolstrader.com, the free-ads website for school communities, may be worth a visit. Schoolstrader has a vibrant independent section covering most independent schools across the UK, including Withington. Parents, staff and alumni can trade with each other free of charge - everything from pets to property, furniture to holiday homes, bikes to musical instruments. The site has appeared in Sunday Times, as a Top 50 website in The Daily Telegraph and online in Which? Mind how you go... Our Community Police Officer, PC Mike Dixon, Germany stresses that parking regulations at the entrance to the School in Wellington Road must be Calling... heeded in the interests of safety of pupils and parents. Upper Fourth’s inaugural excursion to Berlin during the summer break Not only will the yellow zigzags be strictly was a huge success, taking in traditional sights such as the Brandenburg enforced, PC Dixon has written to the city Gate and the Reichstag. But the 11-strong party, accompanied by Miss council asking wardens to ensure that single Jane Ellis and Mr Vincent Sharples, also visited some more unusual yellow line restrictions on the opposite side of attractions such as a working film studio and the zoo during the five- the road are adhered to. day trip, which it is hoped will become an annual event. **You can help thwart thieves who target mobile phones - and it takes less than a minute. Key *#06# into your mobile to access the phone’s unique IMEI number and make a note of it. If the handset is lost or stolen, alert the service provider (Vodafone, 02, Orange etc), quote the IMEI and they will immobilise the phone immediately rendering it useless to the thief. “Police also keep records of IMEI numbers so if we do recover stolen or lost phones we can restore them to their rightful owners,” says PC Dixon. The School extends a warm welcome to several new Food glorious food! members of staff at the start of the new school year. Warm welcome There have been big changes to the catering provision in the new academic year. Not only has the new Sixth Form Bistro become a busy social Miss Janet McManus has joined the IT Mrs Fabiola Cotton has joined the and dining area but the arrangements for Senior Department from Ballymun High School School as a part-time Art and Design pupils have been transformed too. A Speedy in Dublin. A native of Longford in the Technology teacher and Art Technician. Service Bar has been added so that girls involved ‘Midlands’ of the Irish Republic, Miss Mrs Cotton worked as a professional in the lunch time extra-curricular programme McManus studied Electronic Engineering designer for many years before training can serve themselves. The Sixth Form Bistro is at the National University of Ireland, as a teacher at MMU. As a Withington open from 8 - 11.30am serving breakfasts, snacks, a range of delicious coffees and other Galway, later training as a teacher parent, she has been a member of the drinks. Lunch is served from 11.45am, then in the specialising in IT at the University of 100 Plus Bursary Appeal Strategy afternoon Sixth Formers may use the Bistro to Gloucestershire. “Withington is very Committee and also helped in the Art relax and make their own tea and coffee. different from my last school – but Department last year. colleagues are very friendly and helpful,” she said.

It is welcome back for Mrs Vani Kochhar Mrs Jayne Lane, whose daughter Jasmin who has rejoined the staff as a part-time is in Withington’s Sixth Form, has joined Mathematics teacher. Mrs Kochhar first the staff as a part-time coaching came to the School in 2000 and left to assistant for netball and PE. Mrs Lane have a family in August 2003. “There said she is very much looking forward to have been enormous changes since I was working with Junior and Senior girls in last here – the School itself is much netball practices and matches. bigger in terms of physical space and many of the staff are new – but it’s great to be back,” she said.

Mrs Lisa Bradshaw has returned to her Miss Jessica Richards, who will be Physics teaching career after a five-year covering the maternity leave of Mrs break to raise her family. She graduated Kelsall, will be joining the PE staff after from Downing College, Cambridge, and October half-term. She recently trained as a teacher in Manchester, later graduated from Liverpool John Moores working at Grammar School University in Sport and Dance. A keen and The King’s School, Macclesfield. all-round sportswoman, Jessica is an especially enthusiastic cricket and football player. Junior but wereamazed that mobilephonesweresopopular inKenya. Kimili MissionSchool.Thegirlsfound outjusthowdifferenttheirliveswere, Lipson presentedaslideshowillustrating adayinthelifeofherpupilsat 28th andacaptivatedUpperLower IIheardaboutherlifeinKenya. Miss Former WithingtonpupilAnnLipson visitedtheJuniorSchoolonSeptember A visitorfromKenya food parcelsforpeoplewhohavebeenrehoused. Army tobemadeuseofintheirhostelsandsoupkitchensmake up The producebroughtintoschoolbythegirlswasdonatedtoSalvation and FormIperformingtheirownversionof performing apoemwrittentoremindallofusbethankfulforour food The JuniorSchool’s HarvestAssemblyonSeptember25thsawTransition Harvest time rocky road-adeliciousafternoon’s work. helping withtransitiontotheSeniorSchool,producedtortillawrapsand Mrs Healey, ablyassistedbygirlsfromLowerSixth.Thesession,aimedat than onewhentheytookpartinatastersessionofFoodTechnology with Girls inUpperIIweregivenatasteoflifetheSeniorSchoolmoreways Cooking upthefuture animals intoahappymoodandmanycameouttofrolicinthesunshine. habitats, nutrition,theirskeletonsandmovement.Thegoodweatherputthe with someofthezoo’s expertswhoexplaineddifferenttypesofanimal day-long brightsunshine.Eachclasstookpartinaneducationalworkshop The JuniorSchool’s triptoChesterZooonJuly2ndprovedalovelydayoutin Animal Magic enthralled theiraudience. the UpperIIgirlsplayingmainroles, andfromtheopeningsonggirls Night’s Dream few apologiestothegreatBardhimself,ourownversionof traditional fruitpunchandstrawberryscones, thesecondhalfwas, witha After anintervalforwhichMrsCartledgeprovideddeliciousandnow Junior Schoolcalled the ensemblesandorchestra,roundedoffbyarousingsongwhole The firsthalffeaturedamusicalextravaganzawhichincludedthechoir, all and dramatictalentstoapackedArtsCentrewiththeir In theclosingdaysofSummerterm,JuniorGirlsshowcasedtheirmusical Strawberry Serenade , adaptedbyMissSarahDavies.AlltheJuniorstookpart,with Cats andMice . The EnormousTurnip Strawberry Serenade A Midsummer . . Journal Head Girls Sophia Szlachetko is Withington’s new Head Girl. Dressed for the part!

Sophia was elected to the post in a ballot of Withington girls, staff, mums, aunties, grannies and the Headmistress Staff and Sixth Formers at the start of the new donned a variety of garish mop tops for the second WiGS 4 Life term. Studying Economics, French and Spanish at Sunday fun run in aid of Christie Hospital’s cancer care charity on A-level, her ambition is to take up a Sunday September 13th. management role in an international business organisation after university. She is relishing the More than 200 women and girls took part in the sponsored run along responsibilities that come with her title: “I want a 4k route taking in the Fallowfield Loop cycle path and starting and to give something back to the School,” she said. finishing at the balloon-festooned school gates. Sarah Whittick, who is studying Chemistry, It is hoped that funds from this September’s run will outstrip the sum Biology and Maths and covets a career as a raised a year ago. veterinarian, is Deputy Head Girl. A cheque for £4,257 raised by the 2008 WiGS 4 Life run was presented to Christie’s a week before this year’s run. Appeals Officer Mr Howard Newhall accepted it on behalf of the renowned hospital.

Congratulations Congratulations to Transition teacher Miss Ward who became Mrs Lowe on July 11th when she married Chartered Surveyor, Richard Charles Whitaker Lowe during the summer holiday. They got married in Rhosneigr, Anglesey, with the beach and surf as their setting. Biology field trip Mongolian Adventure During the last week of August the Upper Sixth Biologists and staff set off to Betws y Coed for a seven-day residential Ecology Field Trip. This was The spectacular mountains, plains and lakes of Mongolia – one of the last an opportunity to study a range of specialist unspoilt destinations in Asia – provided the backdrop for 14 Lower Sixth habitats such as sand dunes, ancient woodland, girls on their World Challenge Expedition during the summer break. moorland, rocky seashore and mountains. The girls enjoyed glorious weather and completed The three-and-a-half week adventure, led by Geography teacher Miss the majority of their practical work and Kaeren Browning and Rob Hardy, World Challenge training leader, was 18 assessment work for Unit 4 of their A2 studies. months in the planning as the girls raised individual funds. The group’s collective efforts realised another £8,000, which was spent on the expedition’s major social project, the Christina Noble Foundation Orphanage. The money also helped pay to build homes for two disadvantaged nomadic families who were very emotional when they saw their new dwellings. The group spent eight days camping and horse trekking around the Great White Lake before returning to the Chinese capital Beijing for four days’ relaxation, which included visits to Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall. “The challenge for the girls was to make decisions about areas including transport and organising accommodation – in short, to take ownership of the trip,” said Miss Browning, “and they rose to it extremely well.” To Russia with bounce Sasha Carter of the Upper Sixth will travel to St It ain’t half hot mum… Petersburg in Russia in November to take part in the World Trampolining Championships. She has represented Great Britain and England The volcanic slopes of Mount Etna out armed with questionnaires in on several occasions and competed in the 2007 World Championships. sweeping down to the sea provided English, Italian, French, German, the beautiful backdrop to Spanish and Dutch and approached She said: “I’ve been involved in the sport for the last eight years. I used to do gymnastics Withington Geographers’ expedition the numerous visitors enjoying the before concentrating fully on trampolining.” to Sicily during the summer resort to try to ascertain why it had holidays. developed into such a successful A member of the City of Trampoline tourist centre. Club, Sasha is set to raise £1,900 to meet travel The trip to the summit of Etna – via expenses for the event. She has already hairpin bends and a cable car ride The trip also included visits to the received £150 from Bradley Fold-based health to the crater – brought classroom Alcantara Basalt Gorge; the Greek and safety company Keating’s plus other studies to life. Near the very top of Theatre and quaint squares of contributions from family and friends, but still the volcano, the girls climbed into Taormina; and a voyage by hydrofoil needs to raise £1,000. small coaches with huge wheels, to the Aeolean island of Vulcano. enabling them to ascend over the Mrs Buckley said: “We never most recently created lava fields thought the Geography Department and see gas clouds escaping from could better its trip to Iceland, but Sporting excellence the main crater. Being on top of Sicily certainly matched it regarding Europe's most active volcano was Fifteen Withington girls have been selected to exciting Geography and surpassed it attend training sessions at Centex Lacrosse, the definitely a once-in-a-lifetime with the wonderful weather.” sport’s centre of excellence. experience! Sophie Whitehead, Kate Evans and Olivia Higson In Gardini Naxos, once a fishing will train at National level and Lucy Burrows, Freddie Btesh, Lucy Whittick, Rhona Dawson, village but now lined with small Molly Deykin, Esma Elsden, Joanna Lees, Olivia hotels and a marina, the girls set Sinclair, Hannah Williams, Emma New, Sarah Jervis and Isobel O’Brien at Regional level. The following girls have been selected to play netball for Cheshire: U18 Squad: Jasmin Lane U16 Squad: Lucy Burrows, Molly Deykin, Rachel Lloyd. U 16 Satellite squad: Sophie Whitehead U14 Satellite squad: Orlagh Fallon, Catriona Kendrick, Alicya Mamo, Amy Weston Frances Coggon and Frankie Ridley-Fink have been selected to play Hockey for Cheshire in the Under 15 and Under 16 teams respectively. As we go to press, news of a whole raft of Withington girls selected to play Lacrosse at county level has just been announced. The list is so long we could not find space to squeeze all the names into this bulletin, but we are very proud to report that 23 girls have been selected for the Lancashire U14 and U18 squads and 10 for the Cheshire U18 A and B squads. The Cheshire U14 trials are in November. SHINE on.. Summer of fun NEW funding has been secured to enable up to The School threw open its doors during the long summer 60 gifted and talented Year 5 and 6 boys and break to provide an unprecedented range of activities for girls from local Manchester primary schools to 6 to 18 year olds from across the community. pursue Science lessons at Withington over the Run by professionals Simon Douglass and Hayley next two years. Watson, Tennis Camps, open to boys and girls aged six The scheme, ‘Serious Fun on Saturdays’, upwards, took place over three consecutive weeks from supported by the educational charity SHINE, July 20th. hosted by the School and co-ordinated by Dr Withington’s new Head of Art, Mrs Ruth Fildes, led the Cristina Vilela, seeks to encourage more children new Summer Art Workshop featuring painting, sculpture, to develop an enthusiasm for Science. The new graphics, ceramics, printmaking and textiles from 27th - grant will enable the programme, which runs in 30th July, for boys and girls aged eight and over. two-hour sessions over 20 Saturdays from October to May, to continue through the school Centre Stage, the Performing Arts Course for boys and years 2009-10 and 2010-11. girls aged eight and over, directed by London Academy of Dramatic Art actress and drama teacher Nikki Smythe Ruth Dwyer, Grants Manager of SHINE (Support and the school’s Performing Arts Manager Jay Vernon, and Help in Education) which has Prime ran between 3rd – 7th August. Minister’s wife Sarah Brown, David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson amongst its patrons, said: Withington’s fun-packed Summer Music Course, open to “We have been extremely happy with the all young people aged 8 to 18 – no previous musical feedback we have had from the Withington experience needed – ran from 27th – 31st July. The programme over the last two or three years. course featured Drum & Dance Samba with Eddie Sherwood, Sing Something Groovy with gospel star “The quality of teaching is very high indeed and Audrey Mattis, Dalcroze Eurythmics with Bethan James, the opportunity for young people to engage in the chance to write a sonic postcard with Pippa Murphy, practical and investigative science is not always play in the a unique symphony orchestra, invent music possible in state primary schools. We have been with James Redwood and form a band from scratch with very impressed by the exceptionally high Arun Ghosh. After learning so many new musical forms attendance levels for a voluntary Saturday and skills, the children performed two concerts for their programme.” parents and friends. The audiences went away amazed at the standard of performance their children had reached after only a few hours of learning and rehearsing each topic. “It was fantastic,” said course co-director Rebecca Thompson of the Northern Chamber Orchestra. “All the workshop leaders are of the highest calibre as musicians.” Next year’s Summer Music Course will take place between 26th and 30th July 2010. Early booking is advised. 100+BursaryAppeal on 0161 [email protected] interest inAlumnaeevents, pleasecontactLauraHoldernessintheDevelopmentOffice and welookforwardtobringingAlumnaemoreeventslikethis”. To registeryour event. We aredelightedthatJoycecontinuestobeasupporteroftheBursaryAppeal “It wasfantastictoworkwithJoyceinorderinviteAlumnaesuchaninteresting Manchester andrunsACTIV(www.activ.org). ClareFlynn,DevelopmentDirector, said the BoardsofOldVicTheatre,TheRoyalCourtTheatreandExchangein Joyce Hytner, herselfhavingenjoyedaprosperousandinterestingcareer, nowsitson talented,kindandlivelyteacher. remembered bymanystudentsasa of MrsBarbaraHorburywhorantheArtdepartmentatWGSin1950sand1970s, insights intothefilmindustry. AlumnaeweredelightedtohearRuth’s fondmemories from thepersonalstyleofMickJagger!Ruththentreatedgueststosomefascinating costumes forDorianGraycameequallyfrompaintingsoftheRomanticperiod,as and hasdesignedthecostumesforover80films.Shedisclosedthatherideas acclaimed productionofMotherCourageattheNationalTheatre,starringFionaShaw, Academy Award-nominatedcostumedesigner. Ruthiscurrentlyworkingonthe costumes forDorianGray. MsMyers, herselfaWithingtonAlumna,iscelebrated Guests alsoenjoyedanintimateaudiencewithMsRuthMyers, whodesignedthe over 100 means-testedBursariesinschool. funds forWithington's100+ BursaryAppealwhichaimstoraise£2millionfund ACT IVandhostedbyAlumnaJoyceHytnerOBE,thescreeningraisedmuch-needed general release.DevelopedespeciallyforWithingtonAlumnae,bycollaborationwith an exclusivepreviewscreeningofOliverParker's newfilmDorianGrayaheadofits On 8SeptemberWithingtonAlumnaegatheredatOneAldwychinLondontoattend 100+ BursaryAppeal Alumnae eventraisesfundsfor

Alumnae Development Officeon0161 249 3494,[email protected]. organize orattending areunionwithyouryeargroupfriends, thenplease contactthe 1960 [50Year GoldenAnniversaryReunion], andareinterestedineither helpingto If youleftSchoolin 2000[10 Year Reunion],1985[25 Year SilverAnniversary Reunion]or anniversaries oftheirleavingWithington. We areplanninganumberofreunionsfor2010, forthoseyeargroupscelebratingspecial 2010 Anniversary Reunions from you. silver anniversaryoftheirleavingschool, thentheDevelopmentOfficewouldlovetohear If any1984Leaversareinterestedinhelpingtoplanorattendingareunion tomarkthe 1984 Leavers’25Year SilverReunion Contact theDevelopmentOfficeon0161 2493494forfurtherdetails. 1999 Leavers’10 Year Reunion -7November2009 Coming up... news. We wishthemeverysuccessandhappiness. adventures. We lookforwardtowelcomingthembackschoolandhearingof their fitting tributetothisyear'sUpperSixthLeaversastheydepartontheirnew Reminiscences, hopesanddreamswereallsharedatatrulylovelyoccasion a time atschool. heading outsideintothesunshineforagroupphotographtocommemoratetheir those assembledinachampagnetoasttotheClassof2009anditsfuture,beforeall teachers andfriends.MrsPickeringgaveaheartfeltspeechtothegirlsthenled heartily enjoyedbythegirlsastheyexcitedlysharedtheirfutureplanswith A sumptuouscreamteawasprovidedbyMrsCartledgeandherteamofassistants, and towishthemwellfortheirpromisingfutures. attended bythegirlsandtheirA-LeveltutorstocelebratetimeatWithington the world.TheeventwasheldinnewlycompletedSixthFormBistroand touch withsome3000Alumnaeengagedineventfulcareersandactivitiesaround year towelcometheUpperSixthintoAlumnaecommunity. Withingtonisin school fortheLeavers'Reception,hostedbyWithington'sAlumnaeAssociationeach In theafternoonofMonday7SeptemberUpperSixthClass2009returnedto Upper SixthLeaversReception2009 Withington’s Boys Citizenship Day For the past two years the School has made the Withington’s third Citizenship Day was entitled CIVITAS - Sports Hall available to Manchester City Community, Integration, Voluntary, Innovation, Teamwork Council’s Streetlife League – aimed at engaging Action, Society. young people aged 14-16 not normally given the opportunity to take part in a competitive and The main aims were to create a sense of common purpose structured league. amongst pupils and staff and to develop skills such as critical thinking, discussion and expression of opinion whilst Now, the ‘Withington Boys’ have celebrated reflecting on the School’s values. winning the Streetlife Cup for the second year running after beating rivals Belle Vue 5-1 at the Third Formers engaged in community work at Downing City of Manchester Stadium - in kit donated by House and the Minehead Resource Centre caring for the Manchester City Football Club. elderly, at Christie Hospital and at Old Moat Primary School. Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for The Lower Fourth spent the day staging a mock US election, Culture & Leisure at Manchester City Council involving teamwork and action with prizes awarded for best said: “The Streetlife tournament has been Manifesto, best Poster, best Board and best Advertisement. extremely successful in encouraging young Upper Fourth girls engaged with ideas of Fair Trade and people to take part in sport helping to improve Enterprise, forming their own companies under a programme fitness, confidence and discipline. run by Graham Stewart from Expanding Horizons. “Most importantly they’ve had a lot of fun and Thanks to the sponsorship of Mark Adelstone, the Lower Fifth we’ve seen some very skilled players develop visited the Holocaust Centre, Beth Shalom, in Nottingham throughout the tournament, who we are with a significant part of the day given over to the stories of confident will move forward into further two survivors of the Auschwitz extermination camp. The girls sporting success as a result of their participation also considered more recent crimes of genocide in Rwanda in this league.” and Darfur and reflected on the Talmudic quotation: ‘He who saves a single life, saves the world entire’. Mrs Senn said: “We’re very pleased that the team that was founded - and trains - here has been Lower Sixth girls worked with different year groups to so successful.” provide support and formed a media team, which produced video clips, a PowerPoint and a newsletter for the end of the day. All pupils and staff clearly demonstrated their enthusiasm and dedication to working together as a caring community. PTA Party July 4th - the date of the PTA Summer Social – Silver D of E Gold D of E inspired an American-themed party. Withington Thirty-eight girls successfully completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh 8 Girls completed DofE Gold in July walking 80km in the Yorkshire Dales girls provided the entertainment with Ms qualifying expedition in the Yorkshire Dales during the summer holiday and Howgill Fells. They had to cope with thunderstorms and heavy rain Clucas’s choir singing All that Jazz and Mrs break. The demanding challenge finished in Grassington and included and hail every afternoon. Their teamwork was excellent and they were Sargent and Miss Holland’s All-American Jazz two overnight camping stays. very good company. Band performing a set in various US musical styles. All who attended then enjoyed hot dogs, chicken wings and pizza rounded off with a very energetic line-dancing session! Engineering a future... Tripping the light fantastique Emma Scholefield has been awarded a prestigious Arkwright Scholarship normally only granted to students studying Design and The Blue Note Mystery, a new Technology to GCSE and A level. Dedicated nocturnal extravaganza by the young engineer Emma, who has attended Dr lighting designers of the Verity's robotics club since the Third Form, opening ceremony at the worked hard in the Lower and Upper Fifth to Beijing Olympics, proved the prepare for her Arkwright scholarship application highlight in more ways than form, examination and interview. She was one for 41 members of the helped and supported by Miss Hyde, Mrs Lower Fourth on their trip to Goldman and Mrs Lindsay-Dunn. Euro Disney, near Paris during Now in the Sixth Form, Emma is hoping to take the summer holidays. an Engineering degree. Her scholarship is split Led by Mrs Yorke Menzies, between herself and School and will contribute the party also toured the £450 over the next two years to encourage French capital, taking in the further young engineers. Eiffel Tower and les Bateaux Emma was also one of three Withington girls to Mouches, and travelled to undertake projects organised by the Smallpeice Poitiers and La Rochelle. Trust during the summer. She spent four days at the University of Exeter’s Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall learning about mining and minerals through a jam-packed timetable of educational and fun activities. The following week Sarah Berk attended a mining and minerals course at Leeds University, which included visits to one of the UK’s largest limestone quarries and the National Coal Mining Museum. Alexandra Birchall attended the course at Newcastle University to learn about renewable sources of energy. Festival of Spoken English and Drama Sports Day and Swimming Gala The final of the biennial Festival of Spoken The last days of the Summer Term saw two English and Drama was staged in the Arts Centre closely fought House sports events. Victory in at the end of the summer term. the Senior Swimming Gala went to Herford followed by Simon, Lejeune then Scott. Every girl in the school not involved in external examinations had taken part in preliminary Staff and pupils enjoyed an exciting day of rounds, which narrowed the acts down to 30. competition at the Longford Stadium in From poems to plays, comedy to tragedy, the where both the Junior and Senior variety was immense. Sports Days were staged. A huge number of girls took part enthusiastically coached and egged on Adjudicator, Mr Pete Baylis from Manchester by their Sixth Form House Captains. Grammar School, named Cynthia Emeagi as In the Senior Event Simon claimed first place winner of the Junior Section for her performance followed by Lejeune, Scott and Herford. in Gents, a comic sketch featuring three elderly, rather disreputable gentlemen and Zara Tso as Honours were even in the Junior events with winner in the Senior Section for her part in a Williams winning the Swimming Gala and scene from The Importance of Being Earnest and Hunter winning in the Athletics competition. her contribution to the powerful performance by the Amnesty International Group. Cynthia and Zara share the Rosebowl, a trophy that has been awarded every two years since 1954.

From Head's Lines: The 1925 WGS Hockey badge.

Do call us (Before we call you!) Pupil absence: Please would all parents use For contact after school please use these numbers: Withington Girls’ School, Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL 0161 249 3476 to inform the school of pupil Senior Late Room: 0161 249 3492 Tel : 0161 224 1077 Fax : 0161 248 5377 Email: [email protected] absence before 8.30am on each day of absence. Junior Late Room: 0161 224 1077 Web: www.withington.manchester.sch.uk Registered Charity No. 526632 The up-to-date calendar is available on the school website