horizons The Magazine For Scarborough College Spring/Summer 2015 Inside this issue Teddy Bears’ BJS Cross Country Leavers’ 06 Picnic 10 Challenge 31 Ball HEADMISTRESS’S WELCOME It has been a great privilege to have been a part of the Scarborough College family for the past five years. Looking back over the year is always The College, like any good school, I have no doubt that this narrative a pleasure, though time has flown by must prepare its students for the future of excellence will continue long into at a frightening speed. It has been full they will meet and arm them with an the future and I am pleased to be of triumphs and possibly the odd, very unassailable set of standards. I am handing over the reins to the new minor disaster. In true Kipling form, we very proud to have been a part of the Head, Charles Ellison, who I know will are treating both those impostors just College’s history, albeit a small one. lead the school forward with energy, the same. vision and a clear set of strong values. It has been an exciting time and the The poem ‘If – ’ was written at about the merger with Bramcote School was, in I hope you will enjoy this Summer edition same time as a group of Scarborough itself, a historic moment. The combined of Horizons and take as much pleasure Methodist business men sat down histories of the schools form an integral as I do in re-visiting some of the best together to form a school called part of Scarborough’s story and moments and achievements of the last Scarborough College. represent the best aspects of education two terms. for generations of young people. The values expressed within it; honesty, Mrs Isobel Nixon - Headmistress courage, endurance, tolerance, forgiveness and friendship are as important and relevant today, as they have ever been, and they are the same values that we strive to instil in our students today. They do not tarnish with age or fashion. It has been an exciting time and the merger with Bramcote School was, in itself, a historic moment. The combined histories of the schools form an integral part of Scarborough’s story and represent the best aspects of education for generations of young people. 2 horizons INTRODUCING... CHARLES ELLISON As I prepare to receive the baton of headship from Isobel there are a number of emotions: obvious excitement, a strong sense of responsibility to serve the community of the College to the best of my ability, a feeling of immediate belonging and a determination to make Scarborough College a true leader in British independent education. I am very fortunate, and thankful, that personally challenged in and outside continues to build on the rich traditions the hard work, dedication and constant of the classroom; daily experiences of the past 120 years, whilst looking desire for sustainable improvement of which are founded upon unshakeable to ever-improve and to maximise the Isobel and her full team of staff over values and beliefs which we know will opportunities to meet the full potential recent years means that the College is ultimately make Old Scardeburgians of every child who is entrusted into in very strong health and that the future successful and happy throughout their our care. looks both exciting and bright. lives; a desire to provide a fully-rounded and enriching school education, and I wish everyone connected to the It seems to me that the vast number a commitment to creating a community College a very restful and happy and variety of activities within this edition in which everyone matters. summer, and my wife Kate and I look of Horizons is an accurate reflection forward to meeting you in person. of what is at the true heart of the Scarborough College is a rightly outstanding education the College proud and ambitious school and my strives to provide: an atmosphere of overarching aim in the years to come inclusion in which pupils are genuinely will be to ensure that the next chapter Charles Ellison - Headmaster 3 LITTLE OWLS It has been a very busy two terms at Little Owls, starting off in January with all things Frozen. The children enjoyed our ice week, singing along to Disney’s ‘Frozen’ sound track, and playing in our own engineering project; an igloo made out of plastic milk bottles. They chipped away at coloured ice, made a collage of Olaf, and dressed up in warm clothes in our very own Winter Wonderland. For Comic Relief this year, we all laughed at our Funny Faces Friday. The children had their faces painted, and then very bravely, the Little Owls staff submitted to having their faces painted by the children! We zoomed into the summer term with our transport topic, and got all geared up for the Tour de Yorkshire. The children made flags and enjoyed the day at one of our Little Owl’s Grandma’s house, where we had front row seats to see the race come past. We were all on our best behaviour when the police came to visit us, bringing their riot van for the children to explore. We took it in turns to sit in the back, and pretend to be taken away! On Wednesday 10 June, the sun shone down on our Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Deepdale playing fields. We were joined by lots of other local nurseries, and were thoroughly entertained, first by Magic Mike, and then by Kathy Seabrook. “All Aboard” called the Little Owls as we set off for an afternoon ride on the North Bay Miniature Railway. We sang our train song, screamed as we went through the tunnel, and then enjoyed juice and a biscuit as we listened to Joe Coates read one of his railway stories. Alongside all things transport, we have been growing our own stick insects from eggs. Some of the braver children (and staff!) have held ‘Big Twiggy’! The last two weeks of term were jam packed with fun. We had a delicious French breakfast, an energetic sports day, and for our leavers, a very special Graduation Fun Day. Good luck and farewell to our leavers who move on to ‘big school’, but we are looking forward to meeting lots of new Little Owls in September. Mrs Jackie Hunter Head of Little Owls Pre-School 4 Bramcote Junior School HEADMASTER’S REPORT As I sit writing my final Horizons report, I can recall all too clearly the children singing and shouting as they built dens in the woods, and collected logs and sticks to feed the fire on the As you will see from Horizons, the children have had a very busy two terms. Charitably this year hottest day of the year whilst on our we have raised over £2,200 for The Rainbow Centre, summer camp. What a way to finish a Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust, Pink Day (Breast summer term! Cancer), Children in Need, Readathon, Macmillan Cancer Care and St Martin’s-on-the-Hill Church. In sport this year we have fielded over 130 teams Sledmere Grange has once again weathered the in over 110 fixtures. We have enjoyed 35 trips and onslaught of Years 5 and 6 sleeping under canvas, visits – please see the photos which can only give a cooking over open fires and rampaging through the glimpse into the busy lives of our pupils. countryside. Years 3 and 4 joined us for lunch and the adventures into the wilds of the Wolds will create As I leave Bramcote Junior School, I am delighted memories that will last a lifetime. to be handing over to Mr Chris Barker who I know will maintain the tradition and carry the school For many years I have extolled the virtues of the into a successful future. I know Mr Barker and outdoor life; loving the countryside around us, Mr Charles Ellison will make a strong team – learning the lessons of nature and the rhythm of the College and Bramcote Junior School are the seasons. in safe hands. Our children have enjoyed exploring, problem All the hard work, the commitment of the staff, the solving, creating, getting muddy, working together fantastic facilities, are all here for one purpose; to but above all, they have enjoyed each other’s facilitate the education of our children and to lay company, inventing their own pastimes and not the foundations of their future. relying on the instant gratification and entertainment of their various tablets, computers and TVs. These I will finish with the final words of Georgina Ogden beliefs at last are being embraced by the larger of her speech: education community, and may even have their own 15 minutes of fame. Children will learn from whatever is around them, ‘Work hard for it, look for any hidden they will be influenced by what is good, bad and opportunities and that dedication indifferent, by what is powerful and by what is will open doors that you may never subversive. It is therefore up to us to teach the children to be decision makers, to assess the know existed... take the first step. information fed to them, in whatever form, Try something that scares you... especially when we see that social media and I just have.’ the internet are becoming more and more important in their lives. I wish you all every success. To do this we need understanding, empathetic teachers, and teachers who teach children, not just subjects. Dan Davey - Headmaster Scarborough College Junior School, Bramcote Junior School 2010-2015 5 TEDDY BEARS’ pICNIC Bramcote Junior School Hosted by Bramcote Junior School for Scarborough SPEECH DAY and District Nurseries - Wednesday 10 June 2015 Speech Day will certainly live in the memories of all those that were present, to celebrate the success of all the children.