MAGAZINE SCHOOL BERKHAMPSTEAD SU MMER 2016 DramaticWONDER-FUL ALICEstuff! LOTS OF CREATIVE SPORT... TEACHING ALWAYS ACTIVE NATURALLY REGULARS: MUSIC NOTES | TRIPS AND VISITS | SPORT REPORTS | SPOTLIGHT ON... NewsFROM AROUND THE SCHOOL WILDLIFE Thoughts from Spotlight on GARDEN THE HEAD MR TITLEY What a transformation! The difference a couple of terms makes is staggering and the he summer term is always a delight, with its numerous events giving r Titley is a very experienced wildlife garden now looks very established. Tthe Berkhampstead community of parents, staff and children the M form teacher, he teaches English The bug hotel – ‘Bughampstead’ - chance to play a part, whether it be supporting or participating in and RS, he coaches girls’ Games is occupied and the pond has Sports Days, in the Art Exhibition, up on stage acting or behind the scenes and runs Guitar and Warhammer a few inhabitants in drama, in music, in ‘Berky’s Got Talent’ at the PTA Summer Fete or Clubs. He is also a performance poet too - watch this in cricket, rounders and tennis matches. It’s always a pleasure to see all and a story-teller. space for more developments. involve themselves with such gusto. I joined Berky in…1997. Or, when This term has seen welcome additions which enhance this involvement; the children ask, I say, ‘Last century!’ our multi-use games area - the MUGA - is now complete, the traversing It’s changed since then… but the PTA NEWS wall is up and running and the wildlife garden and pond are proving to great team spirit and ethos has not. The Summer Term is always a busy one for The Summer Fayre’s ‘festival’ theme was helped ‘Cake at Break’ be a wonderful habitat for all sorts of creatures - including children! When I joined I was known as the the PTA and this year was no exception! Our by the weather - rain at first! Wristbands were The considerable efforts of the staff and the PTA have made these is always well young teacher. No longer. I now fund-raising went so well that we were able issued and the opportunity to play rock guitars supported and possible - they are a tireless bunch who make a real difference to the have children older than some children’s school lives and we are a remarkable school because of them. to pay for the new Traversing Wall in the Prep and drums was taken up by many. We couldn’t enjoyed (certainly members of staff! playground, another outdoor classroom and quite magic up the ‘Glastonbury Mud’ but it all by the children) For Year 6, this Summer term has been their last with us and so they In fact, some staff I actually taught while a new Audio-Visual system in the Prep hall. added to the occasion. The Fayre’s ‘Berky’s and we again savour these experiences all the more. This year’s leavers are a super they were at Berky. We had been keen to do something for the Got Talent’ show was as amazing as always. raised a good group who will go on to thrive in their chosen schools - and what an The facilities are now much improved... The pre-prep gym no Prep having seen the big improvement to It’s wonderful that our children have such ability sum through impressive range of schools too; they have won scholarships and grammar longer has running water down the walls and interesting fungi the Pre-Prep facilities with their fantastic new and the confidence to stand up in front of an the collection and sale of unwanted school places and will, I am sure, take the Berky ‘can-do’ attitude with growing. The Art Room and Music Room that are now very much playground and outdoor classroom. audience. Congratulations also to Year 6 who clothing. The parents who run and assist with them and make the most of the opportunities offered. During their time taken for granted were not there when I first started. Drum lessons ran stalls, with no or minimal adult support. with us they have performed in plays - Alice The Musical was exceptionally The flagship event of the summer term was, these events do so regularly and deserve to now in the lovely new music pods used to be taken in the boiler It was a great ‘Berky Family’ day. be congratulated. It’s been a great year and good - in Recitals and on the games field; most importantly they have room in the basement. once again, the May Ball, held at the impressive grown into well-adjusted and likeable young people. We wish them well. venue of the Pittville Pump Room. A great night Of course, there are other PTA events, which, new members are welcome; do get involved The House that I’m in is… St David’s - I got a free transfer in 2003! was had as we danced away to music from the whilst lacking the high profile nature of the May - contact [email protected] The best thing about Berky children is… difficult to say - probably 1980s and an enthusiastic auctioneer made this Ball or the Summer Fayre, are just as important S.A. I’m proudest of... the positive and the one that stands out is they are always willing to have a go. a good fund-raiser. and a regular feature of our programme. You only have to ask for a volunteer and a forest of hands erupts! eager attitude that Berkhampstead If I knew I couldn’t fail I’d…I don’t mind failing since you learn more through your failures than your successes. children display I’m proud of… the Berky children, particularly when they get back It’s been a term of successes in sport, particularly in Athletics, as the in contact and you find out how they have progressed. One child report on page 13 shows. Our children have won Chess competitions - I taught English to is now an editor at an educational publisher, we have lots of silverware to polish for another year, and they convincingly another is an English and Drama teacher. beat the staff in our annual challenge! We’ve earned highly-prized places The thing that excites me about poetry is… the rhythm and the in the National Children’s Choir and Orchestra and enjoyed success in rhyme but also that it can touch the soul. Art competitions - all fabulous achievements. What I’m proudest of, though, is the positive and eager attitude that Berkhampstead children When I have written drama for radio… I have no idea how the display; it’s always present, and has been so evident this year. audience has responded, but with a play there is immediate audience reaction. A play is a much more intimate experience for both actors Berkhampstead School is a happy and bustling place where children and audience. enjoy their days and learn a great deal; a snapshot of this you’ll My favourite children’s book is… ‘Elephants Don’t Sit on Cars’ by see in this edition of the Blazer - DH Wilson. I love the characters, particularly Jeremy James, who as I hope that you enjoy it. students who have been in my class will know, gets into all sorts of mischief but all very innocently. The dad is also very incompetent - something I identify with. Richard If I wrote a book, it’d be…. perhaps a series of sketches. Some have Richard Cross already been published in compilations. Headmaster If I I didn’t teach I’d… run my own café. I used to work in one before I went into teaching. Teaching at Berky is special because… the staff have such a good FANTASTIC FACILITY time. They all get on really well and are all really supportive of each Our huge MUGA (multi-use games area) was completed this term, having provided quite a spectacle for the Day Nursery children - other. Each person sees the fantastic work that their colleagues do they watched the progress keenly! It has been a super addition to our facilities and the children just love it! It provides a large, state and appreciates being part of a team. I think that the children see of the art surface for sport and has already played a big role in Sports Days, PE lessons, cricket training and in the Summer Fayre. this and it rubs off. It makes Berky a really happy place to be. Our hockey players are looking forward to the Autumn term and seeing how much their games improve! News FROM EARLY YEARS KINDERGARTEN Nature and the outdoors played a big part in Kindergarten’s term. Inspired by the wonderful story of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’ the children learnt about the life cycle of a butterfly Once upon a time... and had great fun creating a bright, eye catching display of all the delicious food that the greedy caterpillar munches through in the story. They RECEPTION need to thrive and have enjoyed watching them thoroughly enjoyed an interactive story session, Fairytales provided the grow. We wonder whether after harvest, any of anticipating what would happen next and backdrop for learning in the first the children will put one of their home grown ‘feeding’ the Kindergarten caterpillar delicious peas under their mattress to see whether they half of the summer term and proved to be themselves! food. We talked about the importance of eating great fun. Just how do you go about making a are real Princesses (and whether it works for a balanced diet to stay healthy… something potential princes too)! We explored weighing by picking two toys See how glamorous Royal carriage? Or, indeed, a bed for and using the balance scales to see which was that the Very Hungry Caterpillar forgot to do for a monarch? Ask the Reception children… We enjoyed talking about who’s who in our heavier.