BitterneParkSchoolNEWS www.bitterneparkschool.org.uk For available admission spaces at Bitterne Park School please contact us on 023 8029 4161 Autumn 2019 NEWS EVENTS FUND RAISING COUNCIL SIXTH FORM Letter from the Headteacher: Dear Parents/Guardians Can it really be……Christmas already? The number of trips the school runs, locally, Where does the time go? nationally and internationally. Opening up so many new horizon and opportunities. At Bitterne Park it goes quickly through action packed weeks of lessons and out of The range of careers activities where students lessons opportunities. When I ask students are planning their futures from Key Stage 3, what they most enjoy about Bitterne Park the with the work of Nancy Austwick, our new most frequent reply is the opportunities on careers adviser and the pastoral teams. offer to them. The huge numbers of special quests we This term alongside the lessons we have welcome. engaged in a huge range of activities and opportunities as you will see and feel as The work of the Saints Foundation and our you read through this newspaper. We are new recruit Fraser who has used the resources all really proud of the wide range of extra- of the Saints Football Club and his own curricular activities that happen weekly at programmes to inspire students. the School. What is really inspiring is my role as In particular I have been really impressed Headteacher is the 250 dedicated staff the with the amount of sporting activities our school has who all work as a team to provide students have access to and the number of these extra opportunities, building amazing successful teams they have built this term. relationships with awesome students along The number of performing arts events, the the way. What a privilege it is to be the clubs, the individual lessons, bands, choir Headteacher at BPS. As the term draws to POLITE REQUEST PLEASE and the most impressive school show, a close and the pace drops for a couple of PARK Hairspray that I have ever had the privilege weeks, may I take this opportunity to wish CONSIDERATELY & LEGALLY AROUND of attending, this term. everyone a happy and restful Christmas and a OUR SCHOOL. WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR fabulous 2020. NEIGHBOURS AND BE AWARE OF VERY BUSY AND DISRUPTIVE TRAFFIC AT ALL TIMES MR GRAHAM WILSON - Headteacher OF THE DAY. The trip of a lifetime... Start spreading the news - New York New York! orty two students arrived at the school at 4.00am on a dark morning in October Fand eleven hours later we were standing in Times Square like seasoned New Yorkers. We got to see this incredible city in its full glory taking in the incredible atmosphere and visiting famous landmarks. We were in New York for five days but it felt like we were there for much longer. We visited Times Square, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Rockafella Centre, Grand Central Station, Ground Zero Memorial, 9:11 Museum, Central Park, 5th Avenue. We even got to watch the most exciting NBA game of the season for the New York Knicks who beat Chicago Bulls with seconds to go. This was truly a trip of a lifetime that students will never forget. We cannot wait to visit New York again! 2 Performing Arts BPSNEWS Hairspray... As we draw the curtains on Sellwood and Ellis Brett - entertainment gold at its best. another fantastic production, Then the hard work really began, with a I continue to be amazed by lengthy rehearsal schedule which began in May, the hours put into designing and the outstanding quality of building set, sourcing costumes creating musical theatre produced by lighting designs, designing promotional material and organising the box office. So the Performing Arts team. much work goes into all of these elements behind the scenes that often gets forgotten during the final performances, but is a By Miss Moore, Head of Performing Arts fundamental part of bringing the script to life and creating the magic of the show. ur production of Hairspray was Year 9 certainly no exception, and I’m left I say it every year, but it never ceases to Owondering yet again how on earth we amaze me that we can raise that bar just a Musical Theatre are going to top it with our next production. little bit higher and produce something of There are so many things that make school such an outstanding quality. Each year I think productions special at Bitterne Park School. that we won’t be able to do any better, and he students have been very busy We have buckets full of talent, in not only each year we manage to surpass my preparing and auditioning for our amazing students, but also our staff. expectations, and this year was no exception. TGREASE! All parts are now cast and Talent by itself isn’t enough though. It takes Not only were the lead characters portrayed rehearsals are well under way, putting the hard work, commitment, enthusiasm and a by truly exceptional students (some of whom students through their paces across all three lot of energy. It also needs a true sense of have never had a lead role before), but the Performing Arts disciplines, acting, dancing community spirit from Year 8 up to Year chorus were absolutely outstanding - the wall and singing. Their performance of this much 13 to make such a special show, and that of sound they consistently produced blew me loved musical is on it’s way to the theatre is something that makes what we do very away, as did the outstanding choreography, in the Spring Term so look out for Greased unique. What was evident during which was polished and professional Lightning... it’s pulling up soon! performance week was the level of respect throughout. From the cast to the band, from students showed for their peers and staff, the the technical crew to the set design, this feeling of achievement and pride written on really was a West End standard performance! their faces, and the clear enjoyment gained by I was very sad not to be involved in each individual when vision became reality. rehearsals from September to the final Hairspray has always been one of my performance, and it was a poignant favourite shows. Not only does it have an experience for me to watch the show as an amazing soundtrack, but it tells a wonderful audience member. My heart was filled with story of love, diversity, positive change and so much love and pride for the quality of the acceptance - values that are represented in performance on all levels, and I want to thank the interactions of our school community on each and every person involved in this a daily basis. From the moment we released amazing performance – students and staff the decision in ‘Big Reveal’, the reactions of alike. There were tears from our Year 11 the students told me how special this show and 13 students for whom it was their last would be, and this was further affirmed in performance. They have made such an the outstanding auditions which made our incredible contribution to Performing Arts casting decisions much more difficult than I at Bitterne Park School, and in some cases had anticipated. There were too many good proven how valuable our selection process is performances to mention them all, but the for students with an aptitude. As usual plans ones that I have not forgotten to this day were for the next show are well underway, and I Emmy Irvine, Chloe Somerville, Chandler look forward to another ‘Big Reveal’ soon! AUTUMN 2019 BPSNEWS www.bitterneparkschool.org.uk 3 Drama Music MTC is back! fter a little break, Musical Theatre Company is back and running In other news, we were lucky enough to Aevery Wednesday after school, Still on host Andrew Nicholson in the Music 3:15-4:15pm in the Assembly Hall with Department in November. Andrew is the Mrs Cutting. Every week students from all principal flautist for the West Australia year groups, can enjoy working on acting, cloud nine... Symphony Orchestra and has played for singing and choreography from the top West the Harry Potter Soundtracks as well as End and Broadway Musical Theatre shows. the Doctor Who music. A selection of our By Mrs Fowler, Music Co-ordinator This extra-curricular Performing Arts club woodwind pupils spent the day in workshops offers students the chance to develop their with Andrew, developing their performance he Autumn term is one of the performance skills, make new friends, have technique in what was a most valuable longest, and busiest terms for the fun and experience what it is like to be a experience for all involved. TMusic Department. We are all still part of this thriving industry! Join up and on cloud nine following possibly one of the Once the festive season is over, we will be be offered an automatic place in Night At most amazing and colourful productions we gearing up for our contribution to the The Musicals coming up in the Spring Term have ever staged, Hairspray! I was lucky ‘Mayflower 400’ celebration and one-to-one audition technique with Mrs enough to work with the singers in the show, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Cutting in preparation for the next School and I have to say they were some of the most Mayflower’s pioneering voyage. A selection Production! No experience required, just dedicated and hardworking pupils I have of our instrumentalists and vocalists will be bags of energy and the gumption to try ever had the pleasure of working with.