It was fantastic to welcome so many of our Durham High family to our New Parents’ Buffet last Friday evening. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and chatting about your daughter’s and life at the High School. I hope you enjoyed the opportunity to meet other parents of the children in your daughter’s class. Thank you to everyone for arranging child care and for coming along to join us.
The Excellence Book is a long-standing part of our school history. Over the last few weeks, it has been a pleasure to meet with the Sixth Form girls who raised an enormous amount of money through fundraising, to ensure they could buy resources for the classroom they were building and to congratulate them on the resilience showed whilst in the Philippines. Awards were also presented to all the girls who performed or spoke so eloquently at Speech Day. There have also been nominations for a Young Geographer of the Year project, phenomenal GCSE Art Work and outstanding contributions to Sixth Form.
We have a busy last week of half term coming up. On Monday, all pupils from Nursery to Upper Sixth are invited to take part in our annual ‘Bake Off’ competition. The category for this year is ‘Cakes’. Any type of cake may be baked, be it a sponge cake, loaf cake, fairy cakes or any type of cake that takes your fancy. I look forward to seeing the creations and might even bake a cake myself.
Our Scholars’ Concerts take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is always a treat to come and see such talents as demonstrated by our Music, Drama and Performing Arts Scholars as they perform.
On Friday next week, the staff and I will be involved in INSET, so school will be closed to all girls, except those completing their University Entrance Examinations. We wish ‘good luck’ to our Upper Sixth girls involved in these exams next week.
School Photographs
On Thursday, we have the rearranged school photographs for all pupils so please ensure your daughter comes to school in full school uniform on this day. I understand that some parents have already ordered photos with the bronze background. If this is you and you would prefer a photograph with a white background, contact [email protected] or call 01869 328200 as soon as possible so that they can cancel and organise a refund for you. This needs to be done before the new photographs are taken. You will be able to order a photo with a white background when they are ready.
Sport Update
The U10s hosted The Royal Grammar School for a Football Festival this week, in which all girls showcased the skills they have developed in their PE lessons. Both teams played some great football.
Girls in Year 2 and Year 3 (below) had a fantastic afternoon at the Mowden Hall Cross Country Competition last Friday. They displayed some excellent running and super support for each other during the event.
On Saturday, it was the turn of the U9, U11 and U13 Cross-Country Teams to compete at Mowden Hall, with equally fantastic results. Well done to all girls on their excellent effort!
The U14 Netball team played a friendly against Whitburn Academy on Monday. It was a high paced and challenging game. After falling behind by 4 goals in the first quarter they brought the score back to level at half time and finished with a win, 29-25. The girls showed some great determination and congratulations to Emily who was awarded player of the match.
In a friendly hockey match against Barnard Castle School on Wednesday our U18 team secured a fantastic 2-0 victory. There was some excellent play and goal keeping and it was great to see girls from Year 11 and Sixth Form working so well together on the pitch.
Yesterday, the North East Regional round of the English Schools’ Swimming Championships was held at Freemans Quay. Our U13 team competed against 17 schools from across the region and delivered an incredible performance winning both the Freestyle and Medley Relays. They came overall first out of the 17 schools in attendance.
We are waiting to hear if they have secured a place at the National Finals next month! Huge congratulations to Anya, Maiah, Megan and Poppy on their brilliant results.
On Thursday afternoon Years 2, 3 and 4 ran in House Cross Country around the school grounds. This afternoon, it was the turn of Years 5 and 6 to participate in House Cross Country, heading around the school grounds twice. All girls ran their own individual bests with points going towards their Houses. The effort levels and support for students by their peers was fabulous to see. The House winners will be revealed in their PE lessons next week.
Drama Award Winner
Congratulations to Rana in Year 7, who was hugely successful at the recent National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Awards. The Gateshead Musical Theatre Association production of Shrek, in which Rana played young Fiona, won Best Youth Production. The CAOS Musical Theatre Company production of Matilda, where Rana played Matilda, won Best Youth Production and won the Rising Star Award.
Rana was also nominated in the Top 8 Councillor’s Youth Individual Awards for all of the North. We are all so proud of these incredible achievements. Well done Rana and good luck in SpongeBob in October and Frozen next year!
Outdoor Learning
Girls in Pre-Prep and Prep have been enjoying Autumn in our wonderful outdoor area. They have been scavenging for items, creating woodland meals and making Autumn punch on the fire to drink.
Durham Youth Council
Durham Youth Council are recruiting from schools across the county.
The Youth Council provides the opportunity for young people to represent their peers regionally and nationally. There are many benefits to joining them, including opportunities to travel, build skills and take part in training as well as attending prestigious events and partaking in decision making.
We already have high numbers of pupils representing the High School on the Youth Council and have done for many years. We actively encourage students to apply from Years Seven to Upper Sixth if they are interested in making changes to our society and want to voice their opinions. Consent from a parent is required and can be given at https://forms.office.com/r/GeC4MtPAGa.
An information booklet was sent to parents last week, but if you have any questions, please contact the participation officer (and Youth Council Leader), Cat Harwood, directly on [email protected].
