BHHS Issue 32 Newsletter

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Newsletter Brighton & Hove High School GDSt

Issue 32 June 2015

Dear Parents and Girls,

We’ve had two big alumnae events this year at BHHS – a ‘vintage tea party’ to which we invited old girls who left the school in the 1940s and 50s and, just last Saturday, we hosted a picnic for over a hundred alumnae who been at the school from the 1960s onwards. They were both great events – lots of stories and laughter, and I learned a few things: the first is that no matter how naughty teenage girls might be today, they cannot hold a candle to the outrageous things their forerunners got up to, particularly if they were boarders – they regularly climbed on the roof at night; hid in the shrubbery to avoid their music teacher, and often helped themselves to the canteen stores. Some of their stories would make your hair stand on end! The second thing I learned was that some of my predecessors had a nice line in cutting remarks. My favourite was from a Head in the nineteen seventies who apparently used to say: ‘You, girl! Your hair reminds me of two French cities – Toulon and Toulouse!’ But the most important thing I learned was what a wonderful thing it is to have good and lasting friendships that we make at school and what a privilege it is to be part of a school that encourages girls to be the best they can be as individuals and yet fosters a lasting spirit of camaraderie. The spirit of friendship exists not just between the girls, but between the staff and we are sadly saying goodbye this summer to a number of colleagues from the senior school. Two have only joined us recently – Miss Razavi (Director of Sport) and Mrs Thomas (French and Spanish) and are both leaving us for family reasons. Mrs Edwards (Drama and Classics) has been at BHHS for eight years and is returning to Sweden with her family. She has done a huge amount to enrich Drama teaching at the school, in particular at Sixth Form level. Mrs Armstrong, our Development Director, is retiring after a business career of almost forty years, initially in the hospitality industry and latterly in education. She joined us in 2009 and has had a considerable impact on the financial stability of the school. She has, for the past two years, been instrumental in re-energising our BHHS Alumnae. Finally, two long-serving members of the teaching staff are also retiring: Mrs Howell (Head of Geography and Year 10 Manager) has taught at BHHS for the past 16 years and Mrs Burnet-Smith (’Madame B’) has taught French and Spanish here since 1983. Two of our most able teachers and distinguished in their subjects, both women have also had an enormous impact on the extra-curricular and pastoral life of BHHS. Many girls and colleagues over the years have reason to be grateful for their dedication, energy and intelligence. They will be missed by us all. Our Year 13 girls – the Class of 2015 – also leave us today and we are looking forward to celebrating with them at the Leavers’ Ball tonight at The Grand. We wish all the staff and girls who are leaving BHHS every success and happiness in the future. Have a good weekend – and I hope to see many of you at the PA Summer Fayre next Saturday at the Junior School. Jennifer Smith

dates

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th DofE qualifying overnight camp; Monday 29 Y11 Work experience starts; Y8/Y9 Taster Morning; Tuesday 30th Sports Day at Withdean; Cabaret Evening, 7pm; Wednesday 1st July GDST Rounders & Tennis Tournament; Y10 Drama rehearsal, p4-5; Y10 Drama GCSE evening, 7pm; Thursday 2nd 7P Guild Day; Friday 3rd Y7 Musical rehearsal (all day); GDST Portsmouth Tennis match (away); Oxbridge talk to Y12 in 604, 1:30pm; Saturday 4th PA Summer Fayre (12pm-3pm ); Sunday 5th Y7 Musical rehearsal Upcoming events: Monday 6th Y7 Musical rehearsal (all day); Tuesday 7th Sixth Form Induction Day; Y7 Musical performance, 2pm & 7pm th

2014-15 Issue 32: 1


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