Online News Review, Lent 2012 Issue 1

Bromsgrovian BROMSGROVE SCHOOL

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A word from the Headmaster Try as I might, getting off the subject of new buildings is proving difficult. Hardly surprising, I suppose. The new arena is vast, open, and attracting interest nationally; Mary Windsor girls are happy in their stunning new House; the pool has been in use for some months; the Hospitality Suite, gym and coffee shop are in School possession, though not yet quite ready for the public, and the new Oakley has risen and will soon be

ready for occupation. As I write, the last phase of major disruption is upon us as we landscape the main thoroughfare into the School. While my fingers still remain crossed around four leafed clovers, I can report that the project is on schedule. The pupils have taken it all in their stride, and, frankly, I think that says as much about Bromsgrove as any building.

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Prep Pentathlon Twenty two of our leading Prep School swimmers and runners took part in the semi final of the British Schools’ Pentathlon at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

National Hockey Finals It was an outstanding achievement for Bromsgrove School to be represented at no fewer than three of the four National Indoor Hockey Competitions in January.

The U16 girls’ team did exceptionally well at Worcester, finishing as runnersup. After defeating Taunton 3-0, Millais 3-1 and Wakefield 2-1, the girls were delighted to not just beat the other pool winners Millfield 1-0 in the semi-final but also to prevent them from scoring a goal. In the final they faced Cooper Co and Coborn and lost 4-0 after a valiant attempt at the championship title. The U18s girls’ team, who loudly encouraged the younger girls from the sidelines, were also at Worcester to compete. They were unlucky to lose the

first match 3-2 to South Dartmoor but then went down to Kingston 4-1 before beating Oakham 4-1. A defeat against Ipswich 3-1 made it impossible to go further but they are still counted as one of the top ten teams in the country.

Meanwhile at Whitgift School in Croydon, the U18 boys’ team finished second in their pool – beating Dean Close 3-0, Thomas Deacon 6-2 and Wakefield 6-4 and then losing a close match against Cranleigh 4-3.

In the semi-final they lost 6-0 to the very talented host side. This is still a tremendous achievement for the boys who finished in the top four in the country.

In Years 5,6 and 7, pupils had to run 500 metres then swim 50 metres with Year 8 running 1000 metres and swimming 100 metres. All our students acquitted themselves brilliant against tough opposition from the North West of England all the way down to the Midlands.

There were numerous personal best performances on the track and in the pool. Special congratulations to the Year 5 and Year 7 girls who both finished as winners in their category and qualify for the National finals, the Year 6 boys A team and Year 8 boys both came in second place.

Pupils who finished in the top six individual positions and who finished as team winners also automatically qualify for National Final at Crystal Palace in March.

Congratulations to the U16 girls who have qualified for the National Outdoor Hockey finals.

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Rugby

Netball Coach

Josh Watkins played for England U18s against France, and against the Northampton Saints U19 team. Sam Waltier, Damon Poole, George Beale and Dan Young gained representative honours, playing for the Midlands’ U18 team in the Divisional Festival. George was also picked to play for England U18s against the U18 Welsh team and against the Leicester side.

Miss Danks has been appointed as the Assistant Coach to the U19 Netball Talent League West Midlands Warriors in addition to her full time school commitments.

This is a really exciting opportunity for her to work with some of the elite players in the country in this age group.

Congratulations to Lauren Brown (Year 8) who has been selected to represent Worcestershire County in both hockey and netball.

Following the final U16 Hockey Trials held at Bisham Abbey, Pascale Massey has been selected to go through to the final squad for England U16 Hockey National Age Group Programme 2011-2012.

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Fencing At the West Midlands Age Group Epee Competition held at Packwood Haugh School in Shropshire our pupils excelled with Matthew Lynch finishing 3rd= in the U16 boys’ epee, Elizabeth Stone finished 3rd in the U18 girls’ epee and Tom Lynch finished 6th in the U14 boys’ epee. Josh Gilbert of the Prep School finished 5th in the U14 boys’ epee. These excellent results mean that they have all qualified to represent the West Midlands for the ‘British Youth Championships national age group finals’ to be held at the ‘England Institute of Sport’ in May.

GB Olympic Hockey Stars Coach Pupils Great Britain hockey stars Richard Smith and Alastair Wilson visited Bromsgrove to host a coaching session and meet with pupils from the Prep and Senior Schools.

The visit was part of a nationwide programme, the Hockey Nation, which will see British Olympic hockey players visit events involving more than 450 secondary schools

ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Richard and Alastair, both members of the Great Britain hockey team preparing for the Olympic Games, led the In2Hockey coaching session on the School’s Astroturf before answering questions and signing posters and hockey balls for the pupils.

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Cricket Tour to Dubai The Cricket Tour to Dubai over Half Term was a great success and from start to finish the squad were treated as professionals. The facilities at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy in Sports City were inspiring, the 32 outdoor grass practice nets simulate different playing pitches all over the world. The team were thrilled to take part in a coaching session with Kevin Pietersen and then enjoyed watching him score a century in the One Day International against Pakistan the following day.

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History Comes to Life Year 2 undertook Squire training when they were visited by a Knight, ‘Sir Teachalot’. They had a fantastic day dressing up in Medieval clothes and two squires helped to dress Mr Etty-Leal in a full suit of armour.

The highlight of the day was the building, besieging and destroying of a castle using a trebuchet.

The Great Fire of London was the subject of Year One’s topic when they met Samuel Pepys who read them extracts from his famous diary, during an exciting fact finding trip to Hartlebury Museum.

Challenging Maths Prep’s annual ‘Maths Challenge Day’ for the Junior department started with an outdoor hunt for solutions to maths problems.

Indoor activities followed, including constructing pyramids, problem solving, magical maths drawing and shadow measuring. This fun day proved to pupils that Maths really is fun.

Chinese New Year Lower Fourth pupils visited St Andrew’s First School in Barnt Green to give a presentation to the Reception class on Chinese New Year, culture, traditions, a short dramatisation of a famous legend and language where the children learnt to speak and write simple words in Chinese.

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MP Visits Local Conservative MP, Sajid Javid, came to Bromsgrove School to give a lecture to students interested in Economics, Politics, Business and Banking Mr Javid gave a speech to a packed Lecture Theatre that covered his 19 year career in investment banking and his move into politics; now part of the Government as an advisor to the Treasury, he focused on the troubled Eurozone and Britain’s debt problem.

A Q&A session followed, with questions spanning from university tuition fees to the 50p top rate of tax; the audience saw Mr Javid answer questions honestly about public perceptions and Conservative Party measures.

Organ Recital Director of Music Mr Kingston has been invited to undertake a series of organ recitals in Tennessee in July.

Forthcoming Events ‘Pop and Jazz’ - Tuesday 6th March Tickets from the Music School 01527 579679 ext 235 Chapel Choir sings Choral Evensong at St. Paul’ - Monday 12th March details from Mrs Camden, PA to Mr Bowen, ycamden@bromsgrove-school.co.uk A History of St. John’s in ‘Words and Music’ - Thursday 15th March at St Johns Church, for details contact Mrs Camden, PA to Mr Bowen, ycamden@bromsgrove-school.co.uk CCF Biennial Review - Saturday 20th March Parents are welcome to watch

Choral Society Concert - Saturday 24th March Tickets are available from Birmingham Town Hall http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/the-bromsgrove-school-choral-society-andregency/

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Prep New Arrival Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Whiting on the birth of their new baby Harry. The girls in Page House were very excited to meet him early in the new term and to present Mrs Whiting with a knitted blanket for him.

LAMDA Congratulations to all the girls who took the LAMDA exams earlier in the term. Of the 22 entrants, 12 passed with Merit and 10 with Distinction.

Medieval Times at Pre-Prep Pupils in Year 2 have been taking part in medieval activities as part of their Knights and Castles topic, including a medieval banquet a falconry display, a medieval banquet dressed as squires, knights, princes, princesses and kings followed by a knighting ceremony.

All the pupils made bright shields for the day.

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Old Bromsgrovians

Ben Foden

George Robson

Matt Mullan Three Old Bromsgrovians were announced in Stuart Lancaster’s England rugby squad: Ben Foden will play in the 6 Nations. George Robson and Matt Mullan have both been selected for the English Saxons against Ireland and Scotland.

Photos courtesy of England RFU

Olivia Safe (TC) returned to Bromsgrove in early February. She met with some of her past teachers including Philip Bowen, Steve Kingston and John Stateczny and visited her old House, Thomas Cookes, which she said hadn’t changed at all. Olivia is currently preparing for the release of her album.