Girls Lent 2023 Newsletter

Headteacher’s Lent Reflection

Dear Parents

It feels like only yesterday that we returned to School after the Christmas break, yet so much has happened – a great testament to the girls’ energy, enthusiasm and engagement with all the opportunities at School.

The rain, snow and winds of the Lent Term have done little to dampen the girls’ spirit as they’ve continued to Be Adventurous, Serve Others and Aim High With Integrity.

International Women’s Day (IWD) turned into International Women’s Term as we battled to complete our Burpeethon in support of CAMFED (The Campaign for Female Education). It was wonderful to support a charity engaged in providing access to girls’ education. Special thanks to all those families who got involved with the initiative and who donated to the cause. CAMFED have sent us this message to relay to you all:

“Congratulations on your successful fundraiser! Your students have raised an incredible £1195. This is the equivalent of 1,793 school days, the equivalent of sending 10 girls to school for a year!

We are so grateful for all the time and effort you put into your fundraiser, which will be put toward our wider One Million School Days campaign. You have been part of a movement which will see a further 5,567 girls attend school this year. Thank you!”

The IWD theme of #EmbracingEquity continued throughout the term with the girls involved in all sorts of stereotype-breaking events and competitions:

• The Rotary Technology Competition: From a field of 31 schools, the girls’ teams came second in the foundation category and third in the intermediate category.

• The Yates Drill Competition: The Annual CCF Yates Drill competition was an opportunity for the girls to put their commitment, teamwork and coordination to the test. In the end, it was the Army girls’ drill squad that came top of the table.

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• Finally, it was wonderful to see some inspiring inter-department collaboration between the Science and Music Departments – a Space and Science themed Year 7 Concert! Thank you to the music department for creatively raising the profile of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

• We are always grateful to have parents share their career experiences with our girls. Thank you to Niamh and Freya’s mum for delivering an inspirational STEM talk to Years 7&8 –highlighting the exciting and rewarding doors that a career in Science can offer.

This term, we’ve also enjoyed having so many opportunities to welcome parents into School:

• Raising Assertive Girls: Dr Emily Kenefick talked to both staff and parents about empowering our girls to have a voice – how we can encourage each of them, at home and at School, so that they can respectfully learn to advocate for themselves and others.

• Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll: The Year 9 Parent Engagement Dinner was themed around the trials of raising teenagers, how to talk to them about sensitive issues and setting boundaries at home and at School.

• Charity Coffee and Cake Fundraiser: thank you to all who supported the Prefect-led event – fundraising for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

• The Year 9 Play: A co-ed production with the Boys’ School, showcasing teamwork, discipline and the students’ ability to time-manage and prioritise commitments in an already busy schedule!

• The Music Gala: Not only are the girls thriving in the classroom, on the stage and on the pitches but many have also been involved in the various musical ensembles and choirs that operate across both the Boys and Girls schools. The last Friday evening of term was host to the most superbly entertaining Music Gala Evening – a showcase of our wonderful talent. Thanks again to the music department and to the School’s catering team for a fantastic evening.

• Inter-House Lacrosse: The House spirit lives on through the mixed-age group competitions. At the time of writing, the full results are not yet in and are due to be celebrated in our end of term assembly. Regardless of performance, the levels of enthusiasm and support were encouraging to see – as was the sense of belonging and sisterhood within the Houses.

With all good wishes for a relaxing Easter break.

Emma Watson Headteacher

Exceptional Performance “Bright. Young. Things.”

Lent term saw Year 9 perform Georgia Christou’s play Bright. Young. Things. Following six young people who are competing on a reality show to be crowned “Britain’s Brainiest Child”, the play is funny, fast-moving, and full of moments that allow all actors involved to shine. It was a challenge to take on but, over three nights in March, the Year 9 pupils involved certainly rose to that challenge.

This was in no small part due to the hard work of Director Miss Jarvis and Assistant Directors Amelia and Maddy (Year 12), who spent many hours running rehearsals and ensuring that the cast were as prepared as they could be. Fast-paced shows like Bright. Young. Things. require close attention to detail, to ensure that no jokes or important details are lost in delivery; this required close focus from the cast and those playing main roles. With cast members on stage throughout the show – seated to one side of the stage or in the case of those playing the sinister Producers, on a platform at the back – focus had to be maintained at all times.

The hard work of the directors and the persistence of the cast certainly paid off. The Centenary Theatre audience were treated to a show that not only produced plenty of laughs, but also got those watching to think about more serious matters such as the price of success, the pervasiveness of reality TV, and themes of self-doubt and individuality. The whole cast, but especially those in the main roles (Eliza K, Jemima S, Poppy D, Izzy M, Lewis G and Genevieve G), did very well in balancing these more serious themes with the show’s many humorous moments – no easy task. Many of those humorous moments were provided by the actors playing the Presenters (Euan T, Molly B, Oscar H and Will A), who also did an excellent job of maintaining the show’s energy and pace.

Bright. Young. Things. took place within a simple but highly effective set created by theatre technician Mr Cross. A large platform at the back of the stage – from where the Producers looked down on proceedings – served as a projection screen onto which the names of each scene could be displayed, while plenty of LED lights on stage helped add to the game show feel. Six simple blocks and clever use of the theatre’s lighting allowed scenes to swiftly switch between locations in a way that felt fluid and dynamic. With a student-led tech team, the show once again illustrated the range of opportunities available in school productions. Involvement is not just confined to the stage!

With over 30 pupils involved onstage and off, Bright. Young. Things. was a real showcase of the depth of talent in Year 9, and a meaningful, humorous and highly relevant piece of theatre; all involved can be very proud of themselves.

Follow Berkhamsted Drama Department on Twitter @berkodrama for the latest information

Be Adventurous

Outstanding Challenge F1 in Schools Regional Final

Lent term saw three teams from Year 10 travel to Harlow College to present their Formula 1 in Schools projects at the Regional Finals. The pupils – under the watchful eye of their Sixth Form mentors – have spent the last term preparing their projects, which include car designs, posters, merchandise and technical information.

The Regional Finals gave pupils the opportunity to present their work to a panel of judges as well as get a sense of what other schools – some of whom had up to fours years’ experience in the competitions – had created. As this was the first time Berkhamsted had attended a Regional Finals, it was an excellent learning opportunity and offered plenty of potential on how to improve for next year. While Berkhamsted did not progress to the National Finals on this occasion, our three teams all came away with credit. Peregrine Racing won the award for Fastest Car, Sennamatic picked up the award for Best Research and Design, while Inferno Wheels achieved the second fastest start.

Two Year 10 pupils, Charles and Amber, offered their thoughts on the experience and what they have learned from it.

Charles, Amber, what did you have to do to prepare for the Regional Finals?

Charles: To prepare for the Regional Finals we had to design and make a car and a pit display. We had to write two five-page portfolios about our enterprise and our design and engineering processes. At the start, our main focus was designing the car; however, as we progressed with the car design our focus shifted to other aspects such as the pit display and the portfolios.

Amber: Our team went on a trip to University College London where we got to test our reaction speed so we can send our car down the track as quick as possible. We went through sessions throughout the day learning about 3D printing, the design rules and general tips for making our car. This allowed us to understand more about the competition beforehand. We used Autodesk Fusion to design the car – this was the first time the team and I used this software. It is a design software focused on creating 3D images and models. We 3D printed many different models before our final one and took into account the aerodynamics and wind drag that could factor the cars performance. We also found a sponsor, who helped us by donating money for our team uniforms and stickers for the car.

What do you feel you have learnt from being involved in the F1 in Schools project?

Charles: I feel that as Project Manager I have learnt how to work and lead a group of people to make something with deadlines. I have also developed my communication skills further, as I have had to reach out to possible sponsors to try and get support for our project. As a team we have learnt that it is better to leave issues in the past and instead of dwelling on them learning from them and moving on as if you get bogged down in it, it can have a large impact on what you are doing and the overall quality of what we produce.

Amber: I feel like this project has developed all our skills in designing as well as figuring out as a team what were the best options for our car to be successful. We can apply this software in the future in our DT GCSE and it will help elevate us above our peers in terms of skills using a design software. We have also learnt how to promote ourselves online to gain sponsorship and be noticed by companies. Overall I recommend F1 in Schools to anyone who wants to give it a try!

Follow Berkhamsted Physics Department on Twitter @BerkoPhysics for the latest information

F

Serve Others

Supporting Each Other Burpee-thon

The whole of the Girls School took on an exciting and energetic community challenge in the runup to International Women’s Day this term. As a demonstration that actions and activism can go further than just a single day, the Girls School decided to take on a major collective challenge: completing 500,000 burpees as a school, with the chance for staff members as well as family and friends to take part too.

The aim was to raise money for the charity CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education), who offer educational opportunities for girls and young women in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The empowerment this offers allows women educated by CAMFED to have a transformative impact within their communities.

For over a month, pupils at the Girls School recorded in their Wednesday tutor time sessions the burpees they had done that week. The highlight of this was the whole Girls School – pupils and staff – gathering on the Astro at Kings to collectively complete as many burpees as possible before lessons began.

The community effort resulted in a fantastic £1,195 being raised for CAMFED. The initiative also offered the girls an excellent chance to understand the effects that widespread community action can have.

Congratulations to all involved, and special mention to Carys in Year 7 who individually completed 3,250 burpees!

The video below gives an idea of what this brilliant team effort looked like:

Sixth Form Opportunities

This term saw 45 Year 12 students, accompanied by their teachers, visit the Royal Institution in London to attend Maths Fest 2023. This annual event sees a packed programme of events presented by top mathematicians and aims to broaden the horizons of A Level Mathematics students, encouraging and inspiring them to take Maths in directions they had perhaps not yet considered. Organised by stand-up mathematician Matt Parker and maths author Rob Eastaway, Berkhamsted have been attending the event for a number of years and it is a highlight of the Berkhamsted Maths calendar, always promising an engaging and interesting variety of speakers. This year was no exception.

Highlights this year included two talks on environmental issues, looking at how maths can be applied to solve real world problems such as plastic pollution in the oceans and the melting of glacial ice, as well as a talk on the way mathematics is used in the news, and how there is the potential for numbers to be manipulated to suit particular agendas. Other talks focused on exam skills and advice, meaning that the Berkhamsted pupils who attended not only came away with an enthusiasm for the real-world applications and potential for maths but also some useful tips and tricks they can use in lessons and exams.

The trip was a real showcase for the wide and varied applications of Maths, and an inspiring experience for Year 12 to take into their A Level studies and beyond.

Developing remarkable people

Pupils Meet HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

On Thursday 9th March, pupils from Berkhamsted Girls, Boys and Sixth were fortunate enough to meet with His Royal Highness Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, at Ashridge House. Berkhamsted pupils were kindly invited to join local dignitaries, pupils from Little Gaddesden Primary School and Ashridge Staff to celebrate the planting of a memorial tree by the Duke of Edinburgh to commemorate His Late Royal Highness Prince Philip. As part of this visit, twentyseven pupils who are all involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award (D of E) at various stages spoke with the Duke to talk about their experiences of it.

Berkhamsted School has a long-running association with the Award, it having run at the Girls School since 1957 and the Boys School since 1958. The meeting with the Duke, who is one of the Trustees of the Award, proved an excellent opportunity to celebrate this. In addition, it allowed pupils to reflect on their involvement with the Award so far, and discuss this with the Duke. With groups from the Bronze, Silver and Gold stages of the Award all attending, it was a highly memorable and meaningful afternoon. Many thanks to the team at Ashridge House for providing Berkhamsted students with the opportunity to be involved in such a memorable afternoon.

Principal’s Message

It is an oft-repeated idea that the hardest part of a long-distance race is the middle period. The early energy and adrenaline rush of the race’s start has worn off, the extra motivation that comes from having the finishing line in sight is yet to be realised. Determination and persistence – not always the mostcelebrated of qualities but invaluable nonetheless –are needed to continue.

The Lent term is the tricky middle period of the race, and the determination and persistence needed to navigate it have been on evident display from Berkhamsted pupils this term. Whether it is in the fundraising efforts of the Burpeethon at the Girls School, the Nationals triumph of our 1st VII Netball team, or the excellent performance of Year 9 girls and boys in Bright. Young. Things., pupils have continued to apply tremendous energy and effort to all that they do. Of course, these pages cannot provide an exhaustive list of all that has taken place this term, but I hope they offer an insight into Berkhamsted life and all that pupils have achieved.

Now spring and the Easter holidays beckon before the sprint finish of the Trinity term. Plenty more determination and persistence will be needed between now and the summer, especially for those of our school community who have public exams. I hope however, that in between the revision, time can be found to rest, and moments of calm enjoyed before the resumption of school life next month.

I look forward to seeing what next term holds but before that, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all in the Berkhamsted community a happy and restful Easter period.

Richard Backhouse Principal

Berkhamsted Society

On the 19th January, the Berkhamsted Society had the pleasure of welcoming Reverend Richard Coles to Centenary Theatre for what was a truly memorable evening. Richard spoke to a capacity community audience about his journey so far, and what a rich tapestry of a journey that has been. Through recollections of his pathway through the world of 80s music to his life as a Reverend, Richard captured us all with his warmth, humility and humour. He will always be welcome in Berkhamsted.

For most, Spring officially started on Monday March 20th this year. However, for those who attended our Spring Wreath Making event on March 14th, the brightly coloured, personally designed door wreaths were proof enough that Spring had come early! Laura and Sally were tremendous as they guided guests through the process of wiring moss, creating the base and adding the finishing touches using a mixture of fresh flowers and foliage. Refreshed with a lovely Chartwells charcuterie, those who attended said farewell to the winter months. A Christmas wreath making workshop will be next on the cards.

In the New Year, we shared our first Annual Sustainability Report Annual Sustainability Report not only for the benefit of the school community but also the local town and wider communities. We hope that the steps we are taking will make a difference and will, perhaps, encourage others in the local and wider communities to start their own paths to a more sustainable future.

Our work in this area continues and we have recently engaged with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust with specific focus on Biodiversity Enhancement, providing a significant area for student engagement and exploration. More news on this will follow in due course.

We continue to work closely with local business groups, including the Berkhamsted and District Chamber of Commerce, and local charities. The Berkhamsted Society plays an important role in the Town’s events, now looking forward to helping in the May Coronation celebrations, and also in the strategic thinking of the Town.