Francis Holland School Newsletter February 2014 Junior Art Club Workshop in Regent’s Park
From the Headmistress Dear Parents, Although the Spring term began less than a month ago, the Christmas holidays seem like a distant memory. In typical FHS style, the school has been brimming with activity every day of the week – and often the weekend, too! The Upper Fifth “hit the ground running” in January, with ten days of GCSE mock examinations. With few exceptions, their focus and commitment has been impressive. As this goes to press, Sixth Formers from all over the UK are arriving at FHS to enjoy our annual Classics Conference on Virgil’s Aeneid, with guest lecturers Dr Ingo Gildenhard (King’s College, Cambridge) and Dr Armand D’Angour (Jesus College, Oxford). Huge thanks to Miss Baig, Head of the Classics Department, for what promises to be an inspirational day of academic lectures. Dr de Bono and Mrs Bachle-Morris are master-minding the annual Inter-form Drama competition this term, which is likely to be as keenly contested. The finals of the Inter-form Drama competition will be held on the 136th School Birthday, which will be celebrated on Thursday 13th February; the adjudicator will be Mrs Lisa Gershon (nee Jaffer), a “Polished corner". As this goes to press, Upper Sixth Theatre Studies students are completing rehearsals for their devised drama performance later this week and have intrigued the school with their excellent posters. During February half term, Mrs Grant and a team of colleagues will accompany the annual school Ski trip, which this year is going to Saas Fee in Switzerland. The annual Gym and Dance Display is always awe-inspiring for anyone less flexible than a pipe-cleaner. This year’s F r a n c i s
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On Friday 6th December last term, the Junior Art Club enjoyed a workshop in Regent’s Park with visiting artists Jake Bee and Rob St John, during which they were recording sounds associated with the presence of water. The project has been run in collaboration with the artist Elizabeth Ogilvie, whose installation of melting ice, digital media and sound explores the central role of water in our lives, currently exhibited at the Ambika Gallery at the Marylebone branch of Westminster University. Miss J Orr Head of Art Department performance will begin at 5pm in the School Hall on Friday 14th March, preceded by drinks for parents in the library at 4:30pm. Lower Sixth parents and their daughters will receive information about the annual Higher Education Evening on Wednesday 19th March. This is always an important and exciting evening, which provides detailed information about university applications, including those to Oxford and Cambridge colleges and to universities in America and Europe. ”Polished corners” currently at Balliol College, Oxford and Robinson College, Cambridge, will be amongst those speaking during the evening. FHS parents whose daughters are not yet in the Sixth Form are most welcome to attend. The evening begins at 5:30pm and the main presentations start in the Hall at 7pm. Full details can be found on the school website. My thanks to Parents’ Association Committee for hosting a Supper Quiz on Thursday 27th April. Invitations and further details will be sent to you via the
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Parents’ Association Committee, after half term. Mr Robert Patterson, who joined us as Director of Music this term, has compiled an exciting programme of concerts. A master-class for senior musicians on Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis will be held on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March, by kind invitation of Harrow School. Our annual Easter Concert with the Choral Society of Harrow School will be Verdi’s Requiem, on Tuesday 25th March at 7:30pm. Tickets for these concerts will be available via Mr Patterson at robert.patterson@fhs-nw1. org.uk. Details of future school events are always available online in the school calendar via www.francisholland. org.uk. As ever, thank you for your continued support of school events. With all best wishes,
Mrs V M Durham
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