Greenhouse - Senior 2018/19 by Haberdashers' Girls' School

MAGAZINE 2018/19

Welcome

Welcome From the Headmistress

feel very privileged to be in the position of writing the introduction to the 100th edition of the school magazine, and I hope that my reflections do justice to the busy year of 2018-19.

This year, both nationally and internationally, we have seen protesters of all ages campaigning for a better, more proactive awareness of environmental issues. This has resonated with the debates being held within our own school community about the use of printed material, food options, and the use (and abuse) of plastics. Pupils from both the Junior and Senior School have sought to raise awareness of these issues: talking with our catering company, holding competitions, organising collections of recycling, and trying to change the community’s habits. There is still lots of work to be done to make our school a ‘greener house’ (excuse the awful pun!) but I am sure that the future generations of prefects and pupils will continue to rise to this challenge. In many senses our two Senior School plays this year, The Crucible and Animal Farm, have centred on the need for individuals to challenge the systems that threaten to oppress them. In both productions there were stunning performances at all levels; not only were the leading characters utterly convincing (even when portraying pigs!) but the minor roles were wonderfully depicted too - a testimony to team work, careful rehearsing, and excellent direction. The House system continues to go from strength to strength, and in this magazine you will read about some of the events that have taken place this year. Notably, the

House Singing competition at the end of the Spring term drew out some stunning performances - from students and staff alike. This term we have been so impressed by the level of performance in the House Debating competition. The motion debated in the final round, ‘This House believes that the government should never negotiate with terrorists’, elicited some impressive responses from the Middle School participants. We have also been delighted with the success students have enjoyed on a national level in MUN and EYP competitions, and at international level with our joint Schools’ EYP team representing the UK in September in Hamburg. We sincerely believe that the ability of our students to voice their opinions on matters of concern will equip them to be the important, trustworthy voices of their generation - just like many of their predecessors. Some of our House competitions have linked with our ‘cousin’ school in Bangalore, the Parikrma Foundation. At the end of the Summer term a group of Upper 5 and Lower 6 students will travel there to work together on inter-school creative arts projects and to learn about life in each other’s countries. This will again be a fascinating experience for our staff and students. Last summer saw the participants of the inaugural trip return with myriad stories of their time in India; I hope that you enjoy reading about their visit later in this edition. As I head towards retirement, I take real pride and pleasure in the many moments of enjoyment and success our school community has celebrated this year. We have also experienced sadnesses, which are less numerous but all the more powerful because of that. Our collective sadness,

Welcome

Welcome from the Head Girl

much shared by generations of Old Girls, was the death of former headmistress, Mrs Penelope Penney (19912005) in late August 2018. As headmistress here, she very much helped to mould the Habs ethos of ‘work hard, play hard’. As a Liveryman of the Haberdashers’ Company she maintained a supportive interest in our school long after she retired, attending events whenever she could. Her memorial service, at which many of our current students performed and sang, was held at Great St Bartholomew Church, Farringdon, close to Habs Hall; the occasion was packed with former colleagues, students and their parents, as well as friends from the wider world of education. She was a shining example of many of the principles covered in this magazine: the art of communication, the need to think globally as well as locally, and the importance of creativity alongside the academic excellence of the School. The school community’s brilliant retirement gifts to me will be a reminder of the total of eighteen years I have spent at the School: the Grayson Perry-esque vase (thank you Lower 5 pottery painters) and the wonderful embroidered quilt (thank you to the numerous needlewomen of the School). The images of Wilma, our coach-café; cornflowers in abundance; rainbows; the crest in its many details (but notably, not the motto); bad puns; cats and corgis will all make me chuckle long after this August. I am immensely grateful for the time, energy, creativeness, and humour that have gone into the making of such memorable pieces. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last eight years here as headmistress of a community of very capable, articulate and talented pupils and staff, who work together with focus and laughter to create an outstanding school. I hand over to my successor, Mrs Rose Hardy, a flourishing and vibrant school that I have no doubt will continue to thrive and develop in ways we can barely imagine, much as those who wrote the first edition of the magazine could not have imagined today’s magazine contents and our 2019 school community. I sign off by wishing you enjoyable reading and posing the question, what will the school magazine of 2119 report and how will it be read? Biddie O’Connor

remember poring over the pages of my first edition of The Greenhouse, searching frantically for evidence of my mark on school life and admiring the marvel that was the Senior School. Eleven years later, I am honoured to be able to introduce this wonderful magazine that showcases the talent, versatility and drive of Habs girls. This academic year has been jampacked: from debating and sporting competitions, to charity events and concerts. As you will find out from the following pages, Habs girls really can do it all! Being Head Girl has been the best way to end my time at Habs and I am so grateful for the opportunity. The support of the student body has been overwhelming, and I have loved getting to know and work with so many of you. The way that you balance everything that being a Habs girl entails, with determination and enthusiasm, is truly inspiring. I have been incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside a Senior Team who share my desire to improve the world we live in. I am so proud of everything we have achieved, especially our ‘social justice’ assembly, our work to transform HabsTV into a platform that sparks conversation, inspires and informs, and our joint mission with the Eco Prefects to ‘make the school as green as our uniform’. Our special thanks also go to the wider prefect team. However, the Habs Bubble contains much more than students. The Habs experience would not be the same without the teachers, non-teaching staff and our parents providing the environment for us to succeed and constantly encouraging us to be the best version of ourselves. On behalf of the student body, I would like to thank Miss O’Connor who has been the Headmistress of the Class of 2019 for the entirety of our Senior School experience. We couldn’t have asked for a better leader and we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours. As for the Class of 2019, Habs has provided us with the space and opportunities to develop into people that my sevenyear-old self would have been in awe of. During our time here we have obeyed and, more recently, served. The world is not ready for what we’ll get up to next! Tomisin Osibona Head Girl

Welcome

Events

Expressive Arts

Old Girls’ Lacrosse Match Middle 5 Team Building Day Creativity in the Arts Languages Week Nicky Morgan Visits GemSoc St Catherine’s Day Senior Citizens’ Tea Party The Carol Competition The Carol Service Science Week MUN Any Questions? Upper 6 Leavers’ Week Lower 6 Leadership Day Middle School Book Week European Youth Parliament The Big Day Out

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ARTiculation Artist in Residence Art Design & Technology Drama Animal Farm The Crucible House Poetry Competition Novel Writing Writer in Residence Edna Judd Dance and Drama Showcase Music Autumn Concert Music Tour 2018 Jazz Concert Spring Concert

20 20 21 24 25 25 26 28 30 31 31 32 33 33 34 35 35

Magazine Committee Editor Kiana Rezakhanlou Deputy Editor Nancy Stitt Events Editors Emma Hansen Shreya Singh Educational Visits Editors Ella Denton Kacey Keary

Expressive Arts Editors Megan Hansen Zaynab Jaffrey Habs Life Editors Joyce Ajisafe Arianna Phillips Sports Editors Sophia Kershaw Zahrah Rahman

Features Editors Alex Hart Anjali Mulcock Staff Editors Francesca Graves Sarah Walton

Educational Visits Classics Trip to Greece 38 Visit to Haworth 39 Bushcraft 39 Battlefields Tour 40 Bram Stoker’s Whitby 40 U4 Trip to Hampton Court 41 Ski Trip 41 Birmingham Christmas Markets 42 Offenburg 42 Benalmádena 43 El Puerto de Santa María 43 Lindau 44 Lanzarote 44 Kew Gardens 45

MAGAZINE 2018/19 Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Aldenham Road Elstree Hertfordshire WD6 3BT www.habsgirls.org.uk Tel. 020 8266 2300 @habsgirlsSchool Follow us on:

Welcome

Sport Captains Sports Colours Individual Achievements Talented Athlete Program Lacrosse Netball Dance Swimming Badminton Athletics Gymnastics Tennis Trampolining Rounders Cross Country

Habs Life 48 48 49 49 50 50 51 51 51 52 52 52 53 53 53

House Reports Leaving Staff New Teaching Staff New Support Staff A Level Prizes GCSE Awards School Positions Destinations Obituary: Mrs Penney Charity Report

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As Green As Our Uniforms?

Miss O’Connor

Parikrma Partnership

Public Speaking

From the Editor Welcome to the 2018-19 edition of The Greenhouse!

pening any edition of The Greenhouse is akin to reliving the hectic, but rewarding, life of the past academic year at Habs. It acts as a record of the events, achievements and experiences which we as a school body have shared. It has been a privilege to be the editor of the magazine’s hundredth edition this year, and to be able to engage with The Greenhouse not only in its current form, but with its position as a longstanding tradition within the School. Some observances, like St. Catherine’s Day, have firmly penned their mark on the school calendar, whilst other aspects of Habs life are completely new. We have, for example, become a school whose reach extends far beyond its walls, as we eagerly anticipate the second trip to the Parikrma school in Bangalore, India. To celebrate this mix of tradition and modernity, we have included excerpts from previous editions, spanning the years from the magazine’s inception to more recent issues; the comparisons are for you to make as readers! I would like to thank the editorial team for all their hard work and efforts, which have shaped the edition you have before you, and to extend my gratitude to Ms Walton and Mrs Graves for their limitless guidance and help. Kiana Rezakhanlou Editor

Events

Old Girls’ Lacrosse Match The Habs team tried to turn the tide on the Old Girls’ winning streak.

trong and hopeful, our Habs 1st team set out to rectify the 8-3 loss from last year’s match against the Old Girls, who look anything but ‘old’ on the field! It was my first time playing in an Old Girls’ game and it was an amazing experience to play against the incredibly talented women, some of whom I had looked up to over the years. The atmosphere was tense and competitive, but energetic and exciting. After a tight game, the Old Girls sealed the victory yet again, winning 7-6 and managing to uphold their successes three years in a row. Despite our loss, it was such an enjoyable experience to be reunited with the most talented lacrosse players from the Old Girls. I cannot wait to play again in next year’s match where we will, hopefully, finally beat them! Roselle Twum-Barima L6 AT

Middle 5 Team Building Day Students took part in a team building day to help bond with their new forms.

e made our way to the field and were split into groups. The activities included guiding a ball around a maze, ensuring it didn’t fall down any of the holes, and using planks to get the whole group over a ‘chasm’. The last task was to pass a baton to the other half of the group across a gap and as the game went on the gap got bigger. If you didn’t manage to pass the baton over within 30 seconds, your team was out and the last group standing won. Although the competitive element was fun, at the end of the day it didn’t matter who won as we all had a brilliant time. Not only did the tasks help build important teamwork skills, but they greatly improved existing friendships and helped us form new ones. Anastasia Taylor M5 Aske

Events

Creativity in the Arts Students enjoyed a range of creative experiences, from visiting The Making of Harry Potter to meeting artists and actors.

n November the Lower 5 had an incredible day celebrating Creativity in the Arts. In the morning, each class took part in two workshops with specialists - ranging from actors to multi-media creatives - including Pete Weitz, an accomplished composer, and Julie Oldfield, our wonderful Artist in Residence. In each workshop the facilitator explained their job and showed us some of their best work. After a break, we came together to listen to speakers sharing their insights about working in different artistic industries, and we were then able to ask questions. Everyone had been anticipating going to the Harry Potter Studio Tour, so we were quite excited when, after a busy morning, we headed off to the Warner Bros. Studios. It was fascinating to see how the famous Harry Potter book and film series had come together. We saw many

spectacular sets, from the Forbidden Forest to Platform 9 ¾, and the original artists’ designs and blueprints. From seeing the CGI techniques that were used to create Dobby to exploring the Forbidden Forest set, it was fascinating to see how much detail went into making the films truly magical. This is truly a day for next year’s Lower 5 to look forward to! Divyasha Joshi L5 Aleph and Anjelica Ashley L5 Aske

Events

Languages Week Our jam-packed Languages Week was filled with colour and excitement.

his year’s Languages Week gave everyone the opportunity to discover new languages and cultures beyond the curriculum. It began with an assembly from Lower 6, explaining the importance of languages, bilingualism and how other languages have inconspicuously infiltrated the English language. There were opportunities to delve into many different languages through games, from language-based treasure hunts to French ‘guess the celebrity’. One of the most

memorable sessions was the joint Boys’ and Girls’ School talent show, with an audience of two hundred people. We witnessed dances originating from India to Hungary, French and Russian singing, Spanish acting and an orchestral performance. There was also a French Spelling Bee for Upper 4 with the Boys’ School, as well as fun lunchtime sessions where our bilingual students taught their second languages. Overall, this year’s Languages Week was a great success, filled with innovative ideas to celebrate language and culture. Anya Myers L6 RMH

Nicky Morgan visits GemSoc Students came to gain an insight into being a woman in politics.

icky Morgan, the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee and Member of Parliament for Loughborough, talked to GemSoc about her role as a woman in Parliament, as well as her time as Minister for Women and Inequalities. Morgan championed the 100th anniversary of the 1918 act that first gave women over 21 the right to stand for election to Parliament. She also touched on her 2013 vote against same-sex marriage in England and Wales. She clarified that she felt her vote reflected the beliefs of her constituents. In light of this, Morgan was asked how she thought MPs should vote on bills, whether based on their own wishes, their constituents’ or in the national interest. She responded saying that she voted in line with her constituents but regrets doing so, and were she given the opportunity to vote on the same bill again, she would vote in favour of it.

Brexit was, of course, discussed and Morgan stated her support for a soft Brexit but opposed a second referendum, saying ‘the will of the people is clear’. Safia Mukri L6 AT

Events

St Catherine’s Day Having fun ‘around the world’ with another memorable St Catherine’s Day!

t Catherine’s Day is a vital part of the Habs calendar. A day of contrast: the morning full of tradition, and the afternoon packed with fun. In the morning, Lower 6 listened to presentations from the three Upper 6 winners of the St Catherine’s Prize essay competition. The engaging projects were well-researched and the curious audience embraced the opportunity to ask plenty of questions. The theme of the service this year was peace and selflessness. Celebrating the School’s diversity, the exciting variety of readings included: the Bhagavad Gita, St Paul’s Letter to the Romans, The Iliad and Sūrah alBaqarah. Among the beautiful music we heard, St Catherine’s Singers gave the debut performance of A Burst of Sudden Wings at Dawn, a song

commissioned for the service. The whole service celebrated the Habs spirit and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Lunch itself was an amazing: the return of the food vans (thanks to a successful student campaign) meant we could enjoy a wide choice of pizza, burgers, burritos and donuts. When the doors of the Sports Hall finally burst open, everyone was taken on a tour around the world, through stalls, decorations and costumes. This year’s theme was ‘Cities around the World’, and featured places such as London, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Rio de Janeiro. It was a wonderful day, and everyone came away smiling, covered in glitter, tattoos and henna! Kashmini Shah L6 RVP Scan to listen

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edition On another great tradition of the School: the Staff Play…

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At last the great secret was out, but it was only revealed in such a way as to make us even more curious than before. The question now was how the Staff were going to entertain us. December 1928 Issue

Events

Senior Citizens’ Tea Party On a crisp day in December, we welcomed guests from the local community.

t two o’clock, 20 committee members, 100 volunteers and 150 guests stepped into the Prevett Hall. The familiar tiered seating and wide empty windows no longer defined the space - it was instead transformed into an enchanted forest, complete with tables set out for afternoon tea and a magical archway to enter through. The Senior Citizens’ Tea Party is an annual charity event joint with the Boys’ School, and the committee prepared for months to organise the entertainment, quiz, raffle, bingo, decorations and invitations. As the guests filed in, they were joined by eager volunteers who spent the afternoon nattering away to them, hearing stories of times gone by and Christmases past. The delightful food was supplemented by a never-ending stream of tea, and the guests enjoyed the students singing and playing some gentle jazz in the background. The warmth and friendliness of the atmosphere in the Prevett Hall filled everyone with seasonal cheer: we left as full of joy as we were of cake!

It was a truly magical event, a rare coming together of the generations with food, fun and festivities. Alex Hart L6 TXD

The Carol Competition The School invited national entries for our inaugural Carol Competition.

t the start of the summer holidays, the School’s first national Carol Competition was announced. The prize was having your music performed at our yearly Carol Service. We worked over the summer preparing pieces for a three-part choir and struggling to set our text against the music and submitted them in October. Finalists got to listen to their pieces performed live and receive feedback from the judge, Dr Bernard Trafford, winner of the 2017 BBC Radio 3 Christmas Carol Competition. After much preparation, the finalists and choirs performed in November. We nervously anticipated the other finalists’ pieces, with entrants from Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar

School and The Henrietta Barnett School particularly impressing us. After the visiting choir ‘Leading Ladies’ performed, in addition to Cantabile and St Catherine’s Singers’, the winner was revealed. According to both the judge and the Scan to listen popular vote, the winner was Elizabeth Vincent, and her piece Gloria Tibi, Domine. Whilst disappointed, we agreed that her piece was astounding, and we left feeling proud to have participated in such a high-level competition. Kate Austin U5 Alpha and Jessica Folwell U5 Aske

Events

The Carol Service The uplifting sound of Habs students filled St Martins-in-the-Fields.

he imposing structure of the Anglican church, St Martinsin-the-Fields, is unmistakable: much like the sea of green gravitating towards Trafalgar Square in anticipation on the day of the Carol Service. It is the pinnacle of Autumn term, a day on which the school congregation unites.

the Carol Service. It was lovely to have the winning entry of the Carol Competition, Gloria Tibi, Domine, performed by St Catherine’s Singers. While the service, to a great extent, centred on choral singing, the individual contributions of the readers and of Valerie Zakharov’s solo in Once in Royal David’s City were equally splendid.

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The service included hymns that have been passed down through the School’s history, such as Wake O Wake, which are always appreciated by the Old Girls in attendance. New musical additions complimented the traditional, and the animated rendition of Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day reflected the simultaneous joviality and reverence that we associate with

Serving as both the end of a rewarding term at school, and as the beginning of a season of festivity, the Carol Service stands as an important date in the school calendar and our minds. We are particularly thankful for the dedication of the Music department, which is essential to achieve such an inspiring display of tradition.

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And of course, the great hymn from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Wake O Wake. This, always the greatest moment of our old services, was if anything more memorable in the inspiring surroundings of the beautiful church. The First Service at St Martins-in-the-Fields, 1970 Issue

Kiana Rezakhanlou L6 JHB

Events

Science Week Habs students joined in with British Science Week celebrations in style in the new STEM building.

ritish Science Week is a 10-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths that took place in March this year. It is an opportunity for schools across the UK to take part in a range of STEM-related activities, some of which were designed by the British Science Association, but more importantly, it is all about encouraging and stimulating discussion about STEM subjects. We seized this opportunity with both hands. Enthusiastic members of Science and Engineering Society, Medicine Society and plenty of Sixth Form helpers made this year’s Science Week a great success. Activities included ‘A journey round the body via dissection’, a CSI Challenge, and rocket building; there really was something for everyone and it was a pleasure to take part. The opening of the brand new STEM building this year really was the icing on the cake. Many a journey was shortened when, after a year of anticipation, the walls that had divided the building in two finally came down, and it was worth the wait. Taking part in the fun activities in the sparkling new labs added an extra level of excitement. The opening of the new building marks the start of an exciting chapter in the academic life of the school, and we look forward to seeing how STEM can develop in the coming years. Emike Akagbosu L6 JHB

Events

MUN MUN continues to go from strength to strength at Habs.

rom our first Royal Russell competition in October to HABSMUN, every single delegate has performed remarkably well, thanks to Emma Grant, our MUN captain. She has put so much time and effort into organising practices and making sure that everyone can perform to their full potential. The School dominated

at HABSMUN with over two thirds of Habs students winning awards, significantly more than any other school present. Everyone prepared well, attending the club twice a week and spending hours writing and perfecting their resolutions. MUN is a brilliant opportunity to boost your public speaking skills, general confidence and knowledge of topical issues, all whilst making new friends

from all around the world. We are so grateful to Mr Yarlett for his constant support and are looking forward to another year filled with competitions, possibly even international ones. Hannah Moshal M5 Alpha, Aybuke Beydilli M5 Aske and Celeste Chibber M5 Aleph

Any Questions? The School hosted our own edition of the political panel show.

n February, the School hosted our own â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Any Questions?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; with panellists who ranged from journalists and political editors to local council members. The main topic discussed was, of course, Brexit and the idea of a second referendum. The panel unanimously agreed that a second referendum was not desirable as it would undermine our democracy and exacerbate the disillusion with mainstream politics that is commonly attributed as a primary cause of the Brexit vote. Another point of discussion was votes for 16-year-olds. Opinions on this matter varied, with some for it as they believed that teenagers now are much more invested in politics, and the arguments against stating that 18-24 voter turnout is very poor, so it is unlikely that 16- and 17-year-olds would be any more engaged. Also

addressed was the issue of Shamima Begum and whether the Security Minister made the right decision about revoking her citizenship where, again, there were differing viewpoints. Overall the debate was very informative and stimulating, and was enjoyed by all who attended. Flora Outen L6 SN

Events

Upper 6 Leavers’ Week

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The culmination of the Habs experience for our leavers.

uring Leavers’ Week there were three consecutive dress up days, each with its own theme-starting with ‘what you wanted to be when you were younger’ on Tuesday, ‘film/ TV characters’ on Wednesday and a throwback Thursday theme with the year group wearing their uniforms just one last time. The Sixth Form corridor was flooded with a vibrant array of costumes, from astronauts to Super Mario!

On Wednesday a lunch was held as a final farewell to the prefect team who have put a tremendous amount of time into their various roles. Friday consisted of both a formal concert with parents and an informal event later in the day for just the students. There were many beautiful performances, but most notably the emotional rendition of Make You Feel My Love by Adele from Komal Varshani and Alia Nathoo, which left the entire

Prevett hall in tears and had the whole of Upper 6 joining in. This final assembly reflected the Habs spirit and left us all with memories that we will undoubtedly cherish. Thank you to all the staff who made this week unforgettable for us! Vaisaaly Varatharajan U6 LWA

Events

Lower 6 Leadership Day

An inspirational day of activities that pushed students out of their comfort zones.

e began with a delicious cooked breakfast, followed by an engagingly honest talk from an Old Girl, Hannah Leaf (Penn) (Class of 2006), about leadership and positivity, which left us in awe of her achievements and feeling highly motivated. We then split into groups to take part in two different workshops. In the first, we had sessions with professional stand-up comedians which, despite the nerves, resulted in each of us being brave enough to give a short comedy speech. In the second workshop, we had an army bootcamp session where we completed a range of physical challenges like the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wall-sit-offâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in teams. Students of all sporting abilities cheered on their team-mates and worked together, developing teamwork and supporting each other. This memorable day made us feel closer as

a year group, while we developed key leadership skills that will be invaluable for our future. Nancy Stitt L6 JHB

Middle School Book Week Students took part in a range of activities to celebrate books and reading.

rior to Book Week several Lower 4 volunteers read the book Tender Earth by Sita Brahmachari. Excitingly, Sita herself then came into school to facilitate a Skype book club with our partner school in India, where students had also read the book. We had interesting discussions about the book and even sang to each other, bonding with them and having a lot of fun in the process.

Other activities during Book Week included writing book review bookmarks to display in the library, creating book covers on form room doors, and reading with the Junior School. We had author visits from the Carnegie-winning author Katherine Rundell, Matt Dickinson and Lauren James, talking to different year groups about their new books and experiences that shaped their stories. Mia Sitbon L4 Aleph

Events

European Youth Parliament The team achieved fantastic success at this year’s national European Youth Parliament competition.

n March, a group of politics students took part in the regional competition for the EYP. With eight students in the AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) committee and another eight in the CULT (Culture and Education) committee, there was competition in the air. We left that day feeling more engaged with politics on a global level, as well as more able to publicly voice opinions on issues that our own government is struggling to approach: we also learnt that AFCO would be going through to nationals! At nationals we immersed ourselves in the process as we were split up into different committees - from FEMM (Women’s Rights) to JURI (Legal Affairs) - and worked with regional champions from different schools. The standard of the competition was high. After four days of in-depth discussions and teambuilding, and intense debate, we made our way back to London Euston. Just as we reached the station we received news that our team was chosen to represent the UK at the 2019 internationals session in Hamburg – an exhilarating and

surreal prospect which we all look forward to. Thank you to Mrs Wilding and Mr Clark (from the Boys’ School) who gave up four days to take us on this memorable trip, and never failed to encourage us. Kalila Smith L6 JC

Events

The Big Day Out The School welcomed almost 90 visitors for a fun and relaxing day out.

he Big Day Out has been an annual collaboration between the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants and the School for the past three years, and this year it was bigger than ever. The School provides its facilities to be used by the migrants to enjoy a carefree day of feasting, fun and games. The aim of the day is to provide people with respite from the hardships and stresses they face whilst trying to rebuild their lives after leaving their home countries, often due to war and destitution. Days like this can be few and far between for those who use the centre, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an important date in their calendars. After a Mediterranean-style lunch, there were multiple activities on offer, including a drumming workshop, painting, various sports, and a barbeque to finish. We enjoyed talking to the visitors about their experiences and were able to learn more about them and their unique stories. The

mixture of cultures, nationalities and languages - giving language students an opportunity to practise their speaking - was part of the beauty of the event. When the end of the day rolled around it seemed too soon, and there were plenty of pictures and hugs as we said

goodbye. Overall, the event was a huge success and was both an enjoyable and humbling experience for the staff and Lower 6 volunteers involved, leaving us all looking forward to next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. Elisa Earle L6 DHH

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As As Our Uniforms?

At Habs, we like to gawk from the safety of our protective bubble at the big wide world beyond. We either smile approvingly at the reformations around us - the increasing liberalism and tolerance we see - or shake our heads condescendingly and tut at the state of society, marvelling at the ignorance of politicians and the arrogance of world leaders. But this year, a growing political and social momentum burst through that bubble. A recent landmark report from the UN stated that we have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophes before the damage to our planet is irreversible. In 12 years, the youngest students at school will be mature Sixth Formers, and the eldest will be reaching the grand old age of 30. It is easy to assume complacency, to assign responsibility to the politicians and scientists, but the reality of their ineffectiveness in this field is becoming increasingly evident. Thus, it became clear this year that the even ‘the Greenies’ simply had to get a bit greener. Veganism, environmentalism, conservationism. They used to seem like hippy ideals to which people would respond – “but how can one person really make a difference?” However, in September 2018, Habs galvanised our 1500-strong community into action with a range of new and improved initiatives. An army of eco-warriors was needed to invent and introduce these policies. Two Lower 6 students in each house were made ‘Eco Reps’ - in charge of encouraging sustainable practices within House activities. For example, the ‘best stall decoration’ competition at the St Kate’s Day Fair was given an eco-friendly twist. Gilliland House was dubbed the winner, having made recycled bunting, and used only donated shopping bags, to adorn their stalls. These House Reps also had to brainstorm ideas on how to make the School a more sustainable place. They drew inspiration from the beautiful, yet often underappreciated, countryside which surrounds us at Elstree.

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use canned water. And finally, we now enjoy ‘Meat-free Mondays’. By reducing our meat consumption by 20%, we are doing our part to reduce carbon emissions and condemn unsustainable farming. With all these changes subtly yet steadily transforming our relationship with the environment, only one question remained: what do our students think about these reforms? We sent out a survey to the Senior School to discover how the attitudes of our students have been shaped by these new policies. Students replied by saying that they print off anything between 5 and 50 sheets a week, despite also claiming that the best eco-friendly change at school is the increased use of iPads and personal devices. They also suggested this as the way forwards, with the younger students in particular advocating fewer worksheets and more shared cloud spaces. This positive attitude towards technology replacing tangible resources clearly demonstrates how students are now adapting to using electronic devices. What’s more, an overwhelming majority of students claimed that the new school policies had positively impacted both their awareness and their implantation of environmentalism.

First, they looked to the trees, introducing a new “no paper poster” policy to transform our hallways. Embracing progress, Habs TV and email became the best way to advertise, rather than using reams of paper for poster adverts whose outdated carcasses adorn corridors long after their deadlines have passed. Next, they looked to the lake at the bottom of our sports fields, its waters providing inspiration. Ditching single-use plastic cups, the dining room switched to reusable ones. As for the infamously injurious plastic bottles, the PE department now only

Perhaps this leaves us with hope, not only for the future of our school, but even for the future of the world beyond the Habs Bubble. If our students can take collective responsibility for their actions, placing environmentalism even above convenience, then perhaps the next generation of world leaders will not be as complacent about the state of our planet. It may be a clichéd motif, but this year we can certainly say that we have earnt the status of being just as green as our uniforms. Alex Hart L6 RMH

Expressive Arts

ARTiculation The perfect mix of public speaking and art.

s a person who is fascinated by art, from the moment I heard about ARTiculation I knew it was a competition I wanted to enter. Everything from researching the exhibition to writing my script and finally presenting it taught me so many invaluable lessons, most of which were not to do with art at all, but about speaking in an engaging and accessible manner. I wanted to speak about a piece of art I was passionate about, one with a deep meaning behind it, so I chose Black Book by Gideon Rubin. I loved my experience with ARTiculation and I would recommend that everyone participate if they have a chance, especially if you have a piece or series of artworks that interests you. Congratulations to Margot Gillespie who went through to the regional heats this year. Aya Miller L6 SLW

Artist in Residence Our experiences working with Julie Oldfield.

ulie Oldfield is a British artist whose landscape paintings are inspired by the scenery of the Jurassic Coast. She has exhibited in many countries and is a member of The Society of Women Artists. Her unusual techniques include burning copper to create corroded effects and incorporating sand and rock into her work. The GCSE Art students were lucky enough to be taught by Julie in workshops, in which she showed us some of the methods included in her pieces. We experimented with spraying vinegar onto metal sheets and then using modelling paste and spray paints over the top to create landscapes: some examples of work inspired by our time with Julie can be seen here. It was a new experience for most of us but one that left us with many new skills. It was an incredibly enjoyable lesson in thinking outside the box. Allyah Mitra Nandy U5 Aleph

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Art A selection of the thought-provoking work produced by A Level and GCSE Art students this year.

Anisha Pick GCSE

Anna Bonomi A Level

Mia Eldor-Levy GCSE

Allyah Mitra Nandry GCSE

Ashmita Pal GCSE

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Anna Bonomi A Level

Margot Gillespie A Level

Zara Dove GCSE

Margot Gillespie A Level

Katie Swabel GCSE

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Eleanor Delaney A Level

Maryam Janmohammed GCSE

Yasmine Hulf GCSE

Angela Argyrou GCSE

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Design & Technology A sample of the creativity on offer this year. Isabelle Clark A Level

The aim of this project was to design an educational and leisure product for people with profound intellectual disabilities, with activities at the correct ability level, that were fun, stimulating, portable, and not socially stigmatising. Isabelle developed a multisensory activity board with highly responsive switches, so it is accessible for people with poor motor skills and fits within a wheeled backpack for portability. Isabelle’s project reached two national design competition finals; the Triumph Design Award where she was highly commended in multiple categories, and the Technology, Design and Innovation Challenge at Mazak UK, where she won the People’s Choice award.

Emily Matthews A Level

Emily set out to make a project that manages and relieves stress caused by heavy workloads. The product aims to promote a healthy lifestyle routine in order to balance work, sleep and relaxation time. The product has two main components: the system and the aesthetics. The system controls lights and mechanical parts, signalling when to take a break. The aesthetics of the product suggest a calm and productive environment.

Tabatha Cowan A Level

This project was designed to help people keep fit, healthy and happy whilst studying for exams or working for the day at their desk. The product keeps the user’s legs moving whilst working productively. The product included a mechanism that can increase the force required to move, thus challenging even the fittest user.

Amy Shaw GCSE

The School also congratulates Amy Shaw in Upper 5 who has been named an Arkwright National Engineering Scholar this year.

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Drama T

is year the Drama department really has gone from strength to strength. From the fabulous performance at the h Shakespeare Schools Festival to the excellent Dance and Drama Showcase, it is clear that Habs currently hosts lots of exciting talent! November’s Senior School production of The Crucible was incredibly powerful and moving, and Animal Farm, performed by the Middle School, was highly enjoyable; both were a credit to all involved. This year also saw the creation of Stage Combat Club and Musical Theatre Club, which have both flourished. The most exciting new addition, however, is the stunning new drama studio, which all the girls are excited to put to use!

Eliana Franks Drama Prefect

Animal Farm In March, the Middle School put on an incredible production of Animal Farm, directed by Ms Bridgeman-Williams.

he production of Animal Farm was very cleverly given life, with engaging characters and catchy songs. It was clear that everyone worked very hard, and it definitely paid off. What made it so amazing to watch was how the cast all worked as one, with students staying in character even when out of the spotlight. As everyone was playing animals, not humans, it might have been hard to believe; the cast however managed it with ease in their extremely convincing performances. There was also excellent use of props that really helped the audience to suspend their disbelief, for example, the crutches working as four legs. The costumes and makeup only added to the atmosphere and all the scene changes were very smooth. Overall, we are so glad we went to watch as it was a truly enjoyable performance and we are amazed by our friends’ and peers’ acting skills. Jasmine Calder and Natasha Tarnofsky U4 Alpha

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The Crucible The Senior School’s take on Arthur Miller’s chilling exploration of the Salem Witch Trials.

n November, the Senior School dramatists put on one of their best performances yet. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a

partially fictionalised story of the Salem Witch Trials which took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692. The students, as a result, were challenged to embrace the roles of some of the

most twisted and psychologically complex characters that exist in theatre. The cast agreed that this was by far one of the most challenging plays that they have had to perform. Thanks to Mrs Wallace’s direction and many weeks of productive rehearsals, the play turned out to be a huge success. There were lots of notable aspects of the play that sparked conversation, ranging from the suffocating pressure of religion in the 17th century to the importance of honesty and, most prominently, the contrast between good and evil which lives within everyone regardless of age, gender or status. These themes were masterfully incorporated into the performance and all the students performed excellently, once again demonstrating the immense talent and dedication of the pupils here

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Behind the Scenes A peek behind the curtain with the backstage crew.

hat can I say about The Crucible? Honestly, I’ve never done anything like it. The Middle School plays I had helped with before could never have prepared me for the whirlwind of bonnets, last minute changes, and hours of rehearsal (as well as the hand cramps that followed endless notetaking). Puritan America was a place of mistrust and enemies, but I could not draw a starker contrast to the camaraderie and joy I felt when in that rehearsal room, laughing with so many accomplished students whose natural talent could only be described as breath-taking. Granted, the cast had our ups and downs, terrifying “where’s my costume?” moments and tripod in the trapdoor meltdowns, but I feel immense pride when I look back on our wonderful production and know I am privileged to be able to have given each of these students some degree of moral support and an energising supply of Werthers’ Originals. Madeleine Smith M5 Alpha at Habs. I can safely say that the audience were stunned by the skill of every individual on stage, no matter the size of their role, and their ability to immerse themselves so deeply into this dark and haunting story. Grace Mabilat L6 DHH

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House Poetry Competition Students from all year groups wrote poems on the theme of change.

First Place: Loose Change Any change For upturned caps of buskers? A penny dropped means No real change; just half-hearted change, superficial change, Good-for-publicity change, insignificant change, Setting out to Make A Difference change, but not caring enough to make the right change – Loose change Profiting a guilty conscience and Weighing down the pockets of London. Any change For clattering charity tins? For school bake sales and fun runs and sponsorships? Always easy to throw in a handful of change. When asked you can say you already gave all you had, no more Loose change To be dropped in a pot balanced under small talk; Never notice the leaking hole When it’s passed through greedy organisations who swallow any real change, Leaving just copper coins. Any change When it’s inconvenient? When wallets are pre-zipped and minds are pre-closed And you weren’t asked for a donation by Nice Girl at the checkout, But by a soggy cardboard sign screaming crisis, And you brush past someone sleeping street-side and clutch your bag tighter, Hustle inside a coffee shop where Nice Girl’s Friend takes your order, so you say, “Keep the change.” Dropping your guilt-ridden pity in the tips jar, Blindly refusing to acknowledge that Loose change Isn’t good enough anymore. “Any change?” You’re asked when walking down the street, sipping sweet cappuccino. Idly wiping frothy privilege off your upper lip You use your upper hand to search through your re-zipped wallet and answer as truthfully as you know how – “No.” Kate Austin Millar

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Second Place: Melt Youth drips off her glowing smooth shoulders; the memory of what she once was clotting at the base of her feet. She scoops up her legs, valiantly squeezes her waist, holds armfuls of her breasts to her chest desperately, trying to mould them in perky formation. Scrunches her eyes closed and wills her flame to brighten. Sloughs off her innocence (all that extra weight). Hydrocarbons cry goodbye and Adagio: she melts. Body trembles with time. She hunches over, like an anachronism. The cloying stench so undignified, so unlike her alluring scent of before. Soon she’ll be just a puddle of wrinkled wax on the table. Sybaritic body gone brittle and cold; iridescent to black. Anjali Mulcock Millar Congratulations to Anjali who has also been awarded Highly Commended in the prestigious Christopher Tower Poetry Competition this year.

Third Place: Solid ground Change, Brings me to an airport Takes me far away. Pulls those ones who want me And makes our bond decay. Tears, taunts And feeds off my dismay Though the truth is life would cut you deeper If you were forced to stay So I tread the uncertain water, Try to see the shore, Thinking in memory Of those who won’t be here anymore. Aching and wishing Until the memory makes me sore And forces me to sugar coat; Candied memories galore. Waiting a lifetime or eternity For the water to slowly start to calm, And lull me gently from uncertainty, They say I’ll never reach solid ground; But there is still future and hope I see. Betsy Rowold Gilliland

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Novel Writing Students from the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools submitted the first ten pages of their novel to be judged by Luigi Bonomi, a literary agent and friend of the School.

f ter a summer of writing, September rushed by and it was soon competition day for the collection of enthusiastic readers who had taken on the challenge to convert a love of books into the first ten pages of their own novel.

At first it seemed, as Ellie Thomson wrote in her entry, ‘a good night for something bad to happen’. I was anxious about reading my entry to the audience at first, but I soon found myself enjoying it.

1st Place: When Two Worlds Collide I’m not yet sure what I am going to do but I know I need to do something. I can’t just watch them take my father away. I make to run but strong arms wrap around me, keeping me captive. I try kicking, screaming, biting, trying desperately to pull myself from those arms. But I can’t, I see mama reach for the arm of one of the Gestapo – begging, pleading – only to be shaken off, Albie runs to her and buries his little face in her skirt. Still the arms hold me and still I stand helpless as they bind my father and lead him away. A moan – more like that of an animal than a girl – escapes my mouth. All resistance leaves me and I fall back sobbing into the arms. Phoebe Sleeman L6 TXD

The evening concluded with the announcement of winners by guest judge, Luigi Bonomi, and we waited with bated breath to hear the winners. From a variety of great entries, Phoebe Sleeman took first place, for her novel set during the Holocaust, while Ellie Thompson came in second place for her murder mystery. Yael Katz M5 Alpha

2nd Place: Third Motel It was a good night for something bad to happen. The sky looked like a black sea, and Alia Saleh would be lying if she said it didn’t feel like it, too. Her blouse clung to her skin, hair wet and dripping around her face as she pulled her suitcase and feet towards the only sign of civilisation visible. It was a red dot down the highway, and she hoped that it would provide her some shelter. The only other source of light was the moon, milky and limp, a mirage through the rain. The red dot got larger as she found herself following the highway bend. Ellie Thomson M5 Alpha

Burning Secrets Every family has its secrets. Every person has some detail from their life that they plan to take to the grave with them. But somehow, these mysteries have a way of breaking free from their box, for better or for worse. Ella Goldwater M5 Alpha

Colour Coded The young woman sat in silence, eyes fixed anywhere aside from the body and shattered bottle at its side, as she dialled on the chunky keys of her landline, and was greeted by an automated “What offence has been committed?” Yael Katz M5 Alpha

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Writer in Residence The School enjoyed a week-long visit from an inspirational poet.

anessa Kisuule, this year’s Writer in Residence, is a full-time writer, poet, and performer. During her visit she gave workshops on thinking ‘laterally over literally’ in writing. In these workshops, activities included students describing a given object then randomly switching that description for that of another and writing a poem inspired by this new phrase. Those phrases ended up ranging from ‘a ghost makes a loud noise’ to ‘a song fills everything with water.’ This encouraged us

to think outside the box with our writing and challenge our literal thinking. As well as enjoying a great assembly and hearing Vanessa’s own work, some students had the opportunity to have a one-to-one session with her where they could show her some of their work, ask for advice, or discuss writing as a career. These were all inspirational experiences for both students who already love to write, and those who didn’t know they could! Sophie Garston M5 Alpha

Edna Judd The Fourth Form delivered amazing performances in our annual recital competition

n November, the final of the Edna Judd poetry recital competition took place. Every year the students in Lower 4 and Upper 4 are given the opportunity to choose a poem, memorise and recite it in front of their peers. Students had the freedom to choose poetry on any subject that interested them, with a wide range being chosen. Some were humorous: such as A Date with Spring recited

by Naadiya Mirza, written from the point of view of a tree. Others were more serious: such as Before I performed by Mahi Patel, about self-respect and identity. Once all the students had performed, it was up to the judges – Mrs Winton, Mr Thakerar and Head Girl, Tomisin Osibona – to make the difficult decision of selecting the winners.

Gioia. Congratulations to all who took part. Elisa Earle L6 DHH

The winners were Sofia Lavelle who recited Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, and Abigail Sleep who recited The Letter by Dana

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Dance and Drama Showcase An amazing showcase of studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; creative abilities.

his February, the Prevett Hall was transformed into a creative hub of singing, dancing and acting. The 2019 Dance and Drama Showcase saw over 100 students from all year groups performing, and thanks to the efforts of the two dance captains, as well as Mrs Garvey and Mrs Wallace, the show was carried off without a fault in front of a full audience. With performances ranging from Lower 4 Drama Club to the Upper School Dance Company, and Upper 4 Musical Theatre Club to GCSE Dance, this showcase was really a testament to the versatility and creativity of the students. The showcase was a great addition to the school calendar and hopefully throughout the years it will encourage even more students to become invested in the arts. Anya Myers L6 RMH

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Music A

nother busy year for Music at Habs is over, and a wide variety of talents have been showcased. From concertos to student-led ensembles, there was something for everyone, and with the constant support of our fantastic teachers it has all been a huge success. Throughout the year, not only has there been the usual stream of concerts which never fail to impress, but also many exciting new opportunities such as the tour to Barcelona and the Christmas Carol Competition. There is no doubt that Music at Habs will continue to develop, but Habs students will always be ready to embrace this and make the most of all that is on offer.

Autumn Concert

Radhika Shah Music Prefect

A brilliant start to the year for the Music department.

ymphony Orchestra started the night with Elgar’s Chanson de Matin, a sweet, mellow piece that was followed by a slow and dreamy Tango in D by Albeniz.

Isabelle Clark provided a vocal solo, singing the famous Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen with lots of character and energy. Chamber Orchestra then took the stage; they accompanied Jessica Clark as soloist, performing Haydn’s melodic Andante from the Trumpet Concert in E Flat. Repertoire Strings closed the first half with two wonderful performances, including Rey’s Theme from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The second half of the programme was upbeat, as a variety of ensembles performed numbers from musicals. St Catherine’s Singers also performed the soulful Five Hebrew Love Songs by Whitacre, and Fourth Form Choir amazed the audience with their version of Believer by the popular band, Imagine Dragons. The evening finished with Jazz Band performing two playful pieces, leaving the musicians and audience to reflect on such an enjoyable concert. We are very grateful to all the teachers who worked hard to make it an outstanding evening. Simran Vyas L6 AHD

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Music Tour 2018 Scan to listen

Over sixty musicians and teachers took their talent on tour, in October 2019.

ur musicians performed four concerts during our six-day tour of Barcelona. Our first performance was in a town square in Begur where local people stopped to watch us, and one couple even started dancing to Jazz Group’s performance! The next day included a concert in an international school in Montgat as well as a visit to Park Güell, a public garden designed by Gaudí and filled with colourful mosaic patterns. We finished off the day with a tour tradition - a Ceilidh dancing session at the hotel led by Miss Turner.

Gaietà church in Barcelona. Our final day was spent in central Barcelona, visiting the Picasso Museum, which left many of us in awe of his skills even as a young boy. In the evening we played one last concert in Barcelona Cathedral, which was a stunning place to perform and an amazing opportunity for all of us.

The day after that we went on a tour of La Sagrada Familia. We were told about the meaning behind the intricate decoration of the church and its inspiration in nature. We also saw Casa Milà, a set of apartments designed by Gaudí, and performed a concert in Sant

Menaka Maruthainar L6 TXD

Everybody really enjoyed the trip and we loved being able to play music in these unique venues, while seeing the sights of Barcelona. Thank you to the staff who organised and accompanied us on the trip.

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Jazz Concert A real mix of music, from jazz standards to a flugelhorn solo!

n Thursday, 14th February, 30 students stayed after school to play in the Jazz Concert. There were performances from a variety of groups, from the Middle and Upper School Jazz Bands, to the Trombone Ensemble, and Saxes Aloud. The concert also saw a group of Middle 5 students who had made their own band playing Satin Doll and Autumn Leaves, and featured solos from Mali Sheard, Jamila

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Salim, and Isabelle Brown. There was also a wonderful performance from Libby Craig playing a flugelhorn solo of Aretha Franklin’s Misty, accompanied by Jojo Ajisafe, Mr Phillips, and Mrs Whiteley. The Jazz Concert continues to be a staple of the school concert calendar, bringing together students from all year groups in a brilliant showcase of musical talent at the school. Risha Alimchandani L6 TXD

Spring Concert Scan to listen

A dramatic and beautiful finale to the musical year.

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he concert opened with some classical music from Symphony Orchestra; the first movement of Piano Concerto in A Minor was very dramatic and impressive, featuring an incredible piano solo by Catrina Choy, in her final school concert. To everyone’s amazement she performed the whole piece without any music! Chamber Orchestra maintained the atmosphere of enjoyable tension with their performance of Palladio by Karl Jenkins, followed by three movements of the Holberg Suite by Grieg.

as soloists. Later, the group joined with Senior Choir to bring life to all nine movements of Songs of Sanctuary. Inspired by world music, the words to these songs were not in any specific language, but instead made out of sound patterns. This meant that the focus was on the music and not the words, and the lyrics formed part of the rhythm of the song. The experience was a very tiring one for the singers, as they performed for the entire second half of the concert. Several soloists featured, and they all gave fantastic performances.

St Catherine’s Singers performed two beautiful pieces by Gjeilo, featuring Valerie Zakharov and Sofia Stevens

Hannah Loveless L6 JHB

Feature

In Conversation with

Miss O’Connor After eighteen years of dedicated service, the School says farewell to an inspirational teacher, leader and role model for our students. Miss O’Connor started at Habs in 1992 as Head of Classics, then went on to become Head of Sixth Form in 1995 and Deputy Head (Academic) in 1998. In 2002, she left to become Headmistress at Loughborough High School, returning to Habs in 2011 to take on the top job. As Headmistress, Miss O’Connor has overseen countless changes to our school and its facilities, including the brilliant new STEM block, the Dining Room, the Learning Resources Centre and Performance Space. She has also nurtured closer bonds with both the Junior and the Boys’ Schools, in addition to introducing the house system. By extending the senior management team, Miss O’Connor has enabled the School to develop in ways not previously possible. For example, The appointment of an Assistant Head Extracurricular has led to greater participation in student outreach, not only within our local community, but also including our exciting link to the Parikrma Foundation in India. With her growth mindset approach to both education and life, Miss O’Connor has inspired students to be resilient and develop a love of learning. We are so thankful for everything she has given the School and wish her the very best for the future. Nancy Stitt L6 JHB A classicist and animal-lover, with a name suited to journalistic interviews: Harry Derbyshire seemed the perfect choice to sit down with the Headmistress and ask the tough questions… HD: We all know you as our headmistress, but what are your hobbies outside school?

any leader. I don’t think I model myself on any particular leader from the Ancient World: I certainly wouldn’t want to be Boudicca! HD: What are the three most important qualities you think young women should have today?

BOC: I’m actually quite an accomplished jam and pickle maker, and often make far too much so have to distribute my creations among the staff. In retirement I’m also hoping to do an art history course, and to learn more about the English Language A Level, as it wasn’t on offer when I was at school and seems like a fascinating subject.

BOC: Flexibility is definitely important - you will be working across the world in many different locations, sometimes in quite extreme places, and so you’re going to have to be able to adapt and make new connections. Resilience, too; accept criticism, and that things will go pearshaped, but have a strength of purpose and always look for the positives. Also make sure to keep your sense of humour! It will give you a sense of proportion, even in dark times.

HD: How has the study of Classics benefited your career?

HD: Do you think there’s a single quality that ties all Habs students together?

BOC: In my Classics degree, we had to read an awful lot in the original language, which was very hard work, but taught me to persist and not give up on things that I found challenging. Piecing together both language and history gave me the skill of being able to unravel a lot of information, and that’s important for

BOC: I’m always impressed by your energy. I never quite know how you do so many things: drama, debating, music, sport - and still manage to get all your homework done. HD: What is the hardest moment you’ve had to face in your career?

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BOC: At my previous school, there was a trip to Iceland, where they ended up being looked after by the Icelandic Red Cross, after finding themselves in a canyon near the volcanic eruption in 2010. That was certainly alarming, but (touch wood), no absolutely horrific things have occurred. HD: What legacy do you hope to leave behind you?

Question: As a classics teacher, which figure from the classical world do you admire most?

BOC: I’m very pleased we have houses and hope they continue! It allows us to remember the inspiring legacy of previous headmistresses and gives students the opportunity to meet people vertically, outside of their year groups. HD: No doubt you’ll be sad to move out of your house, but how will your cat, Delilah, cope?

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BOC: The Habs house is all she’s ever known, but, being a strong ginger-haired female, I’m sure she’ll rise to the challenge and cope with resilience!

Answer: I think I would have quite liked to be a poet, someone like Tibullus. I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to be an emperor, someone always trying to poison your mushrooms. Miss O’Connor’s First Interview as Head, 2011-12 Issue

Educational Visits

Classics Trip to Greece Exploring ancient sites was an absolute blast!

e had expected to spend our days in museums, in coaches to museums, and trekking up ancient sites in 30Â°C weather only to be relieved by the air conditioning in yet more museums. This trip however was so much more than that. We did visit plenty of museums, but they became fascinating thanks to the wonderful tour guides. A highlight of the trip was when Mr Doe took the mic in the coach and talked to us about the scenery as we drove from Olympia to Tolo. The barren hills with very little modern influence made it easy to imagine the place 2,000 years ago, as the people we had studied would have seen them. Mr Doe read us a poem by Homer, about two shepherds having

a singing competition, and parting with gifts and as friends; the all-important xenia we had learnt about in the classroom. A passing herd of goats made the poem even more real. I would recommend this trip, especially if you are a potential A Level classicist, as seeing sites we had studied, such as the Theatre of Dionysus, was amazing. A huge thank you to Miss Bowie for organising the trip and to the accompanying teachers who made our experience so memorable. Risha Alimchandani L6 TXD

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It seemed a happy omen when, pictured on a wall of the little three legend church of San Clementi we had found our own Saint Katherine, a symbol of the loving welcome which Rome was to extend to us throughout our stay. First School Visit Abroad, 1955 Issue

Educational Visits

Visit to Haworth Five Habs students take on the wet and windy moors of West Yorkshire.

aworth, a chocolate-box perfect village, became the residence of the A level Theatre Studies group for two days. The village was the home of the three Brontë sisters, and so we tried to immerse ourselves in their lives. In preparation for our A Level text, the play Brontë by Polly Teale, we visited the sisters’ home. We hiked across the moors, the inspiration for Wuthering Heights, imagining Emily Brontë’s creations being conceived. We also rode the

steam train that would have carried Anne Brontë away from her home for the last time. Naturally, we managed to find time for an afternoon tea in the beautiful vintage shops as well! On Saturday morning, after a hearty full English breakfast, we spent a few hours digging into the play itself. Seeing first-hand the inspiration and birthplace of the Brontës’ books, gave new meaning to our study of the play. Alex Hart L6 RMH

Bushcraft Even the rain and mud couldn’t dampen the greenhouse greenhouse greenhouse Lower 4’s spirits on Bushcraft!

ushcraft was an exciting trip, filled with adventure for the thrill-seeking students of Lower 4; a bonding experience to form strong friendships that I am sure will last for our whole time at Habs. We were able to build and sleep in our own shelters, and these were made using twigs, dirt and leaves which we found in the surrounding woodland. Some members of the team were gatherers, some were designers, and some were builders.

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edition edition whilst still working as a team. There was something truly comforting about relaxing on a bench in a yurt with friends, enjoying the cosy warmth of the fire and the heat was very welcome in the morning after a chilly night’s sleep! For nearly all of us, it was a completely new environment with completely new people, so bonding and trust exercises helped us to connect.

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greenhouse edition Sluggish Septembers are unheard of at Habs and this was reflected as the term sprang into action with the L4 Trip to Osmington Bay. Osmington Bay, 2001-02 Issue

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Mehrissa Kassam L4 Aesc

Educational Visits

Battlefields Tour The annual trip allowed students to appreciate the impact of World War One.

n November, Lower 5 went on a trip to Belgium. We had studied World War One in History beforehand and we were finally going to see the places where the events we had learnt about in textbooks had taken place in real life. Our tour included visits to the Somme, Ypres (where our hotel was), Tyne Cott Cemetery, the Menin Gate, Newfoundland Memorial Park, the Athuille Cemetery, Vimy Ridge and the Flanders Fields Museum. We could look at the craters

caused by exploding shells, now covered in grass, and imagine what it would have been like for the soldiers who were there, sitting in trenches and waiting for the signal to go over the top. We all really enjoyed going on the amazing trip and it was a great experience for us. It increased our understanding of the topic, adding new depth to our discussions in class, and enabled us to buy loads of Belgian chocolate! Rafaela Colman L5 Alpha

Bram Stoker’s Whitby Students studying Dracula immersed themselves in the Gothic atmosphere of the town.

arly on a Saturday morning, seven extremely tired Upper 6 students set off on the long drive to Whitby to learn more about our A level text, Dracula. Driving into Whitby, we were stunned by the magnificent view of the remains of Whitby Abbey, which was visible from several miles away.

embarked on a late-night literary walk where we learnt about the history of Whitby.

We were fortunate enough to be lodging in a beautiful listed building that was directly adjacent to the Abbey. After walking down Whitby’s 199 steps (which we inevitably had to climb back up) we explored the cobble-stoned town in which Bram Stoker set his novel. We read Dracula in St Mary’s graveyard, had dinner at the best fish and chip restaurant in the UK and

Jade Arole U6 CET

The weekend was very informative and enjoyable, despite the cold northern weather, and we would like to thank Miss Bowie and Ms Walton for accompanying us on this unforgettable trip.

Educational Visits

U4 Trip to Hampton Court Stepping back in time in Henry VIII’s palace.

n arrival, we split into groups to take a tour of the palace, where we saw Henry VIII’s kitchens, including a whole room just for wine. We also visited the royal apartments, which included the ‘Haunted Gallery’, which is rumoured to host the ghost of Katherine Howard! Later, a woman dressed as a rich court lady of the time told us about Henry VIII’s break with Rome, then showed us the only painting in the palace that was definitely commissioned by Henry VIII and helped us to analyse it. We also did an archaeological activity, examining extremely old artefacts such as a cracked piece of ceramic that we decided was from the front of the palace, since it had been glossed over and made to look attractive. This was an interesting and enjoyable day and we all learnt a lot. Natasha Wahab U4 A

Ski Trip Our students descended on the slopes around Lake Placid.

fter a long journey, our week of skiing began early in the morning, with breakfast at 6am. With the help of our friendly instructors everyone was soon comfortable and having a great time. Yet this wasn’t to say that it wasn’t eventful; someone even skied straight into the front door of the ski lodge! The evenings were just as busy with an activity planned for every night; staying in the Winter Olympic town we were lucky enough to be able to take part in various sports which were new to us, such as broomball and curling, and things soon got competitive on the ice! The week flew by and on the last day of skiing, to mark the occasion, there was a mass snowball fight between students, teachers and instructors. The next morning, we drove out of Lake Placid looking at the bright Christmas lights on our way to Boston, and after a great afternoon of shopping, we headed to the airport ready for an overnight flight back home. The flight was memorable to say the least (being filled with turbulence) but we safely arrived back home on 22nd December having had an amazing trip. Thank you to Miss Nanji and all the teachers who organised and accompanied the trip. Kacey Keary L6 RMH and Zahrah Rahman L6 TXD

Educational Visits

Birmingham Christmas Markets German students enjoyed a festive cultural experience.

n November, 16 students from the Lower 5 were lucky enough to take a trip to the famous German Christmas Markets in Birmingham. We were all very excited for the day ahead: learning about German culture, Christmas traditions and trying German food. When we arrived our first task was to buy an authentic German lunch; we tried different wursts, pretzels, and cheeses, and treats including chocolate covered fruits, gingerbread and pastries. Next, we set out to ask the native German stall holders a list of questions. We did this all in German and learned lots more about Christmas in Germany, new festive vocabulary and the market we were in. After we completed this, we had time to explore the market and buy gifts. Some of these gifts included traditional German gingerbread hearts, tree decorations, soaps and Schokolade natĂźrlich. Overall, the day was a great opportunity that we will never forget. Lydia Berlioz, Claudia Caisley and Rachel Pearlman L5 Alpha

Offenburg A chance to be immersed in another language and culture.

pon our arrival in Offenburg we were excited to see our new friends, our exchange partners who we had met a few weeks before. We split up from our school friends and went home with our host families to spend the rest of the weekend together. On Sunday, our families took us sightseeing to their favourite places and we got to spend the day getting to know them. During the week we visited places in Offenburg and the Black Forest, learning about German culture and the history of the sites, and eating lots of delicious food. Some of the highlights of the trip for us were: spending time with our exchange partners, sitting in on lessons in the school, visiting the beautiful waterfall in the Black Forest, swimming almost every day after school, and taking a boat on the stunning Titisee Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just to name a few! We all had so much fun and improved our German speaking; it was an amazing experience and we will never forget this trip. Claudia Caisley and Rachel Pearlman L5 Alpha

Educational Visits

Benalmádena Middle 5 students enjoyed a study trip to Málaga over Easter.

s part of the study trip, we attended four hours of lessons each morning with two fantastic teachers from the language school, who improved our confidence in conversing in Spanish as well as teaching us new things. We learnt about Spanish food and culture, especially tapas! These lessons were extremely useful for our listening skills as both teachers talked and taught us in Spanish. We stayed with Spanish families, which was also a great way to improve our Spanish speaking and listening skills, and to immerse ourselves in the culture. We were able to meet other young people and try delicious traditional recipes at dinner every night. After school each day we had a fun activity to do together, such as seeing the town of Mijas, a guided tour around Benalmádena, playing beach games and a flamenco lesson. Overall it was an unforgettable trip that improved our Spanish and allowed us to make lasting memories with our friends, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.

El Puerto de Santa María Very early on Sunday 7th April, 35 Middle 5 students embarked on a journey to the south of Spain.

fter a short flight to Málaga and a longer coach journey to Cádiz, we finally arrived in El Puerto de Santa María in the afternoon. We were greeted warmly by our host families and spent the first evening getting to know them, sampling local delicacies like Serrano ham and Spanish omelette and, of course, practising our Spanish. For the next four days we had Spanish lessons in the morning followed by cultural activities in the afternoon. During the week, we took a ferry to the beautiful Cádiz and went to Jerez de la Frontera, where we visited the amazing Alcázar and explored the city. On the last afternoon, we danced Sevillanas and cooked a delicious paella. Our host families and the school were all so supportive, and we have wonderful memories of the trip that we will treasure for many years to come. M5 Spanish Students

Talia Rubin M5 Aesc

Educational Visits

Lindau Middle 5 students spent a week in Lindau, on Lake Constance.

uring our trip to Lindau, we had daily German lessons in the morning, and in the afternoon we completed various activities. As our first activity we went on a tour of Lindau. We saw many of the town’s main features, such as the Narren-Brunnen, the Inselhalle and St. Peter’s Church. The town is known for its many apple trees and holds festivals celebrating this industry. We were even given the opportunity to make Spätzle, a traditional German winter dish that is similar to pasta. On our outing to the town of Ravenburg, we visited the museum there, where we enjoyed playing with its countless board games. In the evening we went skittling, a game much like bowling that is popular in the region. Our last full day was particularly sad, because we said goodbye to Bruni, our amazing language teacher, following our final lesson of the trip. The day ended with some well-deserved hot chocolate and a barbecue back at the language school.

We would recommend the trip to Lindau to anyone who is taking German for GCSE, as we learnt a great deal from our experience there. M5 German Students

Lanzarote The trip to Lanzarote in the Easter holidays was the best way to kick off the 2019 season!

n April, a group of 21 excited students travelled to Lanzarote to complete athletics training in a new environment. When we arrived at Club La Santa, we explored the resort before getting a good night’s sleep in preparation for the busy days ahead. Throughout the week we trained during the day, learning new techniques to further our athletic ability. Some of us even managed new personal bests. In the evenings there was time for us to train in our own events. At lunchtimes we relaxed around the pool and we could also choose to go to some of the exercise classes on offer, including everyone’s

favourite – ‘Stretch and Relax’. The days when we played tennis resulted in some very intense games of ‘Queen of the Court’ amongst the Middle 5 and, occasionally, the teachers. Even when it rained one afternoon, we still managed to play a football match, giving all the years the chance to get involved and on the last day we all did a team pentathlon. Evening activities included a pool tournament, a year group team quiz, Pictionary and two birthday parties. This trip was truly memorable and it gave us a chance to create lifelong friendships and form bonds with the other years. Mia Wright M5 Aske

Educational Visits

Kew Gardens A beautiful day exploring the Royal Botanic Gardens.

undling onto the coaches shortly after registration, we had to admit that this was not any ordinary school day. We were off to Kew Gardens! There were mixed feelings about this trip; some thought it would be a great opportunity to learn about plants and their relationship to climate and environment; others were consumed by worries about the weather, which wasn’t looking promising. When we arrived, it was raining harder than it had all week, which wasn’t the most auspicious start. Things immediately brightened up however when we realised the wonderful day we’d have ahead of us. Since we spent a lot of our time indoors in glass-houses, the weather turned out not to be an issue. Inside, we saw flamboyant flowers, tropical trees and bewitching botany. As we walked from greenhouse to greenhouse, we were even treated to a quick tour of David Chihuly’s incredible ice sculptures. By lunchtime the clouds had parted, and we were able to enjoy a sunny picnic on the lawn. After lunch we enjoyed a walk amongst

Winner of Photography CompetitionKatrin Hesse L5 Aesc

the birds in a treetops adventure. Ambling along wooden planks 18 meters in the air, we observed the beauty of fauna in its natural habitat. By the time we’d made it back onto the coaches, we had all experienced a day we wouldn’t soon forget – and even the most sceptical amongst us would say that our visit to Kew Gardens was remarkable. Sia Kulkarni L5 Aske

Feature

Our Parikrma Partnership Really aberdashers’ Takes Off ske’s School for Girls

ers between the pen-pals After a keen exchange of lett n excited students set off of Parikrma and Habs, eightee friends. We stayed in from Heathrow to meet their new in rural north Bangalore, in a small village called Silvepura, Sangam. Sangam means ‘a a homestay centre belonging to cation group that works to point of meeting’ and is an edu in the UK. Through them, we link Indian schools with those le students of Parikrma. managed to meet the incredib We spent the first day playing

games together, and each

ion, which was all about school then showed a presentat for them. The girls from what life and school were like s about their home lives Parikrma gave very moving talk school. They told us how and how much they loved their so that they called their Parikrma is a family, so much has personally prevented teacher ‘Amma’ (mother). She from being forced into child many of the girls in her care t their welfare. marriages and is passionate abou parents and eat little at Often pupils do not have both with a safe environment and home; Parikrma provides them ful future. They were a big lunch, as well as a more hope aspirations. The confidence eager to tell us of their many wonderful to see. their school had given them was

beautiful pots and We visited their school, creating mehndi, while chatting jewellery, doing our hair and t, the collaborative to the girls. The day after tha ce was based on the dance project began. The dan water and fire, and four elements, wind, earth, well-known dancer. We was created by Anjali Sahi, a in front of the Parikrma performed the shared piece nd time with the girls school. It was a fun way to spe ough our dancing could in and become closer to them, alth no way compare to theirs! three-hour train to Project completed, we took a lf. We visited the Mysore: an experience in itse nam, a silk factory, sugar beautiful temples in Srirangapt palace, showcasing the cane farm and Tippu’s summer Sultan in the Anglovarious achievements of Tippu arly interesting as we Mysore wars. This was particul u’s Tiger in the V&A in had been to see a replica of Tip preparation for the trip. le forest reserve, in the We drove south through Nagarho tigers, ending our drive hopes of seeing elephants and ins, where we had to swap in the Western Ghat mounta the steep, bumpy paths to jeeps in order to drive up

Feature trip My favourite part of the the h was spending time wit getting a, rm rik Pa m fro nts stude and m to know more about the their culture.

The thing that has stuck with me the most is to get involved and make the most of opportunitie s given to me. I found the Parikrm a girls always did this and they have definitely taught me to do the same.

Gemma Jacobson

Naomi Davis to reach our hotel in the coffee plant morning we went for a hike up to the peaks. Despite the leeches and the

ations. In the early mountain ridge

rain, the spectacular

view at the top was worth it! On the way back we visited

a Tibetan Buddhist settlement and Jain temple which many pilgrims trav

the Sravanabelagola

el to.

On our final day we returned to Parikrma

to teach the younger children in the morning, before reuniting with the older girls. We reflected on the trip toge ther before saying a poignant goodbye for the last time and heading back to pack. Although we were eager to get back home (to warm showers instead of buckets!) this trip was a powerful experience we won’t forget. Often the word “inspiring” is overused, but in this case, I don’t think

t me with The trip to India has lef ries that such wonderful memo and has I will always treasure, e of anc ort imp the shown me es and tur cul er oth g cin experien ferent meeting people from dif backgrounds. Josie Francis

there is a more apt adjective for thes e girls, who were full of strength and happiness. Beca use of them, we came back home more determined and grateful people than when we left. Already the partnership has become part of our school life, with a Skype Global Book Club facilitated by the author, Sita Brahmachari; numerous charity days raising money for the school; and, most rece ntly, the girls participated in our House Dance comp etition by sending over videos. I look forward to hearing about the trip next year and the many friendships that will be forg ed. Anjali Mulcock L6 DHH

Sport

Sport W

hilst Habs has always provided an extremely positive environment for sport, over the last few years I have seen a significant transformation in the sporting attitude of many students within the school teams. There is greater determination, passion for winning and more enthusiasm than ever before. A definite contribution to this has been the introduction of the House system. The inter-House competitions have encouraged more and more students to take part in sport.

Sports Colours

In my experience, being a member of many sports teams at Habs has allowed me to work with people across the age groups. I know that all the captains this year are grateful to have been a part of this ever-growing sporting community. This year, the standard of sport has gone from strength to strength, as shown by the exceptional number of sporting achievements across all the teams at district, county, regional and even national levels. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure Habsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sporting successes will continue to grow over the coming years!

Sports Colours are awarded to students who have gone above and beyond in their contribution to a sport. They are recognised for their achievement and dedication.

Tabatha Cowan School Sports Captain

Captains School Sports Tabatha Cowan Athletics Ava Dench Badminton Ashika Nathan

Lacrosse Co: Florence Bignell & Annabelle Permutt Netball Beth Knight Vice: Margot Gillespie

Cross Country Alice Craig

Rounders Co: Helena Loan & Maya Jagpal

Dance Co: Alex Hart & Anya Myers

Swimming Co: Lyla Basu & Alicia Slater

Gymnastics Co: Eleanor Delaney & Stephanie Madden

Tennis Kalila Smith

Trampolining Tori Weston Vice: Emma Bevis

Athletics Junior: Khiloni Dodhia Cross Country Senior: Sarah Butler, Alice Craig Junior: Isabella Brunskill, Clara Livingston, Zoe St John, Mia Wright Dance Junior: Fasina Bamigboye, Naomi Gershlick, Jamila Salim, Evie Tew, Tilly Weston Gymnastics Senior: Eleanor Delaney, Stephanie Madden Junior: Fasina Bamigboye, Amelia Delaney, Emily Delaney, Evie Tew, Tilly Weston Lacrosse Senior: Florence Bignell, Tabatha Cowan, Margot Gillespie, Beth Knight, Evie Kurzawinska, Annabelle Permutt Junior: Aybuke Beydilli, Neeve Capaldo, Emma Chopping, Katie Dabari, Lily Freeman, Misi Subair, Maya Tricot Netball Senior: Florence Bignell, Tabatha Cowan, Beth Knight, Anabelle Permutt, Christie Tsang Junior: Jaden Adu, Amy Brenner, Katie Darbari, Anna Gittleson, Katya Israel, Alexandra Kagan, Misi Subair, Arianna Sultan, Maya Tricot Swimming Senior: Lyla Basu, Alicia Slater Junior: Temi Elesin, Nicola Marett Tennis Junior: Lucy Blyth, Katie Dubari, Katya Israel, Alexandra Kagan, Natasha Pittal, Sarina Thandi, Maya Tricot Trampolining Junior: Fasina Bamigboye, Ronna Mirab, Evie Tew, Tilly Weston

Sport

Individual Achievements Competing at either county, national or international level, these students have been outstanding ambassadors for both the School and their sport. Judo

Trampolining

Anna Townshend continues to represent the UK in Judo. We wish her continued success with this.

As individuals, Emma Bevis qualified for the National Trampoline Finals in mini trampoline and Tilly Weston won a bronze medal at the Gymnastic Magique competition in Paris.

Lacrosse This season Hannah Noordin, Isabella Paraskeva, Maya Brockie, Rachel Wald, Aybuke Beydilli, Misi Subair, Maya Tricot, Katie Dabari, Ella Cowie, Tabitha Dresden and Madeline Pritchard were all selected to be part of the England Regional Academy.

Hockey

Netball

Congratulations go to Alexandra and Isabella Paraskeva who have both been selected to join the Middlesex Hockey team, where they will begin the pathway to advance from Junior to Senior players of the club.

Mimi Subair was selected for Hertfordshire County Netball and Tianna Ubesio for U17 Benecos Mavericks. This is the first entrance into the performance pathway for England Netball, and we wish them every success with their training and competitions.

Fencing Congratulations to Ruby Roberts, who finished in the top eight at the Public Schools Fencing Championships in March and then two weeks later finished in the top twenty at an international competition in Poland.

Tennis Mafalda Almela-Lozano currently represents Great Britain on the Junior European Tour playing in single and doubles tournaments across the continent. We wish her every success with the rest of her season.

Talented Athlete Program A new scheme to enable and encourage talented sportspeople to achieve at the highest level.

t the beginning of the year, we were encouraged to set personal goals, focusing on aspiring to greater success within sport whilst also keeping our goals measurable and achievable. We were also visited by former triathlete, Sian Brice, and world champion rower, Stephanie Cullen. These talks reminded us that you can pursue a sporting

career as well as being academically successful, as Sian Brice went to the University of Oxford as well as training as an athlete. We also learnt about resilience, perseverance and how to overcome obstacles in your sporting careers as well as how to deal with performance anxiety. This was very inspiring as many of us have experienced anxiety before

competing and it gave us confidence and reassurance that it is normal to feel this way. These sessions gave us a better insight into the sporting world and have helped us to achieve greater success within our own sports. Alexandra Paraskeva L5 Aleph and Isabella Paraskeva L5 Aesc

Sport

greenhouse

edition

edition Last season, for the first time in Haberdashers’ history at Acton, the First Lacrosse team won the All England Schools’ Tournament at Merton. 1974 Issue

greenhouse edition

greenhouse

Lacrosse edition

his year has seen a brilliant season of lacrosse, with successes ranging from the U12 to Senior teams. The two Miss Wrights have worked really hard this year to encourage the whole school to get

greenhouse edition

involved – it has been great to see so many students participating in break time stick work, as well as to watch teams win their matches. Habs had a very successful national tournament, with the U13 team placing in the top eight nationally, and the 2nds and U14s placing in

Netball T

his season we saw the successful introduction of the new netball umpiring course. Girls in the Upper School were given the opportunity to learn the rules of netball in more detail, enabling them to coach younger years and even to umpire some matches! Netball has also seen many successes on the court. The U14 team came third in the county round of National Schools, which is the highest that we have achieved in recent years. The U19A, U16A and U16B teams all won their respective district tournaments and the U13 team came third in the STAHS invitational. To conclude the year, five teams travelled to Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby Academy to compete against the other schools in the Haberdashers’ Company. We would like to thank all the teachers who have been involved in netball, especially Miss Millns and Nikki Belcher-Brown, who have been instrumental in such an enjoyable season. Beth Knight Captain

the top sixteen. Despite many of them only picking up a lacrosse stick for the first time this year, the Lower 4 were also successful: the U12C team were runners up at the county tournament. The season ended with a competitive inter-year tournament, and an even more competitive boys vs girls lacrosse match in which the girls triumphed! We have loved watching lacrosse grow at Habs over the past year and cannot wait for the successes of next season. Florence Bignell and Annabelle Permutt Co-Captains

Sport

Dance T

his year the Habs Dance Company has branched out, attracting more students from the Lower School. The Upper School were pushed beyond traditional styles and techniques, working with professional choreographers, while the Middle School worked with GCSE Dance students to create a pupil-led piece on the theme of ‘cyber’. Further opportunities for dance through the Open Dance Club allowed more students to explore their dance capabilities. The three dance troupes performed at the biennial Dance and Drama Showcase in February. This nonassessed, non-restrictive event was an excellent opportunity for students to improve performance skills and confidence levels. The Upper School Company performed to a medley, with themes of conformity and freedom shaping their choreography. The Open Dance Club performed to New Rules by Dua Lipa and the Middle School Dance Company performed their ‘cyber’ piece. The performances were a true testament to the versatility and talent of Habs dancers. All the dance pieces were executed with finesse and professionalism – the culmination of many months of hard work. Alex Hart and Anya Myers Co-Captains

Swimming A

strong team spirit coupled with dedicated weekly training has made this year our most successful yet in the Herts League, where Habs competes against other top sporting schools across the county. Events include the 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 50m fly, 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle, with the highlights for most being the relays and squadrons. All teams went through to the finals, with the Senior team placing 3rd and achieving a bronze medal. The Intermediate team and the Junior team each placed 5th and 4th respectively. All these achievements were made possible by the swimmers working hard to improve their fitness, develop skills and practise key components of a race at the weekly training sessions. Swim Squad has been a great way for students across different age groups to mix and develop close friendships. Lyla Basu and Alicia Slater Co-Captains

Badminton T

he U16 and U19 badminton squads have been thriving this term, with an immense improvement in both teams. Our badminton coach, Phil, has been working very closely with the players, and was a huge help to us when preparing for our first ever match against the Boys’ School, which took place in January. Excitingly, a mixed doubles tournament has also been introduced this year. In addition to this, our recreational team has shown great commitment and we have had fun practising every Thursday lunchtime. Our players will continue to flourish this badminton season and I look forward to seeing many more successful matches in the future. Ashika Nathan Captain

Sport

Athletics H

abs athletes have had another successful season. This has included winning the U16 Hertfordshire County Schools Athletics Finals and the U17 Hertfordshire Schools meet. The Middle 5 also won their district competition. We enjoyed a change of venue for the pre-season Lanzarote trip, where students spent a week training for the upcoming season in the sun. Athletics is an activity that is open to everyone and gives students the chance to meet new people and improve their skills through various lunchtime and after-school clubs. Congratulations to all on a fantastic season. Ava Dench Captain

Gymnastics T

his year, the gymnastics team has been extremely successful in both regional and national competitions. We’ve enjoyed creating new routines and improving our skills. The ISGA teams, comprised of gymnasts from Lower 4 to Upper 6, competed at the Independent Schools Gymnastics Association Competition in March. The U13s placed 4th as a team, with Alicia Downey and Jessica Walters placing 10th and 11th individually. As a team the O13s placed 6th. The U15 team placed 7th, with Tilly Weston placing 9th as an individual. At TRIO National Finals in mid-March, teams from the U13, U16, and U19 divisions performed superbly. The U19 team, consisting of Eleanor Delaney, Stephanie Madden and Amelia Delaney, won! Gymnasts also competed at the Floor and Vault regionals in February, and at nationals in May. Well done to all those who represented Habs this year! Eleanor Delaney and Stephanie Madden Co-Captains

Tennis T

ennis never fails to have a broad appeal to all years at Habs. There is an activity for everyone, with recreational tennis and squads from U12 to U15. Players also have the opportunity to progress to Queenswood in the early summer, or Middle School students can participate in the ‘Road to Wimbledon’ competition. This is a rare and exciting opportunity for anyone interested in taking their tennis to the next, challenging level. This year we have achieved phenomenal results such as the U12 placing 2nd in their league, the U15 placing 2nd for the district league and 1st in their overall league, as well as two U15 pairs becoming Team Tennis finalists for this current year. Congratulations to all players. Kalila Smith Captain

Sport

Trampolining T

his year the trampoline team has gone from strength to strength, with over 20 students participating in the squads. There were outstanding performances from our U14 and U15 Novice teams and U19 Intermediate team in the regional round of the BSGA Schools competition. Achieving bronze medals, they narrowly missed out on qualification through to the zonal round. Habs also entered its first ever U19 Elite team which took 1st place, with Emma Bevis placing 2nd and qualifying for the

next round as an individual. There, the team consisting of Tori Weston, Camille White, Emma Bevis and Tilly Weston, put on a very strong performance to take 1st place again and qualify for the national finals in Birmingham. Against some very tough competition, many of whom were working at British team level, the team placed 4th in the country. This is a fantastic set of results and we would like to thank our coach, Cheryl, for all her hard work to make the trampoline team such a success. Tori Weston Captain

Rounders T

he season started well with hot sunny days and a big turnout for all teams. Unfortunately, the weather soon turned against us, leading to many matches being cancelled due to waterlogged pitches. Still we persevered, improving our ball skills, batting and decision making. Finally, the U12s had their chance to play, with the A team winning their match and great playing from both teams. The U15s also played well and won the runner-up prize for their district tournament. Overall, we have seen great sportsmanship and a lot of improved skills, and it has been a pleasure to watch the U12s come together as a successful team. Helena Loan and Maya Jagpal Co-Captains

Cross Country T

his year’s season has been extremely successful. The club has grown in numbers, with pupils from all years running around Aldenham Country Park in all weather! The preliminary round of the Cross Country Cup saw Lily Myers cross the finish line as a first scorer for Habs, closely followed by Eden Dell and Ayza Affan. In the same competition, the Intermediate team secured 4th place, with notable performances from Clara Livingston (7th) and Rachel Pearlman (13th). These performances enabled them to qualify for the Regional Cross Country Cup in early November: all girls tackled a tough course with skill and perseverance, with Clara becoming the first finisher for the team in the strong position of 23rd place. The District Cross Country Championships saw the Lower and Upper 4 teams finishing 3rd and 2nd respectively, with notable performances from Maelie Bouvier, Lena Bouvier, and Katie Welply. The success did not stop there: in their somewhat emotional last race for the School, Alice Craig finished in 1st place, with Sarah Butler right behind her in 2nd. Alice Craig Captain

Habs Life

Gillett to Win It!

House Report: Gillett

hroughout the years Gillett has been called ‘the Bollywoo d house’, ‘the purple house’ and most comm only ‘the keen house’. We had a ve ry successful St Catherine’s Day this year, winning ‘best overall area’ and the highly disputed Egg Race. After coming second place in our Hollywood the med dance, Gillett came back be tter than ever for ou r Queen mashup for House Singing. In true Gillett fashion we decided to take things to the next level, incorpora ting a live band, costumes and a dance for both tea chers and students into our pe rformance, leading us to first place. As the Gillett House Prefect, I have been lucky to work with such an enthusia stic house, which ne ver fails to radiate positivity. Th e house spirit in Gille tt is beyond comparison and it ha s truly been an hono ur to represent such an incredible ho use. Dharnya Nimalan Ho use Prefect

rvest trolley yond with the ha To infinity and be

Habs Life

Race team triumphant Egg Members of the

Gillett aren

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feeling un

der pressur e as they g

et ready to

rock!

Sixth Form leading the cheering on Sports Day

U4 get com petitiv

e in House Netball

Gillettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new notice board

Miss Frankel ge ts an Oscar for best costume th is year

Habs Life

Leading the chee rs for Gilliland on Sports Day

House Report: Gilliland being one of illiland has a reputation for accomplished the most competitive and d to make ine erm det s houses, and I wa events the of ny ma sure we won as an the beg We r. yea as possible this lley Tro st rve Ha t in the year by coming joint firs nt out of pha ele an d create competition, in which we end not did s ces suc c isti recycled materials. Our art Day eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kat St d me the don there, as we created a Lon ilst ed most eco-friendly. Wh stall area, which was nam at g the House Points trophy we missed out on winnin , term by only three points the end of the Christmas h a victory in the House our pride was restored wit ce dancers performed a pie Dance competition. The n atio pir ins ing tak , don based on the theme of Lon tube stops. It has nt ere diff of es nam from the lead such an enthusiastic, truly been a pleasure to e group of people, and I hop hardworking and friendly continue for the rest of this to see Gillilandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success to come. year and for many years

Prefect Sophia Paraskeva House

How to describe a Gil liland-er

Habs Life

Miss Gilliland herself makes a dramatic appearance at House Singing this year

All the delights of Oxford Street right here at Habs

Pure determination on the courts for House Netball

to soar U4 get their rockets ready

Gilliland’s notice bo ard

The Egg Race is alw ays a great part of St. Kate’s ans iland’s singers and musici ABC... Easy as 123 for Gill

Habs Life

on Sports Day The 6th Form aren’t feeling blue

House Report: Harold

he year started off on a high for Harold, as we were welcomed back to school by our blu e flag waving victoriously on the pole after last year’s success. The House Reps kicked off the term by conv erting a trolley into a Hawaiian surfboard, which led to the spontaneous adoption of an endangered do lphin named Harry (who is even a very inactive Instag ram user!) As we pr epared for St Kate’s day, stu dents got busy creati ng beach decorations, makin g punch and stocking up on coconuts for the co conut shy. The older years did exceedingly well du ring the House Danc e, and due to their resilience an d determination we came in second place! It ha s truly been incredibl e to see every student getting stu ck in and supportin g the house, whether with their musical talents, the ir sporting abilities or their cre ative ideas. I’d like to say a massive thank you to Miss Millns for su pporting us this year. I wish all the best to everyon e in the House, keep up the Harold spirit! Amy Silverbeck Ho use Prefect

This year’s Harvest Trolley gives

us a taste of paradise

Habs Life

Miss Millns and her rep team bring Hawaii to Habs

Harold take us throu gh the decades in Ho use Singing

L5 take on the Egg Rac e challeng for house e pride and house poin ts Harold is well represented at House Netball

Haroldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notice board shows they

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in it to win it this year

e Waving the Harold flag with prid

Habs Life

Waving the flag for Millar on Sports Day

House Report: Millar ees of the llow bumbleb illar are the ye about our ic s enthusiast ay w al – ol ho sc challenge y to take any ad re d an e us ho very close to bumblebee is e Th . on ad he tal mascot, our environmen as ts ar he r ou Trolley this of our Harvest ct pe as y ke a g tition. as well as bein e in the compe joint first plac on w way to ch e hi th w l , al year avelled s Day, Millar tr e’ rin e came he w at d C an St For citing stalls, ex e m so te ea e Nashville to cr highlights of th ea! One of the ar r . Our ou ce r an fo m or nd seco Dance perf se ou H r ou as w try music, Autumn term hville and coun as N by d ire House, Miss dance was insp derful Head of on w r ou ed n Throwdown. and even includ us to Hoedow ith w g in nc ctory in the Mesrie, line da ad Millar to vi le lp he to ur had won the It was an hono scovering we di r te af tly or first to win Spring term: sh we came joint d, ar aw rm te nding overall Spring for our outsta g competition in ng Si d se an ou er H the Back in Ang of Don’t Look really was an performance a live band! It ith w e et pl m Wonderwall, co r Millar. historic day fo

ouse Prefect Emily Katz H

Millar brings th e house down ta king 1st place at House Singing wi th a tribute to Oa sis

Habs Life Medals for Millar

Howdy Reps!

Millar’s notice bo ard is roar-some !

This town’s just about big enough for the both of them

L5 get involve d in th e Egg Race

this year’s Millar are buzzing for ge llen cha Harvest Trolley

Habs Life

ell Super sporting prowess from Pow

House Report: Powell

his year has been both incredibly successful and busy for Powell. From House Singing competition to House Dance, the en tire house has worked collaboratively and proved to be a force to be rec koned with. A notable highlight of this year was undoubtedly St Catherine’s Day; ou r theme was Rio De Jan eiro and from the decorat ions to the costumes, we wholeheartedly embra ced it and had a great time. At the end of the Autum n term, Powell had wo n the most house point s and therefore were the winning house of the term. This again was hugely rewarding to all the me mbers of the house as it displayed all the hard work everyone had do ne. All of these events wo uld not have been po ssible without the help of ou r Head of House, Miss Adat. Her commitment and positive attitude not only made Powell a succes s but ensured that the whole house had fun along the way. Malaika Adil House Prefect

o! Her name is Ri

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Powell pride on Sports Day

U5 compete in the annual Egg Race

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U4 get involved in the Egg Race

House Report: Sprules W

hat a year! From our inspirational firebreathing trolley, to coming second in House Art, to the L4’s getting into detective mode with their roaring Bunsen flames (not to mention getting the House Dance floor), Sprules has on -hot red-hot d with creativity and flair. And let’s not crackle certainly Normally, I’d agree that what happens Kate’s! forget St in Vegas, but the memories made stay should in Vegas having a laugh in the gym (with with along with Elvis, more) personally made and prep stall last minute my favourites. It further of one Kate’s St this year’s tive and enthusiastic we suppor how of me ed remind shone through during this think I and house are as a had one or two have may we Sure, . Singing House best shot and our it gave we always, as but blips these, but I like ts momen miss I’ll time. had a great s they are dragon the be to es continu hope Sprules and other Day Sports on spirit fiery their with thriving !! RULES! S SPRULE events. ing upcom Chanuki Jayasinghe House Prefect

A fierce effo rt in the trol ley decorating co mpetition

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Sprules got lucky with th eir theme for St Kate’s this year

s ting Sport les! Celebra e us ho e Sprules ru th r Day wins fo

titive on the L5 get compe Netball se ou H court for

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Elvis was in th e building! Sprules brou ght the Chape l of Love to El stree

Comparisons with boys were of course inevitable. That much criticised bit of performance – a girl’s run – was scanned narrowly by fathers and brothers. To the credit of the sex, be it said, that here the girls scored a big success. Sports Day, 1905 Issue

The Sprules notice board takes poll position

Habs Life

Leaving Staff

Mr Davies

Miss Adat

Mrs Graves

What inspired you to become a teacher? The long holidays were certainly an attraction. I do like History, too.

What inspired you to become a teacher? My A Level Chemistry teachers when I was at school. They inspired, encouraged and believed in me so I have a lot to thank them for!

What inspired you to become a teacher? It was definitely either Dangerous Minds or The Dead Poet’s Society… ‘O, Captain! My Captain!’ I hear you cry.

What will you miss the most at Habs? I think it will be a mix between all things orange for Powell, my department (who I like to call ‘The Avengers’) bullying Mr Shaw, and the smiling faces of the girls that I teach.

What will you miss the most at Habs? The fact that students and staff are always willing to give anything a go. It’s been great to try so many new things here.

What will you miss the most at Habs? Chatting informally to the students. What has been your favourite Habs memory or moment? Action Week, watching students perform in concerts, drama productions and school trips. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be instead? Nothing to do with computers, iPads or technology. What are your plans for the future? To start the list of things to do that my wife gave to me when I first went part-time. What advice would you give to students? If you find it hard, it probably is but don’t give up. I once had to learn New Testament Greek for an exam at university!

What has been your favourite Habs memory or moment? I couldn’t possibly say just one! It would be between winning the rosette for Powell (it’s the small things) endless titrations with Lower 6 and cake Fridays with my form. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be instead? I’d like to think I’d be doing something awesome like changing the world by discovering the cure for cancer, but the truth is I love my job so I wouldn’t give it up for anything. What are your plans for the future? Living my best life as a new wife, travelling a lot with my husband. Hopefully teaching all over the world and wearing glitter at every possible moment.

What has been your favourite Habs memory or moment? I think my first St. Catherine’s Day was one of the moments where I really got what Habs was about, and I’ve loved it every year I’ve been here. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be instead? I’d like to own a stationery shop, but I’d probably end up buying all the stock to take home with me. What are your plans for the future? Fewer very early mornings and long drives on the M1, I hope. More time to spend with my family, and finally making a dent in my reading list.

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Miss Lilley

Mrs Evans

Dr Miles

What inspired you to become a teacher? Wanting to inspire the next generation of scientists. I’d love to see one of you win a Nobel Prize one day.

What inspired you to become a teacher? My two amazing RS teachers from school. They were always so supportive and enthusiastic and made their subject really fun and engaging. They were a great example to follow.

What inspired you to become a teacher? Teaching is in my blood: my mum was a primary teacher and from an early age, I used to play schools with my toys. Now that I am older, I see the profound impact that education and a good teacher can have on lives.

What will you miss the most at Habs? The people I have met here. What has been your favourite Habs memory or moment? Every single time the taps flooded the lab – and that no matter the age group, every pupil who got splashed reacting to the water as if they would melt! If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be instead? A racehorse trainer! What are your plans for the future? I am heading to Mill Hill School and looking forward to the new challenge of teaching in a mixed school.

greenhouse edition I think it matters so much when you look back afterwards, and whilst nobody can enjoy it all the time, you hope that people will look back on it with a sense of pleasure. Because Habs is of course not just a school but a way of life.

What will you miss the most at Habs? I will miss the amazing students and staff. I will always remember the incredible support and kindness that I have been shown here. What has been your favourite Habs memory or moment? I think that I will always remember Habs assemblies, particularly the ‘shuffling back’ and the hymns. Of course I will also remember the many laughs and jokes that we have had as a department in the R&P office, as well as dressing up as a nun to do a dance for a Christmas pantomime. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be instead? When I was at school I wanted to be a journalist. If I wasn’t a teacher, I like the idea of writing for a newspaper. What are your plans for the future? In the short term to follow in Mrs Opie’s footsteps and be a great Head of Department. In the long term to travel and visit all the places that I didn’t get the chance to go to when I was younger.

What will you miss the most at Habs? My wonderful students and colleagues, the beautiful grounds and singing the Carmen in final assembly. What has been your favourite Habs memory or moment? A memorable moment in the school panto involving Mr Turner, Ms Condon, several pairs of bloomers and a prosthetic leg! If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be instead? I would still be a doctor. Or a pantomime script writer. What are your plans for the future? I am taking up the headship of Loughborough High School, a fantastic school in the East Midlands.

We would also like to thank… Mrs Bavisha (Deputy Exams Officer), Nurse Louise Howel, Mr Barr (Classics), Miss Desmond (Classics), Mr Henry (Economics), Miss Innocenti (English), Mme Terretta (French), Mr Loveman (PE), Miss O’Neil (Chemistry Technician), and Mme Ray (French) for all their contributions to the school community.

Mrs Penney: The Retirement Interview, 2005-06 Issue

Habs Life

New Teaching Staff This year we welcomed a number of new teachers to the School. Our editors took the opportunity to catch up with them and see how they were settling in.

Miss Dugdale

Miss Efstathiou

Miss Hargreaves

What did you want to be growing up? The next Indiana Jones!

Who is your favourite celebrity and why? Michelle Obama. She is a great role model and was a fantastic First Lady.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? If you don’t challenge yourself, you don’t change yourself!

Tell us an interesting fact about you. I could only speak Greek until the age of five, but I only discovered this when I started primary school.

Tell us an interesting fact about you. I have lived most of my life in Cornwall and enjoyed regularly surfing, bodyboarding and paddle boarding.

What is your favourite thing about Habs so far? I’m not sure that I could narrow it down to just one thing but obviously it’s so good that I had to come back! What is an interesting fact about you. I have two adorable Frenchies and three Runner Ducks as pets.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I used to live in Cyprus for a few years which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would really love to have my own Tardis like Dr Who and be able to travel through space and time.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I love Hong Kong, so I would love to live there. Great food, busy atmosphere and I have family that live on the island.

Habs Life

Mme. Janin

Mrs Press

Miss Watts

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Never forget that failure is the first step in succeeding.

Tell us an interesting fact about you. I have ziplined through a ring of fire!

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I have lived in Australia before and would love to go back there and enjoy the sunshine and watermelons.

What did you want to be growing up? Whilst I have always wanted to be a teacher, it was History that I originally wanted to teach. Tell us an interesting fact about you. I’m so afraid of heights that even standing on a chair is a struggle.

What did you want to be growing up? An archaeologist Who is your favourite celebrity and why? Mayim Bialik as I am a big fan of The Big Bang Theory and admire her as she is not only an actress but has a PhD in Neuroscience as well as being a blogger, commenting on everything from veganism to Trump.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I have a twin sister, non-identical but she’s older by 21 minutes! Very annoying! What’s your favourite thing about Habs so far? The sense of community and being a part of a team of departments and teachers.

Mrs Malik

Mrs Sandu

Ms Wright

Tell us an interesting fact about you. I bake a mean carrot cake and toffee pudding.

Tell us an interesting fact about you. I grew up in a communist country where Father Christmas was banned; he was instead replaced by ‘Father Frost’ who brought presents on the 30th December!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Strength doesn’t come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming what you thought you couldn’t do!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Stay true to yourself and be kind to yourself.

What did you want to be growing up? I wanted to be a marine biologist but unfortunately, I don’t like being on boats!

Who is your favourite celebrity and why? I have two…Princess Diana and George Michael – both were beautiful people inside and out, kind and caring human beings, philanthropic, didn’t follow the crowd and were not sell outs. What did you want to be growing up? A lawyer – I watched far too many police TV dramas, like Perry Mason.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? The South of France. I love the French language, French culture, not to mention French cheese and wine.

Who is your favourite celebrity and why? My favourite celebrity is Emma Watson because she is such a great role model for young women.

Habs Life

New Support Staff This year we’ve been delighted to welcome new support staff in a variety of roles, including some colleagues who provide support to both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools.

Mrs Nikki Brown

Mrs Alina Ghioc

Mrs Zoe Brownsell

Mrs Penny Habbick

Management Accountant

Compliance Assistant

Mrs Nikki Danzig Payroll Manager

HR Partner

School Nurse

Mrs Hannah Lester Cover Administrator

Jason Nunn

Director of Technology Infrastructure and Operations

Mr Hiren Shah Fees Manager

Mr Will Vallade Music Technician

Habs Life

A Level Prizes Our A Level Presentations and Awards Evening took place in September 2019, a celebration of the hard work and achievement of the Class of 2018. Ariel Alper The Mary Plummer Award for the Study of Art

Hana Khan The Daphne Ridgeon Prize for Mathematics and Physics

Nasya Banson The Mark Powell Philosophy Prize

Adeline Kwok The Malcolm Gough Physics Prize

Eleanor Brittain The Hilary Morrish Prize for French

Sophie Lee The Charterhouse Economics Prize

Katie Bub The Durrant Classics Prize

Manon Lever The Prize for Modern Languages

Lotte Bull The Emmity Klein Cup for Spanish

Emma Ma The Nisadha Bandara Prize for 16th Century History

Ella Crowther The Dr Luena Hatcher Prize for Medicine Ella Deitsch The Winifred Westwick Prize Isobel Dileto The Charlotte Green Prize for Government and Politics & The Veronica Castang Prize for Drama Maddison Fisher Miss Oyler’s Prize for 20th Century History Hannah Freeman Governors’ Prize Zoe Gray The Whalley Music Prize

Abigail Mason The Mary Plummer Award for the Study of Physical Education Apriya Millan Governors’ Prize Rhia Patel The Buckmaster Memorial Geography Prize

Manvi Shah Dr Roth’s Prize for Biology Elena Silverstein The Design Technology Prize Seeitha Sivarajah The Sheila Dodson Mathematics Prize Sarah Surti Governors’ Prize Ariella Taub The Williams Prize for English Anna Whitehead The Jean Berriff Prize for German Charlotte Withyman The Mackenzie Memorial Prize for Science Sana Zuberi The Susan Gillett Prize for Biology

Annabel Paterson The Sylvia Wood Geography Prize Anita Plumley The Winifred Berry Prize for Chemistry Pooja Rohatgi Governors’ Prize

Habs Life

GCSE Awards The Governors’ Prize is awarded to students who achieved at least nine GCSE grades of A* or 9. Governors’ Prize Winners Emike Akagbosu Alessia Annessa Jessie Bloom Ella Broomberg Shanshan Cao Georgia Cox Elisa Earle Hannah May Ezekiel Millie Flaum Charlotte Freeman Rhea Gudiwala Alexandra Hart Hannah Haskel Gemma Jacobson Maya Jagpal Miyuki Kanetsuka Kacey Keary Georgia Koopman Cynthia Manimaran Menaka Maruthainar Safia Mukri

Anjali Mulcock Anya Myers Ann O’Brien Diva Patel Ilana Petrook Ariana Phillips Aimee Preston Jasmine Randall Kiana Rezakhanlou Fleur Sawday Aayushi Shah Amba Sharma Shreya Singh Phoebe Sleeman Deborah Smith Nancy Stitt Olivia Sutton Cristiana Toma Lily Varley Oyintare Youdeowei

The following students were awarded named prizes: Helena Loan Miss Zelensky’s Prize for Mathematics Esther Midgen The Gilliland Scholarship Kalila Smith Ruth Elias Jones Prize

Habs Life

School Positions Form Captains Autumn Term

L4 A Shriya Bhatt Arichana Sithivinayakakuma L4 Aesc Thalia Al-Madfai Sophie Berman L4 Aleph Lily Coppell Eden Chesler L4 Alpha Amelie Bruce Milan Bagri L4 Aske Anaya Jess Simran Chavda U4 A Georgia Higgs Natasha Wahab U4 Aesc Keira Patel Zara Cresswell U4 Aleph Maya Dhanani Eden Dell U4 Alpha Kezzy Miller Anna Blyth U4 Aske Summer Goodkind Amy Welsh L5 A Tamara Teper Olivia Jaffe L5 Aesc Charlotte Zelin Chiara Mabilat L5 Aleph Alex Paraskeva Anji Suri L5 Alpha Lara Bassalian Joystna Kumar L5 Aske Dorsa Aram Amelie Jones

M5 A Oluwatoni Adesiyan Oluwamisimininu Subair M5 Aesc Sophie Ladha Arianna Sultan M5 Aleph Shalini Sellam Abigail Cheong M5 Alpha Katie Darbari Lyaan Makhmalchi M5 Aske Emily Delaney Tamzin Swillman U5 A Ella Mudhar Yasmin Hulf U5 Aesc Jenny Hayes Catarina Goncalves U5 Aleph Emma Bevis Madeline Prichard U5 Alpha Erica Shuker Libby Abrahams U5 Aske Taanya Fice Sofia Stevens

Spring Term

L4 A Shriya Bhatt Arichana Sithivinayakakuma L4 Aesc Thalia Al-Madfai Sophie Berman L4 Aleph Lily Coppell Eden Chesler L4 Alpha Amelie Bruce Milan Bagri L4 Aske Anaya Jess Simran Chavda

U4 A Katie Welply Rachel Becker

U5 A Angela Argyrou Ashleigh Lin

L5 A Ella Ockrim Eliyah Iqbal

U4 Aesc Margi Barot Aparna Shankar

U5 Aesc Lauren Amdor Mia Eldor-Levy

L5 Aesc Alexandra Delaney Sofia Peccei

U4 Aleph Lily Myers Ayza Affan

U5 Aleph Isabel Farmer Charlotte Hooker

L5 Aleph Nethmi Basnayake Natasha Mitra

U4 Alpha Ela Behr Julia Catania

U5 Alpha Isabel Oliver Yun Ip

L5 Alpha Diya Bhasin Lauren Lendrevie

U4 Aske Abigail Sleep Keeara Gorsia

U5 Aske Rachel Simmons-Rosten Matilda Jackson-Long

L5 Aske Charlotte Grant Lara Edige

L5 A Ella Goldstein Lian Baruch

Summer Term

L5 Aesc Saira Glazer Michelle Liu L5 Aleph Hannah Noordin Divyasha Joshi L5 Alpha Maddie Sinclair Amaara Wadhwani L5 Aske Tabby Penn Anushka Halai M5 A Evie Tew Tolu Kale M5 Aesc Jessica Alagaratnam Fasina Bamigboye M5 Aleph Saachi Bajaj Lydia Reid M5 Alpha Honnah Moshal Danielle Nnene M5 Aske Anna Gittleson Anastasia Taylor

L4 A Liyara Mendis Anya Chotai

L4 Aesc Mehrissa Kassam Sofia Lavelle L4 Aleph Isabella Burr Sofia Allen L4 Alpha Kimi Shah Bibi Martin L4 Aske Ameya Barot Anika Shah U4 A Anais Lad Maya Hoch U4 Aesc Sophie Graham Tanya Gupta U4 Aleph Annabel Davis Saskia Berger U4 Alpha Agnes Kay Sianna Thakrar U4 Aske Lily Hamilton Sienna Patel

M5 A Talya Slavin Amber Wright M5 Aesc Faramade Adenle Jamila Salim M5 Aleph Alex Busby Celeste Chhibber M5 Alpha Nicola Marret Jessica Curtis M5 Aske Shalina Sudhir Mali Sheard U5 A Angela Argyrou Ashleigh Lin U5 Aesc Lauren Amdor Mia Eldor-Levy U5 Aleph Isabel Farmer Charlotte Hooker U5 Alpha Isabel Oliver Yun Ip U5 Aske Rachel Simmons-Rosten Matilda Jackson-Long

Habs Life

Destinations

School Prefects

Malaika Adil Lyla Basu Eleanor Bayfield Lucy Bentall Florence Bignell Anna Bonomi Zoe Buchalter Jessica Cavendish Lois Chong Sasha Cohen Emma Corfield Tabatha Cowan Alice Craig Yasmine Cramer Ella Davidson Eleanor Delaney Elizabeth Dray Natalie Ezra Abbie Farsiani Gabriella Fields Josephine Francis Stephanie Frank Eliana Franks Margot Gillespie Chanuki Jayasinghe Ruby Kalms Emily Katz Beth Knight Varssha Kumaraverl Eva Kurzawinska Sheryl Lee Devon Lloyd-Morris Stephanie Madden Emily Matthews Bronte Mulvany Alia Nathoo Dharnya Nimalan Paridhi Oza Sophia Paraskeva Lottie Pasi Anabelle Permutt Liberty Sanders Hannah Scollen Naina Shah Radhika Shah Amy Silverbeck Talana Sodiwala Christie Tsang Georgia Walker Naomi Whitehead Defne Zengin

Senior Team

Tomisin Osibona Head Girl Charlotte Benson Deputy Head Girl Vaisaaly Varatharajan Sixth Form Prefect Harry Derbyshire Upper School Prefect Komal Varshani Middle School Prefect

The Class of 2018: Where are they now? Aston (1) –– Politics and International Relations

Durham (2) –– Anthropology and Archaeology –– Psychology

Birmingham (13) –– Biomedical Science –– Classical Studies –– Classics –– Economics –– English –– Geography –– History –– International Relations –– Medicine –– Philosophy and Theology –– Politics and Internal Relations

Edinburgh (5) –– Electrical and Mechanical Engineering –– English –– Linguistics and Philosophy –– Mechanical Engineering –– Medicine

Bristol (7) –– Childhood Studies –– Civil Engineering –– Criminology –– Medicine –– Philosophy –– Spanish and Beginners’ Italian

Gap year (7) –– Biochemistry –– Dentistry –– History and Economics –– HSPS –– Medicine

Cambridge (8) –– Engineering –– English Literature –– French and German –– Land Economy –– Medicine –– Physical Natural Sciences –– Politics Cardiff (4) –– Architecture –– Biological Sciences –– Optometry –– Philosophy City (3) –– Accounting and Finance –– Optometry

Exeter (2) –– Classics and Spanish –– English

Imperial (10) –– Biomedical Sciences –– Chemistry –– Computer Science –– Design Engineering –– Engineering –– Medicine KCL (3) –– Computer Science –– Dentistry –– History Leeds (6) –– Ancient History and History –– Design Engineering –– Geography –– Music –– Philosophy and Psychology

London South Bank (1) –– Child Psychology Loughborough (1) –– Geography with Sports Science LSE (1) –– Maths and Economics Nottingham (4) –– Classical Civilisation –– Land Economy –– MFL with Business –– Product Design Overseas – US (1) –– Languages Oxford (4) –– History –– Law –– Materials Science –– PPE Sheffield (1) –– War Studies Southampton (2) –– Economics –– Geology and Geophysics St George’s (1) –– Biomedical Science Surrey (1) –– Veterinary Medicine Sussex (2) –– Finance and Business –– Primary Education

UCL (8) –– Biochemistry –– French and Spanish –– Geography –– History –– Medicine UEA (3) –– Biomedical Sciences –– Medicine –– Pharmacy Warwick (8) –– Chemistry with Spanish –– Classics –– History –– Law –– Mathematics –– Politics and International Relations –– Sociology –– Spanish and Management

Habs Life

Obituary: Mrs Penelope Anne Penney (30th September 1942- 31st August 2018)

enelope Penney was born in Berkshire and brought up in Switzerland. She went on to read English at Bristol University. She enjoyed a distinguished career in education, including over 25 years as a Headmistress at four schools, maintained and independent, including 14 years at Haberdashers’ between 1991 and 2005.

published, Hearing the Squirrel’s Heartbeat (2006) and Go and Open the Door (2008).

She saw school assemblies as a way to engage everyone to work towards the same vision and two books of her assembly addresses were

During her time at Haberdashers’, she was President of the Girls’ Schools Association for the year from November 1994 and sought

She was renowned for knowing everyone’s name and believed that the people in an organisation were most important: she said, “Everyone needs and thrives on encouragement, and on the understanding that each has a gift which should be recognised.”

during this time to get a great deal of coverage for the Association and girls’ education. She stepped down as Headmistress in 2005, and took on the role of part-time Educational Adviser to the London Diocesan Board of Schools. In 2012, Mrs Penney became Head of Surval Montreux, returning to the mountains she loved. In her retirement interview with the school magazine she said, “I missed waking up in the morning and looking out over Lake Geneva and the mountains.” She returned to Oxfordshire to be nearer to her children and grandchildren, before her death in August 2018 following a short illness. Adapted from an obituary written by the School Archivist, Judith Curati

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edition I just think it’s the most fabulous job in the whole world, which is what I always say to everyone. I cannot imagine anybody enjoying their work as much as I do! Mrs Penney: The Retirement Interview, 2005-06 Issue

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Habs Life

Charity Report Read about just a few of the events organised by students this year to raise money for their chosen charities.

U4 Aesc: Teacher Talent Show

It was supposed to be a half-hour fundraiser in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. What it became was a whole fabulous hour of musical, dramatic and hairbraiding moments in the Prevett Hall, hosted by Aparna Shankar and Margi Barot. Huge thanks to Mr Turner, Mr Janes, Mr Vallade, Miss Turner, Mrs Bowyer, Mr Thakerar, Mr Davies, Mrs Wallace, Mrs Mee, Miss Wright and Miss Wright. The total raised was £575.22!

M5 Alpha: Secret Valentine’s Delivery Service

As a class we bought the supplies we needed such as: chocolate shaped hearts and little ribbons to write special notes on. We went to different classes, selling chocolates that they could buy for their family, or that we would deliver to a special friend. Overall, we made around £350 and gave it to an amazing charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital. We were all very proud of how much effort everyone put in, and it turned out to be a great result.

L6 SN: Guess how many eggs are in the jar? To raise money for the Cyclone Idai Appeal, L6 SN filled a large jar with chocolate Easter eggs. We asked people to donate 50p to guess the total number of eggs in the jar in the run up to the Easter holidays. The total number of eggs was 275 and we had many students and teachers across the whole School who made a guess. The winner was Mrs Malik who got to keep the jar and all its contents! Our event was a great success and we raised almost £130 in total.

Feature

Public Speaking Takes Centre Stage Using language to formulate and share thoughts is the greatest advantage humans have. The phenomenon of language existing within our species has been widely studied and is often the basis for the claims that we are “distinguished” animals, as our language ability, in its complexity, is unique to us. What is likewise unique to humankind is the desire to put oneself in the spotlight, however uncomfortable it may make us. Combine the two and you become faced with something we all wish we could do well, but simultaneously cower at the very thought of. Public speaking, believe it or not, is never easy for the person performing it, however well-versed and practised they may be as an orator. And yet, despite the unease we may feel speaking in this manner to people, it invariably provides us with the chance to present our ideas to others. It comes as no surprise that as soon as our capacity for language revealed itself, our focus on the manipulation of language subsequently followed. From the instigation of its formalised teaching by the sophists of Ancient Greece, to its modern-day usage by our MPs in the Houses of Parliament, public speaking has firmly established itself as a means to progress in society.

mirrored back to us is pleasing in itself. We need good speakers to challenge our ideas, to convince us that there is more to listening than just letting the words pass us by. A good debate will do one of two things: cause us to rethink our views, uprooting them from their seemingly ingrained place in our minds, or, prompt us to defend such views vehemently, which requires thorough analysis of thought in the first place. Either way, a good public speaker shows us that we can take nothing for granted. There is a great social responsibility vested in public speakers, whether they want it or not, because of their power to influence. Words hold great power in themselves, but the orator’s role in bringing them to life, allowing the ideas, which had previously only danced along a page, to materialise before an audience’s eyes, is unparalleled.

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We have always required good speakers in society simply because they are the people to whom we are more inherently inclined to listen. We are willing to listen to, or at least, concede to take in, the ideas we already agree with, in whatever form the speaker delivers them, calm or incensed, articulate or stunted, because having our own opinions

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It is with that impact in mind that the School has decided to embark on raising and maintaining the profile of public speaking and debate within its walls. It is only right that an institution which prides itself on developing students who can become leaders in their own right, in their future fields, should instil such a skill in them. The world we live in is fast-paced, perhaps even excessively so, such that it will not take the time to appreciate our individual merits or achievements, even if they prove to be earth-shattering. Thus, we have to impress others, as opposed to waiting for others to be impressed by us. Those two clauses are differentiated only by a change in voice, the former active, the latter passive, but this difference manifests itself very obviously when placed in real-life situations.

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Learning to speak publicly and effectively puts one at the forefront, in a position to indeed be scrutinised, yet never dismissed. Whether it be discussing the merit behind leading a vegetarian lifestyle in the DebateMate forum, or striving towards resolution for a humanitarian crisis at a Model United Nations conference, we, as a school, should seize the opportunities we have to debate, to persuade, and to govern, embracing them wholeheartedly. We must learn to use our voices with purpose. Kiana Rezakhanlou L6 JHB

greenhouse edition I was inspired by a new style of debating - British Parliamentary - by a weekend camp in the summer. This style is far more argumentative and includes more people in the debate. Haberdashers’ Girls have performed well in external competitions so far – going through to the next round of the English Speaking Union, and are looking forward to taking part in Cambridge, Oxford, Durham Union competitions. 2002-03 Issue