House News

House Music

On 18th March, the annual and hotly contested House Music competition took place in the school Chapel. Each House performed both a song and hymn of their choice. The standard was very high considering time had only allowed two rehearsals! Soloists performing a variety of pieces, which included singing, drums, electric guitar and piano, followed the group numbers. It was obvious that the result was going to be close and so it proved to be... Kean pipped McCormack by just one point to be crowned winners for 2020.

House Quiz

In December,18 brave, clever fi nalists took to the stage to compete in the annual House quiz which is always a hotly contested event. This year was no different! Rounds included naming fl ags, musicals, general knowledge, capital cities and well-known people. There were also specifi c rounds for the different age ranges as well as whole team questions. As usual, the children watching were as competitive as the fi nalists but there had to be a winner, who this year were... Murtough! Huge thanks go to Mr Middleton for preparing the questions and slides.

House Sport Results

Football Murtough Rugby McCormack Girls Hockey Kean Netball Kean Boys Hockey Murtough Girls Cross Country Kean

House Poetry

On Thursday 3rd October, children from Years 3 -8 celebrated National Poetry day by taking part in the House Poetry Final Day. Over the preceding few weeks, they all wrote a poem in their English lessons on the theme of ‘Truth’. Their teachers then had the very difficult task of selecting a finalist from each House and year group. This was a very hard job as all the poems were so creative.

The Year 8 Drama Captains, Fraser (8G), Ben (8G) and Oscar (8G), compèred the event, introducing guest judge, Mr Oldroyd, and then introducing each poet. The poems were displayed on a big screen so the audience could read them as well as listening. The finalists all read their work loudly and clearly and with great expression and it was wonderful to hear such a variety of poems. Some made the audience laugh out loud while others were sad and melancholy and some even frightening!

While Mr Oldroyd deliberated, some of the members of Drama Club performed Roald Dahl’s comic poem ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ and everyone enjoyed their funny version!

Mr Oldroyd praised all the finalists, then announced the winner from each year group: Year 3 Eliza, Year 4 Charlie T, Year 5 Sam, Year 6 Erin, Year 7 Taylor, Year 8 Rupert... and then the overall winner Kean!

Thanks to all the English teachers and Mrs Goedkoop for helping their classes write such wonderful poetry, Mrs Wood for setting up all the technical equipment and Mr Oldroyd for being our judge. I’d also like to thank the Year 8 Drama Captains for compèring the event in such a professional way and the Year 8 Heads of Houses, James, Alexander and Nicholas for reading the poems of the Year 6 finalists as Year 6 were out on a school trip to Wisley. Boys, you did a fantastic job!

‘Truth’ Try to tell the truth. Rely on the truth. Use kindness, not lies. Think before you talk. Have you learnt to tell the truth?

Eliza, Kean

‘3 Truths and a Lie’

It’s true I have seen a cute yellow duckling swimming on a lake, It’s true I had an eleven year old St Bernard, this truth is not a fake! It’s true I’ve seen a red blood moon, It’s true I’ve been to Disneyland Paris and heard a big ba boom! Which do you think is my not truth?

Charlie, Kean Mrs Mason

Year 3 finalists

Eliza, Emilia, Autumn

Year 4 finalists

Charlie T, Amelie, Daisy-Skye

Year 5 finalists Molly, Sam, Chloe

Year 6 finalists Jack, Chloe, Erin

Year 7 finalists

Jess, Taylor, Barnaby

Year 8 finalists

Max, Isobel, Rupert

‘It’s true!’ It’s true, it’s true, it’s true, I swear I’m telling you! It’s true I pulled off a spider’s head, It’s true I don’t like to sleep in a bed And hear the surprising part of a story, I’m the sort of person that’s into gory! It’s true I don’t like a flower with a petal, ‘Cos my music is HEAVY METAL!

Sam, McCormack

‘The Mirror’ Everyone sees the truth even if you cover it. As she applies layers upon layers of thick foundation on top of her smooth skin. Smothers bright red eyeshadow on top of her heavy eyelids, As she tries a million times to get her eyeliner perfect, Hours contouring her face, she applies highlighter until she looks as shiny as a disco ball. She curls her eyelashes for so long that eventually they would fall out.

Layers of clumpy mascara hid her eyelids, She spent hours upon hours layering makeup onto her beautiful face, until she almost looked like she was made of plastic. But even when she did this the mean names she got called , Just wouldn’t stop , No matter how hard she tried.

Until one day, She looked up at herself in the dirty bathroom mirror. Until she saw a beautiful face under all that makeup, For once in her life she felt a worth in herself.

Erin, Murtough

‘The Truth’

I went on social media and saw a guy called Harry. It said he had a six pack And bulging muscles.

Then I saw a girl with an IQ of 150. She wears glasses and had a BIG head.

Then there was a man called James. It said he had a private island, and a fi ve storey mansion Also a private jet.

Then a girl called Sam who APPARENTLY had fi ve DOGS, four CATS and two HORSES She also had three HAMSTERS.

Last but not least is a man called Jerry. Jerry said he won a gold medal in the Olympics in every sport. He also said he was faster than Usain Bolt. Then I meet Harry. He had no six pack and no muscles. In fact he was as thin as a stick and very weak.

Then I met the girl. I asked her, “What is 2 x 2?” And she said, “Five.” Also she had a small head.

Then I meet James. I thought he would arrive in his private jet or a super car but I was wrong. He arrived in a Ford Fiesta and his house was a small apartment.

Then I saw Sam. I went to her house and she had no pets at all.

Then I met Jerry who raced me. I beat him in every sport, he was defi nitely not an Olympian.

A bit of advice. Always be yourself.

‘The Truth about Lies’ The thing is I know a secret truth The secret truth about lies. Those sick sly creatures that hide in little nooks and crannies.

The thing is, Lies are nasty They slither into your mouth and then at the wrong time They slither back out again.

“I have twenty two brothers.” One will unwillingly say. That’s not all. They apparently have forty four sisters.

Lies you say But truth doesn’t answer Except it’s a lie. “I almost forgot, I’ve got four parents too.”

Now the truth is tired Lies have got the better of it But now it’s the end of the school day. The lies have slithered to teacher.

“I know pi off by heart!” Time to leave Or the lies might come and get you.

Rupert, Murtough

Book Week at Barrow Hills

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss

In March, our children enjoyed a week long programme of literary activities to celebrate the 23rd World Book Day.

Celebrations began with a very special visitor; a tiger came to tea! Mrs Mason, Head of English and Drama, read all the Pre-Prep children a story, which was followed by delicious orange tiger biscuits and craft activities in the library.

On Tuesday 3rd March, we held the ever successful Usborne Book Fair in the dance studio. Children had the opportunity to purchase books for themselves or as a donation for the school libraries.

During the morning of Wednesday 4th March, volunteer parents, teachers and Year 8 children took part in Reading Aloud Hour for the whole school. Carl Sagan said that, “One of the greatest gifts adults can give - to their offspring and to their society - is to read to children”, and this is certainly encouraged at Barrow Hills throughout all year groups, not just during book week!

On Thursday 5th March, the school welcomed Ally Sherrick, children’s author and huge history fan. Ally delivered a number of interactive presentations and workshops about being an author and how to fi nd inspiration for writing a story. She also conducted a number of book signings during the day for all the children who had ordered copies of her books, ‘Black Powder’ and ‘The Buried Crown’. That evening, many children returned to school for bedtime stories and hot chocolate - always a winning combination! Over the course of the week, the children also had the chance to take part in a Literary Cluedo activity, fi nding clues and eliminating suspects around the school.

Friday 8th March saw the culmination of the celebrations, as everyone was encouraged to arrive at school dressed as a character from their favourite book. There was a fantastic array of costumes from both children and staff.

Mrs Emmett, Librarian and Mrs Mason, coordinated the week-long programme of celebrations. Mrs Emmett commented, “There are innumerable benefi ts of encouraging a child’s love of books and reading. Not only does it improve cognitive development and language but also expands imagination and empathetic skills. Studies have also shown the importance of reading in lowering levels of stress and improving overall wellbeing. At Barrow Hills, our Pupil Profi le encourages children to be scholarly, curious and joyful, attributes which are attributes which are all supported by a passion for books, hence a week’s worth of activities rather than just one day.”