Issue 26 May 2013 - Page 1Well done girls!

Issue 26 May 2013HEADITORIALDear Parents and Students,Hands up - who knows what a mooc is? They are ‘massive open online courses’ and they have been in the news this week as Europe launches its own MOOC in response to a growing phenomenon in the United States. The first European massive open online course initiative has been launched by the Association of Distance Teaching Universities. Partners from 11 countries, including the Open University, have committed to provide access to around 40 free courses in 12 different languages. Supported by the European Commission, the site contains a database of courses ranging from mathematics to fiction writing (here’s the link if you’re interested – but, girls, you still need to come to school on Monday: http://www.openuped.eu/ ) .The current debate in the USA is whether or not these online courses are likely ever to replace

traditional centres of learning such as universities and colleges.Distance learning not new - everyone is aware of the success of the Open University in the UK and our school website has a link to the excellent not -for-profit MOOC, Khan Academy. We encourage pupils to use our Portal for learning at home. We want girls to be independent workers. Can we envisage, however, a world where we all learn only at our computers? Even with dynamic and well-resourced interactive courses, there will always be some things that only face to face interaction – at school or university – can provide. The limitations of online learning methods are obvious in areas such as sport. What are perhaps less obvious are the generic benefits of collaboration for learning. Although some online collaboration is possible it is no substitute for girls working together as a team and learning from shared experiences and each other in real time. Some wonderful examples of collaborative learning projects were to be seen at BHHS this week at the Sussex Young Enterprise finals which we hosted (and which we won!) and in the outstanding collaborative performances for GCSE and A Level Dance examinations. We also encourage lots of paired and group activities across all subjects and I’ve seen some excellent practice in some of the lessons I’ve been observing recently where girls are responsible for one another’s learning as well as their own. Thus, the success of one girl helps other girls to be successful - and the accolades our girls received from the Trust’s Film Competition last month are testament to this.Advances in technology and modern management approaches put an increased emphasis on teamwork in organisations. 21st Century workers need to be able to think creatively, solve problems, and make decisions as a team. Therefore, the development and enhancement of critical-thinking skills through collaborative learning should be at the centre of what we do in schools – moocs or no moocs! Have a good weekend.

Jennifer Smith

Next week at the Senior School

Mon 6: Bank HolidayTues 7: DT trip to Design Museum 5:30pm Cred meeting for parentsWed 8: Sixth Form Theatre Studies exam Thurs 9: 7:30pm School ConcertFri 10: last day for Y11 and Y12

Old school uniformAll old school uniform can be dropped off at the Junior school on the following days, Thursday 11th July and Friday the 12th also for one week only from 15th July.

Recycling campaignWe are now coming to the end of our second week of food recycling, the Girls have been very supportive by separating their food from other waste, and teaching and support staffs have also played their part by using small caddies in the staff kitchen, staff social and the catering team have been busy helping with monitoring the bins in the girls canteen, so we have hardly any food waste going to land fill now. The next phase will be the reinstatement of the eco committee, which we hope to launch after half term, which I hope the girls will take an active part, in the past the last committee achieved the bronze and sliver flag from Eco School, going forward I hope we can fly the green flag as well. Once again many thanks to all the girls and staff for their support.

Mrs M. Leppard, Facilties Manager

PE NEWSSummer SportsSo far this term we have had some very exciting Rounders and Aegon league Tennis matches.The Under 13 Tennis team have played against Brighton College and St Bedes; our team of Tia Brierley, Eden Burgess, Elise Rutler, Bella Thomas, Sophie West and Emily Cormack played exceptionally well and we won some of our games. We also have matches next week on Wednesday, 8th May against Moira House in the Under 13 and Under 15 sections of the Aegon leagueWe have also played a number of Rounders matches this term; the Under 14s and 15s played Mayfield and Brighton College. Both teams put in excellent performances. The Under 12 A and B teams played Roedean this week and played very well and our B team won 10 -8. Well done!

There are many more Athletics, Tennis and Rounders matches throughout the term please see the fixtures list on the Portal for detailsSenior house Tennis is this Friday at St Anne’s Well Gardens

Ms E. Osborne, Head of PE

School Coucil TrainingLast Friday, despite the wet weather, the newly elected School Council took part in a training day led by Ace Adventures. The day involved all members of the newly elected School Council and Head Girl team working together to solve practical problems and develop their leadership and communication skills. The girls worked on a range of activities including building buggies to transport their colleagues across a swamp and transporting sick patients across ravines. It was a challenging but fun day and the new team bonded well. The first meeting of the newly elected School Council will be Wednesday 8th May.

CREDOn Thursday morning Years 8 to 10 were given introductory information about the trip that CRED are planning to the Women At Risk (WAR) project in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia in July 2014. Jimmy Macpherson and a director from CRED will return on Tuesday 7th May at 5.30pm to talk to any parents and pupils who are interested in joining the trip.

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MURDER IN “CELEB-BY-SEA”It’s not every English department that can boast a published novelist on its staff, but that’s true of Brighton and Hove High School. Under his pen name Mark Peterson, English teacher Mr Bingham publishes crime novels set in Brighton. This week sees the launch of his second book, a rollercoaster thriller called A Place of Blood and Bone. We caught up with “Mark” at Brighton: Crime Scene, a special event organised by Waterstones in Brighton to celebrate the launch of the book.In A Place of Blood and Bone, the police in Brighton are investigating two apparently

unconnected crimes. The first is a series of grisly murders and the second is the abduction of Eden Martin, the teenage daughter of Brighton celebrity and TV presenter, Abi Martin.“Abi seems to have it all,” Mark Peterson told the audience at Waterstones. “A wonderful job presenting breakfast TV, a boyfriend twenty years her junior, and a fabulous ranch-style house in Rottingdean. But things aren’t quite what they seem and Abi’s lifestyle really comes off the rails when her daughter is snatched from the Downs behind her house.”Brighton continues to be Mark’s inspiration. As well as a reputation for the rich and the famous people, making the city what Mark called “celeb-by-sea”, Brighton has a murderous past. In A Place of Blood and Bone, the police discover a dismembered body stuffed into a suitcase at Brighton station. “That’s a nod to the Brighton Trunk Murders,” Mark told the audience. “In the notorious summer of 1934, two bodies were found in separate suitcases in the city. To this day, one of the murders remains unsolved.” A Place of Blood and Bone is out now in Orion hardback, paperback and Kindle editions. It’s available in Waterstones, City Books, The Kemptown Bookshop and on-line. Everyone at BHHS wishes Mr Bingham - oops, Mark Peterson! - the greatest success with the book.

Amazing Esme – Author Visit and Book SigningLast Thursday girls in Reception to Year 4 loved meeting Tamara Macfarlane, author of the ‘Amazing Esme’ series of books. They had great fun planning a ‘Bad Mannered Tea Party’ and deciding what they would like to be if they joined the circus!Who will be the champions this year??!

EDITORIAL

Dear ParentsWe are delighted with the fantastic turnout at our two open events this week. There was a very relaxed atmosphere and we felt that parents enjoyed the opportunity to get involved with the activities and chat to other prospective and current parents. We hope to follow a similar format in the future. Fingers crossed that the lovely weather will hold for the Children’s Parade on Saturday, please look out for us – number 56. Have a wonderful restful Bank Holiday weekend.Best Wishes Sian Cattaneo

Rounders Team Success!Congratulations to the U11a,b & c Rounders teams who played against Burgess Hill on Wednesday. The C’s won, the B’s drew and the A’s lost but were commended for their excellent catching skills in the second innings. Special mention to Rae Healey who played an excellent and intelligent game!

Green FingersReception class have been busy enjoying the arrival of the sunshine this week! As part of our topic we have been planting our vegetables in our outside garden and potting up some sunflowers inside. We will be having a sunflower competition to see who’s sunflower is the tallest - we hope you enjoy them in the playground!

Kandinksy Inspired Art Club PiecesUsing some of Kandinsky’s paintings as inspiration, the art club pupils created their own large scale picture using chalks on the playground. They used fantastic teamwork to complete this well-balanced, colourful and effective piece.

Swimming a Mile For CharitySome of you may be aware that Bonnie White (Y4) will be swimming a mile (approximately 80 lengths) at the Brighton Swimming Centre on Friday 17th May to raise money for Winstons Wish. If you would like to donate money to help Bonnie reach her goal total, please visit her Just Giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/Bonnie-White

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Summer Term AssessmentsYears 3-5 will be taking their end of term assessments in English, Maths and Science ( for years 5 and 6 only) from Friday 10th May- 17th May. These will be done during lesson times and are designed to be an assessment of the progress that your daughter has made this year. These results will be on end of year reports alongside a teacher assessment. Any revision or consolidation will be covered in class and possibly as homework so it is not necesaary for your daughter to do extra revision or worry unnecessarily. Please could you support your daughter by ensuring that she has good sleep throughout this time.The assessment timetables will be displayed on the dining room window from next week.The Year 6 assessments will take place the following week beginning 20th May.

Cancelled – Athletics Club Athletics Club has been cancelled on 9th May and 6th June for Years 5 and 6. However they are invited to take part in the Year 3 and 4 Athletics on the Monday of those weeks if they want to (Monday 6th May and Monday 3rd June). A letter will also be passed to your daughter by Mrs Hausdoerfer.

Cancelled - Rounders Next WeekThere will be no Year 5/6 Rounders club on Tuesday 7th May due to staff absence at A-Level PE Moderation.

Netball legend pays a visit to Brighton and HoveFrom “The Argus Saturday 27th April 2013

Brighton and Hove High School welcomed an England Netball legend to their ranks as part of the International Netball Roadshow.Olivia Murphy, who represented England 95 times, visited the school as part of Activate Sport’s Olympic legacy campaign to mentor Sussex’s budding netballers.Murphy, who is head coach of Loughborough University’s netball team, leads netball camps during the Easter holidays and was at Brighton and Hove High School for three days.She said: “The children get to practise some of the international drills and be coached in a way that is almost identical to international players.”

Olivia Murphy with netball players at Brighton and Hove High School

CREATIVE WRITING SUCCESSCongratulations to Maya Wall in 8U! Her fantastic poem has been selected to go through to the final round of the Brighton Festival Peacock Poetry Competition. She has been invited to high tea with Michael Rosen in the Brighton Pavilion Tea Rooms on the 18th May when the winners will be announced.Maya entered the competition because she saw the details on the competitions page of the English portal site! Please check out this site for other wonderful competitions - including some fabulous film competitions. Indeed if your daughter is a budding poet, do encourage her to submit a poem to Mrs Ashdown for the GDST Laurie Magnus poetry prize - full details on the portal. In the meantime, fingers crossed for Maya on the 18th.

JUNIOR SCHOOL CALENDARSat 4th BRIGHTON FESTIVAL CHILDRENS’ PARADE Mon 6th BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY Wed 8th Year 2,1 PARENT ASSEMBLY 2.30 – U9 Rounders, Lancing Away U11 Rounders, Broadwater Manor School, Away U10 Rounders, Lancing, AwayThurs 9th 9.00 YearGroup School Photographs Lunch for Year 1.a Parents 10.30 - Alanna Orpen, Dance and science sessions with Years 3 and 5 in the Hall. Fri 10th 10.30 - Alanna Orpen, Dance and science sessions with Years 4 and 6 in the Hall.

Click on the pictures below to open the Galleries

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AS Exam Performance 2012

The Trial February 2013

Touched January 2012

Amy Eddisford – Kidd in year 13 has got a place in the National Youth Theatre for the Summer. She has also got into the last 20 for a place at the Lir Academy Dublin (http://www.thelir.ie/) and has been re called for a second audition to RADA. Let’s find out more about this talented young lady!

MacBeth December 2009

Seeking Cinders December 2010

What was the audition like?I auditioned for the National Youth Theatre on 20th February. There are two parts to the audition; a group workshop and a ten minutes audition and interview with one of the directors. I had auditioned before when I was 14 so I knew what to expect. It’s easy to get too nervous and over think everything you’re doing and saying, but the morning really is just about playing and having. They want people who don’t take themselves too seriously, can really throw themselves into the work and who aren’t afraid to make mistakes but just laugh it off and carry on. Even if you don’t get in, the day is a lot of fun and a really worthwhile thing to do.

How many people apply and how many people get in?Officially they say that around 3, 000 people apply, but more apply every year so it must be getting closer to the 4, 000 mark now. They offer 300 people places a year, but once you’re a member and you’ve completed the summer course you stay a member until you’re 21 – they also have a group called Epic Stages which you can go on to be a member of until you’re 25.

What’s next now you’re a member? I have to complete the summer course. I’ll be in the 18-21 group so my course is 20th-31st August this summer. It takes place at Rose Bruford (a drama school in Sidcup, London). The summer course is mostly about ensemble work, working as team of young actors and learning to shed your inhibitions and enjoy playing again.

How could it support your future applications? Universities love it if you’ve been a member of the National Youth Theatre. It’s very well known and well respected throughout Britain and, if you’re applying for something other than drama, it shows that you have other hobbies and you’re a varied and interesting person. If you are applying to do drama then it shows your dedication to your subject and that you already know a bit about what it takes to be involved in the theatre. It’s a great thing to put on your UCAS personal statement. I’m actually not applying for University this year as I definitely know I want to be a professional actress, so I’ve applied for Drama School to do vocational actor training. NYT really helps with those applications too!

How are your Drama School applications going? I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how far I’ve got this year. I’ve had recalls for Oxford School of Drama and RADA and I got into the final round of auditions for the Lire Academy, which is a really new and exciting Drama School in Dublin. The Lire auditioned 1, 500 people from across Europe in Dublin as well as another 1,500 people from across America. They only take 14 people and I didn’t get offered a place but I’ve been put as first reserve. If I don’t get in this year I’ll apply again in September and I have a few different options for what I can do in the meantime, all within the theatre and which would help me gain valuable experience!

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This week Interview

SIXTH FORM NEWS

Amy’s tips• Join a local youth theatre! This will keep you involved in acting and will give you opportunities to perform. www.actbrighton.org/akt.php• Audition for National Youth Theatre! Honestly even if you don’t become a member the audition itself is a wonderful experience and if you do it opens up a wide range of opportunities. Also, don’t give up if you don’t get in first time www.nyt.org.uk • Join ideastap, this is a fantastic resource for any young person interested in the arts – not just young actors and performers. They post jobs, opportunities, events, workshops, summer school and much, much more. www.ideastap.com • My main tip would just be not to give up. There is an awful lot of rejection in acting, a lot more than most people realise. One of my directors once told me that as an actor you should always remember “you are never as good as you think you are, but you are never as bad as you think you are either”, I think this is a really valuable piece of advice. You must always believe in yourself – you can do it!

For more info www.nyt.org.uk/

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PAST NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE MEMBERS:It launched the careers of some of Britain’s biggest stars, including Dame Helen Mirren, Colin Firth and Jude Law. Doctor Who’s, Matt Smith honed his acting skills there, and it was where David Walliams and Matt Lucas of Little Britain fame met.

CareerstartLast week, the Year 12, who have been newly elected into their officer positions, took part in a Careerstart session led by Kieron Smith from GDST Head Office. This session explored leadership and management and what makes an effective leader. It was a really insightful and useful session and concluded with Year 12 pitching ideas for clubs and activities at the Junior School which they could help to set up. We are looking forward to presenting these ideas to Mrs Cattaneo and Miss Parker and hope to get some of these ideas adopted at the Junior School next year.

Young EnterpriseWe were delighted on Tuesday to host the Young Enterprise Area Finals for the second year. Our three companies did very well indeed to reach this far in the competition since it involves a good deal of hard work and commitment, as well as coping with all kinds of unexpected challenges. For example the unexpected cancellation of the Brighton Marina trade fair (due to unseasonably minus temperatures!) left many companies over stocked. Thus all nine companies represented on Tuesday evening were excited and thrilled to have survived so far!The evening was lead with professional efficiency by Georgina Angele of Brighton and Hove jobs and all judges came from a variety of local companies. BHHS did amazingly well: Generation X11, with MDs Monet Alleyne-Budge and Joyce Tang, won Best Presentation and Best Marketing and were placed third overall. Very special congratulations must go to Old’s Cool, with MD Alice Cavel Barret, who not only won Best Product / Service but also won the whole competition! They now go through to the Area Finals held at East Grinstead on Monday 13th May.The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Bill Randall, has been particularly supportive of Young Enterprise this year, he took great interest in the companies at the Churchill Square trade fair. As his final complement to the students he has invited Old’s Cool to a “tea and tour” visit to the Mayor’s parlour on May 15th. Old’s Cool are thrilled to be representing BHHS at this prestigious occasion and feel it is a very positive step in Brighton’s continuing support for the dynamism and enterprise of all its young people. Mrs J. Doughty

6th Form CalendarMonday 13th May Year 12 Study Leave begins Thursday 16th May A Level Art Exhibition Tuesday 11th June Year 12 return to school. EPQ/ Advanced Study Skills Day Wednesday 12th June EPQ/ Advanced Study Skills Day Thursday 13th June A2 courses begin Monday 24th June UCAS Day Thursday 15th August AS results available from 11am.

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