A Celebration of Spring!

The Heritage Spring Concert started with a bang as the Year 8 Samba Band took to the stage with their rousing drumming. We heard fantastic singing from all the Juniors and Seniors in their massed choirs, and also some excellent class work from Year 3 glockenspiels, Year 4 recorders, Year 5 ocarinas, Year 6 ukuleles, with Year 7 finishing the concert with an exciting djembe drum finale. We also heard some beautiful solos, on the piano, violin, the clarinet and the harp and enjoyed many of the other ensembles that rehearse regularly at Heritage including the orchestra, string and wind groups. A hugely enjoyable evening was had by parents, staff and pupils alike.  Bravo to Mrs Zurcher for her amazing work developing the music at Heritage over the past 2 years, and for bringing such life and enthusiasm to the department.  We wish her well as she starts her Maternity Leave and we welcome Mr Kwan as he joins us in the Summer Term.

A Fantastic Performance of ‘Twelfth Night’

Last week, Panton Hall was packed out for the fantastic Year 8 performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’. The play is one of his classic comedies – filled with mistaken identities, love at first sight, practical jokes and a barrel of laughs. Many commented on how the whole class’ performance showed their impressive understanding of the plot and language – not an easy task! Every student took an onstage part, and each made great progress in their confidence.
Catherine R. took the central role of Viola who dresses up as the boy Cesario, and shone in her performance. Hallam B. also took up the challenging role of Malvolio, who needs to be both comic in his yellow-stockings and tragic as he is ‘notoriously abused’ at the conclusion of the play. Special mention should also go to Mara P. who confidently controlled the lighting of the whole show, having learnt how to do this for the first time!
Thanks again to all the parents who supported the production, by helping students learn lines, providing costumes and coming to enjoy the show. It couldn’t have happened without you.  Enjoy the photos from the production on the Parent Portal, and thanks to Colin Hulett for taking them!
Mrs Strachan

Planning for the Future

13 March 2019

Dear Parents,

I am writing today to tell you about an opportunity for us to secure the work of Heritage School on our current site. Our landlords informed us recently that they have decided to sell 17-19 Brookside. It could be put on the market in mid to late April. We will continue to operate under the terms of our current lease, meaning we can remain on our site for at least another two and a half years.

We are working hard to pull together a strong purchase offer (Plan A). We acted immediately to begin organising finance. We have spoken to banks, friendly investors, potential donors and charitable trusts who share our vision, both in the UK and also in the US. The response has been encouraging. We commissioned Bidwells to undertake a valuation for us and to act on our behalf in negotiations.

Another option would be to enter into a long-term lease with a new landlord (Plan B). We are in conversation with supporters who are actively considering this as a long-term investment. Signing a new long-term lease with us could be appealing to other prospective buyers as well.

If a new owner did not want us to remain on site we might need to move to alternative premises by August 2021, i.e. after two more academic years. Against that unlikely possibility, we are also investigating alternative sites (Plan C) with support from Bidwells. There are some excellent options under consideration which could open up new opportunities for us.

We understand how important it is to clarify where the school will be operating in the future, so you can plan for your child(ren) accordingly. We would encourage you to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach. During the Summer Term we expect to have considerably more information about the long-term outlook and we will keep you regularly informed of significant developments. For more information please refer in the first instance to the accompanying document Brookside Sale: Questions and Answers.

In addition, I would be very happy to meet with you individually if you would find that helpful. Please contact Carrie Baker in the School Office to make an appointment with me, or alternatively with Tom Amies, our Chair of Trustees. Catriona Buchanan, our Bursar, is also available should you wish to meet with her (c.buchanan@heritageschool.org.uk), as is Cecilia Amies, who handles our communications (c.amies@heritageschool.org.uk).

We have come a long way since the school was founded in 2007 and are very positive about the possibilities before us. Please be assured that we are more committed than ever to this important work with your children.

Thank you for your support.

Yours faithfully,

J W Fletcher

Headmaster

World Book Day 2019

What an exciting World Book Day we had!

Pupils and staff throughout the school enjoyed dressing up as their favourite characters and the Infants and Juniors had a wonderful time in assembly admiring the various costumes. There was a vast range of interesting characters including popular fiction characters such as Hiccup the Viking and the Gruffalo as well as some real-life characters such as Corrie ten Boom and Harriet Tubman.   

There were across the school, a range of book related activities happening, including of course in the library.  Mrs Pilkington had her usual fun activity : Guess The Shredded Book, and each Junior class had a library session where pupils presented their ideas for a new book in the library.  After a secret ballot a book (or three) where chosen.   There was also a Book Worm Hunt looking for where a Book Worm had been spotted reading in different places around the school.  He was even spotted reading a book on the loo (!) and the children had a great time looking around the school for him. Many staff had a picture of a book they were reading at home on their doors to share the idea that reading is for everyone.  

We are also thankful to the parent volunteers who came into school at the end of the day to share their favourite books with the Infant and Junior classes. The children thoroughly enjoyed this and I am sure this is a new Heriatage World Book Day tradition we have begun.  Another highlight for many classes was the chance for a pupil to read to another pupil from another class and vice-versa.  This was such a special time loved many of the children.

Thank you for sending in your donations.  The Junior School Council plan to visit the bookshop before the end of term to use the money to buy the books each class selected.  

Here is a quick overview of some of the additional exciting activities each class did on World Book Day:

Lower Prep

In Lower Prep the children were drawing pictures of themselves in their costumes and writing a sentence about them.  They also made a special book mark using pictures of books, so they had a special memory of their first World Book Day at school.  

Upper Prep

The Upper Prep children were working in groups, as authors and illustrators making their own books.  They also shared a special time with Year 4 reading together.

Year 2

Forest School took on a World Book Day theme for Year 2 and the woods were transformed into an outdoor theatre. The children enjoyed making wooden tickets for the performance before either taking part in or watching the play – Cinderella!  Mr Catley showed the class how to cook popcorn over a camp fire (using a brilliant popcorn machine made from two metal sieves attached together) so the children enjoyed the show with a cone of popcorn in hand !

Year 3 had a really fun way of sharing a favourite book with the class.  They all placed their books in Mr Grinling’s ( Mrs Symon’s) basket and covered them with a tea towel. Each child then picked a book and the owner talked about it. A book review was then completed.   They also enjoyed sharing books with Year 5. During the Library session Year 3 also voted for a new book for the library.

Year 4

In Year 4 the highlight was looking for the Book Worm and dressing up.   They all enjoyed the opportunity to sketch each other in their costumes as well as their book reviews.  In addition, they loved reading with Upper Prep.

Year 5

Year 5 began the day with a Book Word Search. They had an extra library session to vote for a new book and excitingly all 3 books were equally voted for , so Mrs Pilkington agreed the class could have all 3 books.  They also enjoyed being with Year 3 to share books.

Year 6

A visit to Year 2 was enjoyed by Year 6 in order to share books.  They also had a lovely time in Art sketching themselves in costume.  They also shared some books from home with each other that they thought the class might enjoy.

Seniors

The Senior school also enjoyed World Book Day with many pupils dressing up and starting the day with their poetry recitations during assembly.  A highlight was a Book Quiz hosted by Mrs Pilkington and Mrs Wren, with a range of questions including; Was Mary’s Little Lamb a boy or a girl?

We are now all looking forward to World Book Day 2020!

A Music Recital in Queens’ College Chapel

An invitation was given to our more experienced players, to perform their chosen pieces in the beautiful, candlelit setting of Queens’ College Chapel.  In all, 15 pupils from Year 2 through to Year 11, rose to the occasion, demonstrating fantastic musicianship as they played and supported their friends in front of a small audience of family and teachers. Performances included Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’ played by Nathaniel on the piano, an iGCSE music composition performed by Thomas and Peter, Aratunian’s ‘Impromptu’ played by Anastasia on the cello, ‘Where is Love’ sung by Hope, and Faure’s ‘Morceau de Concours’ played by Isla on the flute.
Thank you to all pupils who worked so hard and to Dr and Mrs Zurcher for their part, hosting and creating such a memorable evening of music-making!