Championship Record for Head Boy at British Rowing Indoor Championships

Earlier this month, Head Boy, William Buchanan went to the Velodrome in London for the British Rowing Indoor Championships.  He competed in the Y 11 Boys Event – a race over 6 minutes during which he travelled 1,844 metres earning a magnificent 2nd place.  He later took part in the Junior Mixed Relay – a race over 8 minutes in which a team of 4 tries to go as far as they can.  William’s crew achieved 2,692 metres, setting a new championship record and winning the event.
William began rowing with the City of Cambridge Rowing Club two years ago.  He now rows in the GB Rowing Development Programme – GBR World Class Start.  He trains every day, with a mixture of weights, cycling, erging and training on the water in singles and occasionally doubles.  Seven times a year he goes to the Nottingham Rowing Lake for ‘testing camp’  for further tests on the erg,  on water and land.  His goal is to make the Senior Men’s Team and compete at the Olympics, hopefully winning gold!   We wish him many congratulations so far and every success going forwards!

School Magazine Launched Today

Heritage’s first School Magazine Club launched this term and has been a great success.  Led by Sylvia Carr Clebsch – a writer, editor and journalist and a Heritage parent, the Club consisted of ten Juniors and five Seniors, meeting weekly throughout the term.

Sylvia said ‘‘It was really exciting to work together to create the concept of what we thought a Heritage magazine should be. I was impressed by how well the children were able to follow instructions for assignments, accept feedback, and work independently. I was also impressed by the pride they took in their work and their investment in it.’

They focused on writing poems and stories (fiction and memoir) and short news articles about school activities.  In addition, the children drew their own illustrations, and took their own artistic photos. (They used staff photos for the activities section.)  Every child in the club contributed something for the first publication; and many took key roles behind the scenes with the typing and lay out.

Together they’ve created a 28-page full-colour magazine, the theme of which is ‘Autumn.’  It will be sold for £3 (which can be added to your school bill) and available from Tuesday 11th December in the playground before and after school and at the Christmas Concert and Nativity. Alternatively, you can email Sylvia Sylvia.clebsch@gmail.com to order your copy direct!

Christmas Lunch at Queens’ College

The torrential rain stopped and the crocodile of Heritage Infants and Juniors made its way across the Fen to Queens’ College, helped over puddles and across roads by staff and parent volunteers bedecked in sparkly antlers and other festive finery. Once again Queens’ laid on a wonderful lunch, and everyone from the youngest LP to the oldest in Y6 wolfed down a Christmas roast and a delicious pudding, leaving almost entirely empty plates and pleasingly chocolatey smiling faces. “The best meal of the entire year”, “I am SO happy”, “that was deeeelicious”, enthused some of the children before singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, to the chefs and staff at Queens’, and heading back to school wearing the Christmas crowns they’d made especially for the occasion.
Huge thanks to the staff at Queens’ College and to Heritage staff and parent volunteers, and special thanks to Evelyn Taylor and Meg Lowe for all their hard work in ensuring that this year’s Christmas lunch went so smoothly.

Swimming Gala Makes A Splash

We all enjoyed our first all inclusive y3-11 swimming gala last week at The Leys : Dragon v Griffin v Phoenix v Pegasus. The Seniors were on first, with races ranging from 50m Individual, to the Large Float Relay (harder than it sounds) and the Whole Squad Relay.

Then the Juniors took to the pool, again swimming some individual strokes over 25m, before participating in team races such as the ‘Woggle and Kick’.  The atmosphere was loud – to say the least – with all teams and House Captains working together to cheer on their competitors.

Results will be announced shortly and added to the Inter-House scores (all of which count towards the Inter-House Cup to be presented to the House with the highest total after all the competitions this academic year.)  

Mrs Eastwood

A Christmas Carol by Year 7

Year 7 did a tremendous job last week in their performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’, putting everybody into the Christmas spirit. Every pupil took part and various staff members came together to help make it an enjoyable and successful production. Many thanks to all involved. (Mrs Strachan)

‘Tense and full of adrenaline, I sat on the edge of my seat, my fingers nervously tapping the sides. I was about to go on stage and I had the butterflies. A million worries flew around my head, too fast to count.

“Ok, you’re on now.” said Mrs Strachan in a stressed whisper. I adjusted my shawl, straightened my skirt, and then I was out on stage.

“Money for the poor, ” I cried as I walked up to the stage. For one terrible, heart-stopping moment, I couldn’t remember my lines, then as the blinding spotlights fell upon me, it all came back. I went through my part without a moment’s hesitation, and I was loving it. Afterwards, I knew I had done my best and I was pleased and proud. Everything else went down in a colourful blur.’  (Madeleine S)