This week, our budding chefs in Year 4 took over the food technology room to make apple flapjack pies using Mrs Quarms’ famous family recipe. The aroma wafted through the room as they worked, and the final creation received rave reviews from everyone who had the pleasure of tasting it.
In a thrilling showcase of skill and teamwork, our Lower School pupils battled it out in the House Hockey competition. Nelson Mandela emerged victorious, securing first place, with Cicely Saunders close behind in second and Oscar Romero claiming third. Kudos to our talented players and the PE department for orchestrating a fantastic afternoon of spirited competition!
On Thursday evening our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils went on a social theatre trip to watch the UK national tour production of The Wizard of Oz by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Formerly performed at The London Palladium, the company are now touring all areas of the country and the pupils watched the performance at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The theatre visit was organised by Mrs Schofield and several members of staff joined the children for the evening.
During the evening the show had to be halted when one of the company fell on stage and our pupils showed impeccable behaviour throughout the wait until the performance resumed with the understudy in place.
Theatre visits are an important addition to our expansive curriculum and complement other cultural experiences such as museum visits and tours of art galleries.
“One thing I learnt on our visit is that you do not go as a tourist but as a witness, a witness to genocide and to make sure history does not repeat itself.”
Well done to Year 11 who worked hard during Enterprise Day, developing a range of skills including leadership, communication, creativity and teamwork. In groups of four they developed pitches to win a catering contract, paying close attention to their finances and unique selling points, alongside broadening their business acumen. Well done to La Dolce Vita, for designing and delivering the winning portfolio.
Our Year 9 and GCSE Drama pupils immersed themselves in the world of theatre during a captivating visit to the Mayflower Theatre. From exploring the backstage intricacies of a professional venue to delving into the theatre’s rich history, the students gained valuable insights. Engaging in hands-on activities, including devising and performing excerpts, enriched their understanding. The day concluded with the uplifting musical “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” addressing themes of discrimination and bullying. An enriching experience, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of drama.
The term has got off to a busy start, with pupils in Year 6 taking part in the ISA public speaking competition. Having rehearsed a lengthy poem over the Christmas holidays, each pupil then read out their poem to the rest of the class, making sure to read with pace, volume and emotion, as well as to make eye contact. This was a challenge for pupils, who were all filmed so that their entries to the competition could be uploaded. Nerves aside, however, the Year 6s did an incredible job and performed their poems with gusto!
Now that the entries to the competition have been sent off, we will have to wait until later in the Spring Term to find out if we have made it into the final.
Also, Year 11 Joseph Harrison filmed his entry – a speech about the most significant day of his life – at the very end of the Autumn Term, as he now busy sitting his GCSE mock exams. Joseph recounted the story of when he broke his arm, with moments of pain as well as laughter, in front of his Year 11 class audience.
We have numerous upcoming competitions, including but not limited to comic strip, ISA Musical Theatre, Shakespeare Monologue, Digital Art, Film and Animation, Sports Cover Design, and various others.
Alton School, Anstey Lane, Alton, Hampshire
GU34 2NG
Phone: +44 (0) 1420 82070
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