Weekly News from St Hugh's

Estate Update from the Bursary

The summer holidays are generally the busiest time of year for the maintenance team, but with this year's major projects having been completed earlier in the year, the summer was relatively quiet. With the fitting of the new flexible floodlight system to the astroturf over Christmas, the clearing of the Walled Garden in the spring and the refurbishment of the swimming pool and the erection of the FOSH amphitheatre over the Easter break, the summer was a time for catching up on the multitude of little jobs that are difficult to complete safely in term time.

Our own maintenance man, Mr Gavin Bowerman, used his expert building skills to construct the new wall at the top of Carswell Lane and a very impressive set of stone steps near the Dovecot. Our groundsman, Mr Rob Stallard has been working hard to keep the grounds up to their normal high standard and the wet summer meant that his normal mantra of 'if I don’t mow today the grass will be around my ears' was heard even more frequently than usual. The unseasonably damp weather, coupled with Rob's expert care and attention, has meant that the grounds are now looking first rate for the start of the winter rugby/hockey season. The Estate Manager, Mr Trevor Simmonds, has done a lot of work to improve the general appearance of the site and to ensure that those trees which were in need of attention are now safe and in good shape. With the help of Mr Peter White, of Faringdon Electrical Services, and the expert painting skills of Mrs Jacqueline Simmonds, we hope to complete the refurbishment of the Dovecot clock shortly.

Internally, work has been completed to upgrade fire doors in both Middle School and Pre-Prep to the latest standards and new carpets have been laid to halls and classrooms. In addition, a new main boiler has been fitted in the Manor House after the old one decided that it was time to flood the kitchen office. New fencing has also been fitted to the rear of the Manor to make a compound to screen the bin area.

The Bursar was kept out of mischief during the school holiday working with our architect and the Heads of Science, Art and DT to progress plans for the new building, to ensure that we get a state of the art facility. The application for planning consent has now been made to the local authority and we are awaiting their decision. The new Senior Leadership team has considered how to make best use of those rooms which will become vacant once the new building is available.

The Buildings and Estates Committee will be meeting early in October to confirm the priorities for future work. As ever, the list of projects that we wish to undertake is somewhat long but attention will, naturally, focus on the completion of the new Science, Art and DT building and the subsequent refurbishment of the rooms vacated.

Fees Refund Scheme

As parents will already be aware from the agreements that they have signed, the absence of a pupil does not lessen the cost of running the school and, hence, we are unable to refund fees when children are absent due to illness. However, the School has an agreement with our insurers where parents can take out insurance to recover fees when children are absent. Full details can be obtained from the Bursary.
Please note that the deadline for applications for cover to commence this term is Thursday, 22nd September.

Autumn Fair

'Harvey Nicks in the Sticks' - St Hugh's Autumn Fair - Friday, 23rd September

A not to be missed opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping, find something for your home or simply to spoil yourself & your family! We have some fabulous stalls this year so do come along between 3.00 and 5.00 pm: it's all happening in the Manor House.

FOSH will be running their usual yummy cake stall and we would appreciate it if you would do some baking for us. Cup cakes or small cakes are always popular with the children but family cakes, too, go spinning off the stall. Your Form Reps will be asking for cakes so do please give them your support.

News from Pre-Prep

Pre-Prep has been a hive of activity as all the children settle into the St Hugh's routines. They have been delighted to move into their new year groups, reacquaint themselves with their peers and establish new friendships. The children are being individually assessed, ready for the phonic Read Write Inc programme, and are starting out on new Maths and Science topics - which are already working well.

Despite the very mixed weather, the children are fully enjoying the outside play areas - on Monday they were wrapped up against the end of Hurricane Katya and on Thursday and Friday some dabbled their toes in the water cascade under a clear blue sky. Please don't forget to send outdoor clothing for every eventuality!

2CH performed a though-provoking assembly about Pollution & Recyling. Through their acting they reminded all in Pre-Prep how important it is to reduce waste and dispose of it carefully. Very well done to all the children in 2CH - they evidently enjoyed their performance and entertained and educated the audience, too.

Nursery News

Another happy week in the Nursery! This week the children have enjoyed visiting the Pre-Prep library for the first time to choose books to share at home and we have already begun to learn the sound 'm' in our Read Write Inc. Literacy programme. During PE sessions the children ran around in different directions and they have practised throwing and catching with the beanbags. Mrs Lonsdale came to sing nursery rhymes with her guitar and she reported that the children loved singing Baa Baa Pink Sheep!

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Jessica Blythe

Next week's special events to note:

Monday: Library: Please return last week's book to change over

Tuesday: P.E - plimsolls required

Wednesday: Show and Tell - a favourite bear

Thursday: P.E - plimsolls required

Friday: Autumn Fair 3-5pm in the Manor House

Please click here to view this week's photos

Save the Date!

Monday, 31st October - A major Halloween event with fireworks!

More news coming soon!

Netball Congratulations

Netball Honours

Congratulations to Lucy Grace, Lily Lovell, Hannah McLintock and Annabel Simpson who have been selected to join the regional academy training squad. This is an outstanding achievement for these girls as 64 trialled and only 17 were chosen. Well done! HO

Sports Results

HOCKEY
Cheltenham College's Festival of Hockey

An excited group of Under 13's and Under 11's arrived on Sunday morning, 11^th September, at Cheltenham College...

U13 Team
Five girls from the team were away at trials, so this festival provided a great opportunity for some of the younger players to step up and benefit from the experience of playing older, stronger teams. Bearing this in mind, the day was a great success and we were very pleased with the girls' determination and their terrific team spirit. The results were two draws, three narrow losses and they finished with a great 2-0 win over the Downs School Malvern. Player of the day was Florence Blackburn!

U11 Team
The festival provides a great opportunity at the beginning of the season for the girls to play matches, change and try different positions and generally 'band together'! It proved a very promising start, we played six matches, scored 12 and only conceded two goals and remained undefeated.

Molly Selby-Lowndes received the 'all-star' player of the team award, but everyone contributed to an excellent day's hockey. Well done, here's to a good season!

Tournament at Prior Park
1^st IX v The Downs. Drew 1-1 (H. McLintock)
v Prior Park A. Lost 2-0
v Cheam. Lost 3-1 (H.McLintock)
v. Prior Park B. Won 2-0 (H. McLintock, F. Blackburn) P.O.M- Maya Grell

v Cheam...
2^nd IX. Lost 4-3. Goal scorers: Harriet Batstone x 2 Katie Newland (On Grass!)
3^rd XI. Lost 8-0. P.O.M: Tehya Hadley-Cowan.
A tough start to the season but the girls showed great determination throughout; and they only conceded 1 goal in the second half-Well done girls!
U/11 A. Lost 1-8. Goal: - Charka Stout.P.O.M- Georgina McLintock
U/11 B. Lost 2-6. Goals: Emily Leighfield, Jessica Maxse.P.O.M- Jessica Maxse

NETBALL
v Cheam

U/9 A. Drew 4-4. P.O.M- Scarlett Paton
U/9 B. Won 4-0. P.O.M- Annabelle Asher
U/10 A. Won 5-1. P.O.M- Lily Rosenfeld, Millie Lewin

RUGBY
v Bilton Grange

1^st XV. Won 17-15. Tries: E.Adamson, I.Brown, G.Strainge.
2^nd XV. Won 29-7. Tries: J. Mitchell x 2, A.Alder x 2, C.Clubb. Conversions: A.Alder x 2.
Colts A. Lost 40-14. Tries: C. Keen, L. Needham. Conversions: L. Needham x 2.
Colts B. Lost 19-12. Tries: M. Sutton, R. Walker. Conversions: A. Green

Easter Holiday Tennis Camp

For parents interested but unable to make the tennis presentation last Monday in the Barn, the notes for this can be found on the website in the sports section under activites/sport/tennis presentation. There was also a short presentation on a fantastic opportunity for families and children to compete and play in a tournament in the Algarve next Easter. A poster outlining all the details for this is attached.

Small Advertisements

'A Fete Worse than Death'
Murder, Mystery & Mayhem in Bampton Village Hall
An evening of fun on Friday, 14th and Saturday 15th October. Tickets £12.50 to include a fish & chip supper. Available from Emmies Newsagent in Bampton or Eli Medd 850007/Ali Mayfield 852702 (or through Suzy Macpherson at St Hugh's). Cheques payable to 'Bampton Community Church' and all proceeds will go to St Mary's Church (where we held the Carol Service last year).

Four bedroom town house for sale in Moncontour, Vienne, France (just south of the Loire Valley).
Property can be rented to enable interested parties to visit and get to know the area first.
Please click here to see full details.

Baby-Sitting
Rebecca Taylor, currently a GAP student at St Hugh's, is available for baby-sitting and can drive! Contact details: 07707398180

Grove Rugby Club Open Day
An Open Day for all local schools is being held at at Grove Rugby Club on September 18th from 10.15am to 12pm. All boys and girls over the age of 5 (i.e. Year 1 and above) are invited to a special open day to introduce the club, the players and the game of rugby. It is completely free and you will have a chance to have fun and learn some new skills from the excellent team of coaches. For further details please see Grove RFC's website or contact: Graham Thomson at grahamsally501@btinternet.com

Au Pair/Mother's Help
Au pair aged 25, Italian, post grad. Experienced with all ages of children, driver, at college in Witney. Existing family in Lyford moving to Italy end of Sept. References available. If interested, please call Claudia on 07521 668 838 or email claudiabonifazio@libero.it (Recommended by Deborah Lewis 01235 868 536 a St.Hugh's parent.)

For Sale
Yamaha upright P116N (approx 14-16 years old) excellent condition.
£1300 . Will need collecting from Bampton.
Please contact Sue Helm: sue@shelm.co.uk mobile: 0777 420 5972 or 01993 851842

Issue 54 | 16th September 2011