Miss Abbott
What. A. Day.
Wow, girls! Sports Day was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G and everyone who competed was amazing too. The results went down to the wire but huge congratulations go to our eventual winners - LUXTON - who managed to dribble, run, jump and throw their way to the most points! 🏆
Next week's SPARK will include details of this year's record breakers. In the meantime, click on the GALLERY below to enjoy picture highlights from across the day:
Thank you to everyone who has ensured that clothing, footwear and equipment are labelled. Unfortunately, we still have a number of items which are unnamed and unclaimed in the Rainbow Room lost property station - including jumpers, cardigans, PE mid-layers, tracksuit bottoms and number water bottles. We even have a Harry Potter gift set that surely someone is missing!
Please note that lost property will be CLEARED at 5pm on Wednesday 9 July, with any remaining unnamed items being disposed of or made available to purchase at a preloved uniform sale in the Autumn Term. ♻️
Mrs Crabtree and Mrs Garton
Girls from 1G and 2C recently enjoyed a fun-filled Victorian Week, marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Nottingham Girls' High School. Comparing and contrasting schools in the late 1800s with education today, they explored the NGHS archives which are held in the Senior School Library. There, they pored over photographs from the early days and were able to explain how uniforms have evolved over time. They also inspected old registers, noting how girls' first names have changed over the years,
Victorian Week gave Years 1 and 2 opportunities to be creative; they produced their own artworks inspired by William Morris, sketched portraits of Queen Victoria, and practised the observational drawing of flowers. The girls also experienced life in the past by donning outfits of the rich and poor, handling artefacts, learning about dining etiquette and deportment, and sampling school life around the turn of the century,
The week culminated with a study visit to the immersive room at Nottingham Central Library, where the girls enjoyed an interactive session in the world of the Victorians. The curators were very impressed by our pupils' depth of knowledge - what an action-packed week, filled with learning and discovery!
Miss Baker and Mrs Crawshaw
As guests of the Belvoir Cricket & Countryside Trust, girls from Year 4 enjoyed an exhilarating day honing their cricketing skills in the glorious English countryside on Monday. This also involved a Q&A with a local beekeeper and gamekeeper, an orienteering activity, meeting birds of prey, and participating in a first aid session - including basic CPR and how to help in an emergency. However the biggest highlight for many was the exciting moment when the hounds of the Belvoir Hunt were released!
Well done for being such good sports, Year 4, and for listening so carefully to the guest speakers!
Click on the GALLERY below for highlights from Year 4's day in the Vale of Belvoir:
Week 1 - Monday 14 to Friday 18 July
Week 2 - Monday 21 to Friday 25 July
Instrumental and voice workshops and lessons
Singing, composition, ensemble playing, bands and orchestras
Performance opportunities
Music Tech
End of week concerts
Tuck shop
No prior experience needed!
Music Makers has delivered inspirational courses at NGHS for the past eighteen years, aimed at children from a range of ages in a secure and exciting environment. This is all about enriching attendees' experience of music with new ideas.
The course - developed and run by Mr Rolfe - is one of the few music summer schools that welcomes both absolute beginners and more experienced musicians. Beginners are enthused by starter instrumental lessons and workshops, and more advanced musicians are challenged with innovative activities. Each weekly course concludes with a concert, where everyone can showcase their talents to family and friends. All activities are led by a highly experienced and fully DBS-checked team of professionals, including visiting musicians and student volunteers.
Places are still available; contact Mr Rolfe directly at m.rolfe@not.gdst.net
with any questions or to discuss suitability.
Mr Cox and Mr Elkington
Readers may remember Tala A's magnificent fundraising achievement in March of this year, when she raised over £800 for Save the Children and Muslim Hands by making jewellery and then - with the support of our Year 6 Sisters of Charity - selling her handicrafts at lunchtimes.
This week, Tala and the Sisters visited our local branch of The Open Kitchen (a café run by Muslim Hands that feeds people in need for free) where they interviewed its manager, Imran Khan:
Who first had the idea of The Open Kitchen?
"Muslim Hands is a Nottingham-based charity and its chairman, Syed Lakhte Hassanain, started the project thirty years ago."
What inspired you to work for The Open Kitchen?
"A relative encouraged me to apply for the job, and I was here when this shop opened in December 2021."
Can you relate to your customers?
"Absolutely. I grew up in Nottingham and I remember my family struggling to make ends meet when I was young."
Why do people come to The Open Kitchen?
"There are so many reasons. Some of our customers have experienced relationship breakups, drug addiction, unemployment, fewer life opportunities, and sheer bad luck."
What do you like most about your job?
"Making a positive difference. Spreading the message of peace, and feeding people who need help."
Do you have other branches?
"Yes. We've expanded to West London and Manchester, and we hope to open a fourth Open Kitchen in Sheffield soon."
This was a very interesting study visit; the girls were really impressed with what they saw at The Open Kitchen and summed up their thoughts afterwards:
Everyone was so polite, and thankful.
Customers weren't questioned or made to feel embarrassed.
None of the customers looked 'down and out' or drunk - you really can't judge people by appearances and you never know who might be having money problems.
Imran's really proud to work for Muslim Hands, and he's been inspired by his faith to help others.