Message from the Headmaster
It has been a great pleasure to see so many parents, Old Millhillians and other visitors at the many events that have been held at the School since half term. Among these, Thursday's wonderful School Concert (a full report on which will appear in the next edition of the School Shout) stands out as a real highlight.
A very different, but no less important, occasion was the Call to Remembrance on 11 November. Although the traditional gate of honour ceremony could not take place due to the very poor weather, pupils of all ages conducted themselves with the greatest dignity and poise at the other events, in chapel and elsewhere, through which we marked the occasion. I was immensely proud of them, as I was of those who recently presented a superb chapel service devoted to national Anti-bullying Week.
The girls' 1st XI hockey squad also deserve warmest congratulations on winning the county championship, and thus a place in the regional finals.
Finally, I would like to wish the Fifth Form well for their mock examinations which start this week.
Anti-bullying week
National Anti-Bullying Week took place during the week commencing 15th November. At Mill Hill, Friday 19th was a non-uniform day with the now traditional “Blue” theme to symbolise both the physical and emotional impact of bullying – as a result, many hundreds of pounds were raised to support anti-bullying charities in the UK. In addition, for one morning only blue cakes and biscuits were on sale in The Refectory to raise further money for good causes – chief cake/biscuit makers and sellers were Emily Maister (U6, Weymouth), Natalie Holmes (U6, Priestley), Ceyda Baser (U6, Murray), Lydia Paschali (U6, Murray) and Daniel Jacobs (Rem, Murray).
Members of the School’s ‘Anti-Bullying and Mentors’ Council’ (ABMC) presented a Chapel service to every member of the School during the course of the week. Shahi Ghani (U6, Atkinson) set the scene and introduced the assembly, David Somper (5th, Burton Bank) read a haunting poem, Sophie Iliffe (L6, Collinson), Georgia Green (5th, McClure) and Tobi Oke (5th, Cedars) presented a thought-provoking, albeit light-hearted, piece of drama, Mubin Shah (U6, Ridgeway) played his guitar and sang with customary skill and Keith Karikari (5th, Atkinson) closed the service each day with a pertinent and contemporary poem that is reproduced in full below.
A Prayer for those who are bullied
Let us remember that when we laugh at someone, they feel pain.
Let us remember that when we pick on someone they are angry but also afraid.
Let us remember that when we don't stick up for someone who is being bullied, they are alone.
Let us remember that we bully because we want to feel strong, the boss.
But are we? What have we done?
We have forgotten our own fear by making others frightened.
We have forgotten our own loneliness by leaving one of us alone.
We have hidden our own nightmare in another's terror.
It is no longer enough to be sorry.
It is no longer enough to boast and swagger.
These attitudes are hollow, skating on the thin ice of our own fears, our own hates.
May we have the courage to confront ourselves in the 'not me', 'don't want to know', 'it's their problem', I'm not involved'.
May we have the courage to confront ourselves in the 'I'm right', 'She's black', 'He's stupid', I'm me and it's my world, not theirs'.
For we are all hurt, all afraid, all alone, all different, all me, and the world is all ours.
We all have only one life.
Amen
Mill Hill pupils hold their own in French Debating Competition
For the first time ever, MHS sent two pairs of French A2 students to Highgate School to participate in the inter-London Schools’ Year 13 French Debating Competition. The other schools present were all high-achieving academic schools: Habs Boys and Girls, NLCS, Henrietta Barnett, Wycombe Abbey and Harrow. Although neither pair made it past the group stage, the School can be very proud of the work put in by all four students to prepare for this event and the way that they performed in the debate itself. It is heartening and welcoming to see how determined our pupils were in responding to this academic challenge. A member of the adjudicators from the Highgate staff were particularly impressed with the pair comprised of Alex Warnakulasuriya and Elspeth Lawson (who drew both of their debates) and said that they were surprised that we had not sent any students to this event before!
Girls crowned County Hockey Champions
On Thursday 11th November the girls’ first team competed in the Middlesex County hockey tournament.
Mill Hill’s first game saw them pitted against Godolphyn and Latimer. As last years’ champions and boasting one of the country’s top U18 players, Godolphyn and Latymer came into the game knowing that a win would see them retain their title having beaten South Hampstead in the first game of the day.
Despite this, Mill Hill started very strongly and created a number of chances. When the defence was threatened they held strong and thanks to an excellent save from Nat Holmes and a goal line clearance from Sarah Tingle, the game remained 0-0 at half time. After the break, Mill Hill continued to pile on the pressure and after several near misses, Captain, Jess Perkins, ran through to make the score 1-0. Mill Hill defended their lead, but cruelly two minutes after the final whistle should have sounded Godolphyn and Latymer equalised to see the teams share the points.
All was not lost however as a 2-0 victory over South Hampstead saw Mill Hill win the title. The girls wasted no time and thanks to goals from Izzy List, Katie Newton and Jess Perkins, went into half time with a 3-0 lead. Mill Hill secured victory with further goals from Izzy List and Jess Perkins.
A great day’s work saw Mill Hill progress to the regional finals as county Champions.
Dutch journalist wows the crowd
Some 200 guests attended the Richard Dimbleby Address to listen to Dutch journalist, Linda Polman, talk about her experiences in war zones such as Rwanda and Sudan.
Linda's honest and eye-opening account of the harsh realities in the world of humanitarian aid left the audience with a totally different outlook on how and where such aid is apportioned and distributed. The presentation sparked a considerable number of questions, particularly from pupils, who subsequently took this debate away with them for further discussion.
We now look forward to the Sir Titus Salt Lecture on Wednedsay 24th November with Nick Leslau talking on 'A Career in Business'. A few seats remain so please contact Karen Willetts on 020 8906 7865 if you wish to attend.
Remembrance Day
The Call to Remembrance is traditionally celebrated at Mill Hill School’s Memorial Gate at 11am on the 11th November. This year – for the first time in 90 years – the occasion had to be conducted indoors because of torrential rain, and took place in three separate services. The School Chaplain led the service in Chapel, Peter McDonough took the service in The Large, with Joanna Duncan and Holly O'Connell leading the service in the Patrick Troughton Theatre. Our Guest of Honour, Brigadier Richard Dennis, was joined by representatives from Governors, Senior Staff and the Old Millhillians Club.
Following the service in Chapel, the Battle of Britain Historical Society plaque,was presented to CCF RAF Cadet Ryan Yasin (pictured).
Click here for the full story
London Transport Green Travel Awards
All three Foundation schools were awarded Sustainable Schools ‘Higher Standards’ awards at a recent presentation day held at The Emirates Stadium. These awards recognised the work done across the Foundation in recent years to support Transport for London’s Green Travel initiatives. Recent successes have included a significant increase in the number of Belmont and Mill Hill pupils using the School Bus services, the introduction of Road Safety Officers (Year 8 pupils) at Belmont, a greater focus on car-sharing and walking to school and securing a small grant for Grimsdell with which to purchase road safety teaching resources. Three senior pupils (Sebastian Balcombe, Emily Maister, Georgina Wickman), who have played a leading role in Mill Hill’s Eco initiatives in general, attended the event and collected the awards on behalf of Grimsdell, Belmont and Mill Hill.
Sports desk
Monday 1 November
Girls' Hockey v Godolphyn & Latymer: U15A (home) RESULT: Match cancelled
Tuesday 2 November
Fives v QEB (home) RESULT: MHS won 3 - 0
Thursday 4 November
Fives v Harrow (away): March drawn 3½ - 3½
Saturday 6 November
Boys' Hockey v Perse: U14A (away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 6
Boys' Hockey v Perse: U14B (away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 7
Hockey v Perse: U14C (home) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 8
Rugby v Bishops Stortford High School: 1st XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 20-23
Rugby v Bishops Stortford High School: 2nd XV (away) RESULT: MHS won 21-12
Rugby v Wellington College: 3rd XV (home): MHS lost 0 - 59
Rugby v Bishops Stortford High School: Colts A (home) RESULT: MHS won 15 - 5
Rugby v Bishops Stortford High School: Colts B (home) RESULT: Match cancelled
Rugby v Bishops Stortford High School: Junior Colts A (home) RESULT: MHS won 63 - 7
Rugby v Bishops Stortford High School: Colts B (home) RESULT: MHS won 12 - 0
Girls' Hockey v Perse: U14A (home): RESULT MHS lost 0 - 2
Monday 8 November
Girls' Hockey v Godolphyn and Latymer: U14A (home) RESULT: Match drawn 1 - 1
Girls' Hockey v St Augustins (League): 1st XI (away) RESULT: Match postponed
Tuesday 9 November
Fives v Emmanuel (home) RESULT: MHS won 3 - 1
Wednesday 10 November
Rugby: Round 4 U18 Daily Mail Cup v Davenant Foundation Grammar School: RESULT MHS won 55 - 3
Girls' Hockey v Chigwell School: 1st XI (away) RESULT: Match postponed
Girls' Hockey v Chigwell School: 2nd XI (home) RESULT: MHS won 2 - 1
Saturday 13 November
Boys' Hockey v Oundle: U14A (home) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 7
Boys' Hockey v Oundle: U14B (home) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 8
Boys' Hockey v Oundle: U14C(away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 9
Boys' Hockey v Oundle: U14D (away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 8
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: 1st XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 10 - 14
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: 2nd XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 7 - 12
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: 3rd XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 5 - 22
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: Colts A (away) RESULT: MHS lost 7 - 20
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: Colts B (away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 53
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: Junior Colts A (home) RESULT: MHS won 24 - 7
Rugby v Berkhamsted Collegiate: Junior Colts B (home) RESULT: MHS lost 7 - 34
Tuesday 16 November
Girls' Hockey v Aldenham: U15A (home) RESULT: MHS won 2 - 0
Wednesday 17 November
Girls' Hockey v Latymer Upper: 1st XI (home) RESULT: Match drawn 3 - 3
Girls' Hockey v Latymer Upper: 2nd XI (away) RESULT: Match cancelled
Thursday 18 November
Rugby v Harrow: 1st XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 0
Rugby v Harrow: 2nd XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 20 - 32
Rugby v Harrow: 3rd XV (away) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 48
Rugby v Harrow: Colts A (home) RESULT: MHS won 15 - 12
Rugby v Harrow: Colts B (home) RESULT: MHS lost 0 - 53
Fives v Westminster: U14 (home): RESULT: MHS won 3 - 1
Coming up in the next two weeks ...
Monday 22 November
SCHOOL RESTARTS AFTER EXEAT WEEKEND
GCSE MOCK EXAMINATIONS BEGIN (Sports Hall)
17:30 Boarders’ Food Council (Waiting Room)
Tuesday 23 November
13:15 Day Pupils & Café 6 Food Council Meeting (Waiting Room)
16:30 Fives v QEB (home)
16:30 Girls’ Hockey v Godolphyn & Latymer: U15A (away) (depart 15:00)
16:45 Girls’ Hockey v Aldenham: 1st XI (away) (depart 16:10)
Wednesday 24 November
08:30 Chapel: Remitted
13:00 Eco Society Meeting (G6)
14:00 Rugby: U16 Middlesex Cup Final (Headstone Lane)
14:15 Rugby v Salvatorian College: U16B (away) (depart 12:35)
14:30 Rugby: Round 5 U15/U18 Daily Mail Cup
18:30 Sir Titus Salt Lecture: Nick Leslau (The Large)
Thursday 25 November
08:30 Chapel: Separate Assemblies:
Judaism (The Large),
Hinduism (Music School)
Christianity (The Chapel)
Islam (Patrick Troughton Theatre)
13:00 ABMC Meeting (Crick Room)
14:30 Fives v Eton (away) (depart 13:00)
15:30-18:30 Tennis Squad Training (Gosling Sports Park, Welwyn)
15:45 Girls’ Hockey v Chigwell: U15A (home)
16:45 Girls’ Hockey v Forest: 1st XI (away at Old Loughtonians) (depart 15:30)
Friday 26 November
08:30 Chapel: Remitted
09:00-16:00 Remove “Science Live” conferences (Westminster)
12:40-13:10 Inter-House General Knowledge Competition (Phys 1):
Burton Bank v Cedars - 12:40
Murray v Priestley - 12:55
McClure v School - 13:10
13:00 Friday Recital Series (Recital Hall)
Saturday 27 November
14:00 Boys’ Hockey v Edge Grove 7 a-side: A & B (14:00), C & D (15:00)
14:15 Rugby v Hampton: 1st XV, 2nd XV & 3rd XV (home), Colts A & B (home), Junior Colts A, B & C (away) (depart 12:40)
19:00 Boarders’ ‘Rags to Riches’ Fashion Show (Burton Bank)
Sunday 28 November
All day Technical Rehearsals A2 Drama Productions (Patrick Troughton Theatre and Studio)
Monday 29 November
LAST DAY OF MOCK GCSE EXAMINATIONS
GCSE English Language Controlled Assessment for Removes begins (lessons only)
13:00 Sixth Form Council Meeting (Chemistry Dept)
16:00 Girls’ Hockey v Brentwood: U14C (2 x 7 aside) (away) (depart 14:45)
16:00 Dress Rehearsals A2 Productions (Patrick Troughton Theatre and Studio)
Tuesday 30 November
FIFTH FORM RETURN TO LESSONS
16:15 Fives v Berkhamsted (away) (depart 15:00)
16:45 Girls’ Hockey v Forest: U15A (away at Old Loughtonians) (depart 15:30)
18:00 A2 Drama Performances (Patrick Troughton Theatre and Studio)
Wednesday 1 December
08:30 Chapel: The Revd Jonathan Shaw
09:30-18:00 Upper Sixth English Conference on “Othello” (Central London)
16:00 Boys’ Hockey v Stowe: U14 A & B (home)
18:00 A2 Drama Performances (Patrick Troughton Theatre & Studio)
Thursday 2 December
08:30 Chapel: The Chaplain
13:00 School Staff Meeting (G6)
13:00 Fourth Form Council Meeting (Waiting Room)
15:30-18:30 Tennis Squad Training (Gosling Sports Park, Welwyn)
15:30 Sixth Form French Exchange to Valenciennes departs
16:15 Fives v Aldenham (away) (depart 15:30)
16:45 Girls’ Hockey v Godolphyn & Latymer: 1st XI (home)
18:00 A2 Drama Performances (Patrick Troughton Theatre & Studio)
18:30 Mill Hill School Careers’ Evening for Lower Sixth: Medicine (Music School)
Friday 3 December
08:30 Chapel: The Chaplain
12:40-13:10 Inter-House General Knowledge Competition (Phys 1):
Ridgeway v Weymouth - 12:40
Atkinson v Cedars - 12:55
Collinson v Priestley - 13:10
13:00 Friday Recital Series (Recital Hall)
18:00 A2 Drama Performances (Patrick Troughton Theatre & Studio)
Saturday 4 December
08:30 Girls Hockey v Brentwood & Framlingham College & Brentwood School: 1st XI (return 14:00)
14:00 Boys’ Hockey v Reeds School: U14A & B (away) (depart 12:30)
14:00 Girls’ Hockey v Kimbolton: 2nd XI & U14B (home)
14:15 Rugby v Stowe: 1st XV, 2nd XV & 3rd XV (home), Colts A & B (home), Junior Colts A, B & C (away) (depart 12:30)
14:30 Boys’ Hockey v Stowe: U14C & D (away) (depart 12:30)
14:30 Girls’ Hockey v Kimbolton: 1st XI & U15B (away) (depart 12:30)
14:30 Girls’ Hockey v Kimbolton: U15A & U14A (away at Kings Ely)
Sunday 5 December
17:30 Sixth Form French Exchange to Valenciennes returns
|
