Our HOHS Christmas cards have arrivedfrom the printer and we have a limitednumber available to buy. Designed byRosamaria in Year 9, the cards are printedon high quality card and a pack of six withenvelopes costs £5. Please ask at receptionor email reception@hohs.co.uk if youwould like a pack.

Inside, the card reads simply Season’sGreetings and the star itself is laminatedto create a shiny effect!

Charlotte S (Year 11) wasvoted onto the nationalYouth Parliament inMarch and has beenbusy representing young

people in Norwich ever since. I interviewed Charlotte last week to find out more – andfound her full of enthusiasm and optimismfor what young people can achieve. Readthe full interview on the blog tomorrow.

Liz French, Editor

Thank you to all the parents and familymembers who came to see Years 3 and 4present their excellent class assembly onTuesday. The theme was deserts – a topicthey have done a lot of work on this term.

The children gave us lots of fascinatingfacts to think about, ending with a multiple-choice quiz to see how well the audiencehad been listening! The musical content ofthe assembly was particularly lovely, withthe children singing and moving effectivelyto a backdrop of Michael Jackson’s EarthSong. The powerful visuals highlighted theneed to protect our precious world and itshabitats and prevent deserts from growingbigger and bigger. Afterwards, the childrenenjoyed some proud moments with theirfamilies. Well done, everyone!

Hethersett Old Hall School

Weekly NewsletterIssue 191, Friday 9th December 2016

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TALES OF THE DESERT FROM YEARS 3 & 4

HOHS CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE

hohs.co.uk hohs-blog.comfacebook.com/hethersettoldhallschooltwitter.com/@hohs_tweets

Find out more about HOHS online at:

More pictures are on the blog!

CHARLOTTE: YOUTHPARLIAMENT UPDATE

MAXIM IN JUNIORCHESS GRAND PRIX

Last Sunday, Maxim in Year 5 was invited toplay in a chess tournament as part of the Norfolk Junior Grand Prix 2016-17.He achieved a good score after playing sixrounds of chess against some very skilledcounty and national players. Well doneMaxim!'

MRS GROVE IN DEEP WATER FOR DIAMOND CHALLENGE

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS....

WINNIE & BUBBLES SEEK HOLIDAY HOME

Pupils throughout Lower and Upper Prephave been fitting in a lot of Christmas-related activities this week. Whether it’s

making Christingles or stars to hang onthe tree, creating Christmas cards fortheir families, dressing up in tinsel or

rehearsing for next week’s nativity andPrep production, the festive feeling isdefinitely getting stronger by the day!

Would any of our HOHS families like tolook after our boarders’ cuddlesome pairof guinea pigs, Winnie and Bubbles, overthe Christmas holidays? They are easy to care for, enjoy being handled, as youcan see, and come complete with hutch and all the food and bedding they’ll need for their festive break!

If you can help, please contact Receptionin the first instance and we will get intouch. Thank you! Miss Cushing

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For the Duke of Edinburgh’s DiamondChallenge, Head of Humanities Mrs Grovechallenged herself to overcome a life-longnervousness of water and learn to swim…and last week managed a whole kilometre!She has raised £320 in sponsorshipmoney for her efforts – well done!

As the manager of the HOHS DofEscheme, Mrs Grove works tirelessly withour Bronze, Silver and Gold groups andwas recently invited to St James’ Palace toreceive a special award honouring her 26years’ work with the scheme. Here she is(right) receiving the award from PrinceEdward, Earl of Wessex, and (far right)with her swimming teacher, former pupiland after-school co-ordinator Jess Warner.

FUNKY BOARDERSLast weekend our boarders visited theirfavourite skating venue, Funkys. The discowas in full swing and the girls raced eachother and took part in the games and challenges the skating staff set them untilthey were thoroughly exhausted!

Look out for more DiamondChallenge stories coming soon!

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Sarah and Rosamaria, Year 9, write:

We participated in the Green Plan-It challenge as part of a team called Hethersett Old Hall Bean Sprouts, along with Clara, Darci and Faith-Marie.We first visited Easton and Otley Collegea couple of months ago for inspirationand met our mentor, Will. Then, over thenext two months, we researched, costedand made our model of a garden. Will visited us on two occasions to help us.

Last week we went to the presentationsand prize-giving ceremony at Easton andOtley College. We presented our modelto the judges and made a winter plantpot and then there was a speech byAdam Frost (presenter of BBC Gardeners’World). Our certificate was presented tous by him. Unfortunately we didn’t winbut we definitely learnt some vital skillsand enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Sarah and Rosamaria (Year 9)

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GREEN PLAN-IT UPDATE

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT...

Our GCSE drama pupils headed to Londonand the famous Globe Theatre last Fridayto see The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales. Inspired by the beautiful and devastatingly sad Hans Christian Andersen ‘wonder’ tale, The Little Matchgirl, and combining Andersen’s other tales, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Thumbelina, this production revealed aspellbinding world of magic and mystery.There was music, puppetry, dark magic…and perhaps some modern truths that we would all rather remained hidden. It was also very Christmassy and a lovelystart to December!

Mrs Richards

GCSE DRAMA AT THE GLOBE

WEEKLY DIARY

Years 1 & 2 had a great time at the Playhouse Theatre in Norwich last Fridayseeing Michael Rosen's We're Going on aBear Hunt come to life in a straight-from-the-West-End production.

Here they are sitting in the dark excitedly waiting for the show to start!

Saturday 10th Dec 10.00am-5.00pm Boarders Christmas shopping in Norwich

Monday 12th Dec 1.00pm-2.15pm Nativity and Lower Prep dress rehearsal

Tuesday 13th Dec 1.30-2.45pm Nativity Performance (The Barn)

Wednesday 14th Dec 9.10-10.40am Years 3-6 house hockey matches1.30-2.45pm Lower Prep party (Lower Prep hall)1.30-2.30pm Years 7-9 house hockey matches2.00-3.30pm Upper Prep party (The Barn)7.00-9.00pm Snow Ball (The Barn) Years 7-11

Thursday 15th Dec 8.30am-9.30am Uniform Shop open 2.15-3.15pm Carol Service (St Remigius)

Friday 16th Dec 11.00-12.15am House Quiz (Seniors)11.30-1.00pm Christmas lunches2.30-3.30pm Sixth Form panto and House Shout

End of term

On Monday evening, our flute ensembleperformed The Shepherds' Farewell byBerlioz at the annual Four Schools' CarolConcert held at St Remigius Church. This is an event that brings together thefour schools in Hethersett, each schoolcontributing a musical item and a poem;the head teacher of each school also presents a reading.

Our flutes sounded truly beautiful in thewonderful acoustics of the church, theharmonies ringing out. Deputy Head girlTami read out a lovely poem called holy night. Mrs Greene

FOUR SCHOOLS’CAROL CONCERT

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It has been a fantastic

SPORTS ROUND-UP...SPORTS ROUND-UP...SPORTS ROUND-UP...

MINI TENNISOur Mini Tennis stars will enjoy a flavourof Christmas at the end of their final tennis lessons of 2016! There will be fungames and seasonal treats - as well assome serious practising of skills, ofcourse!

Katie Brooks, Tennis Coach

HOUSE HOCKEYCongratulations toRyder A and B teamswho were victorious inour first round of hockey housematches. There were some excellent individual and team performances, withtop players from each team below:

Ryder A: Mia, Ryder B: Mollie

Austen A: Alice, Austen B: Francesca

Fry A: Ella, Fry B: Rosie

More house hockey results to follow -these are always very fiercely competitive and exciting!

MATCH REPORT: HOCKEYCongratulations to the U12B and U14Bhockey teams who, on Wednesday afternoon, rounded off the hockey season with two wins over FramlinghamEarl High School. Despite both teamsstarting slowly, the second halves weremuch more encouraging and it was wonderful to see the progress the girlshave made since September.

The U12 match finished 3-0 with Amelia(2) and Fleur scoring the goals. Player ofthe match was awarded to Cristina forher excellent work at right midfield.

SQUAD: Ashlyn, Rachel, Annie, Fleur,Cristina and Amelia.

In a closely contested match the U14team ran out eventually 2-1 winners with Alia scoring both goals. Player ofthe match was awarded to Lucy who improved significantly as centre midfield.

SQUAD: Isabelle, Mia, Lucy, Clara, Aliaand Faith-Marie.

Miss Mickleburgh

Look out for my half term hockey report on the blog in the next few days! Miss Mickleburgh

LUCY VAULTS TOSUCCESSLucy C, Year 9, regularly takes part in gymnastics competitions to county levelwith her gymnastics club Split Leaps.Last Saturday she competed in her last of the year – the Split Leaps In-Housecompetition. Her upgraded routines, in preparation for next year, included a vault that she had only landed for the firsttime the week before. Despite tough competition from her teammates, Lucycame away with Bronze for bars and Goldfor vault. She is now looking ahead to herfirst competition in 2017 – after a break forChristmas of course!