This week in BartholoNews – St Bart’s raise a fantastic £1,950 for Children in Need, students have been busy helping to decorate St John’s Church, we hold our first official Conker Championship, there’s a buzz about books and we report on more amazing student achievements.
We took 12 girls from Year 7 and 8 to the annual KS3 Girls’ Area Badminton tournament where they competed in teams of 4 against a variety of other schools, playing a mixture of singles and doubles throughout the tournament. With a record number of schools and teams entered, the tournament was split into an A team tournament and a B/C tournament. Our A team went unbeaten in the group stages and faced The Willink School in the final – narrowly losing by 1 game after being 8-4 up! They therefore finished with a silver medal. Our B and C teams played some excellent badminton throughout the group stages with our B team progressing to the final, also against The Willink. We managed to get some revenge on them and ended up winning the B/C tournament. Well done to all girls involved – it was a fantastic event.
Parent’s Association Christmas Gift & Craft Fair
The Parents’ Association would like to say a thank you to everyone who came along and supported the fair on Sunday. We had 64 stalls with a vast variety of treats and gifts for sale. We would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed prizes to the raffle including: Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, Tesco, Castle Windows, Coat & Bear Pub, Amelia Rose Accessories, Sandford Springs Golf Course, Cotswold Wildlife Park, The Bowlers Arms, Imagine Photography, Camp Hopson, The Craven Arms, Bedlam – Paintballing, Newbury Racecourse and Razzamataz Theatre School.
A big congratulations to all our 25 raffle, winners with one lucky student scooping the £200 cash prize. The fair would not be possible without the volunteers and visitors, so thanks again for all of your support. I look forward to seeing you at a future PA meeting.
Matt Franklin-Wilson
St Bart’s PA Chair
Davis Cheques in with Swings and Smiles
Swings and Smiles is a small charity based in Thatcham that offers support, friendship and play to children with special needs and their families. Davis House have been raising money for the charity for a number of years now. On Wednesday, we welcomed Nicola from Swings and Smiles into Davis assembly to learn more about what the fundraising goes to and how much of an impact it can have. The assembly ended with Miss Suggitt, Amy (11D3) and Hermione (11D3) surprising Nicola with a cheque for £8,500! Miss Suggitt, Head of Davis House, said, “I cannot believe how much the students have raised over the last few years. The help that Swings and Smiles provides has a life-changing impact on local families and I feel so proud that we are able to support with that.”
Hector Shaves Head for Air Ambulance
Hector (11E1) has raised more than £2000 for the Air Ambulance through sponsorship when he had his long, rock band, locks shaved off. Hector was inspired by the work of the vital charity when they saved the 
life of his aunt after a serious health emergency. He says it “opened his eyes to the work they do.” He had it done at a local barbers and followed it up with a karaoke night to celebrate. Several of his friends showed their support but getting buzz cuts too! His hair has been donated to the Little Princess Trust which makes wigs for children receiving cancer treatment so he’s effectively supporting two charities at once. Wales Air Ambulance Charity’s regional fundraising manager Abi Pearce said: “We are hugely grateful for the money raised by Hector and the effort he has made to raise awareness about what we do.”
Everyone at St Bart’s is very proud of you Hector!
Harvey Scales Heights for Guide Dogs
In August, Patterson Charity Vice Captain, Harvey (11P2), climbed Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK. After a long drive to Scotland and an overnight camp at the foot of Ben Nevis, he reached the summit, experiencing everything from sun, to rain, to snow on his way. In true Harvey style, he decided to raise money for Guide Dogs – an impressive £130. A fantastic achievement! Well done Harvey.
The Year 7 boys’ rugby team played the Downs School and Kennet School under lights at Newbury RFC.
18 boys represented the school, with everyone playing at least a half of each 12-a-side match.
Every boy played brilliantly, and St Bart’s won both games by at least 7 tries to nil (in the league the score is capped at 35-0).
Player of the match was Harry Marsh. Congratulations to everyone who played, and the other half of the squad who didn’t play this time will get the opportunity to play next time.
On Tuesday 22 October, A Level Psychology students visited Marwell Zoo. The day included a lecture on animal behaviour, which gave students insight into how psychologists generate theories, through studying animals, which are then applied to humans. Students were given the chance to conduct two observational studies, one on penguins, and another on two animals of their choice. After analysing and presenting results, students then got the opportunity to spend some time exploring the zoo, which was enjoyed by all.
“My favourite part was seeing all the different species of monkeys”
Izzy (13D3)
“The trip did not disappoint; it was exciting to go to the zoo and observe the animals while learning very interesting facts about them”
Aidan (13E2)
“The lecture taught me a lot about animal behaviour and I loved seeing all the zebras and rhinos running around”
Chloe (12E2)
On Wednesday 6 November, our Year 9, 10, 11 and Sixth Form netball teams played a friendly fixture against Kennet School.
The games were all played in good spirits with some excellent standards of play and all girls enjoyed the fixture.
The Sixth Form team showed skill and precision with some very impressive court play and accuracy of shooting, winning their game, 23 – 8.
Player of the match was awarded to Francesca Parsons.
The Year 11 B team played Kennet School A team and although St Bart’s lost, there was some good play and excellent shooting from Brooke Thomasson.
Player of the match was Ava Brade
The Year 10 B team played Kennet School A team and again although St Bart’s lost, they did display some good movement on court and worked well together as a team, improving in each quarter of the game.
Players of the match were Katy Wake and Matilda Kingdon
The Year 9 team had a tightly contested game where both teams were of a similar standard. The final score of, 12-12, was a fair result, as both teams had worked hard and played some effective attacking and defensive play
Players of the match were Lottie Bailey and Ellie Demeza
Eight CCF RAF Cadets recently attended a flight experience day at RAF Benson. Competition for flying slots is extremely tough with 1,745 cadets bidding for just 320 slots this term, so we were very fortunate to be allocated some slots.
After arrival and passing through RAF security, the cadets were shown a safety video and were taken through the emergency evacuation procedures, including how to wear and deploy a parachute in the very unlikely event of needing to abandon their aircraft. A few of them were feeling a bit anxious at this point!
The pilots introduced themselves and the cadets were kitted out in flight suits, gloves, helmets and some rather funky airman sunglasses and then awaited their turn to be taken up into the air in a Grob G115E trainer aircraft.
All the cadets had the opportunity to take the controls during their 20-minute flight whilst the ones awaiting their turn could follow their comrade’s progress on FlightRadar. Most asked their pilots to perform some aerobatics, including barrel rolls and loop the loops. The sick bags weren’t needed too often, thankfully!!
The cadets all returned safely to earth with huge grins on their faces in what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to fly a light aircraft.
William (11P3) said, “Thank you for the amazing RAF trip on Friday. I really enjoyed it, it was a really great experience. “
We have put in a bid for more slots for next term, so fingers crossed we can take some more cadets flying very soon!!
APO J C Talbot,
CCF RAF Section Commander
As the sun shone on a beautiful Monday morning, St Bartholomew’s School gathered in the hub in our Act of Remembrance of former students who gave their lives in the World Wars and of all those soldiers and civilians killed or affected by war and conflict across the world.
Headteacher, Dr Fitter, spoke to the assembled students about how “It is easy and perhaps convenient to allow these terrible numbers to wash over us, but remember that each single life lost was someone’s child, parent, loved one and the cost of human suffering and bereavement is incalculable”.
Following Dr Fitter’s speech, our Head Students read the traditional Roll of Honour – the names of those 101 St Bart’s students who perished in war. A bugle call by Lawrence Mullaly (Year 13 student) was heard, and then the whole school reflected during the two-minute silence.
School Officers (Emily Cox and Charlie Adams representing Curnock, Sophie Livingstone and Clementine Barry representing Davis, Tess Marston and Beth Sparks representing Evers, Lucy Bosley and Vaibavi Lakshmi Narayanan representing Patterson) laid wreaths in the Memorial Garden where the flag was flying at half-mast. They were joined by Contingent Commander Edwards and members of the Combined Cadet Force, symbols of those young people who found themselves wearing uniform – Colour Sergeant Daniel Cornall, recently awarded Master Cadet at Frimley Park, and Sergeant Will Bloxom, most senior Cadet leading the Army NCOs (non-commissioned officers).
Mr Robbins, Deputy Headteacher, concluded the service with a poem called ‘May 1915’ by Charlotte Mew (1869-1928).
Let us remember Spring will come again
To the scorched, blackened woods, where the wounded trees
Wait, with their old wise patience for the heavenly rain,
Sure of the sky: sure of the sea to send its healing breeze,
Sure of the sun. And even as to these
Surely the Spring, when God shall please,
Will come again like a divine surprise
To those who sit to-day with their great Dead, hands in their hands,
Eyes in their eyes
At one with Love, at one with Grief: blind to the scattered things
And changing skies.
Last month, Year 9 students and staff travelled to Northern France and Belgium to visit the Menin Gate in Ypres, where George Ashwin Curnock is commemorated. The group also visited the grave of Robert Arthur Patterson near Athies and attended Thiepval Memorial, where Bertram Saxelbye Evers’ name is engraved, alongside the memorial plaque that reads: ‘This plaque commemorates those soldiers who attended St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury. They are named individually in pride of place at our school. They gave their lives in the First World War and their sacrifice will be remembered by us all.’
This year, moved by her experiences on the Battlefields Trip, Davis House Manager, Ms Moore decided to organise a similar commemoration to Alexander Herbert Davis. Ms Moore was joined by Dr Fitter, the rest of the Davis House Team, cadets Will Bloxsom, Milla Brereton and Daniel Cornall, and Davis students, Sophie Livingstone, Matilda Roots (13D2) and Blake Thomson (Year 9) at Newtown Road Cemetery to lay a wreath on the grave of Alexander Herbert Davis, which is situated just 400m from the school.
Blake, who recently attended the Year 9 trip and bringing to mind many of the traditions our school still observe today, said: “Alexander Herbert Davis attended St. Bart’s in 1898. He was a keen sports man and a particularly excellent footballer. He was frequently in the Fives inter-house and school championship.”
The school intends that this wreath laying will become part of our annual traditions to mark Armistice Day.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to former ONA President (2001), Allan Mercado, who laid the St Bart’s wreath at the annual Remembrance Ceremony held outside Newbury Town Hall on Sunday 10 November.
This Monday, staff and students gathered to mark Armistice Day and remember all those affected by war and conflict. Also in BartholoNews, we check in on recent fundraising efforts across our school community.
U13 Football
A big well done to the U13 girls’ football team who are through to the next round of the English Schools Cup after convincingly beating a strong team, Newlands Girls School, after school.
We were 3-0 up by half time and added one more in the second half to make it a 4-0 home win.
We played some fantastic football and have some very talented Year 7 players to add to our already strong Year 8 team. A special mention to Year 7 goal keeper Freya Smith who made some brilliant saves and has an amazing goal kick for her age and who was awarded player of the match.
Well done to all who played – bring on the next round!
U14 Football
St Bart’s girls showed great determination but were beaten 6-1 by a strong Kings School, Winchester side. Kings took a commanding 4-0 lead by half-time, but St Bart’s fought hard throughout the match.
Alice scored a wonderful goal in the second half to make it 4-1, and the team created several chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. Despite the result, the girls put in a spirited performance against a superior side and can be proud of their effort.
Player of the match was awarded to Eva.
