Be Courteous, Be Creative, Be Belhaven!
The key to wellbeing is breadth of experience and opportunity; but being endlessly busy can lead to burnout. It is a fine line. Therefore, we place a high value on taking time to pause and reflect, to take stock of the little things that make a big difference; this is crucially important for children and adults alike. Hence our Wellbeing Day and our focus on mindful and enriching activities that lead to the development of a broadening of skills.
You can read about the Wellbeing Day and our co-curricular opportunities through the eyes of the children and what they make of these essential characteristics of a Belhaven education.
One of our favourite hymns, ‘When a Knight won his Spurs’ tells of a Knight who was ‘gentle and brave, and gallant and bold’, and ‘yet still to adventure and battle I ride’. The children are certainly continuing to have many adventures this term.
Sport – Camaraderie of Matches
One of the special features of playing school fixtures against other schools is not the match itself, but the camaraderie of the whole event and enjoying a match tea with new friends afterwards. With each team, we encourage the captain to choose a player of the match from the opposition before thanking them and their coach with ‘3 cheers’!
Our Captains of Sport this term tell us a little about hosting a match.
'When we have played a match, we always line up in front of the other team and the captain shouts 3 cheers and shakes hands with the opposition. As a team, we all go up to the referee and shake hands and say thank you. We then go and enjoy a hot match tea and after match teas we huddle on the front steps and one of the boys will pipe them off and we will all wave'. (Wilbur, F1)
Match teas are always exciting occasions and for some pupils the highlight of the afternoon. Read Flora’s view of match teas.
‘There are two different types of match teas at Belhaven. Grab bags when the other school each gets a bag which has some food in it to eat on the way back. This usually happens if a school is far away. The other type is when the opposition team and the Belhaven team sit next to each other In the dining room and eat a lovely hot tea together. Usually, we are given sausage, beans and mashed potato and pudding is normally cake pops. When we have hot tea we each sit next to a person from a different team, this is clever because we make new friends and you might even go to the same senior school!’ (Flora, F3)
Music – Christmas Preparations
This is a busy half term for the Music Department preparing to lead the Remembrance Sunday Service; a number of wonderful Carol Services and so much more!
Above: Chamber Choir leading the Remembrance Service, School Choir performing for the Dunbar Lights Switch-On and the internationally-renowned Carducci Quartet treating to the children to a wonderful afternoon of music.
For the past few years, we have taken part in the Dunbar Community Carol Service at St Anne’s Church. This is a lovely occasion where the choir lead the service of Nine Lessons and Carols for the local community. In preparation for this occasion and the church's Christmas services, some pupils also help to polish the brass in the church.
Beatrix and Geordie our Head Choristers tell us a little about what the choir are working on for Christmas.
'Chamber Choir is going very well at the moment. Mrs Scott has added a tenor section for Geordie and Rafe which is a new thing and means we can still be part of the choir.
We are learning a new song for the Christmas Carol Service called ‘The Shepherds Noël’ along with learning the traditional Christmas Carols and the descants. We have lots of pupils preforming solos at the two Carol Services, the most impressive being Grace D singing the ‘Silent Night’ solo in German. We are looking forward to joining up with Dunbar Choral and singing at the Community Carol Service before Christmas'.
Mrs. Scott reports that Form 1 have explored a more ‘senior school’ style curriculum this term, starting with their national level Music Theory Course, Advanced Ensemble work and concluding with Festive Podcasts. Other year groups have developed their knowledge of Film Music, Chords, Popular music, Music technology and ensemble
Ensembles and performances this term have been a real high point for the department, including the creation of some new ensembles: Wind Band, String Quartet and the Development Drum Corps. From the poignant Remembrance Day Service to joy of the Carducci String Quartet and with Music recitals, ABRSM exams, Dunbar’s Light Switch-on, The Pre-Prep Nativity, St Anne’s Carol Service and our 5pm Christmas Concert and even the Staff Christmas Choir in between – there has been so much to enjoy! Roll on next term’s amazing 50th Mansfield Cup!
Above: An ensemble performance from the Staff Choir and a solo performance from Patrick G.
Performing Arts – Circus Skills & Drama Sharings
This term as part of the Performing Arts Fridays, the seniors have been learning a few circus skills which include plate spinning and juggling. Alice has written a little about what they have learnt this term.
'We learnt how to use the Diablos, which a lot of people enjoyed. Another popular option were the feathers. We tried balancing them on our noses, on our hands, on our fingertips and on our heads. Some people liked the juggling, but others preferred the hula-hooping. The most favoured option was probably the Diablos or the plates. These two, along with the feathers, you could probably do the coolest tricks with.
Rafe, Sylvia and Meme were really good at the hula-hooping, Ben and Xander were really good at the Diablos, Blanche and Alfonso were very good at the feathers, both performing tricks in our last session’s “talent show”. Pia and Blanche were good at the juggling and Meme was good at the scarves.
Overall, circus skills was very fun and I think everyone enjoyed it very much. It was a great afternoon activity for Form 2 on a Friday afternoon'. (Alice, F2)
For the junior pupils, their main focus is on their Drama Sharings. These include Archie Dobson’s War by Form 3, The Christmas Store by Form 4 and The Planets by Form 5.
Dulcie, Harvey and Iris tell us a little about their drama sharing and the story they are presenting:
Archie Dobson's War
'Archie Dobson's War is a play about an ordinary family living in a town called Galveston during the war. Archie is a 10 year old boy who first sees the war as an adventure and something exciting and different. Archie looks up to his older cousin Walter, who had enlisted in the war in 1914. His father, a humble man who runs a jam factory in Galveston, gets conscripted to join up in 1916. The play has scenes throughout that show the relationship between Archie and his family, Archie and Walter and also the relationship between the British and German soldiers'. (Dulcie, F3)
The Christmas Store
'Our play is called ‘The Christmas Store’.
The Christmas Store is a magical place where, when the shop workers leave BOOM!
Everyone comes to life.
But among them there is an engaging battle going on over the front window display on Christmas Eve.
The teams are the Decorations, the Trees, the Presents, the Toys and more – who will get to be in the window? (Harvey, F4)
Art & DT/STEM in the new Makerspace
Art – Art activities continue to be popular during our daily activity sessions and on a Sunday, when the boarders enjoy an extended opportunity to try out some new techniques and develop the skills that they are learning in their lessons.
The enthusiastic artists of forms 6, 5 and 4 have really impressed this term with some super drawing and painting of highland landscapes with stags, carefully observed fish in charcoal and some detailed self-portrait drawings with spirit animals. The Form 3s have painted beautiful pond paintings and hand built impressive vases. Form 2 have been busy making marks and painting the landscape with vibrant colours. Form 1 have been making close studies of the harbour, observing textures, colours and tones in mixed media, and are now starting to study the human figure.
The ever-popular Watercolour Activity is led by Mrs Parks, who is a keen watercolour artist herself. She inspires the pupils with different themes each week, and Andrew, who is a keen artist, tells us a little more about it:
'I think art is fun because you can paint draw print anything you want. I like Mrs Parks’ watercolour activity. I think that watercolours aren't too complicated. Lots of people have different ideas in the activity so, it makes it different. l don't like copying off a screen, so when l have a moment, I make it up'. Andrew F3
DT – The DT room in our new Makerspace is a hive of activity during lessons, activities and free time. Form 3 have been making shields ready to re-enact the Battle of Hastings in their History lessons and we see all manner of creations being made on a weekly basis.
STEM – Now that the Makerspace is open, Mrs Brannigan leads her Junior STEM activity from this inspirational new space. Here is what Atticus has to say about using the Makerspace:
'We use the Makerspace for STEM. In Form 3 we do activities such as the Bebras Challenge which is a test that has lots of puzzles in, with a range of difficulty. At the moment in STEM, we are creating quizzes using Scratch. In the STEM room we have a few 3D printers; these are really fast and great fun to watch. We used the printer to create counters and dice for our board games. We have also been set challenges in STEM such as ‘If I were an engineer’ to get us to think about designing a solution to a problem we may face in reality'. (Atticus, F3)
In the new Makerspace, the children have been learning about engineering and architecture, coding on Scatch and on the Microbits and designing to solutions to many everyday problems. All 4 of the brand-new 3D printers are up and running, with many ideas being dreamt up, designed and made. The Bebras Challenge is always a highlight in the Autumn term and this year we had 19 pupils achieve a Gold award, meaning they scored in the top 10% of all children across the UK in their category. An email to remind everyone of the ‘Be the Change’ competition will be sent out during the holiday!
Forest School
Every week Form 5 explore the Outdoors with Ms Wimbledon where they complete various activities and brave the different elements. They also took part in tree planting in West Barns, planting over 100 trees within an hour.
What have Form 5 got to say about their experiences?
‘I enjoyed cooking the bread because it was yummy and I was hungry. Making bows and arrows was fun. We made them using cut branches of Elder and we pinged them at targets.’ Tessa
‘I loved cooking on the fire making bread because afterwards we got to eat it. And planting Oak trees and making mandalas because it was nice collecting everything. I collected feathers and leaves.’ Ottie
‘I loved making a den and fire craft because we could cook food over the fire and it was tasty. The den building was fun and we played.’ William
‘I liked doing the den because I found it fun carrying big sticks and trying to balance them. My favourite thing I did was whittling the sticks for cooking dampers on the fire. I also liked selecting the right leaves for my lantern.’ Harris
‘I loved making bows and arrows because if we made them quick enough we got to play with them and that was really fun. I loved it!’ Will
‘I liked building dens because we could play in them afterwards.’ Hamish
‘I loved the land art mandalas because it was fun to collect the leaves, stones, mud and making it with Rory and Rufus.’ Archie
Wellbeing Day
You can read all about this year’s Wellbeing Day thanks to these three diary entries, one each from the top three year groups as they recalled the range of activities organised by Mrs. Gale, Mrs. McGrath and Mrs. Freeman. Unfortunately, the plan for the Chamber Choir to sing carols in Lammermuir Care Home had to be cancelled due to a sickness bug in the care home – hopefully we will get there next term!
Atticus Millar, Form 3
“Today I woke up, got changed, did my advent calendar and went to breakfast. I had a pancake and some yogurt. After that I got changed into my PE kit and went to music practise and then form time where we watched Chelsea lose embarrassingly to Leeds (I think 4-1). Next, I had to rush all the way to the Shrub, only to realise that I then had to run back to put on tracksuit bottoms.
Once I finally put in the right clothes, we did a scavenger hunt, looking for things like beetles, oak leaves and other natural things. Annoyingly I had to leave for a LAMDA lesson which, to be honest, was a bit better than spending ages looking for the elusive beetle.
After break I wrote two thank you letters, one for Bronte and one for Ms Hall. Then I had lunch, which was a really good pasta. Then we went to the pantomime which was very funny, especially some of the jokes (not including 6-7: torture for my ears). When that was finished, we got on the coach and I chatted with Noah and Brixton about our day. When we got back there was free time and then activities when we watched a really good David Attenborough film.
Once that was done I had a shower and then tea: it was a delicious Thai green curry.”
Sophia Diamond, Form 2
“Yoga, kind of sounds like yogurt, I guess. Well, they both begin with a ‘Y’.
Wellbeing day, a day which comes once and once only in a year. Once a year, despite there being no lessons, and yet still teachers enjoy throwing questions at us that they know we don’t know the answer to.
“This is yoga. Does anyone know were yoga comes from?”
Yoga or yogurt?! What did he say? It must be yoga.
Why would he talk about yogurt?
“Greece?” A voice is heard. I turn around. Obviously, someone else heard yogurt.
Maybe he did say yogurt.
“Well,” Mr Purkiss speaks. “No, but Greek Yogurt - good thinking.”
Finally, I’ve decided - he said Yoga.
After two minutes of hands waving in the air and Mr Purkiss saying ‘Not quite’, someone knew the answer: India. At last.”
Lukas Atkins, Form 1
“Today started with the bright lights switching on, and then a delicious breakfast of pancakes with a cup of tea.
Next, I went to form time, to be informed that the first activity we would do was yoga. This yoga was very relaxing, and Mr. Purkiss was the best at teaching us how to calm our breathing, focus on the present and stretch our tense muscles. He also has endless knowledge on the various yoga poses.
Our calm state then descended into organised chaos as we went to Mr. Townshend’s activity in the sports hall.
We split into two groups. One group went to the astro with Mr. Dryburgh. The other group stayed and did various activities, including lining up in our two teams and squatting against a wall. We then raced to pass a basketball from one end of the Sports Hall to the other, whilst squatting.
20 minutes later, we went to the astro and played an odd game with a frisbee, which was exhilarating and fun. Then it was break, and shortly after that, Juan Turcan and I went to do the tech for the Pre-Prep Nativity rehearsal, and then we went to early lunch.
We had early lunch because we then went to a pantomime, the Wizard of Oz. As per usual, Mr. Marriott had a large involvement on stage, this year defeating the wicked witch of the West.
We went back to school for activities and then had Thai green curry for tea. In one
sentence, it was the most relaxing day I have had at Belhaven.”
