Friday, July 6, saw a double celebration; 'Netherwood School's Annual Prize Day' and our 60th anniversary. Mr Morris, principal, opened the proceedings and was followed by Mr. Brian Morgan, our guest speaker.
Brian Morgan is currently Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Cardiff Management School at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), where he is director of the New Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre (CLEC). Brian traces his interests in economics and enterprise to his time as a student and lecturer at the LSE. Before returning to academia at Cardiff University in 1997, Brian was chief economist at the WDA. During the last 15 years, he has worked as a senior policy adviser in Wales (for the WDA and the Assembly), and in Whitehall (the DTI) and he has worked extensively in Europe (for the OECD and EU). He is the director of a number of businesses in Wales, including chairman, Brecon Carreg (producer of the best selling natural mineral water). The Junior Department gave a wonderful performance of 'Old Time Music Hall' classics, which preceded the first round of prizes. The awards are as follows: Pre-Prep Cup - Gregg Cotter; Mrs. Morgan's Cup (Effort) - Teddy Howell; Wyn Jones Cup (Effort)- Hector Martin-Davies; Iris Douglas Harries Cup - Spencer Damery; Claudia Batten Prize - Alexandre Kirchherr; The Endeavour Cup - Mashari Al'Samra; Mrs McIntosh's Prize (Effort and Progress) - Maznah Mohammad; Gwyn Thomas Nature Prize - James Arkinstall; Major and Mrs Douglas Cup (French) - Maziah Mohammad; Morris Junior Science Cup - Nathan Short; Kathryn Thomas Cup (Art) - Chun Wai Chan; Charlotte O'Connor English Trophy - Millie Sandifer-Smith; Heron Prize (Mathematics) - Bryn Roberts; Rebecca Studt Prize (History) - Johnnie Delahunty; Lindsay Williams Cup (Geography) - Rebecca Morgan. The next musical interlude was by Maziah Mohammad -Allegro in F by Mozart, Tallulah Ford- Leabury-Smith and Cara Collins, who gave a lovely rendition of 'Morning Has Broken'. Eloise Short and Mridula Morje then entertained all with Diabelli Piano Duet - A Study For Four Hands. More presentations were made, as follows: Townsend Cup (Hand writing) - Bryn Roberts; Victoria Scale Singing Trophy - Astrid Bowen; Patricia Llewellyn Cup (Piano) - Mridula Morje; Players Cup (Drama) - Medya Gungor; Victoria James Award for 'Enthusiasm in School Life' - Peter Scammell; Daniel Collins Cup (General Progress) - Cara Collins; Richard Rhys Davies Cup (Senior French) - Cara Collins; Nia Davies Cup (Senior Drama) - George Sandifer-Smith; Fleur Roche Cup (Piano) - Carys Mills; Ruth Thomas Cup (Singing) - Christopher Davies; Kate Angharad Ryder-Owen Award (Instrumental) - Eloise Short; Daniel Jenkins Public Speaking Award - Astrid Bowen/Natasha Fiddy, Johnnie Delahunty; Nicole Evans Shield for Work Experience - Guadalupe Bernal, Astrid Bowen. Peter Scammell played the trumpet to the beat of 'Tribal Drums - Ska', with Astrid Bowen singing 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again'. One of our present year 11 students, Carys Mills, delighted us with 'First movement from Sonatina in C by Muzio Clementi' The third presentations were as follows: The Regelous Cup - Bethan Emlyn; Cdr and Mrs Butler Trophy (Art) - Ka T'sun; Jemma Morris Cup (Biology) - Griffudd Gigler; Mrs Macnaghten Cup - Nichola Thomas; The Theo Miller Cup (Business Studies) - Robert Collins; David Warren Trophy (Chemistry) - Mridula Morje; Morgan Shield (English) - George Sandifer-Smith; Wilkins Trophy (Poetry) - Carys Mills; Gordon Miller Cup (French) - Mridula Morje/Carys Mills; Shaw Cup (Geography) - Robert Collins; Sophie Morris Cup (History) - Griffudd Gigler; Morgan Prize (Mathematics) - Mridula Morje; Maudie Miller Trophy (Physics) - Ben Cook; Sophie Hall Cup (Best Academic Achievement) - Bryn Roberts; Soroptimist Shield GCSE Results 2006 - Winnie Courtene-Jones. The Junior Department were wonderful in their 'High School Musical Fun' item, which was a real tribute to their teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, who leaves this year for pastures new. The Head Boy and Head Girl, Ben Cook and Jessica Shaw, then invited everyone to have coffee. When we returned from the coffee break, the Pre- Prep Department gave a spectacular gym display based on the music of Harry Potter, entitled 'We Are Magic'. The presentation of house cups and shields came next: Pre Prep: - Jillianne Jackie; Year 3 - Morgan Short; Year 4 - Joanna Weedon; Year 5 - Alexandra Kirchherr; Year 6 - Lewis Murray; Year 7 - Eloise Short; Year 8 - Bryn Roberts; Year 9 - Rebecca Morgan; Year 10 - James Phillips; Head Girl - Jessica Shaw; Head Boy - Ben Cook. Rosemary Hayes Shield for Manners and Personal Presentation in the Junior School; The Lloyd Courtesy Cup Everyone then partook in a buffet lunch to celebrate the school's 60th anniversary. Thank you very much to everyone who came to support the students and school, as well as all the staff and students who put such a lot of time and effort into all the presentations and concerts this academic year. We are also grateful to Sandyhill Nurseries for the loan of plants for the hall
SPORTS DAY Senior Sports Day got off to a dull start on Tuesday with the long jump. Conditions were not ideal, but it didn't prevent Aden (Yr 10) and Rebecca (Year 9) from producing their best results. There was plenty of excitement on the track, with a very close 100m race between James (Yr 10) and Johnnie (Year 9) and Lloyd and William, both of Year 8. Throwing events followed, with some impressive distances, from Cara and Lloyd, both of Yr 8, in the discus, Kathryn (Yr 10) and Medya (Yr 7) in the shot and Hoi Ming (Yr 9) and Toby (Yr 9) in the javelin. There was much enthusiasm for the three-legged race and, although this was just for fun, it was taken very seriously by the competitors! The day finished with the relay races; Greens won the boys' race and Blues won the girls. Although many of the events were close, the final result was a comfortable win for Merthyr house. Many thanks to Mr. Morris for starting the races, Mrs. Macnaughten and Mrs. Rowley for recording and calculating the results, Mr. O'Brian and Mrs. Wright for organising shot and discus, Mrs. Phillips for organising the long jump, Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Morgan for marshalling the houses, Mr. Stamp and Mrs. James for organising the whole event. Finally, a big thank you and well done to all the children for putting so much into the activities.
ANNUAL 'JOLLY'
On Wednesday, July 4, the Pre-Prep department headed off for their annual 'jolly', this year to children's favourite, 'Folly Farm'. Happily, the children sang us there! The wind blew and the rain fell, but this didn't dampen the spirits of our Folly Farmers. We began with a play in the new Carousel Woods indoor play area. The children ran around, climbed, slid and generally had a terrific time, whilst the staff, Mrs. Poole, Mrs. Montagne and Ms. Kingsbury sat and had a civilized cup of coffee! Soon, it was time to 'bottle feed' a goat. The children enthused, so we were off to the Jolly Barn to meet Henry the Horse and a couple of goat kids - very cute and very hungry -who devoured their bottles. All the children took the opportunity to both feed and pet the kids as they were passed along the row. Before we knew it, it was lunch time. Off to the Pirate Ships for another adventure play before sitting at the picnic benches to enjoy our packed lunches. Although the sky was mainly overcast, the sun tried hard to come out. The wind, however, blew and blew! Then off for a walk around the zoo. This was great - the lemurs performed, much to Jillianne's delight, who with her excited chatter could have woken the lemurs in Madegascar! Meercats proved to be Sam and Huggy's favourite - they loved the way they stand on tiptoe to look around. There followed a Bongo called Ted, a Bactrian camel, oryx, fossa, wallabies, zebu and Gus' and Gregg's favourites, the zebras. The children really enjoyed looking at the animals, but were ready for something else. And that something else was provided by Jugglestruck - a magician and master of balloon blowing rolled into one! He was sensational. The magic tricks were simple, puzzling and completely effective. He tore a 10p piece in half and then put it back together. He pushed a hole into a £20 note, then fixed it! How? We don't know! Then came the balloons...each child, with a little help, had a go at making a jumping mouse! Some worked, some didn't, but all the children thoroughly enjoyed the humour! Back then to the indoor play area for one final blast on the climbing frames and slide. Rosy-cheeked and sticky with sweat, the children were ready to come back to school. On the bus journey, some played I-spy, while others just sat quietly, trying not to fall asleep.
We had a fabulous day, all of us, children and staff alike. Thanks go to all at Folly Farm for continuing to provide a wonderful day out.