Lavant House News - 22nd May 2009

News and Notices

PFA News

The PFA have been as active as ever this term.  The Dog Show was a great success and lots of fun for competitors as well as those who came to spectate.  The music department is delighted with their new electronic piano/keyboard, purchased from PFA raised funds, and we remain ever grateful to Mrs Osborn and Mrs Peace for running the second-hand uniform shop so ably.

The PFA Summer Barbecue at the Sportathon, Sunday 14 June.  Don’t miss it!

Summer Ball, Friday 3^rd July

A large number of tickets have been sold and there is still a lot of demand.  Please get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

Speech Day Invitation for Saturday, 4^th July

Speech Day is a compulsory attendance for pupils, and we hope that all parents will be able to come too.  It is an important and special occasion in the school year, and we are very thrilled to have Michael Morpurgo as our guest this year.

Senior Concert – Wed 24^th June

We would like to remind parents about the School Concert on Wednesday 24^th June.  Tickets (free of charge) will be available from the school office after half term.

Message for Vth Form Parents

Girls are on study leave after half-term, but there is an expectation that they need to check with each subject teacher to make sure that they are not required to attend specially arranged extra revision lessons.

Annual Parents’ Questionnaire

We should be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire that we send out each year at this time to parents.  It is your opportunity to comment and make suggestions and this information is very helpful to us as we plan the further development of the school.

Holidays in term-time

A surprising number of pupils are missing days of school around half-term for holidays.  Our terms are short and there are at least 17 weeks of school holidays in the year.  Please try to avoid your daughters missing valuable school time.  Their days at school involve education in its widest sense, including academic, social, moral, creative, physical and many other aspects.  Although it may seem that only a few lessons are missed, each day lost represents educational experiences that will never be recaptured.

Thank you

Over the May Day weekend Mrs Marks took part in a charity bike ride orangised by the Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour.  This involved cycling from the market cross in Chichester to the twinned city of Chartres in France, a distance of about 180 miles.  She would like to thank all the staff and students who helped me raise the fantastic sum of £400 towards the Rotary Club charity funds, which will be used to benefit local causes.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

This has been a busy term with the Silver group completing a successful 3 days and 2 nights practice expedition in April and the three Bronze groups completing their practice 1 night, 2 day walk in the South Downs in May.  A reminder that the Bronze Qualifying Expedition is on the 20^th and 21^st June. 

Swimming Pool

Due to a private function over this weekend, the swimming pool will only be available for use from Tuesday 26^th – Sunday 31^st May.  Please phone the school office first to ensure the pool is available.

 Boarders’ News

Despite the weather the boarders have made full use of the pool. We all enjoyed our Chinese banquet in Chichester last Sunday. Activity night has been very popular with over 50 girls enjoying their swim, barbecue, rounders and tag rugby. After half term we will be welcoming our overseas boarders who will be with us until the end of term.  A group made their first visit to the beach on Wednesday evening and even ventured in to the sea which was wonderfully warm. The boarding staff wish everyone a happy holiday

Junior Lavant House News

We have taken advantage of the lovely spring days this May and many of our girls have been on outdoor excursions.  To support their topic on castles the Year 1 and 2 girls, along with some of the Foundation class, visited Arundel Castle.  They had great fun trying on chain mail armour, exploring the grounds and learning about what life would have been like in the castle. 

Our Year 5 and 6 girls spent a day at Dell Quay, at Chichester Harbour, as part of their topic on Investigation of coasts.  They spent the morning on the beach and then walked to Chichester Marina.  They looked at the process of erosion, man-made and natural sea defences, the wildlife and human use of the coastline.  After having to postpone the trip twice due to windy weather, the Foundation Class finally got to go on their much anticipated walk across the field to see the River Lavant.  This was great fun especially as the grass was almost as tall as the girls!   

Last Friday, we held the second of our musical assemblies.  In total 15 girls performed and the event was well supported by the parents.  It is very encouraging for the girls to hear the progress that they are making with their instruments and appreciate the  practice that goes in to prepare for performance.

Please take the opportunity over the half term holiday to sort out a costume for the summer concert.  The Year 6 girls also need to check that their bicycles are road worthy and that they have a cycle helmet.  Bicycles need to be brought to school on the first day back after half term ready to start the Cycle Safety Course with the team from WSCC.  If the weather is kind to us, all the Key Stage Two Girls will have the opportunity to camp out before we break for summer.  Make sure your sleeping bag is ready!

Sports News

Recently our Lavant House Athletes excelled themselves at the Area Athletics Championships.  Girls across all the Senior School Forms took part and did Lavant House proud with some excellent results in the events.  Each of our teams were placed 4^th overall which is an astonishing achievement considering the number and size of other schools.   Some noticeable results were Helen McCarthy winning the Discus and finishing 2^nd in the Shot, Marcia Miles jumping to 2^nd place in the High Jump, Charlotte Honour winning both the Discus and Shot with huge throws!  Our relay teams, too, performed well in their finals.

The Form 2 Athletics team also performed outstandingly at a match at Seaford College.  We beat the hosts and came second to Highfield.  A great effort all round.  Well Done girls!

The weather has not been kind to us recently but there have been Rounders wins against Ditcham Park and close games against Ryde School. 

Two teams from Form 1 & 2 have been training hard and are entering the Area Tag Rugby tournament and we wish them well.

Early morning swimming club is proving popular with over 12 girls attending every Friday and swimming hard in the pool to get themselves energised for the day ahead.

All kit must be taken home to be washed over half term.  Please ensure your daughter has proper sports trainers for the remainder of term.

Junior Lavant Sports News

The rounders teams have been very busy this term with matches played every week.  Good wins have been scored against Great Ballard, Pennthorpe, Rookesbury Park and Boundary Oak.  An exciting athletics match was also held here with some great performances by all who took part.  Next half term will also be busy with rounders matches and a swimming match against Arundale.

Dates for your diary
Junior sports day 22nd June 1.30pm. Tea will be provided.
Junior swimming gala 29th June at 2pm.
Interhouse rounders 6th July. Pimms and strawberries will be served after the parent daughter rounders game.

June/July dates for your diary