News for Parents

Christmas Newsletter 2007

Dear Parent

The end of another very busy term is fast approaching and our festive celebrations are well under way. I look forward to meeting you at these events which include the Infant Christmas plays, Movement Evening and the Carol Service which will be held again this year at St. John’s, Ranmoor on Wednesday 12 December at 7.00pm. The service will include contributions from Melbourne House Choir and music groups, as well as the Senior Chamber Choir and musicians and our new combined SHS/Birkdale Sixth Form Choir. Tickets are not issued for this event – everyone is welcome, but please arrive early to be sure of a seat.

On the last day of term (Friday 14 December) school will finish at 2.30pm for all the girls. The Powell’s School buses however will not depart until 3.15pm so girls travelling home on Powell’s Coaches should remain in school until 3.00pm on that day, other school bus services will depart at 2.45pm. Please note that next term begins on Monday 7 January 2008.

Preparations for the school’s inspection by ISI which will take place from 4-7 February 2008 are well under way. We have had 2 visits from the Reporting Inspector, Jane Hamilton, this term which have been very successful. Thank you to all parents who completed the parental questionnaire. These have now been analysed by the reporting inspector along with the pupil questionnaires and the results are very positive.

I would like thank all parents who have been able to attend our Parent Forum meetings this term or who have supplied topics for discussion. These meetings are proving to be a very useful forum for parents to raise issues and make suggestions to help guide the future development of the School. KS1 and 2 parents should have already received minutes of the meeting from their daughter’s key stage and I enclose with this mailing minutes of the KS3 and 4 meeting for parents of girls in Y7-11.

I hope that your daughter will have told you that we now have a Sheffield High School DVD which we are using for marketing purposes. The DVD provides a snapshot of school life and includes clips of all year groups from Reception to Sixth Form. The DVD is available for purchase in the school Uniform Shop, price £3.00. We are currently working on updating our school website which we hope will be finalised by mid-January. The revised website will be updated regularly and we hope parents will find it a useful means of receiving up to date information about school events and procedures. (www.sheffieldhighschool.org.uk)

Please could I remind all parents that holidays should not be booked during term time. Missing just one day at the beginning or end of term can be very disruptive to a child’s education and can be unsettling for them.

I hope you will enjoy using the 2008 calendar enclosed in this mailing. If you would like further copies of the calendar to give to family or friends, please contact the school office.

On behalf of all the staff, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas.

Yours sincerely

MRS V A DUNSFORD
HEADMISTRESS

Examinations

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

Y10 examinations will take place from Monday 7 – Monday 14 January inclusive. The girls will be required to be in school throughout the examination period.

Y11 GCSE mock examinations will take place from Monday 7 – Friday 18 January. Y11 girls will have study leave during the examination period and are only required to be in school when they have an examination. Study facilities will be provided for girls who wish to work in school. Y11 Parents should have received a letter giving details about study leave.

AS and A2 modules for the Sixth Form will run from Wednesday 9 – Thursday 31 January. Lessons continue as normal during the examination period and girls may take the session (am or pm) immediately before the module to prepare.

Reports for Y10 and Y11 girls will be issued in February and for Y12 in March.

Support for Charities

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

All the girls have got off to an excellent start with their fund-raising this term, raising nearly £3000 so far for local and global charities.

Over £1000 was raised for Children in Need, our highest to date, and £600 for Breast Cancer Research from our “Pink Day”. We have also supported Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, raising £350, the local Alzheimer’s Society, raising £300 and many of the Sixth Form classes are in the process of buying goats, cows and toilets through Oxfam. Our ongoing support for our link school in Jhum Para, Bangladesh will enable a new classroom to be built there, complete with toilets.

Lost Property

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

When we return to school in January all girls in the Senior School will have a locker in or outside their classrooms to keep their belongings safe. Most girls also have a second locker in Moor Lodge to store their PE kit and outdoor coat. Coat pegs are also available on the bottom corridor of the main building for hanging coats. Please would parents encourage their daughters to use these lockers and not to leave their belongings around school. Lockers should be kept locked using a coded padlock (not one with a key) which can be purchased in the school uniform shop. In order to keep the school tidy and free from piles of bags which could potentially become a hazard the classrooms are cleared regularly of bags, coats and files at the end of the school day. This results in items that are not actually lost ending up as ‘lost property’ which, if named, are returned to their owners by Mrs Scalisi. Please would you ensure that all your daughter’s property is named and encourage her to find Mrs Scalisi if she has lost anything.

Parking and Traffic Issues

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

We have had a polite request from local residents for parents not to leave their engines running when waiting to collect their daughters at the end of the school day.

Despite numerous requests in previous newsletters, some parents are still bringing cars into the main site on Rutland Park, and Melbourne Avenue at the beginning and end of the school day and reversing into the gates of Melbourne House and the Infant building. You may be aware that we had to evacuate the school buildings one afternoon recently when the fire alarms sounded. Fortunately this was a false alarm but, had there been a fire, it would have been very difficult for the emergency services to reach the building because of cars blocking Melbourne Avenue. This is a serious risk to the safety of all our children and must be stopped.

If parents have difficulty parking in the area for evening events, spaces are usually available outside the dining room or in the Sixth Form car park at the end of Melbourne Avenue.

If a fire evacuation occurs when parents are on site, please assemble with the rest of the school on the grass.

FOSH

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

Our Parents Association FOSH has had a very busy term with a number of social events organised as well as our usual fund-raising activities.

We began the year with a welcome evening for new parents in Melbourne House and the Senior School which were very well attended. At the beginning of October, the closely fought annual Quiz Night and Pie and Pea Supper again proved very popular.

Thank you to everyone who helped to organise last week’s very successful Craft Fayre and to all those who supported the event which raised more than £1,000.

Following last year’s success in the Sheffield High School Half Marathon, we are hoping to enter a team again this year of parents, friends, staff and pupils representing Sheffield High School. If you would like to join the team please contact Mr Mozley (smozley@she.gdst.net). We were very proud to have been presented with an award for the team which raised the most sponsorship money – £1,200 – following last year’s event.

The annual FOSH Ball 2008 will be held on Friday 14 March. Details of tickets are enclosed with this mailing and, as in previous years, it is expected to sell out, so please book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

To visit the FOSH website, please visit www.foshonline.org.uk

Annual Fund

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

Thank you to all parents who have already donated to the School’s Annual Fund. We are making excellent progress towards achieving our target of buying additional staging, lighting and sound equipment for the main school hall and a sun canopy for the outdoor classroom.

Uniform Shop Opening Times

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

The Uniform Shop will be closed throughout the Christmas holidays and will re-open on Monday 7 January 10.00am – 3.00pm. Term time opening hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 8.00am – 4.00pm. If you have any queries please contact the school office.

ECO Schools Award

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

A group of Y11 and Y13 girls are working with Mr Mozley to develop the School’s awareness of environmental concerns. The group has started to assess how ‘green’ the School is and how we might improve the situation. Already all classrooms have a paper recycling bag or box, posters are being distributed to encourage us all to save energy and we are looking at ways of involving all the girls. We have already been awarded a Bronze Award from the Eco-Schools group and next year we will be looking to raise awareness. If any parent has a particular interest or is able to offer some expertise, please contact Mr Mozley.

Congratulations

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

Congratulations to our Y10 Business Studies team who have recently won the Coca Cola Enterprise Challenge where they beat teams from all over Yorkshire and Humberside.

The team of Georgina Blakey, Dehenna Davison, Tabitha Fearnehough, Manoshi Nath, Olivia Parker and Rosie Slingsby had to produce a marketing campaign for a new drink for the 2012 Olympics. Their product, H2Olympic, their marketing campaign and presentation really impressed the judging panel which included Ed Balls (Secretary of State for Children, Families and Schools) and Kristina Grimes (Apprentice runner-up).

Letters to Parents since the Last Mailing

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

Senior School

Year 7
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Read-On
PE Night out

Years 7-11
Parent Forum

Year 9
Scarborough
MidYIS

Year 10
Welcome Evening
Consultation Evening
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Chinese Buddhist Centre

Year 11
Sixth Form Scholarship
Thackray Medical Museum
Silver Duke of Edinburgh
Consultation Evening
Coventry Cathedral
Work Experience Evening
Sixth Form Welcome Evening
Cranedale
Bluewater Centre
London Art trip
AS & A-level Choices
Consultation Evening
Losehill field centre
Trip to Geneva

All
FOSH AGM
Bags 2 School
FOSH Quiz Night
ISI Questionnaire
Autumn Serenade Concert
Movement Evening
Christmas Band Concert
Various Costa Rica & Cuba 2009
Spanish Homestay Easter 2008
Trip to Spain 2008
English Workshop

Junior School

Reception
Phonic Programme letter
Allergy to fur letter
Totley Hall Farm Nativity

Reception – Year 2
Parent Forum KS1
KS1 Parents Forum minutes

Reception – Year 4
Yogabugs & Yoga’d Up

Year 1
Can I read my book to you?
Jenny Abraham

Years 1-2
Virtual Learning Environment session
VLE information

Year 2
Crich Tramway Visit

Years 3-6 7
KS2 Parents’ Forum
Carol Service at St John’s Church

Year 4
Sherwood Pines
Bishops House Visit

Years 4-6
Sports Consent Form

Year 5
Conwy Letter
Junior Open Morning
Drama Club – The Odyssey

Years 5-6
Line Dancing

Year 6
Senior Open Morning
First Aid Club Letter
Chemistry Week Lecture
KS2 Parent Forum minutes
KS2 Parent info re Snr Sch

All
Melbourne House Newsletter
FOSH AGM
Rubella Letter
ISI Questionnaire
Sheffield Childcare Strategy leaflet
Creative School Portraits
FOSH Christmas Craft Fayre
Christingle at St Marks Church
Parents’ Evening
Booklet – Kids’ stuff

Forthcoming Events

[Date of this entry – December 2007]

Wednesday 12 December
Carol Service at St John’s Church, Ranmoor

Thursday 13 December
Infants Christmas Party& Movement Evening

Saturday 12 January
Senior Entrance Examination

Monday 21 January
Y9 Options Evening

Wednesday 23 January
Oxbridge Information Evening

Monday 4 – Thursday 7 February
Inspection by ISI

Tuesday 5 February
KS1 Parent Forum

Wednesday 6 February
Careers Fair

Tuesday 19 February
Y7 Languages Evening

Tuesday 26 February
Y9 Parents’ Evening

Thursday 6 March
Y7 Parents’ Evening

Friday 14 March
FOSH Ball

Monday 17 March
Y13 Consultation Evening

Wednesday 16 April
Y8 Parents’ Evening

Autumn 2007 News Update

Dear Parent

The new school year has once again begun with great cause for celebration on several fronts. I hope those of you who were able to attend our Prize Giving and celebration of achievement at the Octagon on 13 September enjoyed the evening. If you were not able to attend, I enclose a copy of this year’s GCSE and A Level examination results and details of the destinations of our Y13 leavers. I am delighted to report that 92% or our Y13 leavers this year succeeded in gaining a place at their first choice university. All the girls excelled themselves once again in their public examinations. At A Level we maintained our 100% pass rate and almost half of the year group achieved straight As. At GCSE we achieved our highest ever pass rate at 99.5% with all girls achieving at least 7 A-C passes. 72% of all the passes were at A* or A.

We have welcomed several new staff this term in both the Junior and Senior departments. I know that Mrs Jones has already mentioned the new Junior staff in her newsletter. In the Senior School we have been joined by Mr Holmes (Head of Mathematics), Mr Shelswell (Second in Mathematics), Mrs Beattie (ICT), Mrs Epton (Biology), Mrs Griffin (Teaching Assistant), Mrs Wright (Biology Technician) and Miss J Lupson (Art Technician).

I look forward to meeting many of you at events later this term. Our annual Open Morning will be held on Saturday 20 October 2007 when you are invited, along with prospective parents, to look round the school and we hope that many of your daughters will be available to help out on that day as ambassadors of the school.

Yours sincerely

MRS V A DUNSFORD
HEADMISTRESS

School DVD

[Date of this entry – September 2007]
During the summer term many of the girls in the Junior and Senior departments were involved in filming for our school DVD which will be used alongside our school prospectus to provide information to prospective parents. If you would like to purchase a copy of the DVD, these will be on sale for £3.00 in the uniform shop from the beginning of October.

FOSH Bagz2School

[Date of this entry – September 2007]
If you have taken the start of the new term as an opportunity to clear out those cupboards and drawers, then you will be glad to know that FOSH has another ‘Bagz2School’ day organised for Wednesday 3 October. All Melbourne House girls should have brought home a blue bag, complete with instructions, which should be brought outside the school dining room before 8.30am on Wednesday 3 October. Senior girls may collect a blue bag from outside the staffroom or alternatively items can be brought in a black bin bag.

Parking

[Date of this entry – September 2007]

Parents are reminded of the following:
An unofficial ‘one way system’ operates in Rutland Park and parents are requested to drive in the entrance closest to the Botanical Gardens and out of the entrance beside Barber, Harrison & Platt.

Parents should not park in the bays marked for permit holders. Traffic enforcement officers regularly patrol the area at the beginning and end of school.

In the interest of all the children’s safety, please do not bring cars into Melbourne Avenue at the beginning and end of the school day.

Uniform Shop

[Date of this entry – September 2007]
From Monday 1 October the uniform shop opening hours will be:

Monday 12.00 noon – 2.45pm
Tuesday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Wednesday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 8.00am – 12.45pm
This is for the AUTUMN term only and will be changed again next term.

Inspection

[Date of this entry – September 2007]
In February 2008 the school will be inspected by ISI (The Independent Schools’ Inspectorate). All independent schools are inspected every 6 years and the focus of the inspection will be to examine whether the school is meeting its core aims which are to bring out the best in all our girls encouraging them to develop their personal and intellectual talents to the full and to leave school as strong, open-minded and confident young women.

The lead inspector, Jane Hamilton, will be visiting the school on two occasions this term to begin to look at paperwork and to analyse the results of the Parents’ Questionnaire, a copy of which will be sent to you in October.

PSHE Programme

[Date of this entry – September 2007]
Please find enclosed with this mailing a copy of the PSHE programme for girls in Y7-11. It would be helpful if parents would discuss the topics with their daughters at home to support the work done in school. If you have any questions about your daughter’s PSHE lessons please contact Mrs Heaton, Head of PSHE, at gheaton@she.gdst.net.

Forward Dates For Your Diary

[Date of this entry – September 2007]

Monday 1 October
Y10 Welcome Evening 7.00pm

Monday 1 October
Key Stage 1 Parent Forum 2.00pm

Friday 5 October
FOSH Quiz Night 7.00pm

Friday 19 October
Y7 Open Afternoon for parents 1.25 – 3.15pm

Saturday 20 October
Infant, Junior & Senior Open Morning 10.00am-12noon

Wednesday 24 October
Key Stage 2 Parent Forum 2.00pm

Wednesday 7 November
Key Stages 3 & 4 Parent Forum 3.50pm

Thursday 8 November
Y12 Consultation Evening 6.00pm

Saturday 10 November
Sixth Form Interview Workshop

Saturday 17 November
Sixth Form Open Morning 9.30am

Tuesday 20 November
Concert at St Mark’s Church 7.00pm

Thursday 22 November
Y7 Parents’ Evening 4.30pm

Friday 23 November
FOSH Craft Fair

Wednesday 28 November
Y11 Consultation Evening 6.00pm

Monday 3 December
Y10 Consultation Evening 6.00pm

Tuesday 4 December
Reception Christmas Play 1.45pm

Wednesday 5 December
Y1 Christmas Play 1.45pm

Wednesday 5 December
Christmas Band Concert 7.00pm

Thursday 6 December
Y2 Christmas Play 1.45pm

Wednesday 12 December
Carol Service at Ranmoor Church 7.00pm

Thursday 13 December
Movement Evening 7.00pm