Hcc Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

WEEKLY

Btech Music takes off at HCC w/e 14 November From the Principal Enjoy & achieve Our students have certainly been following this strand of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda this week. The whole of Year 8 visited the Natural History Museum as part of their Humanities curriculum, whilst in Year 10 our BTEC Performance Group and GCSE Dance students have enjoyed attending professional productions in London (see Ms. Worwood’s and Ms. Taylor’s reports.) Closer to home, Year 7 students watched a production of ‘Twelfth Night’ by the Orange Tree Theatre Company in our main hall. There have been some alarmist stories in the national press about schools abandoning Shakespeare now that the End of Key Stage 3 tests have been abolished, but we at HCC are delighted to continue teaching Shakespeare’s plays with a firm emphasis on live performance as the best way to enhance students’ understanding of the text. It is clear from talking to our Year 7 students that 11 is not too young to understand Shakespeare! The recent OFSTED inspection team praised the outstanding range of extra-curricular activities on offer at HCC and noted our students’ enthusiasm for these. However as parents will see from this edition of our newsletter, these events are not ‘add-ons’ but are in fact central to improving student achievement across all curriculum areas. Be Here Now! Attendance was one of the areas praised by OFSTED for significant improvement since the last inspection, and I would like to thank Mr. Smith, the YLCs and our splendid Inclusion Team for the work they are doing to promote and improve attendance across the college. Please support your children in attending college on time, every day, unless they really are too ill to come in. Nobody likes getting up on a dark damp November morning – but if students are not in

music students have in had twoon workshops and BTEC our mufti day for Children Need Friday st for Marketing and Finance with a West End 21 November. And don’t forget those December producer and marketing directors. reward trips for allastudents who have met the Six Ps consistently this term – attendance being Both will lead the students on to see crucial to workshops achieving each of them. ‘Othello’ and ‘Imagine This’. They will then embark on a four week project using their skills Dr. Demont gained to produce a budget and marketing presentation to three professional producers in a “Dragon’s Den”Theare scenario. The winning group will Phoenix Dance get to spend a day in the West End learning from masters. is very for the Yearthe 10 GCSE DanceThis students haveexciting been learning students. The winners will be announced early some very challenging movements taken frominthe January. Watch this space! Phoenix Dance Theatre’s latest choreography at a recent workshop run by three dancers from the Ms Worwood company. On Wednesday night I had the pleasure Head of Music the students to one of their of accompanying contemporary performance at Richmond Theatre.

A quiz with a hilarious difference!

Enterprise …….enterprise ……. enterprise Being an English teacher I assumed, quite wrongly that the dance would be accompanied by a The HCCA Comedy Quiz night last Friday was There issuccess an exciting of'Blue planning and intrigue music! The first piece called Roses' was a 20 at great with buzz 10 teams competing in rounds HCC at the which moment due to a excellent range of words activities minute dance performed to the which were linkedwas with some comedy place very soon for which is of taking asketches story. Initially, I have toEnterprise say, Iown wasWeek sceptical and stand-up from our HCC student st the 17th sure to Well thethat 21 November. At class assemblies this and not Ms. would talent. done toButtery's all the students who week students heard about the plans for the week appreciate the was surprised at attended theperformance. evening and Istarted the weekend and how be able to participate. how very Icheery was. off on wrong athey verywill note.

During next week the auditions for First of all,lunchtimes Ms.through Buttery's students were aacredit to this Midway the evening surprise year’s enterprise activity, ‘HCC Has Talent’ her, an exemplary audience who were also able to performance by the HCCA committee ladies was competition are taking place. Small groups of comment on the afterwards showing the ‘piece deperformance resistance’ and quiz contestants students can be found practising in various corners real understanding, knowledge and insight. were left assured that the college’s performing ofarts the specialism building during break and lunchtimes. Secondly, I was surprised at my own reaction and extends to parents as well asOther the students entered the competition and how easily have I was drawn in toposter the students! Cathy Trevelyan, Bevperformance, Edwards, Jane the winners’ pieces are displayed all the could hear the rhythm in now the words and in really Witham, Cathryn Jones, Theo McCubbin, Jane corridors. The Bernadette winners of the talent competition enjoyed theand whole experience. In total there were will Harris Lee gave a hilarious beinsight announced before end term four very different pieces performed, am into the pros the and consofofwhich beingIand on the a ‘Grand Final’ will take place at the end of January. sureschool enhanced the GCSE students learning PTA when they recreated an HCCA Do keep an eye out on for stage; the date – the final and taught me meeting something also! I after would like to was committee a preamble fantastic last year and we are confident it will be as thank Ms.gave Buttery Year 10 classdeeper for which everyone her a glimpse of their good this year! educating me about contemporary dance. life aspirations !

On Thursday next week our annual Curricular Thank you to HCC’s drama mentor‘Cross and “actor in Day will be have an ‘enterprise’ theme. All year residence” , Mr Alan Mitchell, who worked Award with all Arts and Performance groups will beforehand be involved and in activities related the acts co-ordinated theto Evening enterprise. This week staff and been evening; as well as giving us astudents taste ofhave his own busy discussing and organising theirquiz contribution stand-up comedy! Winning the seemed ato Parents friendsis were treated toheap a the day’s events. and . There of scrap mere consequence amidst talk all the fun and ‘tour around walks, the faculty’ without moving challenges, sponsored a mural, a ‘junk’ music laughter but our thanks also go to the from their seats whenmore. they attended the band, a fashion show and much quizmaster, Jane Witham, and to all those who Arts and Performance Awards Evening on organised a really enjoyable evening Wednesday. The Children ‘tour’ . showed HCC will be fundraising for in Need all and aspects of art, drama, music and dance. recognising Anti Bullying Day together on Friday 21st November. All students will be allowed to come to performance awards towards were college in After ‘mufti’ the in return for a £1 donation presented to students from all year the charitiy. groups for attainment, achievement and commitment to for the resources college’s specialism. Some groups are looking at home and around the college. Year 9 students are looking out for coloured emulsion paint – so if anyone can help, The winners of the Arts and Performance Awards with Dr to Demont : Luke(Year 9 please doSpecialist send your left-overs Ms Taylor Chidzey, Michael McCubbin, Learning Co-ordinator) over the next few days. Tom Carroll, Joe Carpenter, Harrison Peck, Matthew Parej, Lucy Jones, Megan Lunn, Amy

‘Oliver Twist’ at HCC next week The Bounce Theatre group are bringing ‘Oliver Twist’ to HCC next week. This is a special production of the Dickens’ novel is being performed by teenagers and adults living in Richmond and should not be missed ! Tickets £5 Contact the booking office on 00208 408 1124