Boarders' Bulletin January / February 2025

It’s been quite the half-term at Scott House, with a perfect blend of hard work, fun competitions, and meaningful celebrations. We’ve been busy with Year 12 mock exams, and our younger members have been studying hard for their RAs. Despite the hustle, we made sure to set aside some time for our annual Rammel vs. Scott table tennis competition. Though we didn’t walk away with the trophy this year, we’re still proud of our efforts and want to give a big shout-out to Emma K, who reached the finals and represented Scott brilliantly. Another highlight this half-term was our celebration of Chinese New Year. It was wonderful to see the house come together for this occasion. Special thanks to Sheryl and Hazel, who went above and beyond to prepare a traditional Chinese meal for everyone in Scott. It was a beautiful way for us to honour the New Year, and the delicious food made the celebration all the more memorable!

This half-term also showcased the incredible talent across the school, especially in the whole-school production of Fame. It was fantastic to see our house captain Nyama excelling on stage, supported by Anu, Sofiah, and Daisy. Their performances were a true testament to the talent within our house.

A big well done to Year 9 for their role in helping Lynx win the inter-house netball competition this half-term. Fingers crossed for even more success with the other year groups!

This half term has been as full of flavour as our World Food Nights – and that’s saying something! The boys have once again turned up the heat, cooking up culinary delights that would make even a top chef raise an eyebrow. Our Chinese New Year Extravaganza, brilliantly organized by Paul, brought the entire boarding community together for a celebration of food, fun, and a few surprising dance moves. Alongside these gastronomic adventures, we’ve seen plenty of spirited inter-house football, board game nights that had us laughing well into the evening, and a flurry of Park Runs across Kent that left us all wondering if the boys were secretly training for a marathon!

A huge thank you is in order for our senior trailblazers, who showed initiative and spiced up the term with some unforgettable events. Moduro’s Connect Four tournament had us all on tenterhooks (and maybe even strategizing our next moves), Tom’s table tennis face-off with Scott House was nothing short of epic, and George’s Dodgeball tournament with Blubery House delivered more laughs. And let’s not forget, many of the boys were swept away by the magic of our school’s production of FAME, proving that there’s talent in every corner of the school.

As we welcomed the new year, we kicked off with a vibrant celebration of Chinese New Year in The Coach House. The entire boarding community gathered for a delightful meal in the dining room, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. The event was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together and enjoy the rich traditions and delicious cuisine associated with this special occasion moving on to games and music in The Coach House after.

In the spirit of embracing the new year with healthy habits, some of our braver Bluberys have been participating in the Saturday Park Run with Mr. Crews. This weekly event has become a fantastic way for students to stay active, enjoy the fresh air, and bond with their peers. Kudos to all the participants for their dedication and enthusiasm!

One of the highlights of our recent activities was the epic Nerf Wars, made possible by Rohan's impressive stash of over 50 Nerf guns. A big thank you to Miss Flinn and Mr. Hart for organizing and running this thrilling event. The students had an absolute blast, showcasing their strategic skills and teamwork in a friendly yet competitive environment.

Our weekends have been packed with a variety of activities to keep everyone engaged and entertained. From hitting the sales to sports tournaments, there's been something for everyone. These outings have provided a great opportunity for students to unwind, socialize, and make the most of their weekends.

The whole house recently had the pleasure of attending a performance of ‘Fame’ and it was nothing short of spectacular. The show was a testament to the incredible talent and hard work of the cast and crew. A special shoutout to Dido and Drew for their outstanding performances, along with the rest of the cast for delivering such an excellent show. Well done to all involved!

In a unique twist on traditional Valentine's Day celebrations, Blubery Boarding House and Rammell abandoned the usual romance for an all-out dodgeball war. The event was a huge hit, with students from both houses showing great sportsmanship and energy. A special shout out to Sharon for her astonishing skills and for Lilia and her apparent immunity to dodgeballs!

As we reach the end of another vibrant half term, I am delighted to share some highlights from both Cranbrook School and Crowden House. Cranbrook has been bustling with activities, including the Newcomers Concert and the much-anticipated performance of "Fame - The Musical". Crowden has also been lively, with many of our boys excelling in hockey, basketball and football matches. They’ve also been celebrating all things Chinese New Year and enjoying a trip to Gravity trampoline park. Our Intra-House Table Tennis tournament was a great success, fostering camaraderie and healthy competition. Not so healthy have been all the cheeky baking opportunities at the weekend and pizza nights!

In January and February, our Year 10 and 12 students focused on their mock exams, demonstrating dedication and resilience and many have secured excellent results from these. Looking ahead, Year 11 and 13 students will be sitting their final mocks for GCSE and A Level after the half term break, and we encourage them to revise diligently for these important assessments with an average of 6 hours a day recommended.

As we approach the end of this half term, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the great start to 2025 we have had as Cornwallis house. Our Year 12 students started the year with their first set mock exams. They settled back into the routine of revision prep in the first week ready to take on the academic challenge set by their subject staff.

We are proud to report that they have performed very well, and we are excited to see their continued progress as they prepare for their upcoming assessments.

In addition to their academic efforts, we have had an action-packed schedule this half term, filled with memorable activities. Our house trip to see "Back to the Future" at the theater was a highlight, providing a fantastic opportunity for the boys to enjoy a night of entertainment.

Throughout the weekends, we organised a variety of engaging activities, from exhilarating Nerf wars to ice-skating adventures, and our exciting winter house basketball competition. These events encourage teamwork and friendship but also help our boys to unwind and enjoy their time together outside of the classroom.

Well done to all the students who helped organise such a fantastic event for the whole boarding community - the decorations, delicious food, and fun games were appreciated by all!