March 27th 2015

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Lent term draws to a close and it has been a busy, but a highly productive time. School House has been alive with the energy and enthusiasm of your sons, who have played their part in the Bromsgrove School community. On Thursday morning I gave the final House assembly which I will share with you now.

Endeavour… on the face of it, it is quite simply digging in, working hard and overcoming obstacles bit by bit. You do this on your own every day in your lessons, training and personal lives. And it is always a source of particular pleasure to see you helping each other to try and keep going and get through the difficult times. The idea of endeavouring can definitely apply to those difficult times where you have to find reserves of strength or energy or patience just to get on and try to get where you want to go. But it is not always about the difficult times.

Endeavour is a daily idea. It is the small, incremental improvements along the way, every day that get you where you want to go and that make you who you want to be. You may need help or advice or you might struggle, but endeavour is the idea of making these small steps as you reach your goal.

There is a weightlifter called Scot Mendelson who holds the record for raw, unassisted bench press record; a staggering 715 pounds – that’s 51 stones. If you can picture it, that is about 4 washing machines. And yet there must have been a time when he was struggling to do reps on 60kg… how is it even possible that he managed to achieve what he did? Scot Mendelson does not suddenly lift a third of a ton. You may not have such lofty ambitions, but you must all want to be something or to achieve something.

The 20th century architect Louis Kahn said that even a brick has ambition; it desires to be something more. Whether it’s a getting a place on a university course, a spot on the team, reaching a personal goal in the gym, maybe you need to pass a test, or you dream of becoming medic, vet, entrepreneur, fashion designer, or even if you seek to be happy, have lots of friends, help others; anything at all … it is the things that you do every day that make the difference.

And that is where endeavour comes in. You don’t suddenly become these things because you simply want to be them; if that is what you are hoping for then you will always fall short. If you are not nice to people today, why would you expect them to like you tomorrow? If you do not train today, why would you expect to be fitter and stronger tomorrow? If you are not responsible today, why would you expect to be taken seriously tomorrow? If you do not study today, why would you expect to learn anything tomorrow? The difference between Scot Mendelson lifting 60 kilos when he was 16 and 51 stone when he turned 35 is just 40 grams per day. That’s an improvement of just over 1 kilo per month. Suddenly it doesn’t seem quite so impossible, but every day you leave it, the harder it will become.

SCHOOL HOUSE

Houseparent:

Mrs Judith Holden, MA (OXON) PGCE

BROMSGROVE SCHOOL

Worcester Road

Bromsgrove

Worcester B61 7DU

Tel: 01527 579679 ext 231

Email: Jholden@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

Email: Jholden@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

Tel: 01527 579679 ext 231

Email: Jholden@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

This is how you need to think about your revision. I have been reading a book in the last few weeks entitled “The Teenage Brain”. One of themes covered is the formation of memories and the neuroscience behind it. It is clear that frequent repetition of knowledge leads to the formation of more synapse connections in the brain and every time your reinforce this, you are developing the myelin sheath around the neuron and creating a stronger memory…whilst I don’t want to give you a lesson in Neuroscience – these ideas clearly support the idea of structured revision, with repetition and a variety of stimuli. Other elements covered in the book include the myth of multitasking…actually you really can only do one thing well….the additive force of electronic gadgets and how they can reduce your capacity to develop long term memories…and the need for quality sleep to help your brain re-order the memories that you are making – an over-night filing system for the mind.

You know how I love my sayings…I have my mother to thank for many of these…she realised early on that my enthusiasm for tasks could be a frustration and would frequently say…” Rome wasn’t built in a day” have patience, persevere…

And “one swallow does not make a summer”….one good days revision will not make up for a week missed!

You have worked hard this term and achieved a great deal. For the examination years the Easter break is a crucial time to consolidate your knowledge.

Endeavour really is the key to your success….for as my rowing coach would say…“ pain is temporary…pride is forever!”

House achievements have been numerous this half term. We have seen a flurry of House events in which School House boys have represented themselves well. In House hockey the Senior team put up a worthy fight against tough opposition. The talent of the school’s first team hockey captain James Taylor was a pleasure to watch and he was supported well by many excellent players.

The House got behind the cross country and 1.2 teams who put in great performances in both events. I am especially grateful to those who represented the House in these two events which are not always the most popular. We have also taken part in House badminton, squash and last week the juniors and seniors enjoyed the inter-House football. The numerous events have meant that many boys have had the chance to wear a School House shirt and earn their House commendations. Well done to all involved.

Off the sports pitches the House has also been involved in many other aspects of extra-curricular life. The fourth form production of “The Accordion shop” saw Archie Holder take a strong role. This cleverly set show was thought provoking and moving. Outside of School Sam Ison has also performed with the “Great Witney Operatic group” in Fiddler on the Roof. His excellent dancing skills were displayed again and it was wonderful to see his confidence on stage.

School House has been well represented this year in our Chapel Choir with three members of staff and boys from all year groups. Tom Lynch, Henry Brewster, Tom Muir, Harry Fussell, Ed Mooney and Dan Moore sang evensong in Peterborough Cathedral at the beginning of March. It was a gloriously sunny day with equally glorious music. Members of Chapel choir also joined with our Choral Society last Saturday night to support a performance of music including Faure’s Requiem.

In debating Thomas Lynch has had a very successful term, participating in the English Speaking Union Mace, the Cambridge School’s competition and of course, representing the House last Monday. Thomas commanded the stage with his lucid style, wit and intelligence, supported by James Whitehead the School House team retained the Inter-House debating trophy for the second year in succession. On the same day Harry Liversidge won the Junior House reading prize…the double! Two fantastic achievements in one day.

It was also very interesting to hear about the History project that Grayson Leversha has been involved with this week. Around fourteen of OBs who were members of the school between 1937 to the late 1940s visited the School on Tuesday afternoon. They were interviewed by some members of the Sixth form and Grayson was an integral part

of the film making to record their memories of the school for future generations. This was a wonderful oral history project which will enhance the School’s archive.

Many boys have organised work experience for the Easter Holidays. Michael Butler will be working at the Forge Needle mill in Redditch and Edward Mooney will be displaying his encyclopaedic knowledge of natural history at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. Well done to you both for using your initiative and setting these placements up. If your son does have a particular career that they are interested in and would like some work experience please for encourage them to speak to our careers department who may be able to place them with Bromsgrove alumni.

The academic focus this term has been consistent. The number of commendations awarded for excellence in the classroom continues to impress me. School House have gained a total of 386 the highest total for a boys House this term.

This term the individual commendation winners are:

L4th Harry Whitfield U4th Joe Ryan 5th Alex San L6th Harry Lloyd Jones U6th Matthew Lynch

Looking at the performance in grades and commendations we have decided this term to award the endeavour prizes for the Lent term to:

Junior: Joe Ryan Senior: Matt Jones

Both boys have received consistently excellent effort grades and many commendations.

House Ties are awarded this term to:

Lower Fourth: Zach Hughes, Fred Edge, Stuart Leslie, Grayson Leversha, Charlie Smart, Harry Whitfield

Upper Fourth: Josh Rust

Seniors: Tom Muir, Jonah Cutler, Theoharry Ellinas, Sjors Roosenboom

Well done to you all and thank you for your contributions to School House.

I could not hold a House assembly and not mention yesterday. Your conduct as a House was impeccable, for which I thank you. Our first fifteen were amazing and we were especially proud of the contributions made by two School House boys: James Taylor and Harry Lloyd Jones. They both gave their all and showed endeavour and endurance in abundance…You both played an integral part in this historic day for Bromsgrove School.

You have worked hard this term but also enjoyed some super social times together. The Great Gatsby Ball was a huge success and I thank the Sixth form for supporting this event. The PA worked very hard to plan this spectacular event and we are extremely grateful to them for the wonderful evening and the fundraising which will be used to support the House.

House bowling was another success. The atmosphere last Friday was great, it was wonderful to spend time together as a House in this informal setting. Well done to our worthy winners and to Miles Burke for his Champagne moment for getting a strike when the pink pin was in play- again my thanks to the PA for subsidising this event for the House and to Miss Franks and Mr Delahunty for helping to run this event.

We say good bye to Miss Harrison this term. She has been a fantastic tutor in School house and I know that many of you have benefitted from her advice and support over the last 18months. We thank her for her contributions and wish her well for the future.

So enjoy the break…think about your endeavours this term…what did you Stop, Start and Continue? Make the best use of the holidays …..and when it comes to revision: dig in, work hard and overcome obstacles bit by bit.

SCHOOL HOUSE IMPORTANT DATES AND PA NEWS.

The School House FAMILY GAMES CHALLENGE NIGHT will be held on Friday April 24th at 7.15pm. Parent/son teams will enjoy table tennis, pool, darts and a selection of other games spread throughout the House and garden. Tickets are £5 each and are available from Sian Brewster. The ticket price includes a hotdog and there will be a bar for you to purchase drinks. Please email Sian on sian.brewster@gmail.com if you would like tickets. We are expecting this event to be popular and I recommend that you contact Sian as early as possible.

Summer end of term event – PLEASE NOTE THE DATE Tuesday 23th June 7.00pm. Please make a note in your diary, details will follow shortly.

Photographs from the ball can still be purchased by visiting : www.bmsphotography.co.uk : Great Gatsby is the password

Thank you for your continued support for the House. I wish you and your families a very happy Easter break.

Judith Holden