LTSDA Spring Ball
on
Saturday
21st May 2022
More details
to follow!
LTSDA
Christmas Fair
Friday 3rd
December
Yesterday, J5 were all wrapped up and prepared for a river cruise
from Berwick to the Union Chain Bridge. This was an amazing
enhancement opportunity to coincide with their geography topic:
Rivers. They learned all about the rivers features and the history
of the river.
MICHAELMAS TERM
5th
Nov
emb
er 2
021
www.lts.org.uk
LongridgeTowers
Longridge Towers School
@LongridgeTowers
WHAT HAS
BEEN
HAPPENING AT
LONGRIDGE
THIS WEEK?
As it is getting to that time of year and starting to think – dare
we say it - of Christmas! The LTDSA would like the help from
the Longridge community for donations to the Raffle and
Tombola for the Christmas Fair. We are looking for anything
that is unopened – i.e. bottles, chocolates, smellies etc… all
items can be either handed in at the Senior School Reception or
Jerningham/Stobo buildings. Thank you for your support!
Forest School
The junior children had fun in the woods this week learning about fire safety before Bonfire night. They
found out about the fire triangle requiring the elements of fuel, oxygen and heat to create fire and how to
safely cook using a stick which they had whittled. The J3 children made some beautiful fireworks
pictures using the array of autumnal coloured leaves collected from the forest floor. EYFS and J1 and J2
threaded leaves on twine to create stick mobiles.
Monday 8th
November U15 Football v NCEA (A)
Tuesday 9th
November Year 5 & Year 6 Area Hockey (H)
Junior Parents’ Evening
Sixth Form Information Evening
Wednesday 10th
November U13 & U15 Rugby v Knox Academy
U10 U11 Rugby v The Compass School
Junior Parents’ Evening
Thursday 11th
November J5 & J6 Berwick Civic Society Service
Friday 12th
November Non Uniform Day in aid of Children in Need
Planning Ahead – November 2021
British Schools' Pentathlon Championships - Bath University During the October half-term a team of athletes, along with parents and spouses, attended the National
School's Biathlon final in Bath. Modern Biathlon is one of the 'family' of events run under the Pentathlon
GB umbrella and comprises of a separate swim and run. Distances vary, depending on age and points are
awarded depending on your finishing time. Swim and run points are then added to give an overall score. As
a school this was our first foray into the world of Pentathlon, although we have a number of individuals who
already participate in events.
In the Under 11 category Sandy and Bertie were competing. Bertie is an old hand at Pentathlon events,
whilst this was Sandy's first, although his mum assures me not his last! Both boys applied their best possible
effort. Sandy was particularly pleased with his outcome, finishing just outside the top 10. Bertie, who was
carrying an injury and feeling slightly under the weather didn't produce the type of performance he is
capable of but should be very proud none-the-less. A special mention should also go out to Fraser, brother of
Finty, more about her later, and a former pupil.
In the Under 12 category, Liam put in a brave performance. It was touch and go as to whether Liam would
be able to compete. The week before the event he was unable to swim, due to a soft-tissue injury. However,
at the 11th hour he completed a test swim and was passed fit by his medical team (mum and dad). Although
Liam will tell all that running is not his strength, he ran a brilliantly paced 800m, finishing strongly. I don't
think he had much more to give! Liam also swam very strongly, winning his heat and posting the 17th
fastest swim in his age category.
Finty was our only female competitor. Unfortunately I was not present to observe her compete. However,
the feedback was that Finty did an excellent job of channelling her nerves into a fantastic swim and run. She
posted personal bests in both. When I spoke to Finty she was very proud of her performance.
The final competitor of the weekend was Alex, in the U15 boys’ competition. Alex is an established
swimmer and runner, being both a member of the Borders Elite Swim Team and a National Schools' Cross
country qualifier. Therefore he had high expectations of himself. Prior to the event Alex asked his mum for
some event 'merch', she suggested that he might get some, if his efforts justified it. Well, Alex must have
wanted that t-shirt! During the run he took off like a rocket and after completing the 800m he had pushed
himself up to and beyond his limits. I'll leave the outcome to your imagination but let’s just say he need to
change his top quickly! Maybe a cunning plan to get that new t-shirt? Alex's swim was slightly off his best,
possibly having spent too much energy on the run. One of the keys to Biathlon success is the ability to give
all in your first event and then recover quickly. Alex is another one who may not have achieved the result he
wanted but should be incredibly proud of his efforts. Both swim and run times were mere seconds off
the top 10.
Our Pentathlon club is going from strength to strength. We've almost doubled our enrichment uptake this
term. There will be several more competitions coming soon, with the 2 main events being the British
Biathlon Championships in February 2022 and the British Laser Run Championships in March 2022.
Equestrian News – NSEA Success
Six Longridge riders travelled down to Bedfordshire last week to compete in the National Schools
Equestrian Association championships. The event took place at Keysoe International Equestrian Centre.
Schools from all over the UK took part in many classes, many of which had up to 200 competitors taking
part in one class. Our busy weekend started with the scurry speed classes on the Friday afternoon where
Livvy, Isla and Elena got great experience riding in the busy main indoor arena. Sam H got his weekend off
to a flying start with a 2nd place in his scurry class. Saturday morning saw the teams walk (and try and
remember) 3 different courses all before 8am! The two teams had a hectic time warming up ponies and
remembering to be in the right place at the right time wearing the correct clothing! Our girls’ team on their
first venture to the championships gained valuable experience and showed super team spirit to support each
other. The boys Monty, Sam and Bertie who are more experienced all rode superbly to finish 2nd in their
Jumping with Style class. The hectic morning continued as only Monty and Bertie could make the prize
giving as Sam was busy show jumping in another class. As a team of three the boys then jumped three
super clears in the 75 class to gain a place in the top 8 teams and Sam as an individual also got into the top
8. This saw them all jump again later in the afternoon. New courses to learn and turns to make, the three
boys (cheered on by the rest of the Longridge team) rode three super quick clears to secure the 1st place
team position and Sam gaining 2nd place individual! A quick change to jump in the 80cm show jumping
class saw the girls gaining in confidence. The tough 80 class meant that the boys’ team didn’t make the top
8 as a team, but Sam again got through into the top eight individuals out of 200 plus riders. This is a
fantastic achievement.
Again, this meant yet another course to walk and learn, but even with nerves growing, Sam held his cool to
ride another super round to claim another 2nd individual placing. Again cheered and supported by the
whole Longridge team riders, mums and dads. The success down to the famous Longridge lucky Egg!!
The championship experience is quite something and I’m sure all the riders who went will be looking
forward to next year already. They all showed super horsemanship, team spirit and were a credit to the
school. Memories are made over these weekends many thanks to the parents who make it possible.
Sieze the Day
Posy has had an amazing season with her riding. She
competed at the Royal Windsor Horse show, Royal
International Horse Show at Hickstead and BSPS
Summer Championships at Grantham during the
summer holidays with some amazing results. More
notable during half term she finished this season with
a win and championship on Seal at the Heritage
Championships in Grantham. But the highlight of her
year was competing at the Horse of the Year Show at
the NEC Birmingham on Briar Snowfox (Foxy). She
rode her socks off and the pony went really well, she
was competing with the best 23 ponies in the country
that have all qualified during the course of the year.
She has already started the hard work which is
required over the winter for next year.
Library News
Following the lifting of some Covid-19
restrictions, our beautiful school library
reopened this term. Once again, the heart of
the school is being well used by pupils for
both learning and reading for pleasure: Sixth
Form are enjoying the peaceful environment
in which to study and pupils in KS3 have
resumed their library lessons in situ. Stock is
being continually updated and our online
library, supplied by Wheelers, contains a wide
range of books which can be accessed at
home.
Senior English
It has been an appropriate time of year to study some spooky stories
and importantly, look at the criteria which can make them effective.
We had fun in a Form 3 lesson, followed by a serious application to
creative writing! The class made a large bank of vocabulary, suitable
to use in their own essay, and experimented with opening lines
which could have an impact on the reader. We also considered how
to finish, focussing especially on suspenseful endings. The class are now
using this work, to assist them in creating their own thoughtfully
crafted stories.
Alumni News - Congratulations
Jake Bishop, Royal Marines from East York
and former pupil, Victoria Douglas married on
Holy Island in St Mary’s Church on Saturday
9th October 2021.
Family, friends and former pupils of
Longridge gathered to celebrate the day.
Simply the Nest!
On the last day before the half-term break, our intrepid
birdwatchers flew out into the walled garden to have a
go at building their own nests. The egg-cellent skills of
our Form 5 team of William and Rebecca, along with
Jemima’s eagle eye for detail both impressed. Their
efforts were certainly something to crow about, and
there seem to be plenty of feathers in the caps of these
keen twitchers. However, some students chose to make
a more serious point, such as Josh, Ollie and Charlie,
whose final piece was a powerful metaphor for man’s
intrusion into the natural world. Nonetheless, I’m sure
all would agree that this was a fitting way to bring the
first season of the bird watching club to a close as we
enter the winter hiatus.
Prop making for the senior production of
‘Matilda’ is underway in enrichment.
On Tuesday, J6 went to Mary Kings Close and the Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh for the day. It was a very
insightful trip and many of the attractions were original. Mary Kings Close is an underground village on
the Royal mile. J6 thought the tour was very exciting. Mary Kings Close was home for many people and
many people there caught the famous diseases called the Bubonic and pneumonic plague. This was also
where Mary Queen of Scots was to stay for a night before she was exiled. It was very hard for her to stay
there because everyone was not supportive of her at the time. After this incredible trip, J6 went to the
Surgeons Hall Museum to see the exhibitions there.
This museum is also a college for many people who are possibly going to be future surgeons. Their
museum contains lots of knowledge and is special for one reason, their specimens. The museum was very
insightful because J6 had a professor showing implements that had been used in the past.
By Amy
Bonfire Night
We have been learning all about the Bonfire Night
celebration this week in Early Years. We have
learned about Guy Fawkes and his failed plot to kill
King James and blow up the Palace of Westminster
which is why we celebrate Bonfire Night. We have
created some beautiful artwork and have also
considered how to stay safe on Bonfire Night.
Diwali
In Early Years, we celebrated Diwali on
Thursday. We learned all about the Festival of
Light and made our own diyas and Rangoli
patterns.
Form 4 GCSE students have been continuing to
explore their set text ‘Blood Brothers’ by Willy
Russell. The focus this week has been
‘childhood’. After playing tag in the Chapel
and looking at how much energy we expend
running around we then went on and looked at
playing in a playground setting. This gave
students the opportunity to study what each
other’s facial expressions are like when they are
playing together outside. We tried to capture
different moments to look at the body language.
Well done Ethan!
Ethan was delighted to be offered a place on the
Newcastle Thunder U16s Scholarship programme.
Newcastle Thunder, a professional rugby league
team, invited Ethan along with another 60 of the
best rugby league players across the North of
England including Northumberland, Tyne and
Wear, Durham and Cumbria.
They used the SPARC Talent identification tool to
assess the players based on their; Skills, Physical
attributes, Awareness, Resilience and
Character. This took place over 4 weeks during
eight 2 hours sessions.
Ethan was one of only 20 boys to pass the
assessment and be invited on their elite athlete
programme, where he will receive a holistic
development programme which focuses on
developing each player as an individual both on
and off the field. As part of the programme he will
receive rugby coaching from an elite coaching staff
including former international coaches, and be
educated in nutrition and shown cookery
demonstrations to recreate the healthy food
required of an athlete, alongside specific strength
and conditioning programme.
The remarkable thing is that Ethan only started to
play rugby league in June of this year to support
his rugby union development following the break
due to Covid, but was quickly spotted by the
academy scouts.
We are delighted to announce that Alex P has
been invited to join the Team GB Young Riders
Development Squad with his mare Hattie, aka
Rihaz Al Qamrah. A phone call from Team
GB's chief d'equipe, was rather surreal when
talking about his future part in the European
and World Games teams.
This is a huge achievement
recognising his
successes this season
especially when Alex only
started to ride a year ago!
Leaf by Lottie – Form 3
My smooth, bottle green canvas,
Mottled with dark splodges, like paint splatters.
I used to be plain green, with no story,
Now I lie with my mottled marks, my battle scars, my glory.
My intricate frame, like a fragile skeleton,
Broken with rips and tears to my skin.
I used to be whole, with no story,
Now I lie with my rips and missing pieces, my battle scars, my glory.
The glossy shine on my emerald green skin,
Dulled with the mud and debris from the ground I now lie on.
I used to be glossy, with no story,
But now I lie covered in dirt and debris, my battle scars, my glory.
The fresh smell, of morning dew and light mist,
Now overpowered, by the smell of the rotting corpses surrounding me.
I used to smell fresh, with no story,
But now I smell of the fallen beside me, my battle scar, my glory.
My velvety skin, smooth as a freshly opened conker,
Now rough and uneven like a course, filthy acorn.
I used to have velvety skin, with no story,
But now I have rough, uneven skin, my battle scar, my glory.
I used to be at the top of the tree, overlooking the fallen below me,
But now I am the fallen, looking up to those who are fighting the wind and rain.
I used to be at the top, with no story,
But now I am at the bottom with the fallen, joined with our battle scars and sharing our glory.
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