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From the Headmistress

An article in the Guardian at the weekend entitled "how do we protect our daughters' mental wellbeing?" was interesting. It suggested that parents should not add to the pressure school places upon a child to do well academically. In school we don't have expectations that they achieve beyond that of which they are capable. Pupils work hard at PHS and do better than their predicted outcome using the base-line test they sit on entry to school but that is due to their efforts and desire to do well. I am sure as parents you want the same result but not at the expense of their happiness. 

Another point argued for a joint parental and child decision on the use of digital devices and one of my sister school heads said that as adults we do not mirror good practice by going through emails whilst at the same time trying to listen to our child. Phone etiquette is needed and a laying down of ground rules for use by everyone. We all under estimate just how much time is spent replying to messages, looking at social media apps and following friends and their activities. 

Another point included letting your daughter experience failure and not to always expect to be first or win at everything. This includes friendships which change with maturity and there is a need to accept that interests develop sometimes in a different direction with age. 

Sit down together for meals. This helps children eat properly and healthily without rushing their food and it is when chatting around the table parents find out about how things are going with school work, friends and life in general. It gives opportunity for family discussions about current affairs and news beyond celebrity gossip as well as time for family catch-up. 

There were many other good points about raising your daughters and most if not all the points are applicable to boys too. Furthermore they are not rocket science and yet parenting can be hard. This is because children are individuals and what suits one does not always work with another. However, if we all reassure children that it is perfectly normal to at times be worried, afraid, fail at something, experience disappointment, and at the same time be excited, ambitious, risk taking within safe boundaries and most of all have fun I am sure the girls will keep their mental wellbeing strong. Lots of good literature is suggested at the end of the article too for raising healthy girls. 

Mrs Jane Prescott
Headmistress

Join us for Firework Night

Firework night is, once again, taking place at the Junior School on Saturday 12 November 2016 from 4-6pm.  Fireworks will be lit at 5.30pm.  Refreshments will be available including hotdogs and drinks. This event is open to both senior and junior school parents, pupils, friends and family.

Tickets are £4 (babes in arms free).  Please send your money into Lucinda Webb and book early to avoid disappointment as tickets sold out last year.

Dear Parents

In assembly on Monday I talked about books. There are so many in my house how that I have had to invest in an e-reader to avoid yet more rooms overflowing with them. Reading without a backlit screen is one of those simple pleasures that stimulate our brain without putting undue pressure on the eyes. It can also be done just before sleep without affecting sleep patterns which can often be the case with phones, tablets and computers. I explained to the girls that I now have a curfew in the evening where I try not to look at a close-up screen and that this has improved my ability to sleep.

CEO of the Book Trust, Diana Gerald, suggests that reading as an activity is under pressure like never before. We are all finding it harder to read and it competes against so many other activities that call on time for ourselves and our children. We actively encourage girls to read for pleasure throughout the school and I still sometimes read to my daughter at bedtime, although not as often as I would like to. It is one of her favourite times of the day.

Gerald goes on to say that reading for pleasure has a dramatic impact on children’s life outcomes. Confidence and wellbeing is enhanced as well as academic outcomes. They are happier, healthier and do better in life as a result. This is a bold claim but my twenty years as a teacher has led me to believe that it is true.

I concluded my assembly with the story of Mary Jones, who two hundred years ago walked twenty-six miles in her bare feet to buy a copy of the Bible. She carried her shoes in her hands so that they didn’t get dirty and put them on before she met the minister. This was after having saved for six years to raise enough money to buy the book. We are so fortunate to have such wide access to fiction and non-fiction and I hope I managed to get this across to the girls on Monday morning.

Paul Marshallsay
Headmaster of the Junior School

Early Years' News

Nursery
In Nursery this week we have been thinking about things that begin with the sound ‘p’, where the children have enjoyed sorting objects which have ‘p’ as an initial sound from those that do not. We have also concentrated on recognising and writing number 4, as well as continuing with our ‘Senses’ theme, thinking about the sense of touch.

Reception Class
This week Reception enjoyed a sunny trip to the city museum analysing the similarities and differences between the historic room sets and their own homes. Some excellent drawings were made on our treasure hunt work sheets and many children attempted to write labels for the exciting things they saw. Eating lunch in the lovely gardens was a real treat in the autumn sunshine, where the girls created elaborate role play scenarios using the box hedge maze.

Junior School sport successes


Last week saw a busy time in the Junior School sporting fixtures calendar. First we had the junior GDST swim gala where the girls competed tremendously well against 17 other schools.

The following day the U11 and U10 girls played in a match against Hampshire Collegiate School. The U10s stormed to success with a 10-2 win. The U11s fought well against tough opponents. Players of the match were Natalie Buckley and Lydia Rukin.

On Thursday it was then the turn of the U9 netball team against Ryde. Playing a great match where the score did not reflect the play that went on, the team unfortunately missed out on a win but are looking forward to the forthcoming match against HCS. Players of the match were Imogen Highnam and Daisy Robbins.

 Well done to all who have taken part.

An 'awesome day' at The Roman Palace


“Awesome!", “Brilliant!", “The best day ever!”. These were some of the comments Year 4 made after their trip to Fishbourne Roman Palace. Dressing as slaves, mosaic making, writing on wax tablets, spinning wool and investigating the plants grown in the garden, these were just some of the activities the girls experienced as part of their Roman activity day.

Dates for the Junior School Diary

 

Wednesday 19 October

U11A & U11B v Churchers (A) 3.30pm – 5.30pm.

Thursday 20 October

U9’s v Sherborne House (H) 2.30pm – 4.00pm.

Fun Run Team at Mountbatten/Alexander Park  1.00pm – 3.00pm.

Friday 21 October

Celebration Assembly – Nursery 8.40am

PSA Halloween Party 3.30pm – 6.00pm (all clubs running as normal).

Rowing success...

Congratulations Susie Sparkes, Year 10, and team winning the J14 rowing at the Itchen Imperial home regatta last weekend.

Sixth Form Sky Dive in aid of Breast Cancer Haven


Last Sunday ten brave PHS girls decided to jump out of a plane for Breast Cancer Haven.  The Haven is a local charity that the girls have chosen to support this year as it helps so many people overcome the challenges of cancer.
‘It was such a surreal experience, which I hope to do again but at 15 000 feet,’ said Deputy Head Girl Sayeeda Nur.  ‘It was so rewarding to fundraise so much money (almost £5000), before our annual charity week starts.

‘The Haven has helped so many people overcome the struggles of cancer so it's crucial we support such a cause. Breast Cancer Haven is a non-government funded charity so needs people like you and me, to help keep its fantastic cause alive.’
 
Charity Week at Portsmouth High School starts on Monday 21 November.

GDST Laurie Magnus Poetry Prize

Over the summer break, poems were submitted for the GDST Laurie Magnus Poetry Prize and were judged by Hampstead High School alumna, Allie Esiri. Allie is the creator of the apps If Poems and The Love Book. Her book A Poem for Every Night of the Year was recently published by Macmillan.

Portsmouth High School sixth former Marisa Green’s entry Observations from Aisle Four – A Slam Poem received a commendation in the Year 12 and 13 category.

Observations from Aisle Four - A Slam Poem
Cool blast of air hits her hair
from the doors of the shop-
stop.
Girl with her clique goes to pick
up wheatgrass juice. Diet fad,
tragic, sad.
Calorie control gone mad.
Boy with his friends
depends on masculinity,
reluctantly, eyeing the girls,
with the curls,
and the magazine bodies;
supermarket society.
Into her basket with the plastic,
Crying child, wild hair
and no makeup,
stressed by her fake
smiles and sham of a marriage,
porridge selected,
collected her thoughts.
She peeks through the jars,
stars erupt,
abrupt.
Man of her dreams,
Between quinoa and pesto,
al fresco lunch for their first date?
Making eyes explicitly,
illicit encounter,
counteracts her life outside.
Speaking to him is a wordless plea:
supermarket society.

Sports News


Last Thursday it was the turn of the U13s and 15s to play Mayville in the netball league and both teams were victorious by 11-7 and 11-3. Players of the match were Abi Atkinson and Libby Wilson.

On Tuesday the senior hockey team played Hampshire Collegiate in a very enjoyable game. They just lost by 2-1 with Charlotte Binning, the Captain, scoring for PHS.  On the same night, the U14 and 15 netball teams lost to very strong opposition at St Swithuns but players of the match were Aarushi Shah and Issy George.

On Saturday there is additional netball training in the sports hall from 9.30-10.30am and all girls are welcome and this is followed by the U13 A and B team playing a netball touring team from Princethorpe College.
Dates for the diary also include netball training 9.30-11am on Saturday 19th November, 26th November and 10th December.

Clubs Notices

Please note that there is no Taekwondo club this Monday 17 October. 

This Saturday’s Park Run club is the final weekend to get some valuable training done before the Great South Run.

Pedal Portsmouth Glow Ride


Bring your hi-vis, glow-in-the-dark accessories and lights, and take part in the first ever Pedal Portsmouth Glow Ride on Southsea seafront on Saturday 22 October from 6pm - 7pm.

It's a fun, free family event, celebrating safe night-time cycling, on a traffic free route along the seafront.  If you are one of the best-lit cyclists, you could win a prize. 

The ride starts from near Blue Reef and will be open for an hour from 6pm - 7pm, allowing cyclists of all ages and abilities to enjoy cycling round the course at their own pace while lighting up the night.  Make sure you sign up to be part of the spectacle!
 

Dates for the Senior School Diary


Saturday 15 October
Year 10 Bronze Training Day 09.00am-4.00pm.
U13 AandB  v Princethorpe (Home) 11.00am-12.30pm.

Monday 17 October
Hockey Training 4.00pm-5.00pm.

Tuesday 18 October
1st XI Hockey v Seaford (Home) 4.00pm-5.30pm.

Wednesday 20 October
PSA: Years 8 & 9 Pizza and Movie Night 4.00pm-8.00pm.

Thursday 21 October
HALF TERM
 
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