Carol Service St. Mary’s Church Attleborough, Friday 12^th December 2008

Parents, Pupils and Staff packed the medieval church of St Mary’s Attleborough for their annual Carol Service which marked the end the Christmas Term. The congregation were warmly welcomed by Rector Rev. Michael Aisbitt. The service, a festival of carols and readings, draws the long autumn term to a fitting conclusion and gets the school holiday off to a positive start for everybody.

Director of Music, Mr. Rob Thornton and his department provided a broad range of Christmas music interspersed by some strong congregational singing. The main school choir performed a beautiful arrangement of “In the bleak mid-winter” and later “Winter Wonderland” The junior department choir gave a confident performance of “Baby Jesus, singing softly”. Readings from across the school, both pupils and staff, provided a balance in the telling of the Christmas story. A selection of the readings were prize winners from the school Christmas writing competition, both poetry and prose. Mr. Thornton’s instrumentalists were able to vary the mood with Joe Bohn’s flute playing on the carol “Torches” and a saxophone solo from Solomon Lawson with “Jingle Bell Rock.”

The New Eccles Hall School Carol Service appeal this year was taken in support of Major Phil Packer’s campaign to raise £1,000,000 for Help for Heroes, a charity started in October 2007 to raise funds in support of our wounded servicemen and women. Major Packer himself was injured in a rocket attack in Basra last February. As a result of the attack he has lost the use of his legs and is now a paraplegic. Some parents of pupils at The New Eccles Hall School serve in HM forces and have been posted to areas of conflict. The collection, taken at the end of the service, raised well in excess of £400.00.

Thank you to everybody for your generous support.

December 2008

Junior Department Christmas Show

The New Eccles Hall School Junior Department Christmas Show went down a storm with the parents on Wednesday 10th December. Mrs. Aldred and her staff team and younger pupils have received lots of compliments from parents, older students and staff. There were too many highlights to mention but a real stand out number was the dance routine choreographed by our dance teacher Mrs. Donna Poole; Saturday Night Fever.

Just to keep the school and the show up to date it was introduced in a rap style by William and Hamish. It certainly got everybody in the mood for Christmas.

December 2008

On Our Way To Lisbon

Christmas celebrations started at New Eccles Hall School with the visit of our friends Isosceles Theatre company to present “On Our Way To Lisbon”.

The play, enjoyed by years 7-11, told the story of how in 1967 Glasgow Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup with victory in the final over the mighty Inter Milan. Two fans looked back and fondly recreated how the boys in Green and White beat the hardest team in the world. The whole mad and magnificent campaign came to life with fun, laughter and furthermore some moving and emotional moments.

This was the third visit of Isosceles to New Eccles Hall School. In January of this year they brought Dracula –The Panto to the school and previously they have presented Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to our GCSE English students. We are now looking forward to their next visit in 2009.

December 2008

Victorian Walled Garden Project.

The New Eccles Hall School is centred around the seventeenth century grade listed building known as Eccles Hall. Built by the Green family, the estate has changed hands many times over the years. Prior to becoming a school in May 1944, it was owned and occupied by Lord Bury, the eldest son of the Earl of Albemarle whose country seat was at Quidenham Hall, now a Carmelite Monastery.

Since 1682, Eccles Hall has been extended and altered. One of the improvements was in Victorian times when the walled garden was constructed. For some years now, this beautiful area has remained unused and it has been decided to embark on a long term project of restoring the garden and bringing it back into use as both a productive vegetable and flower garden and as an area for relaxation and  quiet away from the hustle and bustle of a normal school day.

The school have sought advice from Janet Taylor of Taylor’d Gardens, Thetford www.taylord-gardens.co.uk on layout and design and, after the initial heavy work is completed, the school are hoping to encourage the input of the pupils. The oldest and longest serving employee at the school, Lenny Dixon, can remember the walled garden in all its glory, as he lived on the estate as a boy where his father was head gardener and chauffeur to Lord Bury. Lenny has been putting his memory to the test and helping Janet Taylor get an idea of what the garden looked like over sixty years ago. This is a very exciting project and one which will benefit the whole school community.

November 2008

New Car Park

The New Eccles Hall School has just opened their new car park facility and pupil drop off and pick up point.  The purpose of the car park is to reduce the amount of traffic on the main school drive, making it a safer place during the school day as  pupils and staff make their way to various departments.     The pick up and drop off circle will make matters easier and more efficient for parents at the beginning and the end of the school day.  In addition to the car park there is a covered waiting area and bicycle shelter

 “We are very pleased with the new set up and feedback from parents has been very positive ” remarked  Headmaster  Richard Allard.   “ We have already noticed the difference on the main site” he added.

October 2008

96th Bombardment Group Museum Open Day.

American jeeps, tanks, exhibitors in period costume,  40s dancers and disco, a flypast of two old  warbirds:  a Mustang and a Dakota, Dog Display Team from RAF Mildenhall  plus many and various military stalls and entry to the 96th Bombardment Group Museum and Learning Centre  were just some of the things on offer last weekend at the open day for the museum of the 96th Bombardment, who were based at Snetterton in the last war, hosted by The New Eccles Hall School.

The museum, dedicated to the memory of over 300 servicemen from the 96th Bombardment group who gave their lives during hostilities between May 1943 and April 1945, is an on going project, opened in 1990,  between the veterans of the 96th Bombardment Group, the local community and New Eccles Hall School.       

The Open Days with living history displays are always popular and this year it attracted the largest attendance since the open days were started six years ago.  The weather was kind and the visitors were able to tour the exhibits and allow their minds to go back in time and appreciate life on an  American base during the last war.   

“It is always a fascinating and informative day out for all members of a family with so much to see and all with free entry ”  remarked Sean Simington ,   Director of the New Eccles Hall School.    “It is so important that the sacrifice made by so many should be remembered and there is no better way than days such as this.”

September 2008

Prizegiving

The New Eccles Hall School academic year came to an end last Saturday with a formal Prizegiving held in the grounds of the school.

Prizes were presented by two former pupils of the school who left in 1983; Paul Davies and Edward Costerton.    Success was recognised in many areas of school life;  academic, sporting, social and extra curricular. 

In addition to the awarding of prizes, Headmaster Mr. Richard Allard addressed parents, pupils and staff,  reviewing the year and also encouraging  pupils to respond positively to opportunities that are presented to them not just in school but throughout their lives. Heads of School, Josh Bamforth and Ellie Schaay replied for the pupils.

Mr. Sean Simington, Director of the New Eccles Hall School, presented a special award, a wine decanter, to Mr. Paul Beddoe, Deputy Headmaster, in recognition of his twenty five years service to the school and the pupils both past and present.   Since joining the staff in 1983  Paul Beddoe has served as a teacher, boarding housemaster and more recently as the Deputy Headmaster.   

“It was a privilege to be able to present an award to Paul” remarked Mr. Sean Simington.  “ He is a true all round Schoolmaster and simply hundreds of pupils have benefited from his teaching at Eccles  and his devotion to education in the broadest sense over the last quarter of a century".

July 2008

New Eccles Hall School  Poland Project, Revisited.

In October 2004 New Eccles Hall School launched a community project, as part of their own diamond jubilee celebrations, to design and construct an adventure playground in the grounds of an orphanage.   The orphanage is located four hours drive north of the capital of Warsaw in the small rural village of Szymonowo deep in the heart of the Polish Lake district. There are 48 children in the home between the age of 3-18.

The building of the playground was completed in July 2005 and the following summer, 2006,  the young people from Poland visited England for two weeks staying at New Eccles Hall and exploring many interesting places in south east England. 

This summer seven pupils and two staff went back over to Poland to carry out a refurbishment of the playground. They were in Szymonowo for five days painting the structure and ensuring the climbing holds were in good condition and renewing the bark base.  When returning to England three young people from the home joined the New Eccles pupils on their return journey and are now staying at New Eccles Hall   experiencing life in an English boarding school and also enjoying the delights of the British summer and exploring the region.    Funds for the project have been raised by the pupils, parents and staff of the school through various functions.

Josh Bamforth Head Pupil of the school was overwhelmed by the trip;  “Fantastic trip” he remarked.  “We  have learnt so much from the experience  and the major factor  has been to encourage us all here to make the most of our  opportunities as they do in Szymonnowo Poland.  I also hope and trust that the school and the orphanage will keep this association going long into the future”.

Wales Walking Weekend    - Brecon Beacons  

Making the most of opportunities is the best advice for pupils in any school and twelve young people from the New Eccles hall School certainly did that when they put their names down for a walking weekend in the Brecon Beacons accompanied by three staff.

The party negotiated a day off school to make a long weekend of the trip.  The first day of walking in the central Brecon Beacons involved a six hour walk to the summit of Pen Y Fan at 2907 feet in glorious sunshine and a dramatic view and stunning scenery.  The second long distance walk was around the famous Black Mountain. The walk took the group past glacial lakes and up ridges to the top at 2630 feet.  Having reached the summit the group had time for a dip in the lake to cool off from what was another hot day with rich dramatic scenery as the back drop.

Sunday again dawned clear and bright but unfortunately there was no further time left for enjoying the delights of the Welsh Countryside; back to school was the order of the day. 

The pupils and staff alike thoroughly enjoyed the trip with the added benefit of kind weather.     

“The trip was excellent and everything went to plan including the weather” remarked Mr. Paul Beddoe, Deputy Headmaster at New Eccles Hall and organiser  of the trip.        “ Showing pupils that you do not have to leave the British Isles to see the most beautiful scenery is the key to a trip such as this ” he added.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme -   Expeditions 

Last weekend over thirty Year 10 and 11 pupils from The New Eccles Hall School  in South Norfolk took part in the final expeditions for the Duke Of Edinburgh Award with three groups of young people achieving silver standard and four groups bronze level.    In very trying conditions with the heat and the scorching sun the pupils were tested on their route planning, map skills including detailed navigation over the course of three days for silver and two days for the bronze. In addition to the hiking the groups had to camp out and prepare all their own meals. 

Mr. Paul Beddoe, Deputy Headmaster and organiser of the award scheme at New Eccles Hall reported that he was delighted with the performance of  all the groups over the period of the expeditions. The groups were all  able to impress the external assessor with their various skills.

“All the pupils entered into the spirit of the weekend and can rightfully feel proud of their achievements and have the satisfaction of a job well done” remarked Paul Beddoe.

Big Wheel Drama Group in School.

Last week The New Eccles Hall School was visited by the Big Wheel Theatre Company and Roland Allen  who led a workshop -  “Introduction to Shakespeare”.  The workshop fully involved the pupils in learning about various aspects of the life and work of the Great Bard.  The pupils discovered  that Shakespeare’s plays were the  Eastenders and Coronation Street productions of their day. The workshop took the young people through the structure of Shakespearean Theatre and the various categories of play;  Comedies, Tragedies and Histories.  The workshop was great fun and a learning tool also. 

Pupils learning about Shakespeare without too much effort.