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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