March 2015
Eastbourne College
Blackwater House
2014-15
I
Dear Blackwater parents
N
As I write, the sun is out, the daffodils are in bloom
and the Blackwater girls have started studying (?) in
the House garden. Summer is nearly here, and there
is just time to reflect on another exciting, productive
term in House before we look forward to the summer
term, and all that that will bring.
The overriding atmosphere here is one of real focus,
whether in the classroom, on the netball court or elsewhere in the College. Those preparing for public exams have already started their revision in earnest and
are fully aware of the challenges ahead. The girls continue to support each other (from top to bottom
through the House), subtly guided by an extremely
supportive tutor team, who give up so much time and
energy to keep things running smoothly.
Thank you again to everyone who donated so generously to the raffle at the House concert.; we raised
over £300 for St Wilfrid's hospice which Flo and Yasmin took over last week and which was very gratefully
received by the hospice. The Upper Sixth also cooked
more than two hundred pancakes earlier this month,
to raise funds for our own College charity ECHO. The
initiative was so successful that they had to turn hungry students away at the door by the end!
I know that revision will be the key focus over the holidays for so many of the girls and I would just urge
them all to find the right balance between work and
play so that they come back feeling refreshed, and yet
in control, in April.
Until then, the tutors and I wish you and all your families a very Happy Easter.
Julie Wood
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Summer Uniform
It is always a welcome move towards summer uniform
but it is important that skirts remain the right length, and
not too short, White shirts are on show more next term so
must be suitably tailored. Girls in the junior years must be
able to tuck their shirts in and the senior girls must wear
shirts that comfortably cover their midriffs.
Also, coloured nail varnish is not to be worn at any time,
and the girls are only permitted to wear one pair of earrings, so any nail varnish/extra earrings must be removed before arriving at school each day.
Your help with all these issues is, as ever, much appreciated.
Year 13
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Blackwater House
2014-15
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By all egg-counts it has been a cracking term for the Upper Sixth:
Alice: It has been a really tiring term having to balance everything (eggspecially hockey, netball and mocks) while
still trying to find some time to sleep!
Beth: I came second in the Newton Reading Price and I entered the Eastbourne Music and Arts Festival where I
won three trophies which I was very eggcited about!
Becca: I have played for the cracking 3rds netball team and enjoyed attending the annual CCF dinner.
Emily: I have been lucky enough to hear back from nearly all my university choices, receiving offers from all of
them. Let's hope all the hard work pays off!
Emma: This has been a eggcellent, albeit tiring, term! The highlight has to be making it to the national playoffs in
hockey.
Flo: I have had a busy term completing history coursework and finishing my biology ISAs.
Jess: House concert went really well this term, everyone had a great time preparing for it. Safe to say Blackwater
is as cracking as ever!
Lizzie: I have been busy doing ISAs alongside other ex curricular activities such as helping at Beaver scouts at
St Andrews.
Phoebe: Receiving an offer from Oxford University was definitely the highlight! I have also enjoyed playing Netball for the 4th XI this term.
Poppy: Netball season has been sufficiently fun and challenging (sorry for the bruises everyone) and I am almost
ready to plan my gap year.
Tara: This has been an extremely challenging term but, despite the struggles, progress has been made and I am
looking forward to the summer!
Yasmin: I am pleased that I have University offers after finally sending off my application! My proudest moment was winning the handstand competition in swimming despite being new to the sport .
HAPPY EASTER EVERYBUNNY!
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Year 12
Blackwater House
2014-15
This term has been very successful for our year on many fronts. We have studied hard from start to finish, as well as packing
in many other achievements. This picture above was our submission for Friday cake bake which was definitely the best of
the term! We have become much closer as the term has gone on and we will need to support each other now as our allimportant AS level exams draw ever closer! Here are some of the highlights:
WE NOW HAVE 2 DRIVERS! Congratulations to Megan S and Vicky who have passed their tests
- Vicky an impressive 45 days after her birthday! Amelia, Holly, India, Katie and Scarlett are
also well on their way to passing.
Our year has had a great term in sport! Scarlett came an amazing 2 nd place in the Senior Girls steeplechase and she also participated in the prestigious Bath cup, which is held at the Olympic Aquatics centre. Her relay team finished 5th and 8th. Megan G has played for the school fencing team
and Amelia for the tennis team. Holly and Katie, playing for the 1st XI hockey team, are through to
the final of the U19 Sussex cup but unfortunately lost their national play-off
match 0-2 to Millfield, finishing an impressive 9th in the country. Amelia, Vicky,
Katie, Holly, Scarlett and Megan G also made up the bulk of the house water polo team, although this
was not so successful! Holly has also starred in the 1st netball team who have had a very successful
campaign. Lydia and Megan S have played for the 4th team and Vicky was also captain of the house
chess team!
Megan G, Vicky and Katie have represented Blackwater very well in the interhouse debating competition where they have fought off strong opposition to
reach the final. Now they will have to convince the judges, speaking for the
motion ‘blaming the parents’ and against the motion ‘seeing is believing’ on
the penultimate day of term.
Megan G remains at the forefront of Blackwater and Eastbourne College’s drama. She has helped with the Year 9 productions of Mamma
Mia and she is also writing the script for a condensed version of the
Merchant of Venice for an upcoming Shakespeare competition. Our
year also enjoyed our sketch at the Blackwater House concert… Izzie
definitely went full out!
Scarlett, Amelia and Vanessa are now preparing for their French exchange in Nîmes. While Katie
and India will be heading off to Iceland for the Geography trip. The Blackwater Lower Sixth would like
wish you a very…
Also on the academic
side of things, Megan
G won the Newton
reading prize! Holly’s
eRC has been commended to the Headmaster. Vanessa and
Katie had a fun time in
Cambridge - they even
visited Mrs Wood’s old
college!
Year 11
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Blackwater House
2014-15
I have enjoyed being in Blackwater life as it encourages us
to thrive as one and strive in
curriculum. Exams are just
round the corner but I feel I
have lots of support
This term I have really
enjoyed taking part in
the running club and I
have seen improvements and will continue
next term.
I have enjoyed my past year in
Blackwater joining the choir
and the running club. Exams
are getting closer but with help
from other girls we’ll manage
to succeed.
Romney Hole
Poppy Newton
Elizabeth Gower
I have worked hard
this term in all subjects, and have enjoyed having all my
friends around me.
Emma Bishop
I knew that Year 11 would be very
busy but it has also been fun. I
have enjoyed the more relaxed
CCF session and the trip to Cambridge and the House concert.
Year 11 has been the best year for me so
far. I’ve hugely enjoyed the challenges and
many new experiences these have brought.
Being part of Blackwater has encouraged
me to excel in my GCSEs
I really enjoyed this term, and I
thought the atmosphere in Blackwater was really great and we
have worked well together during
mocks and now exams.
Jane Mullaney
Olivia Pavey
Corrie Kinghorn
My art featured in
the bursary competition and I
loved the experience as I got to
enjoy other parts
of art
Darcey Joyce
This term I have
gone up in my
eRC and my
grades as well!
There have been
loads of revision
sessions which
have been useful.
As a year we’ve
all helped each
other out and
kept the stress as
low as we can.
Devon Harvey
I think that we have all worked really
well together to prepare each other
for various class tests as everyone is
willing to help and to keep the stress
low.
This term I have really enjoyed the netball season and being captain and going to the extra revision sessions and
being able to organise my time and
work.
This term I have been enjoying my
Art classes with Mrs Harriott and I
loved the English talk from the
author of Pigeon English; it was a
great experience.
Latifa Powell
Eden Higgins
Alysha Chui
It has been busy and eventful but
overall this term has been great in
house because we have all tried to
help each other for exams. We have
all become closer and I can’t wait till
after exams for that to stay.
As the term has progressed Yr11 Blackwater have continually supported and
challenged each other academically. It
is a really positive environment for work
and revision is so far successful.
This term I have enjoyed House
water polo; it’s unfortunate we
lost but our house spirit certainly
shone through. I am also looking
forward to house netball and
seeing how it all pans out.
Grace Porter
Martha Piper
Ella Virgo
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Blackwater House
2014-15
BLACKWATER YEAR 10
Although this term has been the shortest of the three terms, it has still been a very busy one. One of the
main highlights was the Blackwater House concert before half term. Year 10 spent a few weeks choreographing a dance to perform. On the night, Maddy sang a Jessie J song with Millie H on the guitar, Dasha played the violin and Tilly sang whilst playing the piano.
ACADEMIC
Congratulations to Dasha, Millie H and Amy who all went to see the Headmaster for their highly commended eRCs. Dasha also won a gold medal in the National Maths Challenge, putting her in the top 500
students in the whole country for her age group. Well done to the girls at the top of the Show HsM
league for this term: Dasha, Nuriya, Lauren and Harriet.
SPORT
This term’s sport for the girls was netball where Georgia captained the U15B team and Harriet and Amy travelled to Roedean
to represent the U15A team at SISNA (where they came 6th in
Sussex). Nuriya joined the school’s fencing team- where she said
her proudest moment was scoring 4 points against the school’s
captain. Due to her arm injury Tilly was unable to play netball but
she helped out with the boys hockey training as a goalie. Before
we broke up for half term we ran the school’s steeplechase- congratulations to Harriet who came 7th
overall, Elspeth (19th) and Lauren (21st). Also Zara has been playing away at Bedes school in the U15
girls cricket team. Roisin represented the school in the Bath Cup away at the Olympic swimming pool.
Harriet, Lauren and Claire have been riding each week as members of the College equestrian team.
MUSIC and DRAMA
In music, Tilly and Maddy have been recording songs written by themselves for the school’s singer songwriter album (which will be coming out soon). Maddy, Tilly and Nuriya have also been busy rehearsing
for the Year 9 and 10 production of Romeo and Juliet which will be out next term.
CREATIVE ARTS
In the DT department, our two Arkwright scholars, Mollie and Milly R, have been attending
Master weaving classes. Claudia, Immi, Harriet and Elspeth have been attending classes
every Thursday evening in preparation for their confirmation next term at school.
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Year 9
Blackwater House
2014-15
Again it has been a very busy term for the Year 9’s in Blackwater especially since it has been a very
short term. However we have all really found our feet in every area of school life and we all firmly feel
part of the Eastbourne College family. One of our highlights of this term has been our House concert
dance just before half term, which was a really fun way to bring the whole year group together.
Individually Blackwater has done very well musically and dramatically with Elizabeth getting into the
Young Musicians final, Beth taking her music exams and Cerys taking part in the Glyndebourne
Youth Opera. Dramatically, Lily has been rehearsing tirelessly for the main role of Juliet in the production of Romeo and Juliet whilst Olivia was a main role in the Year 9 drama production of Mamma Mia. Freya has also been attending art scholar classes with the view of completing a ceramic
plate to remember the buildings being knocked down for Project 150.
Just before the end of half term the steeplechase took
place, with Honey gaining 4th place in a very tough running
course. Isabel Igbokwe has represented Eastbourne College in a number of school matches and has been an
amazing goal shooter in the U14 A team.
In house Krystelle has impressed us every Monday by baking cookies for everyone, which are always really yummy!
Isabelle Erl is really enjoying her time at Eastbourne, impressing everyone with her amazing English.
From all of the Blackwater Year 9’s
We hope that you have a very Happy
Easter and a very enjoyable holiday!
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Blackwater House
2014-15
House Tea
Friday 4pm continues to be the highlight of our week!
Congratulations, and thank you, to the editors
of this term’s newsletter:
Dates for next term
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27th April House photo (5.40 pm)
Emma Lowden (Y13)
Katie Butler-Manuel (Y12)
Eden Higgins-Stockden (Y11)
Elspeth Gordon (Y10)
Freya Gordon (Y9)
13th April House open for books and kit (5-6 pm)
11th May
Y11 and Lower Sixth Study Leave
1st June
Y11 and Upper Sixth Study Leave
27th June Speech Day and Cornflower Ball