Friday 9 July 2010

Tuesday’s blog felt like it would be the last of the school year. I wrote too soon! The most joyous thing this week has been the outbreak of spontaneous song from groups of girls as they came past the fish tank. Occasionally cheers rang out as something exciting happened elsewhere in the school.

On Wednesday, I went to a fantastic ensemble piece, Pinocchio, performed by the Years 7 and 8 Drama Club. It was a really delightful performance directed by Ms Gill-Carey, assisted by Catherine Whiterow and lit by Lian Brooks - there was a hall full of charmed parents and enthralled small children. Particularly creative was the interpretation of Pinocchio’s growing nasal projection!

The Year 12 versus Staff rounders match just took place and was so nostalgic. I was quite caught up in the excitement. I longed to be part of the team but I am sure my cheers spurred the staff to their victory - that was the next best thing.

And finally – Mark Reading. For me, so emotional as I am reliving my childhood and the Schumann tune that the School skips out to never leaves the minds of Old Girls. It’s the most enduring of Channing memories. The girls sang Happy Birthday to the amazing cake baked and decorated by the mother of Emma Collins in Year 9, a stunning replica of Haigh House. As always, Mark Reading is an occasion to say goodbye. The girls’ send off for retiring Music teacher Mr Rees was a resounding rendering of ‘Green Bushes’, his composition for the Barbican performance, during which four green bushes were presented to him! He must be exhausted from farewells. And it is farewell to this exciting 125th anniversary year of Channing.

 

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Founders’ Day on Saturday brought the 125th anniversary celebrations to an end. Rather than the serious occasion of the past, this year was more of a large party with all parents and pupils included. A special highlight for the girls must have been the burying of the time capsules - one at the Senior School and one at Fairseat. As I was accompanying the Mayor of Camden at Fairseat, I watched the younger pupils’ ceremony. They had selected their treasures reflecting their school life and our times. The Mayor participated wholeheartedly, adding his own, very appropriate gifts, to the capsule.

Inevitably, the end of the year brings sad farewells to pupils and staff. There have already been several tears shed over the retirement of Howard Rees, Deputy Head of Music, but none so touching as the musical encore organised by girls in the Chamber Choir and performed as a finale at the Concert last week. The whole audience was moved to tears by their rendition of ‘So long, farewell’ from The Sound of Music.

There were tears, too, for the Year 13 leavers as their contribution to the School was acknowledged by the entire Senior School at the Leavers’ Assembly and then at a special evening for them and their parents, and staff who had taught and nurtured them through their educational journey.

Just Mark Reading to go and another academic year comes to a close.

 

Tuesday 29 June 2010

The fun last two weeks of the Summer Term. Even the few girls still passing the Fish Tank after finishing their public examinations look relaxed and happy. A wide range of outings and trips have taken place - all Year 8 spent last week in Burgundy - and there is a certain joie de vivre around the School.

The ‘Back to the Future’ 125th anniversary Ball was last Saturday. The School was transformed by a huge marquee on the Rounders Pitch, which will also house most of the audience on Founders’ Day. There was a second large tent in which the champagne reception set the tone for the evening.  We had jazz with Palpitations in the large marquee and a disco in Founders’ Hall and a magician visiting tables confounding us with his clever tricks, all cheekily delivered. It was difficult to resist a Tarot reading as the readers cleverly placed themselves on the route to the exit. The Ball was a fantastic event and I hope all parents are aware that the fantastic food was prepared by the school caterers - an amazing showcase for their culinary excellence.

Yesterday was Sports Day and it was a perfectly beautiful day although extremely hot. The girls had the chance publicly to show off their new sportswear as they walked down to Parliament Hill Athletics track - they are very proud of it.

Now we are on count down to Founders’ Day and hoping that the beautiful weather continues through Saturday – not so hot that it is unbearable but dry and bright to show off the School at its best.

Monday 21 June 2010

I am happy that the noise and bustle outside the Fish Tank has returned, albeit with only a glimpse of Year 11 and Year 13 girls as they flash past on the way to their last examinations. The spirit of the School is palpably exciting as Year groups are rewarded for their commitment to exams, with outings and school trips.

Last week was Enrichment Week and included a Careers Convention with guest speakers from various professions and an Oxbridge Evening with graduates, all of whom were Old Girls, and an Admissions Tutor from Oxford. How lucky the girls are to have such a comprehensive care package supporting their education! I feel enriched just absorbing the atmosphere.

A fantastic new event, created and organised by the English Department, took place on 17 June. Sadly I was unable to participate. ‘Write over London’ is a Creative Writing Workshop for Channing girls and pupils of other East London Consortium Schools in the inspiring setting of Kenwood House. We eagerly await the product of these workshops led by writer Michael Laskey and the poet Clare Pollard.

Oh to be back at School - I would gladly suffer examinations for all this.

 

Monday 24 May 2010

I am sitting in total silence. This is exam season. I hope my phone doesn’t ring to disturb the tranquility. I have learned, however, that exams do not ensure silence every minute of the day. By contrast, the excitement of exams appears to be overwhelming. When the girls assemble to go into their assigned examination rooms, the noise of anticipation is deafening.

Last Wednesday saw the departure of Year 11 girls and they marked their last hours in the school with exuberance and style. By style, I mean their own very special style - as there isn’t really much style in ripped and shredded uniforms. It was fun and memorable and a credit to the school to appreciate the benefit of allowing the girls this platform to release their anxiety about the imminent exams.

Year 13, on the other hand, start their study leave at the end of this week and last week brought smiles to our faces with their different guises. On one day they came dressed for the career they wished to follow. Encouraging were the number of white-coated doctors and it was amusing to establish that Katia Bazar-Rosen’s interesting headwear was in fact the crowning glory of an astronaut suit. The following day they each adopted the persona of a teacher at the school so there were a number of doppelgängers walking the corridors. I will miss their smiles as they walk past the Fish Tank.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

So much of the past couple of weeks has been about the General Election. A spirited campaign was fought at the School between the three major parties with the Greens also finding support for their policies. The Liberal Democrats won the vote in our Mock Election, possibly showing more loyalty to the candidate than the national electorate showed to Nick Clegg.

So much of the past couple of weeks has been about the General E

As public exams draw near and Year 11 and 13 prepare for study leave, there is an air of seriousness in the school, except for the occasional glimpse of a girl dressed in some fantastic outfits - the Statue of Liberty and Charlie Chaplin passed the fish tank yesterday. This is Year 13 girls marking their imminent departure from the school.

I have been impressed by two school concerts over the past two weeks. The Symphony Concert was a treat, with programming that showed off the technical expertise as well as the musicality of the orchestra - with a charming suite of folk songs by Alan Hoddinott and Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. The Jazz Extravaganza gave us a truly authentic atmosphere to complement the music - low lights, a light buffet and wine and everybody very ‘chilled’.  Theo Travis and his Quartet played alone and together with the very accomplished instrumentalists, solo singers and chamber choir. This is its third year in the calendar and a ‘must’ for the future.

 

Friday 30 April 2010

By the beginning of this week the school felt more like ‘full house’ as the memories of travel traumas receded. Assembly on Monday had plenty on which to reflect - the Headmistress moving from the topic of the forthcoming General Election to Universal Woman’s place in society and how we must strive for a strong voice for all women. Spring has clearly arrived, emphasised stunningly by the full pink blossom on the tree welcoming us into the school building. Despite the Year 13 Sixth Form Officers having handed their batons to a team from Year 12 it is still good to see them around the school, bravely smiling and engaging despite their imminent A Levels. Year 7 have been occupied with their Charity Week and it has ended with ‘dress down Friday’ today. Yesterday Year 7 showed Fairseat Year 5 girls around the school for them to see how it worked and savour the atmosphere prior to next year’s application for places in the Senior school. It was a pleasure to hear the Year 7 girls point to the Development Office, sometimes struggling to remember its real name and not hesitating to call it, with a smile on their faces, ‘The Fish Tank’. It looks like the name has stuck.

Monday 19 April 2010

The eve of the Summer Term and the silence is deafening. Even ‘quiet’ times during lessons in term time have a special hum and a palpable excitement. The term started on Tuesday with the realisation that many pupils and teachers were stranded abroad and there was a large empty space at assembly. The hum of industrious learning is back. It was a great start to term to hear the news that a significant number of girls were prize winners in Youngwriters Past poets Future Voices competition. Heads are down and everyone is very serious, focusing on school and public exams, although a large contingent of Year 10 girls and staff ended the week early to head off to the New Forest for their Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice expedition - and the sun is shining on them.

Thursday 1 April 2010

Here I am, looking out of the Development Office - the Fish Tank - on to the landing and the activities of my second end of term. The bubbling excitement of last term has changed into a keen focus on the exams ahead and for Year 13 a wistfulness about their last days as full-time Channing girls. The realities of Channing Present, the theme of this term within the 125th anniversary celebrations!

On Monday evening parents of Old Girls were invited back to School to the Certificates Evening, to mark their daughters recent successes in GCSE, AS Level and A Level examinations. It was a formal occasion conducted in a warm and hospitable informality. The strong message of Governor Delva Patman, who has forged a successful and fulfilling career based on the premise that ‘I can’, was that the girls should never feel daunted or minimised because of gender - that they can reach for everything that a man can and take advantage of their femininity at the same time. I wondered about the huge hatbox and bright yellow Selfridges bag on the floor beside her. I soon found out as a series of hats were produced from them: a fun yellow hard hat with bottle holders built in, daily wear for a surveyor; a fantastic green ‘wedding’ hat and finally her uniform Hon. Air Commodore cap. A clever way to hold our attention.

I was looking forward to the cut and thrust of the staff versus pupil Rounders Match but the weather let us down and it is postponed to next term. Sad when the sun is streaming into the Fish Tank this morning but after days of heavy rain the grass on the rounders pitch is totally sodden. As usual though, the sun shines this morning in defiance of the very bleak weather forecast.

At assembly this morning I was overwhelmingly impressed by the enormous number of girls called to the front of the hall to receive their Silver and Bronze award certificates for the Maths Challenge, a national Maths competition. Apparently the maths teachers themselves debate the answers to the problems set, as they truly are challenging. The Gold award winners receive their certificates at Mark Reading.

Mark Reading - Spring Term. The anticipation beforehand is electric. The good bye to the Head Girls and the Sixth Form Officers and the announcement of the new team. The Officers, and particularly the Head Girls, play such a prominent role in the life of the School, that I too will miss them passing the Fish Tank with their open and willing smiles. I hope that we maintain our close connection with them in the future. And what an emotional experience, watching as each pair of officers swap places with their successors. First, however the many awards and it was staggering how many went to Maths Challenge Gold Certificate winners with two girls going through to the Final Challenge - results eagerly awaited. The biggest cheer went out to Lisa Karlin who is a mathematician of renown at the School - it appears that her success in the Maths Challenge is legendary. Girls from both Fairseat and the Senior School received Headmistresses' commendations for excellence in various areas both inside and outside School. Amazing too was the news that Fairseat had raised almost £4,000 for their chosen charity - KINOE - Kids in Need of Education based in India.

The the term came to a joyous end as, in Channing tradition, we all sang and skipped our way out of the Hall.

Friday 26 March 2010

A professional photographer visited the School this week and captured a full range of Channing activities. I was perfectly placed, here in the Fish Tank, when the Headmistress took central position on the far side of the landing, flanked by a line of girls. Another line of girls was sent to dash past those standing - I am awaiting to see the results of these action pictures.

On Wednesday night, Year 13 pulled off a coup with their accomplished and entertaining Talent Show - Act for Action to raise awareness and funds for Action against Hunger in Haiti. Arranged by the girls, with the girls, for the girls, the atmosphere was electric, reaching its climax when Carlito Simon (the only staff volunteer) took the microphone and the whole audience - of girls anyway - rose to their feet and participated. Everyone held their own in their chosen discipline - where were the talent scouts and agents? Year 13 sang their own new song in front of a video they had made, fondly looking back at their Channing experience. These are their last few formal days at the School. The whole evening came to an end with a preview of the first Channing charity single, also accompanied by a video. The girls raised an amazing £1,128.00.

Hoodwinked, the Key Stage 2 extravaganza, brought Robin Hood, his band of merry men and Sherwood Forest to the New Hall, via Fairseat on Thursday evening. The performance of the tale of Robin Hood - his story certainly fits into the Channing ethos of caring for one’s community - was ingeniously conceived and directed by Year 5 teacher Miss Gayton and musically finessed by Ms Pepper, with the Sherwood Forest band of instrumentalists from the Senior School, collaborating with Music teachers Mr Boxall and Mr Rees. It was a fantastic evening and all the girls were given the opportunity to shine. The audience beamed with pride - for their daughters and for the School.

Friday 19 March 2010

Recent assemblies have continued to highlight the diversity of Channing girls’ achievements. News has reached me of success and top awards in the Borough of Barnet’s Annual Poetry Competition. I wasn’t really surprised, having heard the amazing poetry at the Barbican concert and read the many poems in the 2008-2009 edition of the Channing Magazine. We were given a showing too of the entire DVD of last October’s Venice trip when members of the Choir and Orchestra vowed the Italian city with their music. Despite the intensity of the concerts it was clear from the footage that the girls had a great time too.

On the subject of school trips, the report of the Saturday excursion in Paris, led by Mrs Morton with girls from Years 12 and 13, sounded stimulating. Clearly the independence given to groups of girls to explore an area, meeting up as a group again at intervals, worked really well. The most ingenious idea was the project for each girl to choose one French book each for the School Library, which gave everyone focus, was an excellent tool to practice spoken French and benefited the Library in a positive way. At least we know that the books they brought back appeal to the girls!

How stimulating for the group of girls who went to see the play, The Promise at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, to be able to fire questions at the playwright Ben Brown himself the following day at Channing. I didn’t see the play but the questions asked and answers given were fascinating and informative. A visit to the theatre is exciting in itself but how much more dynamic it becomes rounded off hearing the back story of the writer. It isn’t hard to see why so many accomplished writers and poets turn out to have been Channing girls.

Monday 15 March 2010

Today is the start of Science Week at Channing. This morning’s assembly, led by Head of Science Mr Jacobs, focused on a recent competition that some Middle School girls entered, run by Virgin Galactic.

The presentation was fascinating, involving the Headmistress in recreating the experiment to send a bottle rocket in a straight line. On the subject of Science, two Year 12 girls were in the top 10 of entrants in a national essay competition on a medical topic of their choice. Well done to Catherine Van’t Hoff for being judged runner-up, having given a presentation to the Royal College of Medicine.

Two weeks ago, the girls got involved in Healthy Schools, aimed at healthy and balanced living. There was a fantastic cookery demonstration; girls were rewarded by a large badge for walking to school on one designated ‘Walk to Work’ day; Dr Nick Baylis visited from Cambridge and gave workshops with the girls and later in the evening with parents, defining the elements of healthy living and wellbeing and how, when all aspects of one’s life are in balance, success follows. The week was summed up at the Friday assembly led by Head of PSHE Mr Gittins, who concluded that happiness is not a treadmill of commercial acquisition. That Friday the School was encouraged to wear a hat as a mark of each person’s individuality. The range of head wear was huge, from flat cap to party hat, from work hat to clown hat - the most outstanding for me was the umbrella hat, perfect for rain or shine.

It was very special to bring into the School our neighbours in Highgate - the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution (HLSI). We hosted a fundraising recital on Sunday 7 March for an afternoon of opera arias sung by four members of the Jette Parker Young Artists’ Programme from the Royal Opera, Covent Garden presented by Robert Lloyd, a long-serving principal singer at the opera house. The hall was full to capacity and the audience enjoyed it hugely, helping the HLSI at the same time.

Assemblies at Channing are always eventful. Last week, three assemblies were dedicated to the annual CBN awards. CBM is the initials of a former Channing girl, Catherine Budgett-Meakin, who is now a Governor. Ten years ago she instigated an award for the best presentation of an environmental issue. I saw the presentation by two Year 7 girls on Friday. People of my generation who mourn the passing of the academic standards of our day should broaden their outlook and see what pupils are producing today.  The synthesis of cross-discipline information and technology is awe-inspiring. They would be surprised!

Monday 1 March 2010

As the excitement for the celebration of Channing Present - the School’s 125th anniversary extravaganza at the Barbican on Friday 5 February - reached its climax I was overwhelmed over how every pupil, department and member of the support staff pulled together to harness the energy and talent both at the Senior School and Fairseat.

The Barbican performance itself was a perfect showcase of Music and drama, poetry and prose, tumbling and singing and the School was privileged to have parent Dermot Murnaghan as the compere for the evening and Lesley Garrett as the surprise guest, singing solo with the Orchestra and in ensembles with the chorus. Her commitment and encouragement alone must have made this an opportunity of a lifetime for the girls on stage with her - and there was much to remain in the memories of all participants for a long time to come. Few in the audience could fail to have been mesmerized by Fairseat’s presentation of ‘Hoodwink’d’ - songs with actions and narration from Robin Hood and a large band of merry men - with the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and a talented young group of Fairseat instrumentalists - supporters of Robin Hood as indicated by their Sherwood Forest hats.

There was something for everybody on the night and no talent was left unharvested! Front of house in the Circle Foyer there was an Art display of excellent quality belying the age of the pupils in the School - some of the work could have been hung at a graduate show. Those members of the Sixth Form not occupied behind the scenes helped out front, easily identified and looking glamorous in their black and pink ‘Information’ tee shirts. An amazing collaboration between 600 girls and the staff of the School.

If the School had not been such a buzz of energy and distraction last week I would have pointed out that, as well as working towards the anticipated stage performances, the School had also excelled at sport. There is no stopping the Channing girls combining their academic, sporting and artistic sides. Lara Dawood in Year 13 has just been selected for the England Under-19s Rounders Squad, and she still finds time to be one of the two Arts Officers and in the Choir. Two girls - Olivia Jordan and Daniella Simpson - came 1st and 2nd respectively in the Highgate Harriers Young Athletes Cross Country Championship and the Channing Under-15 Cross Country team retained their title in the Camden Schools Championships, while the Under 17s finished 2nd. All this talent and none are running away from the School! And on top of all this, various members of Yrs 12 and 13 have reached certificated levels in ice skating in their School PE lessons at Alexandra Palace. It’s not surprising to hear of the triumphs of the girls when set an example by their teachers. Elena Johnson, a member of PE staff, proved herself amongst the top 20 English badminton players when she competed in the 2010 National Badminton Championships at Manchester Velodrome at the end of February.

From my view here in the ‘Fish Tank’ I am overwhelmingly impressed.

Friday 15 January 2010

I think that few schools could boast that they have close contact with a direct descendant of its founder when celebrating its 125th Anniversary. Today the Head Mistress, the Development Secretary, Nicole Sharman, and I visited Mary Burns to mark her 95th birthday. A Channing Old Girl and the daughter of another Old Girl and mother of one too, Mary is the great grand-daughter of the Rev. Robert Spears who founded the School with the sisters Matilda and Emily Sharpe. Of the twice- married Rev. Spears his four youngest daughters (he had 11 children in all) attended Channing. His eldest daughter had 6 girls, all of whom attended the School and Mary is the daughter of one of the six. Her daughter subsequently came to Channing too but all in all, through blood and marriage, there have been 15 family members all connected with the School through the generations.

On meeting Mary I had to pinch myself to remind myself of the birthday that we were celebrating - she is totally alert and her memory razor sharp. She is fully up-to-date with world affairs and we enjoyed the wonderful shortbread that she had baked herself. How many women brought up in her era can boast a degree in Modern Languages from Somerville College, Oxford, a degree in Social Sciences and Administration from the London School of Economics, followed by training as a Psychiatric Social Worker, again at LSE. Some years after retirement Mary found a new departure and in 1992 took a Post Graduate Diploma in History of Art at Birkbeck College. I feel awed just writing this. The story though is a perfect example of what the founders set out to do - to offer women every opportunity to pursue an academic degree and active professional life, if that is what they want to do.

The links with the School remain strong to this day. Mary served a total of 42 years as a Governor of Channing, chairing the Board from 1969-1975. Her son is now a Governor, keeping on the family tradition.

I plan to return to see Mary, with pen poised, to record some of the very many memories of the School that she has. And I cannot hide the fact that more shortbread would not go amiss.

Monday 11 January 2010

The first day back at School after the Christmas holiday and the snow is still sitting tight along The Bank. Bearing in mind that we are all warm inside the school building I thought it would be a good day to check out the three resident chickens so I visited them in their pen in the garden. They seemed well to me and since talking to the gardening and ecology teacher, a specialist in permaculture, I understand that the hen chat I heard is a sign of happy chickens. One was keeping warm in the hen house but the other two were strutting around as usual, unconcerned by their snow-white vista. The snow around them was barely marked as there had been little traffic over it during the Christmas break so they had a picturesque scene to contemplate.

In my conversation with the gardening guru I learned that there are a number of girls really enthusiastic to learn about gardening and the realities of horticulture. Many are very keen to not only understand but to have practical skills to implement change. The School has already been awarded the Silver Award in the Eco Schools programme and in 2010 is aiming for Green Flag status.

Thinking of the enthusiasm of the girls for the ‘Good Life’ made me think why this School, an all-girls’ School, is such an exciting and positive environment. I think if one looks at all the voices pushing for action in the outside world, understanding that positive action today is essential because the world cannot wait and that delay is dangerous, it is the women who are making a difference. And here we are, nurturing these hungry and pro-active female minds in an environment with no pressure or constraints from boys, with no competition and no stereotypes - just a clear pathway to the future.

It will be exciting to see all those fresh shoots as the snow melts away!

Thursday 17 December 2009

 

Last day of term. I have been tempted out of the fish tank many times during the week. And it has been a very memorable week. The Channing Carol Service was breathtaking. As the chamber choir proceeded down the aisle of the church in near darkness holding candle lights, singing truly like angels, the tears welled in my eyes. The atmosphere was very special, the singing beautiful and the readings, starting with a reader in Year 7 and progressing through the year groups until the two head girls took to the pulpit followed by a Governor and lastly the Headmistress, were varied and well chosen. The occasion is clearly a very special date in the Channing diary.

 

Wednesday provided me with a special surprise. I had heard about room decorating and then I heard about how seriously the girls entered into the spirit of Christmas. I even heard of over-enthusiasm in the Art rooms in pursuit of the perfect classroom. Nothing, however, prepared me for the room-decoration experience - the girls took a holistic approach and they too were the very embodiment of room decoration. This meant that each room visited became a visual, physical, musical and dramatic experience - all adding up to an overwhelmingly emotional experience. X-Factor in one room, an air-raid shelter during World War II in another. From the Emerald City to the circus and in one Year 11 classroom Christmas was cancelled altogether and the spirits of coursework of Channing past, present and future echoed the grind of revision that lies ahead in the last months before GCSE. No time for Christmas trees. Instead a tree made of work-filled binders, window blinds adorned with revision schedules and the result - some pupils slumped over the books on their desks, comatose.

My lunch duty went well - I soon adjusted to the size of portion. Basically I handed out whatever was requested and the choice was huge - turkey with all the trimmings and sprouts with mushrooms, carrots, parsnips and roast potatoes. Alternatively there was roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Each diner received a Father Christmas chocolate and a cracker with colourful hats (worn by most), amusing trinkets and jokes. Education was not far away - with one riddle and one factual question per cracker! Thank goodness for the aprons provided as the gravy ladle repeatedly caught on the lights above the food! More practice required for next year.

Today has been a ‘riot’ - in inverted commas as I would not wish a reader to take this in any way but in the spirit of Christmas. The final of house debating was extraordinary - the quality of speakers and their arguments so mature that one could easily forget that the age range of the speakers was from 12 upwards. Watch out the House of Commons - there will soon be an influx of Channing girls, not there for politically correct reasons but for the quality of their oratory. This was closely followed by the ‘Staff Panto’ - kept a closely- guarded secret although some girls must have known as there was audience participation, not only in true panto style with boos and cheers, but 6th formers appeared from the ranks to look for ‘lost’ founders of the school.

In a dry break between snow flurries the staff/6th form netball match took place. It was closely fought by staff attired in impressive sportswear against a team of girls in Christmas costumes. Maybe this inhibited them because the staff came away victorious. Any thought of volunteering next year for the staff team diminished when I realised that I had forgotten the rules - not much to be said about fitness or technique!
 

Now - mark reading to complete the Channing Christmas experience. Fairseat awaited the arrival of the ‘big girls’ and were very well prepared for the Twelve Days of Christmas, starting with Reception singing The First Day of Christmas complete with gestures for the partridge in a pear tree. Each year added a day to the carol and throughout Fairseat the day’s present was acted and 5 huge gold rings held up for each repeat of the fifth day’s present. After a verse or two the whole school joined in with the gestures and the rendition was joyously relished by all and the Fairseat girls skipped out with the full backing of the senior school. The most anxiously awaited part of the mark reading was the results of the competition for best room decorations and postboxes. I would not have liked to be in the shoes of the judging panel who will probably be dreaming about their decision and the various permutations of placing they might have made - the decisions must have been agonising.

So the Christmas holidays start with a burst of joy.

Friday 11 December 2009 

In contrast to last Friday morning the ‘fish tank’ is very quiet. No - term hasn’t ended. There must be rapt interest in the classrooms today. Looking out over Highgate Hill I cannot distinguish whether it is raining or foggy. It’s very gloomy. Inside the School lights are illuminating the cheerful yellow paintwork and the girls’ artwork. A large figure in red, surrounded by very large snowflakes, now commands the staircase which I see looking out over the landing. Is it the Snow Queen? Is it a Princess? Is it an angel? There is much speculation. Did I hear a girl call it ‘awesome’ this morning? It certainly attracts attention. I’ve just heard: it’s the Christmas Wood Fairy.
 
Christmas feels very close now. The Christmas trees have been unfurled from their nets and now, with their lights and decorations, provide focus on the imminent end of term. Next week I’m told is really exciting at the School, packed full of treats. The Christmas postboxes are made and I cannot wait to see what originality and artistic skill the girls have  employed in creating them.
 
I have just returned from lunch today and am thinking about lunch next Wednesday. I have volunteered to serve food to the School and have to learn quantity control. I need a bit of instruction - it won’t go down too well if there is no food for latecomers. And the food is so good that I am sure the girls would not wish to limit my largesse!
 
The weekend beckons - only four more days of term left.

Friday 4 December 2009

Outside the ‘fish tank’ right now it looks like there’s a party. The noise and clamour suggests one. The visiting exchange Spanish students are leaving and it seems it was a successful experience all round. Fond farewells, if you can hear them through the excited sound of voices and laughter. Passing girls outside this exclusive group stop and stare wide-eyed, perhaps wondering when it will be their turn to forge such special relationships. So high were spirits this morning I even received several greetings in Spanish as the guests passed the ‘fish tank’.

I still have a warm glow from my quick visit to Fairseat yesterday to see the parents collect their small daughters after their Christmas show. What was impressive was the strong turnout of proud fathers. They were all busily networking. Not the professional type of networking - much more a Daddy exchange! The show must have been very emotive and I hear that the hall was jam packed.

With the term nearing its end, anticipation of Christmas is growing. Large Christmas trees lie contracted in their hair nets in the hall of Haigh House, ready to be unfurled, placed upright and decorated and Christmas post boxes are about to be strategically placed around the School.

I am off now to Fairseat and their Christmas Bazaar. I can see parents arriving at the Junior School out of the other side of the ‘fish tank’ overlooking Highgate Hill.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

The School is teeming with Spanish visitors. News has reached me that they are visiting exchange students and a large group of girls went to Spain at half term. It just adds to the excitement of observing the Channing School world outside my ‘fish tank’.

Today I left my office and ventured into the 6th Form Centre, which is a different environment entirely to the rest of the School. Sometimes I get a glimpse of Year 12 and 13 girls when they come up to the landing onto which I have the very best view. It was great to watch as a Channing girl sat with a prospective new 6th Form entry girl keeping her company and calm before her interview and gently explained how the School worked - and encouraged her to come to the School because it is a great place to be.

Monday 30 November 2009

Have you ever wondered, when you watch those little tropical fish darting in and out of their aquarium habitat, whether they have any thoughts about that world outside? Well, I sit in the ‘fish tank’ (my new office) at Channing School and I’ll tell you how it is. As the school world passes by me on the landing I absorb the essence of the School and feel its pulse in the ebb and flow of the School world - buzzing as the girls arrive for the day and positively fizzing when they pass me on their way out and home. It’s a warm and stimulating place. Colours everywhere - artwork adorning the yellow walls and a suspended series of three dimensional pieces suspended down through the stairwell. A vase of orchids graces the table outside the ‘fish tank’ and trays of commended works await the Headmistress’ special stamp of commendation.

Occasionally a friend of the School is brought to admire my habitat and there’s much to admire. Extra artifacts from the archives sit on shelves and desk, reminders of the Exhibition the School mounted recently at a local gallery, illustrating Channing Past. Boards with text and old photographs charted the School’s history in the past 125 years and the various changes that have occurred - uniform colour and formality as times have changed, the changing buildings to replace buildings destroyed in the war or acquired and incorporated into the existing buildings. The School’s birthday on 6 November reflected this special anniversary and the entire day was conducted on Victorian lines - meat stew, cabbage and dumplings for lunch and the cane evident (but of course no longer in use) in the hands of the teachers. Splendid costumes, particularly those of the Fairseat girls, looked quite authentic, as borne out by the photographs of the day.

Happy girls make this viewer in the ‘fish tank’ happy indeed!