We began the week by presenting a cheque for £1200 to Iswy whose parents are responsible for the girls' orphanage in Zimbabwe that we have been supporting with our silver bag collection this term. We have enjoyed several visits from Iswy's family and look forward to hearing about the progress of the school being set up for the girls.

In Tuesday's assembly we were entertained by Miss Murphy's Year 3 choir who delighted us with a variety of songs which the girls obviously enjoyed singing. This was followed by Dilroop Cooner who played Gay Gordons, a jig on the violin in assembly. A lovely way to start the morning.

There have been a number of sporting highlights this week which started on Tuesday with the Year 5 and 6 swimming gala. The swimming skills on display were amazing, as was the noise made by the girls in support of their teammates. The result was that Curie girls were the winners and received the trophies for both years.

Also on Tuesday Year 1 went to the allotment for a Teddy Bear's picnic which they all enjoyed.

Wednesday's assembly was a little unusual. Mrs Norris who takes assembly once a week decided to put on a staff ‘pantomime' as her final assembly for the girls. She narrated a version of Cinderella which was acted by staff. In our version we had a Fairy Godfather, the princes married the ugly sisters and Cinders turned into a pumpkin. The girls enjoyed the entertainment. Prep girls also wished matron well in her retirement.

Wednesday afternoon also featured Westbourne Activity Day. The girls performed well in their various events and enjoyed the experience. The mums and dads also ran well in their races too although they were fiercely competitive. It was very pleasing that this year we managed to complete all three sports events on the planned days which is unusual with British weather.

Thursday brought yet another busy day. It started with the Year 2 Minibeast concert. Parents and guests were delighted by the performances of songs with actions, class and group poems, pictures and interesting facts. The girls worked well together and gave very confident performances which showed they had thoroughly enjoyed their cross-curricular topic this term. Well done Year 2.

In the afternoon we held our Leavers' Assembly for girls in Year 6. For the first time the girls from Years 2 - 5 also joined in the celebration of the Year 6 achievements. We recognised the wealth of talents that the older girls have displayed during their time at EHS and awarded prizes for academic work, progress and commitment. Our speaker was Kate Nicholls who has just completed her ‘A' Levels and is off to study medicine. This event is always an emotional one as we wish our leavers well as they look forward to the step forward to the move Senior Schools.

In our final assembly we made the customary award of certificates of achievement and attendance and trophies. Now all summer House events have taken place we were able to add up points for final, overall positions. In the swimming competitions the final totals were very close with only seven points between first and fourth places with the eventual winners being Nightingale. Sports Day results also had an unusual result with Curie and Frank emerging as joint winners.

The House point cup was also presented and the winner for the year is Johnson House. Congratulations on your hard work.

Of course the feature of the whole week has been full of us saying our farewells to Mrs Norris who retires after 22 years at EHS. It has been a week of celebrations as well as sadness as she will be sorely missed. Westbourne girls presented Mrs Norris with a Goodbye Book full of individual messages. Prep girls wrote their messages to Mrs Norris on the back of French flags which they had coloured. These then provided the bunting for the staff party which had a French theme. Mrs Norris will begin her retirement reading and enjoying what the girls have written. I think she had better have a box of tissues handy!

The final farewell from the girls came in the last morning's assembly when each Year group performed individual items for Mrs Norris. We thank Mrs Norris for all she has done for EHS pupils, staff and parents and wish her all the very best for a happy retirement.

I also wish you all an enjoyable summer holiday and look forward to seeing you all again in September.

Mrs Sally Hartley
Head of Preparatory School