Our week began with a very special event as all the whole school gathered in the Octagon for the annual birthday assembly. EHS is celebrating its 135th year. The theme was ‘Changes' and Dr Weeks, the Senior School Deputy Head girls and four girls from Prep shared some interesting anecdotes from the school's history with everyone. Anya Basra, Evie Tomkins, Nikki Nabavi and Samira Sattar read very confidently and were a credit to the Preparatory School. Westbourne girls also did us proud when they sang ‘Happy Birthday Dear School.' The girls sang very well and delighted the audience of 900, a very daunting prospect for the youngsters, especially with no rehearsal in the Octagon!
The week continued with a number of other special assemblies. On Tuesday the girls in 6I performed for their parents. Their theme was ‘Homes' and the material they presented had all been researched by them. They included information about the homeless, conditions in Haiti at present, images of some most unusual homes and their thoughts about their own homes. These were most thoughtful and poignant. A number of poems were performed confidently by the whole class and Rosie Swani and Sabah Rafique read poems they had written themselves.

We were treated to a variety of multi-cultural topics for the rest of the week. Mrs Chang, an EHS parent shared some facts about Chinese New Year on Wednesday and we were transported to Africa on Thursday. A group of people connected with Gokwe Orphanage, which we are supporting this year with our silver bag collection, visited us. They performed a drama to help us to appreciate the plight of girls in Zimbabwe for whom education is difficult. They also sang a number of African songs accompanied by a rhythmical drum beat and they danced too. During our last assembly of the week we wore our ‘Hats for Haiti' and the money donated will be sent to help the people in need there.

The four House Captains talked to the Prep Department about the traditions of Pancake Day, in this country and around the world. They demonstrated how to make a pancake and Immie and Charlotte gave us a taste of a Brazilian Mardi Gras festival dance. An exciting new House event, ‘The Great Pancake Race,' was also introduced. Watch out for more details of this in our next edition of Friday Headlines as, at the time of going live, the event hasn't yet happened but is eagerly awaited.

Another exciting House competition took place during the week. This was the Year 3 swimming gala. The girls competed very well, demonstrating how well their skills are developing. I know they gave of their best for their Houses as a number of them were very tired the next day. The lead changed several times during the afternoon but Nightingale House emerged victorious. Well done girls.

The week ended as it had started with a celebration of a special anniversary. Staff, past and present, gathered in the Nursery to celebrate Mrs Barnsley's 30th year at the school. She was appointed at EHS in 1980 on February 11th. At the surprise party the school presented Mrs Barnsley with an EHS brooch, flowers and a beautiful cake which was enjoyed by all colleagues.

After a very busy few weeks I would like to wish all girls and parents a happy Half Term break.

Mrs Hartley
Head of Preparatory School