Posted: 11^th June 2021

Stormont School is pleased and delighted to announce that one of their entries to the recent Haileybury Virtual Arts Challenge 2021 has been chosen as one of the top six pieces of work submitted.

Prep schools were invited earlier in the year to submit their entries interpreting famous quotes of Shakespeare in either English, Art, Music or Drama. Stormont School Year 6 girls worked in pairs creating visual responses of concepts related to their chosen quotes using photography. The girls explored quotes to use and how they could bring them to life using their English language and art knowledge.

Six images were selected by the Art Department to be entered, it was a hard decision by the teachers who led the project because the standard was so high. The photographs entered were done by Natasha S, Anaya K, Leah R, Freyjana K, Bo B, Florence F, Ruby L, Isla E, Zeinab A and Ivy F. Mrs R Burgess, Head of the Art Department said, ‘The girls produced a range of very imaginative responses and enjoyed the experience of exploring ideas in a new way’. Girls from Reception class all the way through school produce amazing work to a high level using a wide range of mediums. For these pieces the Year 6 girls put their camera skills  to good use around the school for this project and Stormont is proud of their achievement.

The winning image ‘All that glistens is not gold’ chosen by Haileybury was by Anaya K and Natasha S. They were thrilled to receive the news that their work had been chosen as one of six and have received certificates and prizes for their efforts with a Shakespeare theme. On announcing the results, Haileybury said that the entries were all creative and imaginative and it was great to see how the pupils were inspired by Shakespeare.

Posted: 24^th May 2021

Around school there is a lot going on in the classroom about Growth Mindset.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, 25th, parents have been invited to attend a workshop.  What is Growth Mindset?  Lots of research has been carried out about children and how they perceive what they can’t do or actually what they can do!   Growth Mindset is about promoting a mindset that says “I can’t do something, YET.”   We want children to show resilience in their learning.  Unless a pupil tries something they won’t know if they can or can’t and if they don’t succeed first time, then how do we get them to keep trying and adapting so they can do better?  Not getting something right is fine, it’s ok to get something wrong.  The key is learning from your mistakes and next time you will do better.

Today girls in Year 4 did a Mindset Quiz and made some posters.   Just some of their ideas:-

• Success is the journey
• Progress not perfect
• Keep trying
• You can do it!
• Understanding my mistakes means my brain is changing and I am getting smarter

The Reception class have been making flowers and writing kind words on each of the parts of a flower reminding them that once a word is said, it can’t be taken back.  So choosing the rights words is a good mindset and to be nice to each other.

These are all positive outcomes that we want Stormont girls to live by and something that adults could take on board.  Are you a ‘Can’t Do’ or ‘Can’t Do, Yet’ type of person?

Posted: 30^th April 2021

Today we have taken part in the Captain Tom 100 challenge in support of The Hart and Parker Trust, a local charity who support local families.  They are a charity that we support year on year and due to COVID-19 it has been difficult to raise money but today we were able to get everyone involved at school.   Our Years 5 and 6 did challenges on the field including burpees, hopping, skipping, running, hurdles and running between poles amongst other challenges.  The girls loved it and was a great chance to enjoy the school grounds.

It started quite warm and sunny but turned a little chilly when the Years 3 and 4 came out to the field after their break, however it didn’t curb their enthusiasm, in fact it made them run a little faster to keep warm.  Pre-Prep did their bit on the field in the afternoon, for some of them it is the first time to represent their school and they were so keen to do their best to raise money.  their obstacle course was laid out after lunch.  Mrs P has done a sterling job designing the activities and Miss Sobell put all the plans and timings together.

A Just Giving page has been launched and our aim is to raise £500, if you would like to donate use the link here : Crowdfunding to support the Hart and Parker Trust on JustGiving 

Posted: 19^th March 2021

Lots of jokes have been shared today as part of Share a Smile for Comic Relief.  “What do you call a pig that knows karate?  Pork chop!”

We have seen lots of red noses on display and hair bands that have noses that wobble.  Our wonderful catering staff produced red nose day cakes for all to enjoy.  The girls brought in £1 to buy a cake to donate to Comic Relief, great excitement when the cakes appeared this afternoon.

We’ve had house cross country and house netball this week, points are being counted and the winning House will be announced at the end of term (my hopes are on St Andrew).   With so much to fit in before the end of term, its hard to imagine that this is only our second week back.

This term our Year 4 girls have been reading  ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’ by Kate DiCamillo.  A good read apparently with very enthusiastic reviews.  To celebrate the girls dressed up as some of the characters.

A definite fun Friday for Stormont.

Posted: 8^th March 2021

World Book Day isn’t really about one day, Stormont has been working on different aspects all week.    Simon Mole, an accomplished poet led workshops with the girls at Stormont School remotely.  Following on from that Lochinver House School and Stormont collaborated on a poetry competition.  The Head of Stormont, Miss Louise Martin, judged poems written by the Lochinver House boys and the poems that our girls had written were judged by their Head of English, Mr Neil Latchford.  It was a perfect joining of the brother and sister schools close in proximity in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

The theme of the competition was ‘Life in Lockdown’, why wouldn’t it be, when it is so much on our minds?    So many entered and the standard of course was excellent. Being able to express ones self about something that affects us is good for the soul.   Not only that, they put their knowledge and talent to good use.

World Book Day was celebrated across the world on Thursday, 4th March.  Lovely costumes and inspiring characters came to life off the pages of books that Stormont girls love to read.

Lochinver Winners were Nick C in the Year 7-8 category, Alexis M in the Year 3-6 category and Nathanial in Pre-Prep.

Stormont Winners were Divisha B – Reception, Athena A – Year 1, Lola B-A – Year 2, Chiara C-C – Year 3, Sophia M-P – Year 4, Reva T – Year 5 and last but not least, Ruby L – Y6.

Lovely work everyone, well done!

Posted: 2^nd March 2021

Pupils at Stormont School were excited to meet Simon Mole virtually today for a poetry workshop in the lead up to World Book Day, set up by Mrs Rose, Head of English.   Simon is a critically acclaimed poet who has videos on YouTube on how to write a poem in 5 minutes, take a look for yourself.   He has inspired the girls and the teachers with tips on how to create their contribution to the lesson following which a competition is to be judged by the Head, Miss Martin.

Every single pupil wrote a poem today.  Year 3 and 4 wrote about a kite of their own and Year 5 and 6 wrote about spells, time travel and flying.  We look forward to reading them all.  Well done everyone.

Winners will be announced next week.

Posted: 23^rd February 2021

Lockdown is coming to an End!  The Government’s road map last night gave us some light at the end of the tunnel.  Tentative steps true but having the pupils back on the 8th March will be welcomed by all.   A school is not a school without the children.  The squeels, the laughter, the smiley faces (and that’s just the staff!) will be like a breath of fresh air.  Now the hard work begins in getting everything in place for their return.  Exciting and daunting all rolled into one.

Whilst the news has been welcome, on reflection these times have taught us so much about how adults and children can adapt, how reslient we can be and inventive.  Lessons have been delivered through screens and on the whole it has been successful, of course there have been setbacks and frustrations but overall Stormont has risen to the challenge and delivered on all fronts.   Let’s look forward to the future with hope and determination to make the remainder of the school year one to celebrate.

Posted: 2^nd February 2021

As we start another week of lockdown and the start of February our live teaching continues for all the girls across the school.  It is still a full day for everyone.  There are opportunities to have a chat with the Head, Miss Martin, Miss Sobell, the Deputy Head or Mrs Curley, Head of Pre-Prep to share their thoughts and ideas if the girls wish.  P.E., music and art still feature heavily on the timetable with no reduction and have from the very beginning of on line learning.

The girls are producing some amazing work and have been resilient in their learning.    Our teaching staff are bringing learning to life and inspiring them to adapt.  Although it is a challenging time for everyone, we should also look at the skills we are all gaining and celebrate how humans can change the way they live and learn.  We know this extraordinary time will come to an end, we have to maintain that thought.  Vaccines are proving effective, the NHS is being protected, infection rates are starting to fall.  There is still much to be thankful for #stayhomestaysafe

Posted: 27^th January 2021

Our current Year 6 girls have been preparing for some time now for senior school entrance exams and interviews at top independent schools.  In Year 5, the Head and teaching staff worked closely with the families to guide them through the senior school process.  Before COVID-19 they would all be researching and listing the schools they would like their daughter to move on to.  An evening of presentations at school and discussions with specialist subject teachers and form tutors would have taken place and individual meetings with the Head if requested.

The pandemic has certainly changed all our lives and so this year the process has been very different for the current Year 6 girls.  Nonetheless it has still been informative and thorough.  Zoom calls with parents last year explained the process with a question and answer opportunity, power points shared and reference forms collated so that we as a school had a clear view of parents’ intentions.  Scholarship applications are also a big part of this process which sees many of our past pupils attaining impressive results.

Stormont School responded with the request by independent schools to host and invigilate exams to assist with social distancing.   The Year 6 girls have reached the last leg of the interview process.  We are super proud of their dedication and how they have adapted to a very alien situation.  We wish them luck of course and look forward to receiving the all important results.  Well done everyone.