Lower School Competitions and Challenges
Despite the inevitable Covid-19 restrictions in place here at RGSW, it has been an incredibly busy and exciting term in Lower School. Now that our Year Seven pupils are fully settled into the Senior School and inducted into the RGSW House system, Mr Davis and Mrs Houchin decided to continue with the fiercely contested inter-form challenges, which have proved a great success this term. We’ve enjoyed pumpkin carving; the Lockdown 2.0 Marathon Challenge; a ‘design a Christmas card’ competition and, of course, the inter-form Commendation Challenge that saw 7B crowned as the Michaelmas Term 1 winners. At the time of writing, we are close to discovering which Form group will take the prize for Michaelmas Term 2: the competition is hotting-up! A prize will also be awarded to the individual pupil in Year Seven with the most commendations this term.
Cerys Hickman 7C won the pumpkin carving challenge with a beautifully designed and carved pumpkin carriage complete with passenger. Second prize was awarded to Grace Norris 7B whose pumpkin cauldron appeared to have swallowed its novice-witch owner! We would also like to congratulate Sihan Fu 7C for achieving the highest number of commendations in the Year group through the Michaelmas term, an incredible 35 in total!
Design a Christmas Card Competition
As we shifted our focus from Halloween towards Christmas, the Year Seven ‘design a Christmas card’ competition attracted over 30 entries from across the six Tutor groups. The standard was incredibly high and so it was decided a runner-up prize would be awarded within each Form. However, there could be only one overall winner, and this year it was the highly original design belonging to Bella Glasson of 7B. Apart from looking remarkably professional, Bella’s card was highly commended for being both festive and topical. Bella’s prize is a box of professionally printed cards made up in her “Snowcial Distance” design.
Presents for New Hope Charity
Whilst all the above has been taking place in Year Seven, and with the festive season fast approaching, Year Eight were set their own challenges and competitions, as well as running their annual charity event. This year, Year Eight decided to support New Hope Children’s Charity in Worcester. The New Hope Centre opens every Saturday, and every day during the school holidays. It provides daytime short break care for families who have children with disabilities and complex health care needs. Our pupils have been generously donating and creating presents in decorated shoeboxes for the charity to hand out before Christmas. Mrs Harkness and Mrs Houchin were delighted to be able to deliver 70 presents to New Hope this week and we are sure they will bring joy to the children. We would like to thank Year Eight families for their generosity. Remaining in the festive spirit, Mrs Harkness then set Year Eight an inter-form competition: who could decorate their Form room the most creatively? As you might imagine, paper chains, snow flake windows and Christmas trees aplenty started appearing around the South Wing of school; pride is at stake and winners will be announced today.
Lockdown 2.0 Marathon Challenge
As the pupils continue to work hard in lessons, it hasn’t escaped our notice that with a second national lockdown many of the pupils’ co-curricular activities were put on hold or had to move online, including much of their Sport. Conscious of the effect this may have on levels of physical activity and general wellbeing, the Lower School Team challenged Year Seven and Year Eight to the Lockdown 2.0 Marathon Challenge. 130 Lower School pupils are involved, and several very fit and keen pupils have already embarked upon their second marathon! To make the task manageable, fitness activities are broken down into five-minute units, the premise being that five minutes of heart-pumping activity equates to a quarter mile run. The PE Department have been on hand to provide extra suggestions for activities and we are well on our way to discover which of our Lower School Year groups is the fittest. Pupils are meanwhile running, dancing, dog-walking, rowing, trampolining and cycling their way towards completing their marathon!
Lower School pupils will finish the Michaelmas term in their Form groups with the End of Term Assembly and a chance to participate in the Pastoral Prefects’ Christmas Quiz. We look forward to the Christmas break, and to pupils spending some well-earned time with friends and family. From the whole Lower School team, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and send much goodwill for the New Year.
The Lower School Team
