We have exciting news this week. We have been awarded the Green Flag Award for our expansive eco-programme throughout the school, and have now proudly displayed this on our new flag pole
near the entrance to the school. Thank you to all of the students in the eco-committee who worked tirelessly to help achieve this award!

One campaign led by the committee this year was Climate Change Awareness Week. Here, a few members of the committee tell us about it:

Heidi G, Year 7: In Year 7, for a form time competition, each student was given a task that could reduce global warming. Some examples of these were not eating lactose, buying a piece of
clothing from a charity shop or planting something. This makes people realise that you don’t need to do much to alter our future for the better and even a small step can make a big difference. Well
done to 7 Nightingale who had the most activities completed throughout the week!

Rebecca M, Year 8: In Year 8 we made our own sustainable cities out of recycled materials on Friday. We spent one lesson planning how our cities would look and how they would tackle the problems of waste, transport, food production, nature integrated into the city and energy production. Over the next week at home we collected lots of materials that we would have otherwise thrown away to build our cities with. On Friday we started to build our cities using the recycled materials we brought in. It was really fun watching our cities take shape and working as a team to get it finished. Once the cities were finished we wrote speeches about our cities to perform to the class. After that, our teachers picked one winning city in each class and the whole group got certificates and sweets.

Well done to Imogen, Mia, Tate, Esmay and Tabitha who won the overall prize in the year group!

Sam R and Oscar Y, Year 9: We were challenged with the task of coming up with ideas on how to reduce energy poverty. Our winning paragraph was written by Isla W. She was able to
win this competition by her passion for energy poverty and how it could be solved. She won the competition due to her amazing solution which was to make an energy tracking app that documents consumption and behaviour. The app will also include tips on how to descale your energy use. The app will be easy to use and portable so you can take it anywhere so your eco plans can stay on track no matter where you are (around the world), These points made by Isla really made her idea stand out and since most people on earth have phones there is nothing to stop you from being eco-friendly.

Mr Inman

Guys & Dolls in Concert

On December 14th and 15th at 7pm, our Performing Arts students will be performing a concert version of the classic musical Guys and Dolls.

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys And Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend, nightclub performer Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown. Guys And Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong. 

In this concert version, we will see over 80 actors, singers and musicians take to the stage to perform the show over two nights.

Tickets are are available at our website www.kw-arts.co.uk/events

The event is sponsored by Private GP Services, St Albans. 

Fast access to face GP appointments with experienced clinicians at our city centre clinic in St Albans. Located at 54-56 Victoria Street we offer a range primary care services including Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy with free customer parking. To book an appointment, call 0330 053 374, book online at www.privategpservices.co.uk or email stalbans@privategpservices.co.uk.

Live Music – 9th December – India Arkin with special guest Izzie Winter

This December 9th we will be holding our first live music event for members of the school and the wider Harpenden community.

India Arkin hails from Harpenden and has successfully created a musical following based in Newcastle where she went on to further study. India has recently been signed to the new HMV Records Vinyl Label. India’s latest album “Home Truths” can be found on all major streaming sites as well of course in vinyl from HMV records.

Supporting India will be actor musician Izzie Winter, based in Hackney Izzie graduated from the London College of Music in 2021 where she released her debut EP “For when I sleep” – available on all streaming platforms.

Tickets for the event are £6 in advance or £8 on the door. Doors open at 7pm and there will be a licensed bar at the event. Tickets are on sale at www.harpenden-arts.co.uk/events

Classic Christmas Cinema

On Saturday’s during December at 11am, we will be showing a series of classic Christmas films designed for families. Titles this year are:

Elf  – December 3rd

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn’t know he

exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

Polar Express – December 10th

On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

The Muppet Christmas Carol – December 17th

A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future.

Tickets for all showings cost £5 including a free drink and popcorn and are available from www.harpenden-arts.co.uk/events

Mayor’s Christmas Concert 6th December 2022 at 6pm

On the 6th of December members of our choir will be performing at the Mayor’s Christmas Concert at 6pm at St. Nicholas’ Church. This is a wonderful opportunity to perform alongside other Harpenden Schools and the choir of St Nicholas.

Tickets for the event cost £6 and all proceeds go towards the Mayor’s chosen charities for 2022. Tickets can be purchased by emailing jane.juby@harpenden.gov.uk

Batford Christmas Lights Switch On – 1st December 4.30 – 6.30pm

On the 1st December some of our Year 8 performers will be singing as part of the Batford Christmas Lights switch. This event takes place between 4.30pm and 6.30pm and is free for all to attend. It would be wonderful to see members of our school community at this free event.