Newsletter 12 Mar 2008

Sitting in the school hall… …is something I have done quite a bit recently. Today I listened to students share with the rest of the school the experiences they have recently lived through on their life-changing visit to India. One of the things that struck me was their willingness to give themselves to something bigger than themselves in a spirit of servant hood.

I was also impressed with the level of ownership they took of their experience. These students definitely looked and sounded changed by things they had seen and done. At times they found it difficult to put their experiences into words. At other times it was the little things that spoke volumes… “I just realised that I don’t need so many things to be happy, if I know that the Lord loves me.”

I was also sitting in the hall this week watching, “In Holland Stands a House.” I was totally absorbed in the story, and watching the final outcome of our students taking on the many responsibilities included in producing believable theatre. I personally commend Mr. Heath and his team for the choice of a play that carried an important message for us to consider, and the professional performance we all witnessed. I trust you will all enjoy Mrs. Rowe’s review of the play, as well as cherish your memories of it - if you were fortunate enough to attend one of the performances.

Starting March 17th students from year 10 will be going out on work experience placements. Students from years 9 & 10 will also be preparing for a trip to Romania during the Easter holidays. Meanwhile Primary students are preparing for theme days and some interesting trips before the end of term.

It is a privilege to see such a rich experience and challenging environment being provided for students, and to see them receive from and appreciate the school and its ministry. As this is the last newsletter before Easter break, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to our staff members. It is all their hard work that has created such a satisfying environment in which we work together to educate our young people.

Class Trips - please return slips and money for trips as soon as possible.

Class One - Good News! Mrs Moon is recovering well from her operation and sends thanks to everybody for their cards and prayers. Things are going well in her absence with Mrs Mackenzie and Mrs Rawnsley covering.

Class Two - Will be going swimming on Fridays after Easter; parents will receive a letter with details.

Open Day Thursday 13th - Please pass an invitation to anyone you think might be interested.

Early Years Conference 11th & 12th April

Please look at the brochure you received with the last newsletter and return your booking forms as soon as possible. Further copies of the brochure are available if you would like to invite others to this event.

Goodbye Mrs March

We say goodbye to Mrs. March for a term, whilst she has baby number three. She has added much to the life of the school this year - both in her teaching and as a result of initiatives we have asked her to take to help develop the school. Lessons are comprehensively covered for the summer term. We look forward to her return in September, and pray that all goes well in the next few months with her growing family.

Did You Know? Mrs Amy Sprenger

Originally from Southampton, I went to a Christian primary and secondary school, which was very similar to BCS. I graduated from The University of Sheffield with a degree in Zoology and then worked for a mountaineering company, where I organised expeditions and courses for school and youth groups. I have had the great opportunity to co-lead expeditions to Ecuador and Slovakia, have summited Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest peak in Africa) and, this summer, Stok Kangrib (a 6,100m peak in the Indian Himalayas). In the summer of 2006 I married Gareth and moved to Leeds, where he was based. Whilst settling into Leeds and married life, I spent a while working as a PA in the city centre. Eventually I made contact with BCS, and after much discussion and prayer, I decided I should apply for the post of Science teacher. I began working at BCS in September 2007. My move to BCS has been challenging and exciting, and I have enjoyed being part of the new middle school environment. It's fantastic to work in a school where God is at the centre.

In Holland Stands A House Play Review

Three cheers and hip, hip, hooray to Steve Heath and a very impressive cast for their outstanding performance of “In Holland Stands a House,” the story of Anne Frank. This was a fantastic effort for Bradford Christian School’s first play production.

I have to confess that I came to support the school with limited expectations of the event… but I went away startled by the excellence and moved by the impact of what I had seen.

From the opening scene with the chorus of “men in black,” to the tearful finish with the characters who died in the end turning their backs to the audience, and Anne’s final journal reading, I was gripped by the story. The use of the chorus, film clips and Miep Gies, played by Kat Barlow, to tell the story was very well done. I found myself pulled not only into the life of the Annexe, but also touched by the horror of World War II history. Rose Mitchell’s haughty and humorous portrayal of Mrs van Daan provided needed moments of comic relief in a story that kept me on the verge of tears. Joanna Fawcett-Jones gets A+ for her performance as Anne surrounded by a great supporting cast.

The Hanukkah song, performed with talent and sincerity, offered a taste of sweetness in the story of lives soured by fear and suffering. (Not to mention we ought to find excuses to hear that wonderful voice of Mr. Heath’s on a more regular basis.) The use of character positioning, stage levels and simple set design served to emphasize the heart of a story brimming with fear and suffering, yet seasoned with hope and humour. All in all this play ended up touching my heart with its portrayal of real people, in a real life that I could have only imagined with their help. Well done Mr. Heath! I’m sure we will all be looking forward to the next one, when you will be playing to an audience with “great expectations.”

Mrs Teri Rowe