Year 7 had a very interesting trip to HMS Victory recently, as part of their history topic on the Battle of Trafalgar.

Here is a report from one of the Year 7 pupils on the day:

"HMS Victory had two 64 pound guns on the lowest gun deck, thirty 32 pound guns on the lower gun deck, twenty eight 24 pound guns on the middle deck and forty-four 12 pound guns on the upper deck.

British gun crews could reload and fire in just 90 seconds!

The crew on HMS Victory used boys as young as twelve to carry gunpowder. These boys were known as Powder Monkeys.

Gunfacts

• The guns are named after the size of shot they used.
• It took 14 men to load and fire each gun on HMS Victory.
• The big 32 pound guns were on the Lower Gun Deck to keep the ship stable.
• The Grand Magazine was lined with copper to prevent sparks and stop rats getting in and walking the powder around the ship!"

Ben Adams

To view photos from the trip, please go to the Events Gallery.

On a bitterly cold afternoon we were second best to a classy Horris Hill outfit. It was a very enjoyable occasion and should prove a beneficial experience for this young team. Markus Braadlie was, again, our outstanding performer.

Stableford Competition: 

Horris Hill 99

Pinewood 69

Well done to everyone who took part. All the children gave of their best and many realised that they have it within to overcome a challenge with a little support and will power.

Photos from the event can be viewed in the Sports Gallery.  Many of the photos were taken by Tracy Dening-Smitherman, who can be contacted on familyds@btinternet.com.

The overall results are as follows:

1st: Motcombe

2nd: Melchet

3rd: Postbridge

4th: Farnborough

Individual results for first place:

Year 3 Girls: Kitty Dodd-Noble

Year 3 Boys: Tom Gardener

Year 4 Boys: Ned Corfield

Year 4 Girls: Christa Cripwell

Year 5 Boys: Harry Brooks

Year 5 Girls: Daisy Prichard-Jones

Year 6 Girls: Jessica Tregoning

Year 6 Boys: Milo Brooks

Year 7 Boys: Reuben Arkwright

Year 7 Girls: Libby Rowe

Year 8 Girls: Katie Meehan

Year 8 Boys: Harrison Baker

Photos from the event will be available shortly.

Thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts by everyone who took part in the bike ride and rubber legs challenge last July, the George Bailey Trust has been able to donate £2,000 to Helen & Douglas House.

Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. For more information, please go to their website: www.helenanddouglas.org.uk.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event and contributed towards this wonderful donation.

Congratulations to Imogen Syme-Taylor, James Eyles and Jessica Higgins on their successful auditions for the National Youth Choir.

There will be Orchestra rehearsals for all orchestra members on the following dates:

Monday 17th January, 4.30-5.30pm

Monday 31st January, 4.30-5.30pm

Monday 7th February, 4.30-5.30pm

There will be NO orchestra rehearsals after Half-Term due to "Honk" rehearsals.

For Rock Band rehearsal times, please click here.

Congratulations to Olivia Lawson, who has won first prize in the Travelling Book Company competition, run with Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, to write an acrostic poem.

Olivia has won five poetry books, three of them signed by the poets and her poem is published on the Travelling Book Company's website and can be viewed by clicking here.

As one of the youngest teams in the class Pinewood had their work cut out in the finals of the mini show jumping competition at the national championships this weekend.  The course was full up to height with some big spreads and together with a strong wind caused all sorts of problems.  However the Pinewoodians, cheered on by Mr Hoyland and a handful of supporters, were all very focused. 

Please note that in order to cut down on admin and duplication of information, the weekly "What's On" news letters will no longer be sent out by Lower and Middle School.  All the information you need will now be published on the home page of the website.

All the most up to date fixtures information will appear on the Fixtures page of the Sports section of the website.

Please do check the website regularly for updates.

Rehearsals for this term's Year 5-7 production of "Honk" begin in earnest this week. Please click here to view to the full rehearsal schedule for the term.

Welcome to our new Gap Students for 2011: Tom Russell, Bree House and Stephanie Hubble are all from Australia and they will be joined for this term and next by Rory Wilkes (brother of Old Pinewoodian, Rebecca).

Please do make them feel at home if you come across them and as usual they are bound to be keen to babysit in order to earn some extra spending money.