Pre-Prep Christingle
Pupils from Cundall Manor Pre-Prep gathered at the historic Cundall church today to celebrate an important point in advent for all across the school. Our Pre-Prep children marked the end of term with a beautiful service at the nearby church with even our youngest joining in song as part of the celebrations which were also to help raise some funds for the Children’s Society. The event saw parents, grandparents and staff join together for a series of carols and even a rendition of a song from the Pre-Prep nativity. A sincere thank you to everyone for their support and generous donations to a very well-deserved cause.
Carol Service at Ripon Cathedral
The annual Cundall Christmas Carol Service at Ripon Cathedral proved a great success with over 1000 members of the Cundall community attending a beautiful service at the Cathedral of the Dales. The wonderful carol service started with an angelic solo to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ in front of a full house of proud parents, grandparents, pupils and teachers. Performances from the Boys’, Girls’, and Upper School Choir all added to the festive atmosphere. Readings by pupils from across the school built up to the Christmas Gospel as delivered by Joint Head, Amanda Kirby. Revd. Alison Askew the delivered a series of prayers and blessings before Mr Conyngham’s ‘Cundall Fanfare’ concluded proceedings. A wonderful evening of music, celebration and community was sincerely enjoyed by all. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a special occasion for everyone involved. A retiring collection was donated to Yorkshire Ambulance and Shelter.
Secret Garden Production Wows Easingwold Audience
A recent production of a children’s classic revealed the darker side of a much loved story as children from Cundall Manor School took to the stage. A select group of 14 and 15 year old actors performed at the Galtres Centre, Easingwold in front of an appreciative audience as they brought to life Frances Hodgeson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. Director and Head of Drama at the school, Liz Vile, said: “A memorable and exciting night was had by all who participated and attended ‘The Secret Garden’. Adding: “The cast worked so hard and produced a slick and confident performance that was full of amazing individual performances. The night was enjoyed by all and I am so very proud of all the students who gave up their time to make this production the success that it was.” The Secret Garden is the classic Edwardian tale of Mary Lennox, a young orphan girl who is sent from Indian to live with her reclusive Uncle in Misselthwaite Manor, an isolated Stately Home in Yorkshire. But all is not what it seems at Misselthwaite. The annual Upper School production was well received on social media with one parent stating it was a “thoroughly enjoyable show with some amazing performances. Well done all those involved.” The production was the start of a series of performances at the Galtres Centre, with youngsters from the school taking to the stage over the next week. To find out more about one of the north’s leading schools or to arrange a personalised tour, call 01423 360 200 or email admissions@cundallmanor.org.uk
Anti-Bullying Charity Visit
Pupils from a North Yorkshire School today were delivered an important message on the value of respect. Representatives from the charity Bullies Out delivered two workshops to over 80 children on changing attitudes and challenging stereotypes as part of the school’s anti-bullying week. Sarah Taylor from Bullies Out was on hand to explain to pupils from Cundall Manor School the importance of standing up to bullies. She said: “Part of what we do is give all students a good understanding of the effects of bullying on others and the impact it has on their life.” The Bullies Out website has a host of information for parents, schools and pupils as well as information for employers and employees. Sarah talked about the impact stereotyping can have on the individual and added: “The workshop really helped pupils understand the effect of not understanding who people really are and how we behave can reinforce a stereotype.” Pupils were also encouraged to learn more about Bullies Out and become a ‘Young Ambassador.’ Here pupils would learn about and encourage young people to support the campaign through highlighting anti-bullying issues and empower, engage and inspire other young people to build a positive self-image to maintain wellbeing and personal resilience. Sandrine Cooke, PSHEE co-ordinator invited Bullies Out in to speak. She said: “Stereotyping is an issue that impacts many people throughout the country. Having a workshop that changes and challenges people’s attitudes can only help create a more open and accepting society.” To find out more about Bullies Out, visit their website on bulliesout.com
Form 4 supports WWF with cake sale
As part of our science topic on evolution and inheritance Form 4 have been researching animals which are critically endangered. Pupils were horrified to find out that for some species, such as the Amur Leopard, there were only 60 animals left in the wild. This shocked pupils into action, and they decided to organise a cake sale to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund who do great work to support local communities with animal conservation. Form 4 raised an amazing £381.45. A huge thanks to all pupils and parents who baked cakes, biscuits and buns.
Wharfedale Festival Success for Cundall Singers
Two sisters from a leading North Yorkshire School are celebrating a string of awards at the recent Wharfedale Festival. The festival is in its 110th edition and is an important calendar date for singers and performers from across the north. Sisters, Flossie and Hattie Attwood performed beautifully to claim a series of awards for their singing within their categories. Flossie topped two categories with a 1stplaces in the Year 8 and under Vocal Solo and the Year 8 and under Songs from Stage and Film (solo) categories. She also claimed a strong third for the Year 11 and under Unaccompanied Folk Song. Hattie performed admirably with two second places in the categories Year 6 and under Pop Star Solo and Year 6 Songs from Stage and Film (solo). Director of Music at Cundall Manor School, Sarah Reece, said: “Flossie and Hattie are great examples of music scholars. They are deeply committed and take every opportunity to fly the flag for Cundall at many competitions and festivals. Well done girls.” To find out more about the music programme at Cundall Manor School or to book a tour of one of the north’s leading independent schools, call 01423 360 200 or visit cundallmanorschool.com
Pre-Prep Celebrate Great Start to the Year
Pupils from Cundall Manor School’s Pre-Prep have been celebrating the start to the Autumn term with a performance to proud parents and teachers. Children from PP2 took to the stage to tell parents about the highlights of the term to date. Highlights included times tables, clever ways to read tricky words, tales from their recent trip to Whitby, a story inspired by the history of Ripley Castle and a wonderful performance of a song from their Harvest Festival service. A huge well done to all of our Pre-Prep and thank you to all the parents who showed their support.
Ripley Castle Trip inspires PP2
Castle. The children learned lots about both Medieval times in the castle, and about living there during the 18th and 19th Centuries. The teachers learned lots too, for example, did you know that a drawing room has it’s name because it is the room into which the ladies would ‘withdraw’ from the men after dinner? Also, boys of wealthy families wore dresses until they were 6 years old so that they would be mistaken for girls and thus not be kidnapped. That’s one theory anyhow! After touring the castle, feeling the enormous weight of a cannon ball and a medieval sword, and imagining to our horror, what it would have been like to have been squeezed into the tiny priest hole, PP2 hunted for natural treasures in the woods to create prize journey sticks. Thank you to our wonderful guides atRipley, and to Mrs Samuel and Mrs Higgs who came along with us to ensure a happy time for all.
Murton Park takes pupils back in time
It is not every day that you sign up to be part of the Roman Legion, but earlier this week, Form 1 pupils from Cundall Manor School did just that as they enjoyed a trip back in time. The visit was all part of the immersive experience at Murton Park, near York, where pupils get to bring history to life. The 7 and 8 year olds became Romans for the day and enjoyed a huge range of activities such as dressing up in the Roman Legion tunics, learned how to hold a sword and throw a spear, and how to use roman numerals. Among the fun the children performed the testudo or tortoise formation which was a formation commonly used by the Roman Legions during battles and particularly sieges as they pretended to be under attack from the Celts. A huge thank you to Murton Park for making the day such great fun.
Schools in fine voice at annual Choral Day
Members of the Cundall Manor Main School Girls’ and Boys’ Choirs headed for Ampleforth Abbey & College earlier this week to participate in the annual choral day. Cundall Manor joined choirs from Terrington Hall, Aysgarth, York Minster School and St Martin’s Ampleforth, with around 120 voices altogether. The morning and first part of the afternoon were spent rehearsing in the performing arts centre, before we moved to the church to sing everything that we had learned, in a service which was attended by families and members of the general public. Director of Music at Cundall Manor, Sarah Reece, said: “The choirs worked really hard and felt exhausted by the end of the afternoon, but rose to the occasion and made the most of this exciting opportunity to sing in the enormous acoustic of Ampleforth Abbey Church.” A huge well done to all involved in the creating a wonderful day of beautiful music.