Science week Day 4: Bath bombs!On Thursday, we had the privilege of hosting Dr Claire Petros from the Olive Ridley Project, the lead veterinarian of the charity, who discussed her work conserving sea turtles in The Maldives with very enthusiastic and inquisitive audiences from Years 3, 4, and 5. Year 5 completed an activity making... bath bombs, which they will be able to take home and use once they are fully dried on Monday. Quiz-challenge entries and photo competition entries have been coming in thick and fast and we are very excited about the quiz results! See more
Science week day 3: Year 2 make lava lampsOn Wednesday, Middle Years and Y9 continued with their biology and chemistry projects, doing dissections in biology and experimenting with plating and alloying in chemistry. Year 2 was the final year to make their vitamin-c-fuelled lava lamps and discussed properties of solids liquids and gases, as... well as enjoying the surroundings of the laboratory. See more
Science week 2021: Day 2We continued our festival of science with Year 9 dissecting sheep eyes and a huge ox heart in biology, and Year 6 discovering the hidden world of the very small with a microscope activity. The Big Science Quiz was completed by Year 8 and started by Year 12, and Year 3 made their Lava Lamps. Year 5 continue... to lead in the photo competition, with additional chemistry-themed entries submitted to Thomas over the course of the day. All entries must be emailed to tjmw@hchnet.co.uk by the end of school on Friday. See more
Science week 2021: Day 1Today we began our annual celebration of science, technology, and engineering with half of year 7 and all of year 8 completing their coin plating chemistry activity and year 4 making beautiful lava lamps. We launched a competition to produce a presentation on the challenges facing technology (deadline:... end of school on friday, entries to Neelu- nva@hchnet.co.uk ) Entries continued to come in for the science photography competition with Year 5 leading the way with some excellent photographs showcasing botany, metallurgy, and engineering. Further entries should be emailed to Thomas at tjmw@hchnet.co.uk by the end of school on Friday. This afternoon, Years 1-4 had an outside assembly showcasing the power of chemistry with some dramatic demonstrations of how energy and gaseous products can be released rapidly during reactions. The assembly finished with an opportunity to meet one of the most beautiful and enigmatic creatures to live locally, the Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica) – our specimen, “Gollum”, is a gorgeous 2-foot example with bright green sides and lots of personality! See more
My HCH experience: Adrian Rainbow, incoming HCH HeadmasterI have been in HCH for two days this week and I have loved getting to know the children and the HCH staff better. I am now even more excited for September, which I didn’t think was possible prior to my visit. I led my first assembly for middle and upper years pupils in the grounds of the school.... Continue reading
Science week 2021: Monday 14th- Friday 18th JuneWe cannot wait for Science Week 2021 from Monday to Friday next week. We will post all the news and photos to the website but here is the full programme of amazing activities and events: The Big Science Quiz – This will be open to years 5 upwards. Years 5-9 will complete it in a science lesson, Year... 10+ will be able to complete it in form time. The Annual Science Photo Competition – Open to all students and staff – please email entries of any photos with a science, nature, technology, or engineering theme to tjmw@hchnet.co.uk by the end of school on Friday 18th June. Biology science week activity in science lessons for Years 7-9 – dissection of a heart or an eye, plus demo dissections Chemistry science week activity in science lessons for Years 7-9 – magic colour changing coin trick – how to turn copper into “silver” and “gold” (and why that’s not really possible!) Physics science week activity in lessons for Year 7-9 – catapult challenge! Special additional science activities for Year 5 and 6 Lava lamp construction with Abi and Thomas for Y2-4 “Meet the critters” assembly for Y5+ with Zoo Club “Chemical Reactions” assembly for Early and Lower years with Thomas We will also have a special visitor on Thursday afternoon, a vet who works in sea turtle conservation. George is going to send me the details (she’s a friend of his) Depending on timings, she should be talking to years 3, 4, and 5. See more
Adrian Rainbow, incoming Headmaster at HCH, leads his first assemblyThe beautiful HCH grounds in the morning sun was the perfect backdrop for the middle and upper years assembly. It was led, for the first time, by our incoming Headmaster, Dr Adrian Rainbow. Adrian raised the energy levels for the start of the school day by leading the students in the ‘Rainbow Haka’.... The Rainbow Haka is Adrian’s own interpretation of the traditional Maori Haka, often used by the New Zealand Rugby team. The students were focused, and followed Adrian’s instructions with energy and good humour. The end result was spectacular and certainly set the students on the ‘right foot’ for the rest of their school day! See more