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News archives, 2000:
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Autumn
Term 2000: A Summary of Events.
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Summer
Term 2000: A Summary of Events.
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Cricket:
1ST XI:
A season of mixed fortunes for the 1st XI in which several boys have starred
but no-one has been fully consistent. In no match did we manage to get all
three aspects of the game together: played 7; lost 3; drawn 4.
2ND XI:
The 2nds had an encouraging season, improving their standard of play steadily
as the term progressed and finishing wish a fine victory against Northwood
Prep: played 5; lost 2; drawn 2; won 1.
COLTS XI:
The Colts played with effort and determination all through the season,
always trying to win and playing some attractive cricket. However, the
victory eluded us: played 7; lost 2; drawn 5.
INTER-HOUSE:
Seniors: Some interesting matches were played, but the highlight of the season was
the century innings of Noel Szelewski (113 not out!). The final was won
by Marlborough House.
Juniors: The young boys displayed good skills in their batting, bowling and
fielding. The final winners were the Drake House boys.
OLD YORKISTS:
The 1st XI came a commendable second in the cricket match against
powerful Old Yorkists, but it was a great pleasure to see so many old boys
attending this event.
Athletics:
Our athletes had a splendid term. Many new school records were achieved and,
in the London Area Championships we had three first places - the following
boys are the London Area Champions: Joshua Bell (U12 High Jump), Sam Thurgood
(U12 400m) and Max Lowery (U11 100m). In the National Championships, Sam and
Joshua were both 5th in their events, and James Shama achieved 6th position in
the U14 Long Jump with another new school record.
The Kindergarten and Pre-Prep Sports Days were a great success - lots of fun
and great performances by the children.
Athletics Sports Day: This got off to a late, damp start and the hurdles events
had to be cancelled for safety. However, the rest of the athletics was as
exciting as ever with many good performances. Marlborough House took the overall
winners trophy.
Swimming:
For the third time in succession our swimming Team beat Aldwickbury, a team that
was formerly dominant. Max Lowery, Ben Firminger, Christopher Gabbett, Daniel
Clark, Aaron Dombey, James Ryman and James Shama clocked up twelve individual
wins between them. The Relay Teams then went on to win 6 of the 10 relay events,
giving York House a total of 180 points to Aldwickbury's 156.
At the National Championships, Christopher Gabbett achieved Silver Medal place in
the U11 Freestyle. The U11 Freestyle Relay Team (Thomas Kavanagh, Max Lowery, Ben
Firminger and Christopher Gabbett) then went on to gain Silver Medals in their
event. However, the icing on the cake was achieved by the U11 Medley Relay Team
(same boys again) - Gold Medals for our very own National Champions!
Academic & Staff News:
Our 19 Form VI boys achieved very pleasing results in their Common
Entrance Examinations, and all secured their places at their chosen
senior schools. There were 75 A or A* grades and 47 B grades out
of the total of 152 examinations.
The 28 Form IV boys also achieved good results in the National
Curriculum Standard Assessment Tests for Key Stage 2, in English,
Mathematics and Science. The national average is Level 4. Our boys
achieved Level 5 in 45 of the total of 84 tests taken.
Sadly this term we had to say goodbye to Sue Hurran, who has been
our swimming teacher for many years - we give her our best wishes
for a happy future. We also said goodbye to our Head of Kindergarten,
Wendy Wilson. We are most grateful for her tremendous achievement -
she started the YHS Kindergarten with a few children five years ago,
and has rapidly built up a thriving department of professional
assistants and over 50 happy children! We wish her a happy,
well-deserved retirement.
Trips & Outings:
This term Forms IV and V had a residential trip to Clecy to practise their French
language skills.
We also had our annual Outings Day. Each section of the school went somewhere
different. The Kindergarten children went to see a Model Village.
The Pre-Prep went to Alton Station in Hampshire to see the Watercress Line
steam trains. The senior boys had a walk along the River Thames embankment
followed by a visit to The Dome.
Parents' Association:
Following on from their previous successes of the Millennium Party in the Autumn
Term and the Quiz Night in the Spring Term, the Parents Association produced
a fantastic evening this term with their Summer Masked Ball. Many thanks to the
Committee and all the helpers for all their hard work.
Other Events:
Mufti Day in May raised a splendid £700 for the Toy Box Charity in aid of the
Guatemalan street children - Thank you to all contributors.
Kevin Tsoi won the YHS Tennis Singles Final and also the Doubles Final,
partnered by Viral Kantaria.
In June we had the Junior Plays and Displays, and a most enjoyable senior Arts
Festival Concert, with splendid performances by the instrumentalists, singers,
actors and speakers, together with good displays of art and craft work.
The Juniors and Seniors, and many of the Staff, enjoyed a group of visiting
musicians who gave us "The Jazz Experience".
Terry Mills came to the school again to show us some more of his unusual animals.
The Term ended with Speech Day. Our guest was our most distinguished Old Boy, His
Honour Alan King-Hamilton who was a pupil at the newly formed York House school
in 1910, and eventually became a High Court Judge. He gave us a most entertaining
speech, encouraging all the boys but, particularly, those who did not win a prize
that day, revealing that he had reached the top of his profession even though he
never won a prize at school!
Spring
Term 2000: A Summary of Events.
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Academic
SCHOLARSHIPS
Congratulations to our Head boy, Jonathan Marshall, who was not only awarded a Scholarship to Merchant Taylors' but also gained a Music Bursary. Well done!
This year was an extremely STRONG field for these awards and a couple of our candidates were very close. Congratulations also to Stephen Ho, who was awarded a special prize for outstanding performance in English and Religious Studies.
MERCHANT TAYLORS' ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS
In addition to Jonathan and Stephen, congratulations to Arjun Ahluwalia, James Beaver, Richard Ellingham, Viral Kantaria, Alexander Morley, Kevin Tsoi and Christopher Walters on their success in gaining entry. Not only were all 9 candidates successful, they also combined to produce the best set of grades for some years. They sat a total of 72 papers and achieved a 94% pass rate, with 76% being at grades A* - B. Well done to them all and to the staff who taught them so well.
BERKHAMSTED PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS
All our candidates for Berkhamsted were also successful, achieving an examination paper pass rate of 95%. Congratulations to Kasim Akhter, James Bradley-Kidd, George Eaton, Simon Heath, Richard Newman, James Shama and Robin Stibbs.
ALDENHAM SCHOOL
Congratulations to James Ryman on his success in the Aldenham Entrance Examinations.
FORM V "MOCK" C.E.E. EXAMINATIONS
This was the first time these boys had sat formal examinations, almost all of which consisted either of full C.E.E. papers or selections of C.E.E. questions. Their results were, almost without fail, most encouraging and reflected the great improvement and hard work of this group, so far this year. Now they have a year to hone their skills!
ACADEMIC COLOURS
Attainment Colours: For his Scholarship: Jonathan Marshall. For average of 70%+ in Mock Common Entrance a year early: Leigh Burne; Christopher Cox; Talib Visram.
Effort Colours: James Balchin; Leigh Burne; Daniel Clark; Christopher Cox; Daniel Morris; Adrian Shelley; Noel Szelewski; Talib Visram.
Outings and Visits
SCHOOL TRIPS: This term Forms II have been to Verulamium; Forms I to the Natural History Museum; Pre-Prep I to the Watford Museum.
VISITORS: The English Shakespeare Company came to do a drama workshop with Forms III - V; the Floating Point Science Theatre performed to the Pre-Prep and Junior boys; representatives from the Saracens Rugby Club came to Assembly and took coaching sessions with the boys of the 1st XV and the Colts squads.
SKI TRIP: Mr Telfer has taken over the organisation of this trip this year and has put in a great deal of hard work. He will be accompanied by 2 staff and 25 boys, leaving very early on the last day of term, to La Clusaz.
Parents' Association
Congratulations to Messrs Berney and Sinclair, and their hard-working committee, for an extremely successful "More than a Quiz Night." 183 people had a thoroughly enjoyable evening which raised the marvellous sum of around £2500. Thank you to all who helped make this event such a success, particularly the ladies who cooked such a fine meal. Also a big Thank You to Mr and Mrs Hill - this was their final year as the Quizmasters; preparing, delivering and marking all the questions is a mammoth task that they have done willingly and proficiently for many years, even though their son has long since left York House. The PA Committee is now preparing for the exciting event that we look forward to next term - the Masked Ball.
Rugby
For both 1st XV and Colts teams this has been a tough season, with both teams coming up against some formidable opponents. However, the Colts XII had the first unbeaten season for over 20 years, led by the extremely talented Sam Thurgood - they have developed their skills and commitment very well through the season, and successfully dealt with some STRONG opposition. Mr Byford and Mr Ging are congratulated on the splendid job they have done coaching them. Also, the Ist XV won the majority of their games and the high point was the remarkable achievement of being runners-up of the St Martin's 7-a-side tournament for the second consecutive year, only missing gold medals by one try! They have clearly benefited from the inspiration and example of Mr Telfer, who has been enthusiastically assisted all season, despite injury, by Mr Thomas.
1ST XV RESULTS: Played 6, Won 4, Lost 2, Points for: 142, Points against: 103.
Colours were re-awarded to: James Shama (Captain).
Colours were awarded to: Christopher Walters; Richard Newman; Simon Heath; Stephen Ho; Daniel Morris.
COLTS XII RESULTS: Played 6, Won 5, Drawn 1, Points for: 113, Points against: 24.
INTER-HOUSE SEVENS: Nelson won the Colts competition, with Wellington the runners-up. Drake won the Senior competition, with Marlborough the runners-up. Overall, Drake won the Inter-House Challenge Cup.
Swimming
I.A.P.S. SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS - QUALIFYING ROUND: This took place at Aldwickbury, in competition with Haberdashers' Aske's and Berkhamsted. This used to be a relay competition but there are now individual events too. Wins were recorded by Matthew Barnes; Max Lowery (2); Christopher Gabbett (2); Thomas Kavanagh; Janis Silins; James Shama. Our various relay squads then won three events. The timings of all competing schools are then collected and are compared, on which basis schools are then invited to the National Finals next term.
S.W.HERTS SWIMMING TEAM: More boys than ever before have been selected to swim in the County Gala. Congratulations to Matthew Barnes; Max Lowery; Thomas Kavanagh; Ben Firminger; Christopher Gabbett. Christopher and Max have since been selected to swim for Hertfordshire against Buckinghamshire next term - congratulations!
Cross Country
This has been another good season for our runners in this arduous sport.
YORK HOUSE INTER-SCHOOLS - Seniors: 2nd out of 9 schools (Dombey 4th); Juniors: 2nd out of 9 schools (Thurgood 1st); Overall result: YHS 2nd.
LAMBROOK-HAILEYBURY - Seniors: 5th out of 10 schools; Juniors: 6th out of 10 schools; Overall result: YHS 5th
ST. MARTIN'S ROAD RELAY - YHS 2nd out of 8 schools.
KEBLE - Under 9s: 5th out of 19 schools; Under 11s: 4th out of 20 schools (Thurgood 2nd); Seniors: 2nd out of 19 schools.
HIGHGATE - Seniors: 4th out of 17 schools; Juniors: 6th out of 17 schools.
Colours were awarded to: Robin Stibbs; Stephen Ho; Christopher Walters; Aaron Dombey.
Music and Drama
IAPS MILLENNIUM MUSIC FESTIVAL: This magnificent occasion - an experience which none of the 34 boys who took part will ever forget - took place on March 6th in the Royal Albert Hall. We were treated to an amazingly varied programme of choral and instrumental music, with many of the performances being of a quite remarkably accomplished standard for such young musicians.
UPPINGHAM ORCHESTRAL DAY: Forty of our best instrumentalists went with Mrs Gamon to Uppingham School for a memorable day. The morning and early afternoon were spent in sectional rehearsals before the climax at 5p.m.: three items by the massed strings and then "Seven Dances" by Susato and "March Slave" by Tchaikovsky played by over 500 prep. school musicians from 20 schools! Mrs Gamon summed it up thus: "A wonderful day of great experiences. Lots of music to hear and learn. Perfect behaviour from our boys".
SCHOOL PRODUCTION: Quote the Headmaster - "In all my years in prep schools, I have never enjoyed a production more than 'The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom'! The humour, choreography, fun and overall high standard of performance were astonishing!" Congratulations to the boys and, particularly, to Mrs Gamon, Miss McCracken and Mr Keal who have produced the play, and also to all the staff and the many parents who have helped with scenery, props, costumes, make-up, crowd control etc. Thank you to all involved.
Drama colours are re-awarded to: Babak Eslamian, George Eaton, Stephen Ho, Alexander Morley.
Drama colours are awarded to: Christopher Walters; Richard Ellingham; Viral Kantaria; Talib Visram; Christopher Coombs; Christopher Cox; Christopher Wallbridge; Daniel Clark.
Other News
CHARITIES: There has been a very good start to our year's charitable giving and I thank you all for your help and generosity. At present, since September, over £1,000 has been raised as follows -
Harvest gifts, which were gratefully received by the Watford New Hope Trust.
Poppy Appeal, £100. Muscular Dystrophy (Carol Service & Pre-Prep Nativity), £530.
"First Cheque 2000" (Mufti Day), £420. Peace Hospice (Collections at School Play), total awaited. NSPCC boxes, total awaited. There is also much support for Readathon - in aid of Sir Malcolm Sargent Children's Cancer Fund, total awaited.
IAPS DISTRICT 1 INTER-SCHOOLS QUIZ: For the first time ever, our Quiz Team reached the Final. Congratulations to Jonathan Marshall, Arjun Ahluwalia, Thomas Russell and Anthony Martinelli on their achievement of coming joint 3rd, and thank you to Mr Mulrennan for his support and organisation of the team.
CHESS: Many boys took part in the annual School Chess Competition. Congratulations to Kevin Tsoi who won the final match after a long, tense battle with Anraj Rayat.
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