A roundup from the Houses on a happy Christmas term

December 12th 2023

House Activities and Competitions Community

A roundup from the Houses on a happy Christmas term...

Arion House

As always, Arion House has hit the ground running this term and it has been a great start to the year. We welcomed 16 new girls in September, and it didn’t take long to help them all settle in. We started off the term with a brilliant trip to Slip and Slide with the other girls' Houses, and we ended the term with a fantastic trip ice-skating and then a party at Kimber’s to celebrate a successful Christmas term. Other highlights of the term include our sell out stall of mulled wine and hot chocolate at the Bruton late night shopping event, various House Nights from glow stick dancing to shopping. It is wonderful that there is a fantastic family feel in the House. A great start to the year for a brilliant bunch of pink ladies! - Bethany Griffiths - Arion Housemistress.

Blackford House

The Christmas Term is always incredibly busy and this one has been no different. Our new twelve 3^rd Form pupils found their feet quickly and, together with the other six new Blackford boys, have settled in well. There have been many highlights, but winning both the Senior and Junior Inter-House Football and the Senior and Junior Inter-House Swimming competitions certainly stand out. Congratulations to Will H and Harry H both of whom broke School swimming records. Congratulations to Algie and Will on their confirmation and to all those at the CCF Dinner - two further highlights of a busy term. The boys have continued to work hard, enjoy our in-house nights and are a joy to have around. We’ve played Bingo, Blackford Spotlight, Footie in the Gym, we’ve shared BBQs with Priory (our twin house for this term), and toasted marshmallows around the fire pit. Many have celebrated their birthdays and we’ve been entertained by those with musical talent. The boys’ support and help at the King’s Christmas Fair and organising our Charity Film Night was very much appreciated by all. We have had visits from four BOBs (Blackford Old Boys) and caught up with the news on many more. All in all, it’s been a very busy term, and I am hugely grateful to them all on their contribution to such a superb term. I am also grateful to all the Blackford Staff, for whom nothing is too much trouble as they make the task of running this very full House comparatively easy. - Nick Bunday - Blackford Housemaster.

Lyon House

Lyon House has had a fantastic term. We welcomed our new 3^rd Form, who immediately settled well into the routine. The term was particularly busy for those boys who were involved with the Lyon House Play, The Unreturning. This was a powerful and moving play that explored issues surrounding PTSD and male vulnerability, and it was sensitively acted by all the boys involved, it was a real triumph. The House has competed hard in various inter-house competitions, and have been particularly busy debating as well. This has led to some of the best and most fiercely contested debates the School has seen, and the boys are looking forward to the next rounds. We have been twinned with Wellesley this term and have enjoyed some fun House Nights with them, including the annual Snow Ball, organised by Lyon and Wellesley, which was a huge success.

The Boys of Lyon are looking forward to the Inter-House Music competition next term, and their Christmas night out to go bowling and then on to an Italian restaurant. They would like to thank their tutors, matrons and the cleaners for helping them to be successful and happy and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. - Malcolm Jeffrey - Lyon Housemaster

New House

We have enjoyed being paired with Arion House this term and have held joint House Nights together with crash mat rounders and karaoke being popular and fun things to do! We have also made a strong start to the Inter-House Debating competition. At the time of writing, New House have started preparation in earnest for the Inter-House Music Competition which is always hotly contested. New House celebrates its 150^th anniversary this year, and it has been wonderful to read about the rich history of the House in the booklet put together to mark the occasion by the School Archivist, Andrew Leach. It has been an incredibly busy and successful term, and the boys have been looking forward to our House trip to Bristol to celebrate the end of term. - Ashley Marshfield - New Housemaster.

Priory House

It has been a total pleasure taking over as Housemistress of Priory House this term, getting to know the 65 girls who wear their purple badges with pride and working alongside a strong pastoral team of tutors. Highlights of the term include being crowned House Chess Champions (thank you Harriet and Lucy for your considered and tactical play) and winning House Hockey (both Juniors and Seniors). Arion kept us on our toes with the Junior competition going down to nail biting penalty shuffles. In the pool, we won the Junior Inter-House Swimming Competition, came second in the Seniors and drew the overall cup - tied on points with Arion (again the Pink Ladies close at our heels). Badminton saw our Seniors gain another victory (Emma and Florence), whilst our Juniors (Molly and Sascha) picked up the silver medals.

The Inter-House Debating continues after Christmas, having won a place in the next round arguing on the tokenistic approach to EDI awareness days. Alexina, Lily, Eva and the whole team worked hard here and showed distinct improvement in their delivery. We look forward to seeing how Priory fairs against out next opposition in the new term. Priory have begun preparations for their performance of Cinderella in the Easter term, as well as Inter-House Singing early in the year. The stage is set for another jam packed and exciting term of Inter-House Competitions. - Georgina Kingstone - Priory Housemistress.

Wellesley House

Wellesley has had a brilliant term and we are grateful for all of the quality time that we have been able to spend together. House Nights have included late-night shopping, ice-skating, bake offs and fancy dress challenges. We have loved welcoming new girls this year, all of whom have added their own personality and contribution to the House. In October, our Wellesley Charity Hockey event raised over £100 for the School charity and it was an opportunity to enjoy some of the last of the summer sun! We have seen in action one of our strongest debating teams in Wellesley history and there have been incredible performances in music, drama, sport and chess. We are now looking forward to the Inter-House Music next term! - Emilie Loveless - Wellesley Housemistress.

Flickr album: House Twitter Compilation - Christmas Term 2023 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin

The 12 days of Christmas in Church today @KingsBruton with great singing from @KSBArionHouse @KSBBlackfordHse @KSBNewHouse @KSBLyonHouse @KSBPrioryHouse @KSBWellesleyHse. Thank you @KSBChaplain for co-ordinating. #KSBCommunity pic.twitter.com/IcCOqbJRS5
— KSBPastoral (@KSBPastoral) December 6, 2023

Christmas comes to King’s Bruton...

On Wednesday it was one of the best days of the year - Christmas Jumper day! This coincides with Christmas lunch and what a feast was prepared for us all by our wonderful catering company, Chartwells. With over 500 people to feed, they excelled with wonderful sweet delights from a gingerbread dovecote to delicious yule logs. The jumpers worn by pupils and staff were fantastic with such a range across all of the different years. In Church, Rev Bev asked each House to nominate the best jumper from their House and Alexander from 4^th Form won the coveted prize on behalf of New House. The best thing was that everyone wore their jumpers with a smile and it has been a wonderful end to a superb term.

Emily Simper, Deputy Head Pastoral