From a ‘juicy’ way to celebrate the end of term to music and dance festivals

A busy end to the school year for Springwood High.

Budding entrepreneurs left with a good taste in their mouths as they celebrated the end of term. Year 7 students marked the close of the academic year with Smoothie Day, where they planned, created, and marketed their own healthy drinks.

Assistant Head Emily Bunting says, “Students went above and beyond this year, dressing up as bananas, writing songs, and performing songs on stage, as well as running through the crowd and dancing – it was a fantastic day.”

Other celebrations included a festival for Year 8 students who’d successfully completed the Endeavour Programme over the past academic year.   The scheme is nine different challenges designed to help young people to develop independent thinking and a balanced outlook.

'Springfest' featured a wide range of entertainments, activities, and refreshments, from bouncy castles to barbecues.

The students helped to organise and fund it, raising money through a series of fundraising initiatives, which included cake sales, penalty shoot-outs and sports matches.

The High School also held its annual Arts Awards Evening, with musicians, artists, photographers, dancers, and actors among the creative talents honoured, with 65 students from Years 7 to 13 receiving awards.

“Each subject had prizes for Achievement and Progress,” explained event organiser and host Pete Cuss, who is Head of the Arts Faculty. “This is a celebration of the outstanding effort our students put into classroom work and extra-curricular activities throughout the year.”

The school hosted the West Norfolk Academies Trust Dance Festival, which this year took as its theme ‘Musicals’.  The event featured Year 4 pupils from all six Trust primary schools, including Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

Kate Whyborn from KLW Dance and Dance Wize choreographed the children’s performances, spending time at each of the schools in the run up to the show to help the pupils to prepare and says, “One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing students who may start off unsure or hesitant, grow into performers who are proud of their efforts and excited to share their achievements on stage."

And Lynn music lovers enjoyed four nights of diverse entertainment when Springwood also hosted this year’s West Norfolk Academies Trust Community Music Festival.

The popular annual event was taking place for the fourth time, and saw performers from the Trust’s 11 member schools take to the professional, outdoor stage, alongside a host of other music groups from across the region.

“Suffice to say we had a real mix of younger WNAT ensembles, alongside more experienced ensembles and professional musicians,” said Robin Norman, Director of Music at WNAT and organiser of the event. “There was a real mix of different styles and ages, with performers from all schools across the WNAT family, along with other community ensembles."

Besides Springwood, the participating Trust high schools comprised Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon in Hunstanton, while member primaries taking part included Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Infant, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

“Across the four nights, there were in excess of 500 performers from across all year groups from Reception through to Year 13,” explained Mr Norman, "There was, without doubt, something for everyone."

Images all Ian Burt