We had a very exciting start to our school day this morning when Radio Norfolk interviewed one of our students. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00r4154

Josh Coles-Rouse in Year 11 becomes the first junior winner of this competition for his dedication in following the Canaries both home and away.

A delighted Josh said:  “It’s amazing to be Aviva’s Junior Norwich City Fan of the Year.  Ever since the play-off semi-final against Wolves in 2002 I’ve lived and breathed Norwich City, so to get this award is such a great honour.  I love supporting the club and travelling around the country to see them play.  I can’t wait to lead the team out against Aston Villa.  Thank you so much all those who nominated and voted for me.”

See the next edition of Just Aylsham for further coverage of this story.

http://twitter.com/#!/aylshamhigh

Having spotted her talent at this year’s Springboard Future Chef Heats, CCN Chef-Lecturer Nigel Crane approached her with another competition. Here is Annabel’s account:

‘I have been selected out of 100s of entries for the Junior Master Chef Competition 2012/3 Finals.

I will be travelling down to Thanet College on the 17th May to stay in a Hotel to take part in the final at Thanet College, Kent.

I will be cooking for three people with a budget of £25 within a three hour time period.

My menu consists of a Saddle of rabbit with a truffle and cider sauce, Garlic mash and sprouting broccoli; Chocolate and Hazelnut Fondant, Coffee macaroons, Mascarpone and Vanilla Ice Cream with a Raspberry Syrup.

Roger Phillips, of Thanet College, said that my menu stood out from all the rest and is very different and creative’

Annabel has been working with City College to perfect her dishes, changing her style of cooking and presentation to adapt to this competition’s high standard.

Good Luck, Annabel. We are confident that you will go on to be a celebrity!

David Riddle, spokesman for the Rotary Club of Norwich, said: “Elise was one of eight finalists, all of whom had undergone the same rigorous process of selection via Rotary club, district and regional rounds, drawn from areas all round England, Ireland and Wales.

“The standard of food produced by these young people was very high, demonstrating excellent skill levels and producing dishes which many professional chefs would be proud to serve.”

Her menu consisted of pan-fried mackerel salad, with salsa verda and lemon foam. Her main course was duck en croute with madeira and plum sauce, followed by a desert of vanilla parfait with poached rhubarb and tuile biscuits.

Elise was accompanied by her family and representatives of the Rotary Club of Norwich where they witnessed her being awarded the runner’s up position from students from around England, Ireland and Wales. A superb outcome!

David added: “Elise was awarded second place at this prestigious national level and is to be commended for the consistently high standards she has maintained through all stages of this competition.”

A full report on Elise’s rise through the competition can be found in this week’s EDP/EDP24 website.  Well done, Elise!

Autism Anglia provides a free Family Support service to families affected by the condition, as well as adult residential and educational services and an autism-specific school. This was the charity’s second Silly Sock Day – last year’s raised more than £3,800, and they are hoping to do even better in 2012.                                                                                        

Lots of schools, companies and families all took part, with everyone wearing their silliest socks and donating as little as £1 each to help Autism Anglia continue providing their essential services across the region.

The pupils of Aylsham High School were glad to take part in Silly Sock Day, and we hope that our donation will help Autism Anglia to continue their amazing work.

Written by Sophie Crook, a School Council Representative

During the Spring term, Year 11s have been preparing for their up-coming GCSE examinations, but also auditioning, and presenting a wonderfully glamorous Prom Fashion Show, to raise funds for their Prom at Wolterton Hall on 30th June. The auditions began in February, when 27 girls & 12 boys were selected & trained by a model from the Sandra Reynolds Agency. Alongside them, a team of Years 8 - 10s began preparations behind the scenes, taking photographs, producing a DVD, booking businesses for the Business Auditorium, promoting the event & selling tickets. Our own AHS Salon Services students were responsible for the fabulous hair styles & make-up.

The Show was opened by our Solo Dancer, Year 10 pupil Shaun Taylor, with a brilliant tap number, which he followed later in the Show with a ballet number to ‘Les Nuits’, dancing amongst our lovely models. Our other Year 10 Dancers also provided our audience with stylish & exciting visual delights, with their numbers.

The first half of the Show was Prom wear provided by Essence of North Walsham, and after the interval, we saw collections from Blossom & Green, Horatio Menswear & Catwalk Fashions. The entire evening was delivered with style, grace, energy and a sense of fun and the audience of almost 300 were extremely appreciative. Huge thanks & congratulations to everyone who took part or supported us in whatever way, and in particular, to our amazing ‘Class of 2012’ for looking so totally wonderful and raising £1429 for the Prom. We wish them all every success in their futures.

Mrs D Wade

CEIAG/Fashion Show Coordinator

Aylsham High School 2 v 6 King Edward School

On Tuesday 24th April the year 8 football team played in the final of the County Cup. The venue for the final, which 40 schools entered at the start of September, was Plantation Park.

The squad did themselves and the school proud in a keenly contested final. Their attitude was superb and the boys played some excellent football which impressed the watching Norfolk U14 scout.

Well done to the squad.

Budding videographers Roberto Elia, James Hubbard and Ben Would, received a wonderful opportunity to gain professional editing experience at the BBC in London as part of the AHS’s involvement with the BBC’s Concert Orchestra’s ‘Music Mix’ project. The boys had taken over 18hours of footage, recording the project over several months, and were given the hard task of reducing this to a rough cut of 4 minutes before turning up at the BBC studios.  Along with completing the final editing of the film the boys had were given a guided tour of BBC broadcasting house where they enjoyed speaking and meeting various DJ’s.  Aylsham High School would like to thank Laura Metcalfe and Gregory Stevens of the BBC for all their time, support and expert advice.

“I believe that we were extremely lucky to have this amazing experience, and I am very thankful towards the school and the BBC for providing us with this opportunity to have a taste of what professional video editing is like. We had a thriving day out with our teachers and I hope that one day other pupils in school like us, would be able to have a similar experience to ours, as we thoroughly enjoyed it!" Roberto Elia.

The resulting film was played at the Theatre Royal in Norwich before a 1000 strong audience to introduce the aims and work that went into the BBC’s music mix project.

The boys are now investigating in to how they can set up a videography club within school.  Watch this space!

Aylsham All Stars competed in the West Norfolk Schools Show Jumping Competition at Lime Kiln Farm Equestrian Centre on the 24th March 2012.

In the ‘Intermediate class (2”6’) Lydia Hayman and Clare Rogowiski were jumping as individuals. Unfortunately, they did not get placed.

In the pairs class (2”6), Freya Giles and Jasmine Hunter both had a brilliant clear round and came 7th.

In the open (2”9), the team of three; Freya Giles, Jasmine Hunter and Lydia Hayman successfully came 1st.

Well done to all of Aylsham All Stars, in their success. Thanks to all the mums and dads for all they have done, providing transport and for supporting us all through this fantastic day.

What a brilliant achievement from two very committed young people. Well done Shannon and Seb, we are really proud of you.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the event and to Mrs Zulu and Mr Keats for their support.

Shannon Wiseman,  Felbrigg Sports Captain

My first attempt at selling my bags didn't go well, as even though for my age the bags were good, I soon learnt that to sell to the public they have to be perfect! Mum and Dad suggested paying for me to attend sewing classes at the 'Makeplace' in Norwich to learn the finer skills needed to produce sell worthy products. I now go every six weeks to the classes and I am the only child that goes. I absolutely love it and now I sew to the highest standards, to the point where I am now going to be supplying a company called 'Flax and Finch' with my bags, purses and handbags.

I have my own business facebook page called 'lily's designs' which has also provided interest and from that orders for my goods. My plans for the future are to try and do really well with my exams as I need to get four GCSE'S C or above to go on the textiles course at City College that I have seen and love the look of. This will mean a lot of hard work at school as I do find some subjects like Maths and English quite hard but I am determined to give 100% to my future. Eventually I would like my own shop where as well as selling my products, I would also provide sewing workshops for adults and children.

Lily Moore

On Thursday 16th March, our models Daisy Clarke & Will Smithson accompanied our official Show Photographer, Kane Gilbert, to Blickling Woods, to take the official Poster photographs. It was a wonderfully sunny day, which was a bonus as the models were wearing evening attire! Both showed great patience under direction, and Kane displayed an excellent artistic flare, which will be evident on production of the publicity material – which will not contain the wellie-boots! As the photo indicates, it’s hard work being a model!

The Fashion Show will take place on Friday 20th April, tickets are £5, to include refreshments, and are available from school after Easter. Everyone is invited to see our 45 models working with Essence Bridal & Prom wear of

North Walsham, Blossom & Green of Aylsham , Horatio of Cromer -Designer Menswear, & Catwalk Fashions from Norwich. There will be many other businesses attending, selling fashions, handbags, jewellery, hair & make-up products, cup-cakes, and spray-tan & nail technicians will be offering treatments. Please join us for this exciting event.

Dianne Wade

Organiser

By George Wilson & Charlie Randall -  both year 10 students

Many congratulations to Mrs Mason and her team.

Also at the awards ceremony was Mrs Chalk, who works very hard in the PE department and was presented with the PE Teaching Competence Standard Award for Cover Supervisors and Teaching Assistants. Well done Mrs Chalk.

Alex Holmes, from the Diana Award, visited our school to instruct our current year 10 Friendly Face team on his successes and also how we could improve our anti-bullying system even further. He told us a bit about himself and then encouraged us to continue to work hard to develop the success of Friendly Faces at Aylsham High. He did this by a few small but effective games that got us up and out of our seats but also helped us learn more about our peers and team members than we would have perhaps known before. I, speaking for the whole team, enjoyed the day immensely and I found that a new outlook on things inspires everyone to look differently. We had all expanded our sights and by the end of the day had come up with ideas to improve the whole Friendly Face system. He is so young yet incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in his field that he can help even the best to improve. I hope that he will return to Aylsham soon and build on the foundations he has helped us to lay down for the best anti-bullying system in the county.

report by Anthony Loftus - Year 10 Friendly Face

Friendly Face mentions in the media since winning the diana award:

http://diana-award.org.uk/news-events/the-anti-bullying-ambassadors-have-been-extremely-busy

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/aylsham_high_s_friendly_faces_are_anti_bullying_champs_1_1141851

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/national_anti_bullying_champion_praises_aylsham_high_school_s_friendly_faces_scheme_1_1214893

Judging her were David Mulcahy (Sodexho), Fergus Martin (Wyboston Lakes Hotel and Conference Centre) and Richard Walker (Handpicked Hotels), all very talented and professional chefs from industry.

Annabel was competing against three other young chefs from across East Anglia, all having undertaken knock-out heats within their counties and at School.

The task was to plan, prepare, cook and present a two course bistro-style meal for two, for less than £8. Her dishes were baked Fillet of Haddock with savoy cabbage and tarragon sauce, followed by a classic Tarte au Citron with vanilla cream.

Annabel had received some excellent advice from her mentor Nigel Crane of City College, Norwich as well as FutureChef Judge/Hotelympia Gold Award Winner Robert Oberhoffer, owner/operator of the Dove Restaurant in Harleston.

Although Annabel won’t be going to the finals in London next month, having narrowly missing out on first place, she has promised she will take part in the 2013 event as a student at City College, Norwich!

 Mr Baxter

Well done Annabel. You have been a brilliant ambassador for our school.

Mr Keats

and there were many suitable candidates!  Thirty girls and twenty boys were formally auditioned, and once selected will be trained, in preparation for their catwalk debuts! As part of fund-raising for their Leavers Prom, the Year 11s will be working with local businesses to present a ‘Prom & Glam’ Fashion Show on Friday 20th April @ 7.30pm. There will be fabulous prom dresses from Essence of North Walsham, and day & evening wear from Blossom & Green Aylsham, Horatios of Cromer & Catwalk Fashions of Norwich. Hair & make-up will be provided by our own Hair & Beauty students from AHS salon.  There will be a Business Auditorium alongside the fashion Show, where our guests can have a spray tan, or a manicure, buy cup-cakes, jewellery, fascinators, hair products and much more. Tickets are £5 to include refreshments and will be available soon, from school.

Thank you to our Show photographer, Kane Gilbert, for his time.

Dianne Wade

Fashion Show Organiser