InterHigh Weekend 2015 - 10 years of InterHigh

InterHigh pupils can do anything

 

 We have returned from this years InterHigh weekend and have at last completed the back breaking job of unpacking and sorting for safe storage ready to  use at next years event if appropriate . It is inevitable that during this process while sifting through feedback forms, drawings, notes, pictures, lost property, remains of tickets, decorations, balloons and role call schedules that a wonderful story appears. All this luggage, equipment, supplies and debris creates a replay of the weekend and a sense of what that particular InterHigh weekend was all about starts to emerge. There are always catch phrases that take on a life of their own and I think 'love, it love, it love it' is certainly up there in the top 3 this time and, yes, we certainly did love it.

 Before the weekend began I had had a few concerns. On paper the numbers were less then I'd anticipated for the decade celebrations and would this ultimately affect the group dynamic?  Allocating rooms a few weeks before is always the single most difficult job to get right. Our venue is a boarding school and has a mixture of boarding houses with single rooms and boarding houses with large multi bedded dorms. If we ask for a house to be used then we must fill it to make the cost of heating and servicing worth while. Some students naturally wish to share a room with a specific friend. Others prefer to be with their family and young siblings need to be with a parent. The numbers this year were such that we required  3 houses and there would be no room for manoeuvre - ie some 110 weekenders to occupy 110 beds in set combinations - what are the chances of this being a success!! Added to this was the concern that we might have gone a little too far this time. We're always pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in two days, but to host a family fun night; quiz; bingo; run 4 full activity courses; hold a formal dinner; put on a play; display the student talent and awards presentations might just be a step too far. Not sure if they'll 'love it, love it love it. I'd also ignored the fact that head office staff would be temporarily depleted because the School Manager would be on maternity leave. Nevertheless, the excitement was building among the students as the programme of events unveiled, the "yes, we can do anything" attitude was infectious so plans continued. I held meetings with the proposed course leaders and explained to the leader of Food Craft that we'd like to make some exotic drinks, canapes, nibbles, hors devours, cakes and sweets for everyone to enjoy on Sunday morning. I got one of those looks that suggested I might be a very unreasonable person so I just pretended that it was an everyday kind of request and hinted it should be quite simple to achieve. The meeting with the Leader of Creative Design had a similar feel. I wanted a very large permanent piece of Art created to commemorate the Interhigh School Decade. She asked how long they had, I enthusiastically declared that it would be t least 4 hours, maybe even more. The meeting with the Director of the Drama Course didn't go so well! You cant possibly put on a play with 4 hours rehearsal time - no. I didn't quite know how to engage him further so just explained that InterHigh pupils can do anything.

 

The countdown to the weekend had begun and every time I saw the ticking timer on the school login I began to feel a rising sense of panic, that is until after I'd logged in and talked to pupils and their positivity, willingness and support soothed everything. I was asking a lot though, was this really possible? Could this be a disaster? I thought about going back to the Director of Drama and telling him he might be right.

 

The reality was that this year we had more visiting InterHigh teachers at the Weekend than ever before and the balance of InterHigh students and staff was a great one. Everyone could have relaxing fun together and spend time cementing the already strong bonds. Older students led the way and encouraged new InterHighers to get the most out of their weekend. New friendships blossomed and old friendships re-ignited. Everyone took delight in the very cutting edge games - noughts and crosses, snakes and ladders, quoits and skittle to name but a few! It really felt like a very large extended family gathering at times. Parents too could share experiences, chat freely with staff or spend some free time in the Brecon Beacons National Park grateful that their children were having fun independently. The food craft pupils got hard into work and within half an hour the room had filled with delicious smells and the buzz and professionalism of a top kitchen with a team of chefs. The creative designers planned strategically and used local as well as personal influences to stimulate their thoughts, it had the urgency, joie de vie and creative dynamic of a busy design office. The pupils on the sport course immediately demonstrated their willingness to test not only core strength and balance, which are attributes one might easily associate with sport, but also social dexterity in rearranging themselves in various different orders, like height or age, all within the confines of a very narrow form bench which they couldn't leave. All in all we witnessed leadership and teamwork skills that any top HR providers would find difficult to replicate. The drama group had organised their own costumes and had a Stage Manager who organised props, entrances, exits as well as arranging stage lighting. As we watched the Director block scenes which were  enabling the cast to bring the script to life I realised the audience would all  be behind these people and so having to use scripts or prompts really wouldn't be an issue - I'll return to this thought.

 

Towards the end of Saturday it was evident that we'd all had a great deal of fun and the weekend was already speeding by far too quickly. Those who had just visited for the day had already felt they had been part of something very special and unique that is the trademark of InterHigh School. The curtain rose on the 'impossible' play and in disbelief we watched a witty, sensitive and often hilarious production with not a script in site and certainly no prompt required. The audience 'love it, love it, love it'. InterHigh pupils obviously can do anything. The after show party exhibited a display of the very best of human characteristics: integrity, emotion and self confidence.

 

It was time for the Sunday presentations. The creative designers revealed a remarkable piece of art  that truly stunned everyone. We instantly took the decision that this would take pride of place in Interhigh head office meeting room to be displayed for posterity. After the awards were announced the sports group gave us the Haka providing a very fitting end to the general recognition of prowess. On leaving the auditorium we were able to sample the culinary delights of the food craft team. The food was exquisite, beautifully presented and very professionally served. What an exceptional Interhigh Weekend this had turned into.

 

So we started the packing away as families were beginning to leave and it had all been over too soon. Farewells are always happy and sad at these weekends but we knew it had been at least as distinctive and memorable  as any other. It was time for our host to do her debriefing and for us to check out. Then it came....

"Jacqui I really loved the play last night, how long did it take them to rehearse that?"

"Four hours"

"What? our students rehearse for at least two terms and no production has ever been as good as that"

Interhigh pupils can do anything.

 

Jacqueline Daniell

Co Founder Interhigh Education

My First InterHigh Weekend

                                                            My Interhigh Weekend
  

Thursday 10th of April.

I arrived at Christ College Brecon feeling apprehensive but quite exited at the prospect. Will anyone want to do the Performance Class after the first session?? They may spend a short time and realise they would rather do something else instead. Being introduced to everyone is always nerve jangling as I am quite a shy person but everyone made me feel at ease and even followed my volume control conducting! That's always a great start.  YUMMY Dinner sets up the evening and feeling strong we stepped into the Studio to see who we would be working with. 25 students raring to go even after a long journey, jet lag and full tummies, perfect and just what Emma,Gareth and I were hoping for. Made sure everyone could count to 5 forwards and backwards, and sing in tune too which helps and also realised someone wasn't very good at guessing age`s. Although it was very kind thinking I was 34. Time to finish for the end evening already after Emma had weaved her magic and made everyone tired with her routines. I was shattered just watching.    

 

                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 11th.

Day before the show!!!! How will we fit in 3 songs, and 3 dances into 1 day. Just a minute this is Inter High.. they can do magic. Ok let's get into it. Sing dance relax sing dance relax, lunch sing dance relax sing dance send the musical director off to the Studio to rehearse the Flash Mob.. ssshhhh!!Don't tell the students, but Liz I am rubbish at keeping secrets, it's ok you won't have time to tell them! Back to the theatre, how are the show cast learning so quickly... because it's Inter High. They can do magic!!! Dinner, one to learn. Oh my God a penguin in my parlour, 10 minutes and its learned. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THESE INCREDIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ON BOARD TODAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. There have been tears of absolute joy and pride from certain members of the teaching staff ready, I was ok of course I just had something in my eye... on several occasions. Especially listening to the solos I am sure it's in my breifcase somewhere is a great way to cover tears of joy and pride, I hope! Time for bed, still a few words to be learned  wonder if the performers will do their homework??? No need to ask that question, this is InterHigh they just do it. I certainly need my bed after the excitement and hard work of today. How do they keep going. Emma, Gareth and I have asked for so much and the students have just given it in bucket loads. 

     

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday12th                                             

SHOW TIME!!! Saturday's here already. Ok John no tears today we have lots to do, enter Razzle Dazzle and Frazzled!!!! Can they really pull this off, yes you guessed it .... of course they can, this is InterHigh. Tech run, where's this track where's the Mic more light here we can't see, Tech crew sorting sound and lights, backstage flying around like roadies at a rock gig. Costumes being made buttons patches all sorts. On stage do this do that stand there sing louder smile etc etc. InterHigh students ok ok ok ok no problems yes John yes Emma yes yes yes!!!! Why are they panicking????? Well done everyone go get lunch!! Maybe I can eat something now having been unable to eat breakfast.... struggled but had a little bit. Pizza it is then. Dress rehearsal. Little chat. Oh and an impromptu duet with Alex. And here we go!!!! Well says Gareth, that went rather well. What did you expect.... ok you know the rest, this is----------, home to try make myself look smart really exited by what is about to happen........... everyone looks ready all technical prep done. Enter dressing room for last talk producer filling up M.D leaving room to check all prepared, what do you mean awe they are both crying, we had something in our eyes! AND HEAR WE GO!!!!! One FANTASTIC performance and another and another, we are really about to give a little love, where did that time go. Wow that was fantastic. Interval, and Razzle Dazzle em!!! Another wow from me and the audience. Time for a quick toot ready for the finale. Just a minute some of the parents are on the stage they think it's all over. Not quite yet, two to go. Amazing dance routine and here comes that Penguin again. InterHigh School get a standing ovation!!!!!!!!!!! And fully deserved too.   

   

 

                                      

So students I will now share this with you, what you did and the way you did it I really didn't think possible!!! You made your teachers and staff look on in amazement as you performed supported back stage and with the technical aspect and the fab costumes. I was so proud to have been part of something so special. To watch you all give your everything you had and more, never once did I hear a moan or anyone make a negative comment. You all were an absolute credit to not only your school but to YOURSELVES… I have worked with youth groups for many years, and have never worked with a group who gave so much. You amazed the audience and your teachers and staff. Please remember what you have accomplished on InterHigh school weekend and be proud of it. You will all hold a very special place in my memory and my heart and if I am lucky I may even get to work with you again one day. Good luck to each and every one of you in whatever you do. You have all been amazing to work with.                                                        

I have learned something this weekend and hope you all remember that in this circle of life give them a bit of the old razzle dazzle and a little love and it all comes back to You!!!!!!!                                                  

John Harris

Performance M.D. InterHigh school.

 

 

Ex Pupil Writes for Jersey Evening Post

Zoë Beer sings the praises of Interhigh, the online educational establishment where students work from home.

Picture the scene: it’s a cold rainy day and you are sitting at home, logged on to school on the internet with a lovely warm cup of coffee. It is perfectly acceptable to sit in maths class in your pyjamas along with other students who live all around the world. No, I am not crazy and nor is this a dream.

This is online schooling and it is tipped to become the future for learning.Online school Interhigh opened its virtual doors in September 2005 and since then has offered a complete secondary school education to more than 1,902 students worldwide.

Currently, there are 350 students aged between ten and 18 attending Interhigh. It is one of a handful of internet-based schools in the UK and I chose to attend it following a period of dissatisfaction with the local schools in the Isle of Man and to avoid the disruption that moving islands would have on my education. The education follows the National Curriculum, students are entered for International GCSEs in Year 11 and the exams are sat at a local examination centre – for me, this was Highlands College.As all you need is a suitable internet connection, and then you can ‘go’ to school anywhere in the world. Interhigh offers ‘everything you expect to see in a traditional school, from subject lessons, to homework, school plays and exams’, explains Jacqueline Daniell, Interhigh director. Each morning, students log on to virtual classrooms at 9.25 and lessons begin at 9.30, lasting until early afternoon. Lessons are entirely interactive and delivered by teachers who are present in the virtual classroom and ready to respond to any questions students may have. There are 17 classrooms that are split into three areas: voice, text and work. However, some classrooms have other facilities to suit different lesson types, including videoconferencing, screen-sharing and breakout discussion boards. The classes are limited to a maximum of 18 students, with most classes having far fewer than that, so students benefit from small class sizes and more support from the teachers. For the shyer students, the private message facility enables them to ask questions which they might, in conventional schools, have kept to themselves in fear of negative reactions from other students. Its positive atmosphere and friendly ethos immediately struck me. Previously, I had been educated at two schools in the Isle of Man where I had faced hostility from my peers for being conscientious.

At Interhigh, things couldn’t have been more different.
On my first day, I was greeted by messages like ‘Hi Zoe’ and ‘Here if you need any help’by all my fellow students, known as ‘Interhighers’, many of which I still keep in contact with nearly two years later. I was overwhelmed by the caring and supportive environment that Interhigh offers, both from the staff and the pupils. It was a far cry from some other schools in the Isle of Man that I had attended.
The examination experience was also far less daunting than I had expected, as I was one of few students taking the International GCSEs in Jersey among some home-schooled students.At Interhigh, there is no time spent chucking chairs about, spending countless hours running round a freezing cold crosscountry pitch or waiting for teachers who often failed to turn up for lessons. Instead, learning is focused and the numbers of lessons are kept to a minimum within a day so that work can be consolidated. But there is still plenty of time for fun. Each year, Interhigh invites teachers, students and their families to descend on the small town of Brecon for a weekend of socialising, activities and extremely good food. The Interhigh Weekend has become a landmark in Interhighers’ calendars, and my favourite weekend was when I was crowned Prom Queen in 2012. The opportunities for making friends don’t just occur at the Interhigh Weekend. Weekly common room sessions, often with visiting speakers, offer students opportunities to chat to friends and get involved with clubs to make the most of their internet schooling experience. The principal of Interhigh, Paul Daniell, says that Interhigh has recently become UKAS ISO9001 accredited, ‘which is an international quality assessment that we are very proud of ’. The high-quality education seems to cultivate the type of student who wants to work without any of the time-wasting that can occur in a normal school.
However, I am not suggesting that online schooling suits everyone, as this method of learning does require a great deal of selfdiscipline. Students have to resist the temptation to wander onto Facebook or grab a couple of biscuits during lesson times. Instead, it appeals to expats, those with disabilities and certain types of people who for whatever reason may be better suited to the friendly and stable environment of an internet school. When results day came, my online schooling experience came to a very positive ending. Needless to say, I was confident that Interhigh had provided me just as good an education, if not better, than my previous schools.

Although I am now loving my time at Hautlieu studying the International Baccalaureate, I see my experiences at Interhigh as unforgettable and a crucial partof how I got to where I am today. The recent news that leading UK universities are offering their degree courses online does not come as a shock to me. I see that the world of online schooling is becoming just as important as the conventional ‘bricks and mortar’ school and it’s time we all embrace what virtual learning has to offer.
Zoe Beer
Jersey Evening Post



Im Being Chased by a Dragon

I’m the woman who runs the Monday creative writing workshops for InterHigh. I parachuted into the classroom in January 2010 and I’m happy to say, I’ve enjoyed every single session since. Hopefully, the students have too. Certainly I’ve seen several of them return a second, third or fourth time around. It’s my privilege to watch them develop their writing skills by reacting to simple tasks that trigger their imaginations. The main tasks require dedicated, quiet writing time. It’s brilliant to think of my students, quietly writing at home, wherever that may be, yet united by working to the same theme or starter sentence.

These classes are very different from the academic ones in that those attending range from Year Sevens to Year Elevens. I’m normally aware of a student’s age but no way does this influence me when choosing exercises. Every one of them enjoys words or else they wouldn’t waste time attending my sessions and that’s the levelling factor. I also try to make their choices flexible so they might find themselves imagining they’re auditioning for a part in a Broadway show or telling everyone how they’d turn their laptop into a steam punk computer. They can decide whether to write humorous stuff or to show their dark side. They compose restaurant menus. They design their dream bedroom. They create wild and wonderful worlds.

 Do the younger students ever become frightened by sinister shapes or gruesome monsters? I can tell you it’s usually me who’s scared to turn the light out at bedtime! We do have some bloodthirsty tales but nothing worse than anything you’d find in a self-respecting fairy tale. Humour’s often in evidence and how I enjoy it when someone finds his or her voice and delights us with a character’s quirkiness and ability to make us suspend disbelief.

 

There is a tremendously therapeutic element to creative writing. I first realised this back in the 1970s when I attended an open evening at a residential school for pupils with behavioural problems. One girl showed me a poem she’d written and although it was worryingly dark, I knew she’d expressed her emotions on the page probably far more easily than she could control her anger.

I once held a session for senior citizens where I urged them to write down their memories so their descendants had a record to cherish. The advantage of this kind of group exercise is that often one person’s experiences will trigger someone else’s. Faces light up and people chuckle and nod their heads. In the same way, an InterHigh group will post a smiley face, make a LOL comment, or draw something on the whiteboard. Jacqui and her admin team are very good at informing me if a student is experiencing any personal problems. Sometimes one of the group might text me to explain a close relative is ill or a pet has died. If this student prefers to stay online as an observer, that’s absolutely fine and I like to think the fun and companionship of the others is providing the kind of medicine money can’t buy. 

Every group has a different dynamic. My current one is large and contains writers with whom I’ve worked before plus ones who were new to me at the beginning of term. Of course some students work together in their peer groups but I’ve noticed how quickly everyone bonds and how supportive they are of everyone’s efforts. They are never obliged to contribute. Even the most experienced of writers can have an off day. Tell me about it! Sometimes we run out of time because there’s so much exciting writing to hear.

 When a student who attends regularly but has never contributed to any of the tasks, suddenly posts a piece of writing, I feel very delighted. Those who read aloud or post work achieved in a comparatively short time should be proud of their performance. Confidence is achieved in many different ways. So if you hear your son or daughter speaking over the mic about being chased by a dragon or watching their mum being captured by aliens, please don’t worry. It’s only that Monday woman again.

 

Sandra Mackness

 

 

The work behind the InterHigh Weekends

Managing Events

Since I started working for InterHigh back in April 2012 I have been involved in two very successful annual events. The first of which was an activity break (InterHigh Weekend 2012) for the Students and their families to attend - this was quite an eye opener for me as I had only been working at InterHigh for approximately two weeks! Whilst at the event I discovered just how much time, effort and organising the occasions require, even for the most trivial of things. The second was a Hollywood themed ball (Interhigh Weekend 2013) which I had a lot more input with. We had approximately 120 students, family members and staff form InterHigh attend this event and we were all very pleased with the outcome of the ball and hope that everyone enjoyed.

Whilst organising the ball with Jacqui and the rest of head office staff I realised that I wanted to learn more about event management in the corporate sector. This led me on to searching for an online course in which I could still work full time as well as still continuing with my other commitments outside of work, but still gave me a good accreditation at the end of my studies. I came across the Fitzwilliam Institute Group, (www.fitzwilliaminstitutegroup.co.uk) who specialise in online courses ranging from Events Management to Internet and Web programming and many more. This particular course allows me to study at home and complete the course in my own time frame providing I finish the course within the allocated time of one year. The course is a series of assignments with a final course project, all of which can be sent to course tutors for marking before they are submitted for a final grade.

At the moment I am currently in the process of completing my first assignment on strategic planning. Wish me luck! I will keep you posted with my progress, in the meantime if you have any questions please let me know- natalie@interhigh.co.uk

Natalie Davies

School Administrator