Former Abbot's Hill pupil Zara Brownless is the winner of the BBC's Young Apprentice 2011.

The Reception children are looking at the famous print The Great Wave by the Japanese artist Hokusai. This week we will be recreating our own version. To enhance our understanding of being in a storm we went over to see the set of The Tempest. We were greeted at the front entrance by Mrs Hindmarsh and Miss Sparrow. They gave us a delightful tour and the highlight of the visit was seeing the ship surrounded by sand and touching Prospera's magical stick. We all made a wish. We were also very lucky to see Prospera's costume. Emilia and Khalila even managed to try on the magical cloak.

Congratulations to Nicola, Y10, on winning the Dacorum Schools Rotary Chef competition, retaining the trophy for Abbot's Hill for the second year running. The competition, organised by the Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted Bulbourne Rotary Clubs, involved preparing a two course meal for two for under £12. Nicola's winning meal was chilli king prawn linguini in a zesty cream sauce with mangetout followed by rhubarb crumble with vanilla crème fraiche.

The school is buzzing with preparation and rehearsals for next week's performances of The Tempest. The Art department have been working hard designing the set which is taking shape in the theatre, the stage management crew are finishing the costumes and props and Director Mrs Hindmarsh, cast members and the technical crew are putting the final touches to the performance.

Time for the 2012 BBC School Report!

On 15 March Abbot's Hill girls will be making the headlines – literally!

Our Year 9 pupils will join thousands of teenagers across the country to create their own news website on the BBC. The BBC School Report is a national project that gives 11 – 14 year olds the chance to make news reports for a real audience. 

Local charity Hope for Children (HOPE) will be holding a Scottish Evening at Abbot's Hill on Saturday 28 January with Scottish food, song, music and dance. HOPE is a small and growing charity that helps some of the most disadvantaged children in the World. The charity works in 10 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, working in areas largely unreached by other charities.

Tickets for the event are £35. If you would like to find out more, or purchase tickets, contact Richard Graham by email (rcg@talktalk.net) or phone (01442 268003). Alternatively, you can call the HOPE Office on 01442 234561.

Year 6 were evacuated this week as part of our study of life during World War II.

Some were treated rather nicely but others weren't so lucky. They were put to work shifting compost and some were only spoken to in Welsh!

Hopefully it made them appreciate home comforts all the more!