FOMS Christmas Fair
This year's Christmas Craft Fair was a great success and a lovely start to the festive season.
The Blake Theatre was transformed into a vibrant, colourful hive of activity, with nearly 40 stalls, featuring a wide range of gifts: jewellery, Christmas ornaments, photography, toys, festive food and even chicken doorstops. Up on the stage, the Grange showcased their now-famous Human Fruit Machine, whilst main school boys manned a highly popular "Splat the Rat" stall.
Meanwhile, little ones were thrilled to meet Father Christmas in a magical grotto full of snowflakes and sparkling lights. Santa had brought some of his sleigh bells for the children to try, and each child came home with a special gift.
Out in the foyer, a team of hard-working volunteers served glittery mince pies, stollen, mulled wine, tea and coffee - a welcome treat for foot-sore shoppers.
Musical entertainment was provided by the Monmouth School Brass Band who braved the cold to play outside the theatre, and by the Grange and Inglefield House choirs, who sang carols from the balcony inside. They were rewarded with a walkabout by Father Christmas who appeared, as if by magic, with chocolate lollipops for all of the singers.
Huge thanks to everyone who helped with organising the event - especially Sarah Merriam Pierce and Ann Nixon - and to the local shops and businesses (below) who generously provided raffle prizes:
FOMS donations
We were delighted to be able to grant a number of funding requests at our most recent committee meeting.
The first was a substantial contribution towards the building of a computer by A-level Computing students to enable Monmouth School to participate in the Folding@home project: an international, award-winning, charitable research project run by the University of Stanford to explore cures for degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Huntingdon's and many others. The computer will form part of a "super-cluster" of computers processing data that will be sent back to the University.
Our next contribution was towards the purchase of three digital cameras to be used by KS3, GCSE and A-level students as well as during photographic workshops organised as part of the Tenby Art Trips that the school has run for the last two years. As most boys have only experienced "point and shoot" automatic cameras, these cameras will enable them to learn how to use manual functions on a camera, which will give them a better understanding of how a camera works.
Finally, we are contributing to some indoor softball equipment for the school softball team to use in the dark winter months. The team hopes to mount a challenge in the 3rd division in Bristol in the spring; let's hope that the new equipment stands them in good stead.
Forthcoming FOMS events 2012
There's plenty to look forward to in 2012. We are hoping to hold the long-awaited Theatre Supper in the Lent Term: an evening of theatre at the Blake Theatre, produced and performed by parents and staff (who wouldn't pay to see that?), accompanied by a lovely three-course supper. Any enquiries about this event should be directed to Mr. Geraghty at JohnF.Geraghty@monmouthschool.org.
Then in the summer term we are planning an Olympic-themed event to coincide with sports day. Watch this space for further details.
Summer Ball 2011
The Summer Ball held at the end of the summer term was a fantastic success.
Guests were treated to welcome fizz, accompanied by the fabulously talented Will Stokes on the piano. They then moved into the marquee, by now bedecked in black and gold, for a mouth-watering three-course dinner and dancing to the Good Times!
Some guests were lucky enough to win fantastic raffle and auction prizes, and enjoyed the sight of an HMSG pupil modelling one of the auction prizes - an outfit worn by pop superstar and former HMSG pupil, Marina and the Diamonds.
Huge thanks go to all who made it happen, especially Neil Muir and the catering team, Dr. Connors, Mrs. Davy,k Mr. Chowns, Mr. Boiling and all of the maintenance and housekeeping staff busy behind the scenes.
Special thanks also go to the Ball committee who worked exceptionally hard for almost a year to bring you this much-loved event, and to Vince Oliva for being our auctioneer for the night.
We are also grateful to our sponsor, 24-7 Recruitment, and all those who generously donated items for the raffle and auction.
Sue Gibson
We are delighted to present, “A Little of What You Fancy”: the return of the FOMS theatre supper. Taking place on Friday 28th January 2011 at 7 p.m. in the Blake Theatre, it’s a fun evening of theatre produced and performed by parents and staff, with a two course dinner.
Tickets are £20 and can be purchased individually or in tables of 10. Booking forms are available at www.habs-monmouth.org/foms or from Fiona Alderman at Cefn Llwyn, CandwrRoad, Ponthir, Monmouthshire, NP18 1HU.