insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 09 - November 2015 | Page 89

EDUCATION CHARITY ‘DAHILCIOUS DRESS UP DAY’ IN BURGESS HILL The Junior School at Burgess Hill Girls was taken over by a whole host of mischief-making Mr and Mrs Twits, Oompa-Loompas and Matildas in September. This was all part of The Dahlicious Dress Up Day, when the girls came to school dressed as their favourite Roald Dahl character. It was a wonderfully fun day and provided a creative way to raise money for Roald Dahl’s Marvelous-Children’s Charity. The Roald Dahl’s Marvelous Children’s Charity exists to make life better for seriously ill children and young people around the UK. By donating money the girls helped to raise funds for specialist children’s nurses and much needed support for families caring for a seriously ill child, and it was very easy to get involved—the girls simply chose a character, created a costume, dressed up as one of Roald Dahl’s fantastic characters and made a donation for the excitement and pleasure of doing this. The parents all thoroughly enjoyed watching the school get involved in this event and one commented: “I thought the whole Junior School including the teachers looked fantastic and I was completely taken aback when I walked in to see the Fantastic Mr Fox running assembly and a whole room full of Oompa-Loompas, Matildas and Willy Wonkas.” BEHIND THE GATES… BUCKSWOOD WELCOMES MANY NEW FAMILIES TO FIRST OPEN DAY OF THE YEAR The gates of Buckswood School between Hastings and Rye, were thrown open for the first Open Day of the year in October. Over 70 people visited the campus to find out about the school having seen the news about all the latest developments to the quirky campus including a woodland activity centre where the students shoot zombies for field archery practice, new sports fields and the laying of the foundations for a new Great Hall. Greeted by the school bagpipe master and prefects dressed to the nines in their gowns, visitors got the opportunity to tour the campus and see both the Junior Football Academy in association with Chelsea Football Club Foundation and the Senior Football Academy in training; the Dressage team in the final throws of their championship training rehearsing manoeuvres on the front field; and meeting the school peacocks and Wisdom the school dog, who always looks forward to meeting new people at Open Days. “Showing people around the school is always fun,” said Robert Ward, prefect age 17. “People are always so surprised at just how much goes on and want to know about things like the vineyard, the green energy we produce and what it’s like learning in an international environment.” The next Open Day at the school is on Saturday 21st November and with places already filling up quickly, now is the time to go and find out why Buckswood has gained the reputation as the ‘Hogwarts of Hastings’. 89