STOP PRESS
The Pelican girls absolutely smashed their virtual distance challenge target of 2334km and actually covered 3280km, raising £660 for the NSPCC and £1660 for RISE.
“ Thank you so much to Pelican House for their fantastic fundraising. It’s hugely appreciated, particularly now when we know how important Childline is to those children who need it. ” Kate Hershkowitz, Supporter Fundraising Manager – East and South East, NSPCC
“ Thank you so much for raising this incredible amount for RISE from a very innovative challenge - this will make a hugely positive difference to our charity, especially in these difficult times. All who took part should be very proud of smashing their target by almost 1000km, which is an awesome achievement ” Freya Killilea-Clark, RISE
Senior school students from across the year groups have been following the school mantra Work hard, do good and engage whilst taking part in house fundraising events from home during the lockdown learning period.
The Martlet girls produced a Lockdown Cookbook – with the front cover design by Year 11 student Poppy – compiled from recipes which they enjoyed making, to raise funds for the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Charitable Funds. They smashed their target of £500 three times over by raising more than £1500 and each person who donated was sent an electronic copy of the cookbook.
“ Thanks to everyone who was involved with the Lockdown Cookbook. It is wonderful to have the support of people like you particularly at this time with staff on the front line working so hard to keep us safe. This great idea has raised a tasty sum! ” Representative from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Charitable Funds
Star Housemaster Mr Jones organised a quiz night for the boys and their families, which raised more than £640 for NHS Charities Together. There was also a ‘do good’ challenge, when the boys were asked to do something good for other people and the winner was Jack L for delivering food packages on his quad bike to the vulnerable people in his community.
The girls of Pelican, under the direction of Housemistress Miss Fielden, are in the final week of their virtual fundraising challenge of walking, running, cycling, riding or swimming from the old Pelican House to John O’Groats and returning to the new Pelican House. This 2344km (1456 miles) ultra marathon is in aid of the NSPCC and RISE – so far £600 has been raised for the NSPCC and £1630 for RISE. Also, eight girls across the year groups have been making face masks for patients of the Agora Fertility Clinic in Brighton.
“ Pelican decided to fundraise for these charities because both protect all who suffer from domestic abuse, which is a particularly important issue during lockdown. National statistics have shown a huge increase in violence with 49% more calls to the national domestic abuse helpline. The NSPCC is a nationwide organisation focusing on children in abusive and violent homes; whilst Rise is a local Brighton-based charity, which focuses on helping all those affected by domestic abuse in Sussex ” Jessie, Pelican's Head Guardian
Wolf girls also opted for a charity walk, run, swim, cycle or ride but they chose the more traditional route from John O’Groats to Lands End, covering 1000km in three days. Fifty students and staff covered 20km each and their target of raising £1000 for Save the Children, which equalled £1 for every kilometre covered, was well and truly beaten, totalling almost £1200 to date.
Not to be outdone, the staff body launched the Hurst Staff Charity Challenge and set themselves an original target of travelling 1000 miles by running, walking, cycling, rowing or swimming to raise £1000 for the Burgess Hill Community Food Bank, which supports local families in need. As the number of miles ramped up swiftly, the target was reassessed and raised to 2000 miles and then again to 4000 miles. More than 60 staff have contributed miles so far, including Rebecca Hughes who put in long hours; Siobhan Naumann for racking up miles in the Channel; Rob Kift, Karen Pattison and Julia Davis who put in some very strong legs; plus stints from Oli Pocknell on skates; Angela Darton on foot and by bike and Claire Gale for a 1000m swim across the channel.
Other house events have included the Star Bake Off when Ed H won the junior prize for Shell and Remove students for his VE day cake and Ollie H took the senior prize for his berry cheesecake. Continuing the theme of cooking, Fleur Masterchef 2020 went live from home kitchens where each contestant had to cook a gourmet three-course meal in under two hours. Mr Mott was the guest judge and he based his awards on presentation, table layout and timing – Phoebe M from Remove was named as the winner for her sophisticated restaurant menu.
Each year group in Pelican took part in a Scavenger Hunt when the girls had to find five items beginning with B, plus a house quiz with seven teams of mixed year groups. Pelican’s Shell also enjoyed a Bake off, judged by Miss Pattison, who named Jemima, Hannah E and Eliza as the winners. During Mental Health Week, Pelican’s Shell and Lower Sixth students wrote kind comments about each person in their year group and Miss Fielden posted the comments home; Remove created word charts of kind comments made by their peers; and the Fifth Formers wrote letters to each other.
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