Page 32 - Handbook for House Staff

Key Events in the Malvern Calendar
House Singing
This is usually the first House event and preparations are usually started in the summer term by the Music Rep. Some Houses audition all new pupils to give them a fair chance of taking part (they might not volunteer so compulsory auditions can be useful as long as they are done sensitively). Organise a small party for the participants afterwards (see House funds). Remember to award merits to those who have taken part.
Remembrance Sunday
This is an extremely important school event. Attendance is compulsory for all. Pupil uniform must be absolutely immaculate and they should all wear poppies – these will be given to the House together with a box for contributions. Make sure pupils have breakfast as they have to stand still for a long time on the terrace in front of St George. Make sure that your charges fully appreciate the significance of the event.
Christmas Supper
This is on the last night of the Autumn term and is a major event. Please make sure that you warn pupils of consequences of poor behaviour. Alcohol should only be provided to Sixth Form and should not exceed Longy limits (i.e. 2 alcoholic drinks for L6th and
3 alcoholic drinks for U6th with at least 30 minute gap between drinks). Lower School are not allowed to have any alcohol. Tutors should be briefed to make sure that alcohol is tightly controlled. Each year group will produce a skit (and the staff often do as well). You should check the skits in advance to make sure that they do not offend anyone. Often skits end up on YouTube so controlling the content is important. The Christmas supper evening involves Chapel (please make sure that everyone attends and that pupils are appropriately addressed – boys often wear black tie and girls party dresses – these should not be outrageously short, etc). After Chapel, everyone returns to the House, Sixth Form have drinks and canapés on the private side with HouseM, Deputy HouseM, tutors and assistants. This can be a very difficult evening (high spirits, letting off steam, needing tight supervision) and is certainly entirely House focused so it is unlikely to be a good evening for partners of tutors etc. Make sure someone is going round the boarding House as this is a prime time to indulge in inappropriate behaviour. The HouseM will need to do a speech, as will your Head of House. Some Houses have skits during the meal, some afterwards. The House must be alarmed. Keep checking what is going on around the House. Pupils are not allowed out of the House at all so you can alarm the House as soon as they come back from Chapel if you wish. Day pupils are encouraged to stay over on the Christmas supper night.
The next day is House clearing – please make sure that pupils have done this properly. Preparations, such as getting trunks out, usually start several days in advance. Work with the Assistants in terms of locking up, shutting windows etc. You must make sure that every pupil has left and that arrangements are in place to the satisfaction of the Assistants before you escape. Any possessions left behind must be in a locked space for insurance purposes.
House Drama
The House Drama Rep should have been working on this for sometime before the Lent Term. Keep an eye on proceedings – the play will be checked by the Director of Drama and anything inappropriate will be removed but it is much better to avoid this in the first place. Prepare a post-production party (pizza!) and remember to award merits.
Leavers’ Supper
Make sure that this in the diary early so that you can secure the night you would prefer. Liaise with Deputy Head Curriculum about the Calendar. Some Houses prefer to leave this supper until the Summer term. Decide the dress code (usually black tie) and get the invitations out early. Invite Leavers’ tutors and House tutors. Organise catering with the Assistants. As HouseM, you will need to give a speech. Some Houses present a small gift either to all Leavers or to HOH and Deputies.
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