Berkhamsted School students have been busy.
Its Amnesty Youth Group set up a fundraising Zumba work out for staff, students and parents at its Deans Hall site.
Member Arianna Albayati, from Year 11, said: “Our Zumba night was a great way to raise some money for Amnesty.
“We all had so much fun, and there is nothing more amusing than watching your teachers get their Zumba on.”
The Friday night event at the end of last month raised £240 for Amnesty International.
Two days later, the school’s ski team took part in the Eastern Region Snowsports Association (ERSA) Schools Ski Championships at the Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City.
The Berkhamsted Prep skiers excelled, with the Under 10 girls finishing in first place and the Under 12 boys coming second in their respective categories.
School ski team leader Frances Garratt said: “Despite the fact that for many of the pupils it was their first time skiing on artificial slopes, the skiers performed exceptionally well.
“I was very proud of them all and we had a great day.”
The creator of Inspector Morse visited the school to give a lecture to its sixth-form students, their parents and the public at the end of last month.
The speech by crime writer Colin Dexter was part of the independent school’s lecture programme, which each year includes a high-profile personality.
Headmaster of Berkhamsted Sixth, Jeremy Walker said: “We really value giving our students a broad experience.
“Colin Dexter is such an engaging raconteur and it was great for our students to hear his experience of writing and transforming the novels from the page to the screen.”
He was awarded a Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement in 1997 by the Crime Writers’ Association and given an OBE by the Queen for services to literature in 2000.
Sixth Form student Naomi Pyburn said: “It was a privilege to gain some insight into a highly respected and credited writer’s life and work.”
Lynne Copp, winner of the Brit Writers’ Award for Non-Fiction in 2011 for her book ‘Dancing ‘Round the Handbags’, visited Berkhamsted School Kings Campus last month.
She was joined by lecturer, chartered psychologist and author Dr Lynda Shaw. They spoke to girls from Year 9 to 13 on ‘The Future of Work for Women’.
A careers fair was held at the school’s Castle Street campus on Thursday evening.
Representatives from 47 universities and colleges and professionals including those from industry and commerce were there to give advice to students from schools across the area.
There was also a gap year fair, hosted by the Independent Schools Careers Organisation (ISCO), to give advice to Year 13 students who want to take a year out before university.
The school has also announced that Gavin Laws will become its chairman of governors from September 1, 2012.
He will replace Peter Williamson, who is standing down this summer after 17 years in the role to become chairman of the Independent Schools Inspectorate.