Newsletter AUTUMN HALF TERM 2016
Headmistress’s
Dear Parents and Guardians This first Half Term has been a very exciting time for me and I have enjoyed the most wonderful welcome from the whole community. The weeks have flown by and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the girls, parents and guardians, and the traditions of our School. The girls have all been equally busy immersing themselves in their learning and actively pursuing their many interests from our vast extra– curricular programme. I have been struck by the sheer range and diversity of the girls’ talents and the generous way in which they give to each other and to the school. Half Term gives us all an opportunity to catch our breath, reflect on achievements, and reinvigorate ourselves for the remainder of the Autumn Term. I wish
you and your daughters a happy and healthy holiday! This year is an important one for MSJ as we celebrate our tenth birthday and all that has been achieved in this first decade, as well as recognising the heritage of our founding schools. On Tuesday 18 October, ten years to the day since our new School was opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, we all came together for a wonderfully joyous afternoon in which the girls displayed their many musical talents. This took the form of a Ships’ music competition, with performances from the critically acclaimed Ministry of Fun woven in. This was a really fantastic way for all of us to celebrate our first ten years, and anticipate an equally successful future. We do music and drama so
well at MSJ, and it is very much part of the history of our founding schools and Malvern itself. Tuesday was no exception, and congratulations to all of the girls in Trenchant who won the Ships’ competition! It was judged by acting talent from the London stage (Mamma Mia!, Chicago and The Woman in Black), along with our own Mrs Fisher, Head of Expressive Arts, so it was a tough bench to impress. All the girls started off the new academic year with team-building for their whole year group, a great opportunity to cement friendships between the girls themselves, and between the girls and staff. But more than anything it was a way to start the term in a fun and positive way, and to build the girls’ confidence. We put a lot of thought and resource into these
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
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Newsletter Headmistress’s
exercises because experience shows that building confidence outside the classroom translates into greater confidence in lessons and learning. The girls learn to rely on each other and to appreciate the advantages and strength of team effort. Whether it was the Year 13s enjoying Crystal Maze-style challenges, Year 9 in Gilwern or Year 12 at Wilderthorpe Residential learning to gut a fish, it has brought a sense of belonging and shared experience to everyone.
questions in class, to probe their understanding further, and to take intellectual risks to become fully engaged and confident learners. This will mean that they won’t always get answers right, and they will make mistakes on the way, but the learning will be all the deeper if they take the time to reflect on this positively, by not fixating on mistakes, but instead by working with our dedicated teachers to learn from it to get the real growth we all want.
Over these past few weeks I have been keen to get to know the girls and have enjoyed teas, lunches and suppers with girls from most year groups as well as many one-on-ones, including those taking their GCSEs this year. I’ve had great fun reading to the Pre-Prep girls, starting with all-time favourite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was treated to a sampling of Prep 2’s home-made ‘scrumdiddlyumptious gobstoppling chocolate bar’, marketed as a means to ‘expand your mind and cause your mouth to explode’. It had an intriguing list of ingredients, including a large dose of chilli, and toothpaste as a palate cleanser! It wasn’t half bad, but I’m not sure it will be taking off in Waitrose any time soon!
Our School life is very full and vibrant. I’ve stood on the sidelines cheering at many of our sports matches, joined in business discussions at the Young Enterprise Dinner, and popped my head in to events as diverse as wine tasting, the Roald Dahl ‘Dahlicious Dress-Up Day’ and Macmillan Coffee Morning. I’ve met parents at many events from the start of term Service and Sunday Lunch, New Parents’ Tea and Parents’ Consultation evenings, to the Pamela Armstrong talk, the Sixth Form Experience, Open Morning and more. I’ve enjoyed each and every one of these, and it has been a pleasure to meet so many of you in such a short space of time.
I’ve been very impressed with our Sixth Form at the Somerville Supper where we enjoyed a stimulating discussion and debate on the various effects and impacts of sugar led by Dr Jones. Our early entry candidates (those applying for Oxbridge and Medical Sciences) also demonstrated their academic prowess in researching topics in areas that they are keen to read at university. The ‘Russell Up’ presentations – a practice platform for university interviews – showed our girls at their intellectual best; engaged, thoughtful and thinking on their feet! We wish Year 13 all the best with their UCAS applications and I would encourage Year 12 girls to get involved with ‘Russell Up’ as part of their preparation for university life.
SCRUMDIDDLYUPMPTIOUS!
2
This term we have been developing a new reporting system which will give you and your daughter an indication of her academic performance so far this half term. This progress update has been uploaded
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
I have met with the Friends of MSJ for several of their events including a Committee meeting, AGM and Golf Dinner, a pleasurable mix of business and social. My sincere thanks go to the Committee and the volunteers who do so much for the School at a number of levels, including fundraising, running the Second Hand Uniform Shop, and organising big events such as the upcoming Christmas Fair. This takes time,
their positivity is also notable. Their dedication is palpable, and we are lucky to benefit from the boarding environment where staff are available 24/7 to support the girls, giving advice on life and learning whenever a girl needs it. The sense of community that I feel here is quite exceptional: the girls are happy and at ease and this shines through in their confidence and openness. One of our most recent events - and a hugely enjoyable one - was the Sixth Form Experience, which brought the Year 11s together for a day of A Level taster lessons, informal Q&As, and mini-presentations from current Sixth Formers on enrichment activities such as Young Enterprise, The Gambia, Leiths and Model United Nations. It also gave the Sixth Form Team, led by Mrs Kingshott and Miss Van Ravenstein, a chance to offer practical advice on options and university / careers pathways and the Sixth Form boarding experience. It was a great day, rounded off with a candlelit supper in York Hall where our Guest Speaker was Robyn Annetts, an Old Girl (2013 Leaver) who spoke about studying Law at Warwick and forging a career with a top City law firm. She reminded the girls about seizing opportunities, loving what you do, buckling down to hard work but having fun too, and appreciating the empowering influence of an all-girls environment.
DAHLICIOUS DRESS-UP DAY onto Parent Portal for Years 7-13 where you will be able to view your daughter’s grades. You can read more about this and what the grade indicators mean from Mrs Hewitt’s letter which you will already have received. We hope you will find this helpful and welcome feedback from parents as we develop further our tracking and monitoring systems of pupil progress. Further to the parent consultations which have taken place for Years R-4 already, and will take place for Years 5 and 6 after Half Term, the Prep Department will receive pastoral reports at the end of this term, which will include a progress update as detailed above. At MSJ, we are keen to encourage a growth mind-set and I firmly believe that all girls with encouragement and the right support can build on their current achievements to make sustained progress. Extensive research by Professor Carol Dweck of Stanford University has pointed to the fact that the best achievers are those who are not preoccupied with perfection, but can make mistakes and learn from them, and see this as all part of the learning journey. I am very keen for our girls to ask
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING dedication and enthusiasm, all of which benefits the girls and our environment. I’ve also met the Old Girls’ Association at their Committee meeting and Patrons’ and Honorary Vice Presidents’ lunch. Through all of this, I have been struck by just how much happens at MSJ, thanks to our incredibly motivated girls and the commitment of our staff and parents. The School exudes ambition, energy and a sense of going the extra mile. The girls are busy working hard, but also developing their extracurricular interests and having fun. The quality of staff and
SIXTH FORM EXPERIENCE WITH ROBYN ANNETTS
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
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Newsletter Headmistress’s
exercises because experience shows that building confidence outside the classroom translates into greater confidence in lessons and learning. The girls learn to rely on each other and to appreciate the advantages and strength of team effort. Whether it was the Year 13s enjoying Crystal Maze-style challenges, Year 9 in Gilwern or Year 12 at Wilderthorpe Residential learning to gut a fish, it has brought a sense of belonging and shared experience to everyone.
questions in class, to probe their understanding further, and to take intellectual risks to become fully engaged and confident learners. This will mean that they won’t always get answers right, and they will make mistakes on the way, but the learning will be all the deeper if they take the time to reflect on this positively, by not fixating on mistakes, but instead by working with our dedicated teachers to learn from it to get the real growth we all want.
Over these past few weeks I have been keen to get to know the girls and have enjoyed teas, lunches and suppers with girls from most year groups as well as many one-on-ones, including those taking their GCSEs this year. I’ve had great fun reading to the Pre-Prep girls, starting with all-time favourite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was treated to a sampling of Prep 2’s home-made ‘scrumdiddlyumptious gobstoppling chocolate bar’, marketed as a means to ‘expand your mind and cause your mouth to explode’. It had an intriguing list of ingredients, including a large dose of chilli, and toothpaste as a palate cleanser! It wasn’t half bad, but I’m not sure it will be taking off in Waitrose any time soon!
Our School life is very full and vibrant. I’ve stood on the sidelines cheering at many of our sports matches, joined in business discussions at the Young Enterprise Dinner, and popped my head in to events as diverse as wine tasting, the Roald Dahl ‘Dahlicious Dress-Up Day’ and Macmillan Coffee Morning. I’ve met parents at many events from the start of term Service and Sunday Lunch, New Parents’ Tea and Parents’ Consultation evenings, to the Pamela Armstrong talk, the Sixth Form Experience, Open Morning and more. I’ve enjoyed each and every one of these, and it has been a pleasure to meet so many of you in such a short space of time.
I’ve been very impressed with our Sixth Form at the Somerville Supper where we enjoyed a stimulating discussion and debate on the various effects and impacts of sugar led by Dr Jones. Our early entry candidates (those applying for Oxbridge and Medical Sciences) also demonstrated their academic prowess in researching topics in areas that they are keen to read at university. The ‘Russell Up’ presentations – a practice platform for university interviews – showed our girls at their intellectual best; engaged, thoughtful and thinking on their feet! We wish Year 13 all the best with their UCAS applications and I would encourage Year 12 girls to get involved with ‘Russell Up’ as part of their preparation for university life.
SCRUMDIDDLYUPMPTIOUS!
2
This term we have been developing a new reporting system which will give you and your daughter an indication of her academic performance so far this half term. This progress update has been uploaded
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
I have met with the Friends of MSJ for several of their events including a Committee meeting, AGM and Golf Dinner, a pleasurable mix of business and social. My sincere thanks go to the Committee and the volunteers who do so much for the School at a number of levels, including fundraising, running the Second Hand Uniform Shop, and organising big events such as the upcoming Christmas Fair. This takes time,
their positivity is also notable. Their dedication is palpable, and we are lucky to benefit from the boarding environment where staff are available 24/7 to support the girls, giving advice on life and learning whenever a girl needs it. The sense of community that I feel here is quite exceptional: the girls are happy and at ease and this shines through in their confidence and openness. One of our most recent events - and a hugely enjoyable one - was the Sixth Form Experience, which brought the Year 11s together for a day of A Level taster lessons, informal Q&As, and mini-presentations from current Sixth Formers on enrichment activities such as Young Enterprise, The Gambia, Leiths and Model United Nations. It also gave the Sixth Form Team, led by Mrs Kingshott and Miss Van Ravenstein, a chance to offer practical advice on options and university / careers pathways and the Sixth Form boarding experience. It was a great day, rounded off with a candlelit supper in York Hall where our Guest Speaker was Robyn Annetts, an Old Girl (2013 Leaver) who spoke about studying Law at Warwick and forging a career with a top City law firm. She reminded the girls about seizing opportunities, loving what you do, buckling down to hard work but having fun too, and appreciating the empowering influence of an all-girls environment.
DAHLICIOUS DRESS-UP DAY onto Parent Portal for Years 7-13 where you will be able to view your daughter’s grades. You can read more about this and what the grade indicators mean from Mrs Hewitt’s letter which you will already have received. We hope you will find this helpful and welcome feedback from parents as we develop further our tracking and monitoring systems of pupil progress. Further to the parent consultations which have taken place for Years R-4 already, and will take place for Years 5 and 6 after Half Term, the Prep Department will receive pastoral reports at the end of this term, which will include a progress update as detailed above. At MSJ, we are keen to encourage a growth mind-set and I firmly believe that all girls with encouragement and the right support can build on their current achievements to make sustained progress. Extensive research by Professor Carol Dweck of Stanford University has pointed to the fact that the best achievers are those who are not preoccupied with perfection, but can make mistakes and learn from them, and see this as all part of the learning journey. I am very keen for our girls to ask
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING dedication and enthusiasm, all of which benefits the girls and our environment. I’ve also met the Old Girls’ Association at their Committee meeting and Patrons’ and Honorary Vice Presidents’ lunch. Through all of this, I have been struck by just how much happens at MSJ, thanks to our incredibly motivated girls and the commitment of our staff and parents. The School exudes ambition, energy and a sense of going the extra mile. The girls are busy working hard, but also developing their extracurricular interests and having fun. The quality of staff and
SIXTH FORM EXPERIENCE WITH ROBYN ANNETTS
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
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Newsletter Headmistress’s
end of the afternoon, five children had the opportunity to ask questions of the Archbishop and one of the pupils was Emily-Rose who asked the probing question, “As an Archbishop, what do you do?” Justin Welby answered with great wisdom and humour. Emily-Rose was delighted: this was a special experience for her 11th birthday.
PREP IN BATH Lucinda Hobden, one of our Cambridge applicants, has already won a prize in Trinity Hall’s prestigious Peter Lawrence essay writing competition. Lucinda has previously won the Christopher Marlowe prize from Corpus Christi, both excellent achievements to have under her belt. Flora Barber has been recalled by the BBC, who last year awarded her their BBC Hereford & Worcester Poetry prize. This time, Flora was interviewed (by MSJ Old Girl Alice Porter) for National Poetry Day and trailed the poem written for the occasion by local Poet Laureate, Heather Wastie. BBC Radio also interviewed several of our Duke of Edinburgh girls last term to talk about what the scheme involved, and we have just heard that one of those girls, Nadia Ahmad Rizlan, has completed her Gold Award, along with another Old Girl, Katie Barnes. Now they will have the honour of visiting St James’s Palace to receive their certificates. These sorts of
4
achievements say a lot about who these girls are, and exemplify what MSJ is about. There have been many academic trips taking place. Prep went to Bath to support their study of Regency Britain, whilst Biologists have just completed their fieldwork in Nettlecombe, Somerset and Geographers in Slapton, Devon. A group of Year 10s enjoyed a day at the Houses of Parliament with Harriett Baldwin, our West Worcestershire MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence. The girls had a Q&A with Harriett, watched the Houses in action, and toured the building. They all agreed it was a fascinating glimpse into the UK’s seat of democracy. Sixth Form Classicists visited Dean Close for a Lecture on 5th Century Athens. Duke of Edinburgh girls have been practising for Bronze
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
Award. Year 7 has visited the Malvern Festival of Innovation to hear Oxford University’s eminent Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy talk about his academic work. Sixth Form Mathematicians went to Birmingham University for the London Mathematical Society’s Popular Lectures. Also in Birmingham, our GCSE and A Level Drama students went to see The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips at Birmingham Rep. A Level Product Design students headed west to Cardiff for the WJEC examination board’s Exhibition and Subject Talks, and Year 13 Business and Economic students visited Jaguar Land Rover for some hands-on business experience. Three MSJ Year 6 pupils - Isobel Advani, Emily Martell and EmilyRose Noble - went to Worcester Cathedral to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on a special schools’ visit day. At the
In School, all year groups participated in European Day of Languages on 26 September and Biology Week in October. The former was a European initiative aimed at promoting the linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school. We had a whole school assembly when Sixth Formers and Language students were able to share their thoughts, feelings and experience of learning languages and girls took part in a short quiz. The YEAR 10 AT WESTMINSTER assembly clearly demonstrated that both Modern Foreign Languages staff and students feel that languages are really important in today’s world and essential for students in the current global job market. Here at MSJ we offer French, German, Mandarin and Spanish as well as a range of extra-curricular languages including Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Sign Language and Thai. Biolog y Week involved a Biolog y Workshop, two Biolog y-based Ships’ Quizzes in association with the Royal Society of Biolog y, and a ‘Biolog y Movie Night’
which featured the film Antz. The workshops looked at fun questions and answers such as ‘Can we cook an egg without heat?’ and ‘Can our senses be deceived?’; and trying to work out where the smallest bone in our body (at just 2.8mm) is located! Well done to all the girls who took part, particularly Angela Lui, Genevieve Phillips and Eleanor Rees who took first place in the Senior Team quiz. Expressive Arts has had a busy half term. Music scholars started the year with a special lunch to cement friendships and working relationships with students from Years 7 - 13. A few weeks on, MSJ’s senior musicians gave virtuoso performances at Eine Kleine Nachtmusik held at Elmslie House. This was an evocative evening of music including Mozart, Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, for a paying public audience. They have also rekindled the Choral Society with Malvern College which will culminate in a performance of Mozart Requiem in March. We have been treated to our first Young Performers’ Platform of this academic year which was a superb combination of talents, and the girls have been to Malvern Concert Club, set up originally by Sir Edward Elgar, to hear the Chiaroscuro Quartet. The girls have been to Hereford Courtyard Theatre to the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival Workshop. Sixth Form artists have done a London galleries trip; and a core of girls are busily rehearsing for Grease which will be the school production this December.
EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK We have had some great guests this term. Prep’s Years 5 and 6 enjoyed award-winning comedian and writer David O’Doherty’s reading from his new book Danger Really is Everywhere: School of Danger. David can often be seen on shows such as Have I Got News for You? and QI. The girls and visiting school children were rapt. The Sixth Form enjoyed a talk by Pamela Armstrong, formerly a broadcast journalist with ITN, who turned her focus to women in the media and how they are represented. We have had Paralympian
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
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Newsletter Headmistress’s
end of the afternoon, five children had the opportunity to ask questions of the Archbishop and one of the pupils was Emily-Rose who asked the probing question, “As an Archbishop, what do you do?” Justin Welby answered with great wisdom and humour. Emily-Rose was delighted: this was a special experience for her 11th birthday.
PREP IN BATH Lucinda Hobden, one of our Cambridge applicants, has already won a prize in Trinity Hall’s prestigious Peter Lawrence essay writing competition. Lucinda has previously won the Christopher Marlowe prize from Corpus Christi, both excellent achievements to have under her belt. Flora Barber has been recalled by the BBC, who last year awarded her their BBC Hereford & Worcester Poetry prize. This time, Flora was interviewed (by MSJ Old Girl Alice Porter) for National Poetry Day and trailed the poem written for the occasion by local Poet Laureate, Heather Wastie. BBC Radio also interviewed several of our Duke of Edinburgh girls last term to talk about what the scheme involved, and we have just heard that one of those girls, Nadia Ahmad Rizlan, has completed her Gold Award, along with another Old Girl, Katie Barnes. Now they will have the honour of visiting St James’s Palace to receive their certificates. These sorts of
4
achievements say a lot about who these girls are, and exemplify what MSJ is about. There have been many academic trips taking place. Prep went to Bath to support their study of Regency Britain, whilst Biologists have just completed their fieldwork in Nettlecombe, Somerset and Geographers in Slapton, Devon. A group of Year 10s enjoyed a day at the Houses of Parliament with Harriett Baldwin, our West Worcestershire MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence. The girls had a Q&A with Harriett, watched the Houses in action, and toured the building. They all agreed it was a fascinating glimpse into the UK’s seat of democracy. Sixth Form Classicists visited Dean Close for a Lecture on 5th Century Athens. Duke of Edinburgh girls have been practising for Bronze
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
Award. Year 7 has visited the Malvern Festival of Innovation to hear Oxford University’s eminent Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy talk about his academic work. Sixth Form Mathematicians went to Birmingham University for the London Mathematical Society’s Popular Lectures. Also in Birmingham, our GCSE and A Level Drama students went to see The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips at Birmingham Rep. A Level Product Design students headed west to Cardiff for the WJEC examination board’s Exhibition and Subject Talks, and Year 13 Business and Economic students visited Jaguar Land Rover for some hands-on business experience. Three MSJ Year 6 pupils - Isobel Advani, Emily Martell and EmilyRose Noble - went to Worcester Cathedral to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on a special schools’ visit day. At the
In School, all year groups participated in European Day of Languages on 26 September and Biology Week in October. The former was a European initiative aimed at promoting the linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school. We had a whole school assembly when Sixth Formers and Language students were able to share their thoughts, feelings and experience of learning languages and girls took part in a short quiz. The YEAR 10 AT WESTMINSTER assembly clearly demonstrated that both Modern Foreign Languages staff and students feel that languages are really important in today’s world and essential for students in the current global job market. Here at MSJ we offer French, German, Mandarin and Spanish as well as a range of extra-curricular languages including Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Sign Language and Thai. Biolog y Week involved a Biolog y Workshop, two Biolog y-based Ships’ Quizzes in association with the Royal Society of Biolog y, and a ‘Biolog y Movie Night’
which featured the film Antz. The workshops looked at fun questions and answers such as ‘Can we cook an egg without heat?’ and ‘Can our senses be deceived?’; and trying to work out where the smallest bone in our body (at just 2.8mm) is located! Well done to all the girls who took part, particularly Angela Lui, Genevieve Phillips and Eleanor Rees who took first place in the Senior Team quiz. Expressive Arts has had a busy half term. Music scholars started the year with a special lunch to cement friendships and working relationships with students from Years 7 - 13. A few weeks on, MSJ’s senior musicians gave virtuoso performances at Eine Kleine Nachtmusik held at Elmslie House. This was an evocative evening of music including Mozart, Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, for a paying public audience. They have also rekindled the Choral Society with Malvern College which will culminate in a performance of Mozart Requiem in March. We have been treated to our first Young Performers’ Platform of this academic year which was a superb combination of talents, and the girls have been to Malvern Concert Club, set up originally by Sir Edward Elgar, to hear the Chiaroscuro Quartet. The girls have been to Hereford Courtyard Theatre to the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival Workshop. Sixth Form artists have done a London galleries trip; and a core of girls are busily rehearsing for Grease which will be the school production this December.
EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK We have had some great guests this term. Prep’s Years 5 and 6 enjoyed award-winning comedian and writer David O’Doherty’s reading from his new book Danger Really is Everywhere: School of Danger. David can often be seen on shows such as Have I Got News for You? and QI. The girls and visiting school children were rapt. The Sixth Form enjoyed a talk by Pamela Armstrong, formerly a broadcast journalist with ITN, who turned her focus to women in the media and how they are represented. We have had Paralympian
Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
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Newsletter Headmistress’s
Half Term; and for the NSEA Championship Plate in Bedford in December. Genevieve Manning achieved an individual placing for the Championship Plate, coming fourth in a field of 98 riders.
U11 FOOTBALL K ATIE GUTHRIE
LOTTIE TREVETHAN WITH PENTATHLETE JAMIE COOKE
Megan Giglia to talk to our Sports scholars, as well as allowing them to admire her Gold medal from Rio. We have also welcomed Dr Steve Collins, an Engineer from Oxford University who talked about admissions for this course. Sport has got off to a strong start. Joint Head Girl Lucy Walton will be training with the England hockey squad this Half Term with the aim of selection to the U18s. She has also just recently come sixth in the U21 Faldo Grand Final golf event against competitors from all over the world and is champion of the Worcestershire & Herefordshire Ladies’ County Junior Golf. Charlotte Harmer is on the England HiPAC U15 programme. Katie Jeynes-Cupper (main pic) is playing with the England U19 Lacrosse squad, and went on tour to the US with them this Summer. Katie Guthrie has been selected for her age group for England Rounders and Ibble Watson for the England Alpine Squad. Lottie Trevethan took silver at Pentathlon GB in the U15 category and MSJ’s U11 footballers competed in the first ISA Girls’ Football Festival, where they played superbly.
ALICE BOND, SKI TEAM
MSJ’s ski team (Alice Bond, Isobel Advani, Jemima Green and Martha Bond) took part in the British Independent Schools Ski Race at the indoor slope at Hemel Hempstead, competing against 350 skiers from schools all over the UK. The team secured second place in the junior team competition, and Alice Bond (Year 2) finished second in the Under 8 British School Girls. The MSJ riders have been busy and successful too. Eve Hobbs, Izzy Lee, Jess Morris, Genevieve Manning, Tiggy Manning, Hattie Gill, Ginny Wood and Millie Pope have competed at Stonar and at Hartpury. They qualified for the Addington Championships this
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Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
LUCY WALTON WITH NICK FALDO
Newsletter Headmistress’s
Half Term; and for the NSEA Championship Plate in Bedford in December. Genevieve Manning achieved an individual placing for the Championship Plate, coming fourth in a field of 98 riders.
U11 FOOTBALL K ATIE GUTHRIE
LOTTIE TREVETHAN WITH PENTATHLETE JAMIE COOKE
Megan Giglia to talk to our Sports scholars, as well as allowing them to admire her Gold medal from Rio. We have also welcomed Dr Steve Collins, an Engineer from Oxford University who talked about admissions for this course. Sport has got off to a strong start. Joint Head Girl Lucy Walton will be training with the England hockey squad this Half Term with the aim of selection to the U18s. She has also just recently come sixth in the U21 Faldo Grand Final golf event against competitors from all over the world and is champion of the Worcestershire & Herefordshire Ladies’ County Junior Golf. Charlotte Harmer is on the England HiPAC U15 programme. Katie Jeynes-Cupper (main pic) is playing with the England U19 Lacrosse squad, and went on tour to the US with them this Summer. Katie Guthrie has been selected for her age group for England Rounders and Ibble Watson for the England Alpine Squad. Lottie Trevethan took silver at Pentathlon GB in the U15 category and MSJ’s U11 footballers competed in the first ISA Girls’ Football Festival, where they played superbly.
ALICE BOND, SKI TEAM
MSJ’s ski team (Alice Bond, Isobel Advani, Jemima Green and Martha Bond) took part in the British Independent Schools Ski Race at the indoor slope at Hemel Hempstead, competing against 350 skiers from schools all over the UK. The team secured second place in the junior team competition, and Alice Bond (Year 2) finished second in the Under 8 British School Girls. The MSJ riders have been busy and successful too. Eve Hobbs, Izzy Lee, Jess Morris, Genevieve Manning, Tiggy Manning, Hattie Gill, Ginny Wood and Millie Pope have competed at Stonar and at Hartpury. They qualified for the Addington Championships this
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Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016
LUCY WALTON WITH NICK FALDO
I’ve noticed a strong sense of giving back in the MSJ community, and this goes hand in hand with the many charity projects that I see in action. As a School, we have an aim to raise £10,000 for Malvern Special Families in this, our tenth, year. It is an ambitious aim, but already we have money in the pot and there is much planning amongst the girls as to how to add to this over the coming months. We have chosen Malvern Special Families because it is a local charity which does superb work helping disabled children and young people, and because a strong association already exists between us. Girls host an annual party for Malvern Special Families which is a favourite on both organisations’ calendars.
ever y g irl in a newsletter like this. I hope, over the course of each academic year, to showcase as much as possible. So this is just the beg inning… After Half Term we pick up again with a full calendar of activities. We have Old Girl Caroline Lucas MP coming to talk, Prep are going to Bristol, Year 13 have a Physics Lecture on Rosetta, there is an Artists’ Print Workshop, the annual Model United Nations Conference will be held here at MSJ for the second year running, and two History Lectures will take place in Birmingham. I’m looking forward to my first Friends of MSJ Christmas Fair which takes place on Friday 11 November. Please bring your friends and family to stock up on Christmas goodies. Going out with this newsletter is also an important leaflet which gives you inspection information about the School and our key policies that you may want to know about. These are available for you to read on our website and are also available in hard copy on request. Please read this leaflet carefully.
WEAR IT PINK! FOR BREAST CANCER NOW
In addition to this, the girls hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning which raised over £600 for this UK cancer charity, we’ve had a cake sale in aid of the United Nations Refugee Agency, non-uniform day in aid of Breast Cancer Now, and Guide Dogs came in recently to present a fun but meaningful Assembly on how we can recognise and meet the needs of others. We’ve had lots of fun too with socials with Cothill School and reeling at Eton College, and a Wine Society supper and presentation with Malvern College, a shopping trip to London, visits to West Midlands Safari Park, Alton Towers, and the Blackwell Adventure Centre. I am proud of the fact that so much is being achieved at MSJ in ever y par t of the school . The only downside is that it means that I cannot cover ever y event and
Finally, I would like to thank the parents who have already completed the ISC Parent Survey, and would like to remind those of you who have not yet managed to do so that you still have time. I would be very grateful if you could fill in online which is available until 30 October. CLICK HERE The survey is designed to help our School and others in the sector understand parents’ decision making process when choosing a school for their daughter. A letter with full details was sent last week, and can be found on Parent Portal. Please note that the survey cannot be completed via smartphone or tablet: it must be done on a laptop or personal computer. With very best wishes for a wonderful holiday
MRS OLIVER A R AR AT Y, HEADMISTRESS
THE GOING GETS TOUGH AT YEAR 9’S TEAMBUILDING EVENT IN GILWERN. STILL SMILING THOUGH!
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Headmistress’s Newsletter AUTUMN 2016