Welcome to Sherborne Girls (International Pupils)

WELCOME TO SHERBORNE GIRLS

The International Community of Sherborne Girls warmly welcomes you to the School. I hope that these letters from some of our international students offer helpful advice and give you an insight into some of the international events that happen throughout the school year.

Ms Samantha Aristotelous and Dr Lukasz Lukasiewicz

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Welcome to Sherborne Girls This may not only be your first experience of living in Britain far away from home, but also studying at a boarding school and having all your subjects taught in English. You have probably prepared yourself by talking to others who have had these experiences but it is quite natural that you will still be feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

First, you may have heard people at home talk about how many rainy days we have in Britain. In fact, the weather is something the British like to talk and complain about too! You may miss a warmer climate at first. Be prepared, however, for the possibility of fun in the snow this winter and warm summer afternoons spent doing outdoor activities on the wonderful school grounds.

The food is something else you may have heard people talk about, especially all the potatoes the British eat! It may be quite different from your own cuisine but be adventurous and try something new. You’ll be surprised how many different ways we can cook potatoes and you’ll love all the sticky puddings we have with every meal!

Finally, listening to and speaking English all day may be tiring in the beginning and you may miss the sound of your own language. Also, the English you hear may seem different to the English you have been used to in your English lessons in your country. This may be because the girls use colloquial expressions and speak faster, especially when they are excited! Please politely ask us to repeat what we’ve said. We are very understanding, especially as we realise we will probably never master a second language like you have done already.

While you are probably keen to find out about life in Sherborne, the girls here will be equally excited to meet you and hear about where you are from. We are an extremely close community and everyone will want to help you settle in as quickly as possible. So, come and talk to us, the students, the teachers and house staff, whenever you want.

Ms Samantha Aristotelous Head of English as an Additional Language 1

At Sherborne Girls we are all one, international community – welcome!

If somebody asked me to summarise last year - my first year at Sherborne Girls - I would say that it was a fantastically enriching experience for me. Within a few months of arriving, I felt that it was my new home, especially as I live in one of the houses. I hope that you will be able to say the same very soon too.

It is often said that everyone is unique and very special. We all know that!

However, here we truly value this individualism. Every single student at SG brings their own experience, traditions, habits, tastes, viewpoints, language and culture. Here, in our school we take all of these ingredients and each year combine them to make a new dish; each year is different and brings new events as well as celebrating successful recipes from the previous year. In 2022-2023 our international students enjoyed many events such as the International Christmas Party, Chinese New Year, International Women’s Day, a Joint School International Quiz and, last but not least, each year we celebrate Languages Week.

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So this is our school international culture: to embrace diversity and enjoy the community. I will finish with a task for you – live here for a month and then tell me whether I am right when I say that only by living abroad do you fully appreciate your own culture, which for me is like air – you breathe in your home country’s culture without realising it and when you change your air, you feel the different air. What is so beautiful is that each and every single one of you brings a bit of fresh air from your home and together we make Sherborne Girls our international home.

Dr Lukasz Lukasiewicz International Coordinator

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Letter from Cora in U6 Hello!

My name is Cora, and I am one of your international prefects this year. I am so excited to get to get to know you all and hope that you’re feeling ready to start at Sherborne Girls. I love learning about new cultures and meeting people from across the world and I can’t wait to chat to you all. I am also really looking forward to organising lots of fun international events to make you feel more at home.

A little bit about me. I was born and still live in Kenya so when I first joined Sherborne it was a bit of a shock moving and boarding half way across the world. To start with I felt really lost and very different but it didn’t take long

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for me to settle in and make the most amazing lifelong friends.

I know it may feel scary when you first get here but there are so many people to support you, and my advice would be to reach out whenever you’re feeling even slightly homesick or sad. I am always available to offer any support you need and would love if you ever wanted to come over to Mulliner for a chat or wanted to send me an email or a Teams message to meet in Queenie’s (school coffee shop!). I am currently studying Maths, Chemistry and Geography A-Level so please feel free to ask me about those too.

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Boarding school can be very daunting and I’m sure you may be feeling a little nervous but I promise you will settle in very quickly. Sherborne is such a homely and welcoming environment and I encourage you to throw yourself into every opportunity you have and just be yourself. Everyone you see was once new or is new like you and the Sherborne Girls community is so supportive so, please just make sure you talk to your tutor, friends, teachers or me if you are struggling!

It’s good to be a little bit scared when starting somewhere new! I really know how hard it can be being away from home and your family and the place

you feel comfortable so I hope that we can do as much as possible to make you feel at home. We all know how big of a change it can be and will always be here to listen and talk to you. Bring lots of photos and things to decorate your room with so it can feel more like your second home, which it will in no time!

Hope you all have a lovely rest of your summer holidays and I (and all the international team) look forward to meeting you.

Here is my email: 17BarclayCor@sherborne.com And for Teams just search up Cora Barclay!

Love Cora Barclay xx

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Letter from Ashley in U6 Hi everyone - Welcome to Sherborne Girls!

I’m Ashley, one of your international prefects this year, it’s really nice to welcome you all!

I am from Hong Kong and joined SG in the Lower Sixth and have felt so at home ever since. I still remember my first day vividly, because joining a new boarding school can be quite daunting, especially if it is your first time! But I want to reassure you that you’ll have an amazing time with incredible experiences, building lifelong friendship and memories. All the students and teachers are so friendly, approachable and supportive.

As this was my first time at a boarding school and being away from home, I know exactly how it feels to be anxious - but please don't worry at all, I'm sure you will settle down soon and have such a memorable and exciting time, filled with new opportunities! Our boarding houses really do feel like a home away from home. Please remember that feeling homesick or overwhelmed is completely normal, especially when you are in a new country! So don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to a member of staff, myself, or the other prefects in times of worry.

My A levels are Business, Sociology, Chinese and EPQ, so feel free to ask me any questions about these subjects. My extra curricular include Madrigals Society, Senior Choir, Debating Society & Leiths, so I am always available if you have any questions!

I look forward to meeting, chatting, and getting to know you all. I hope you’ll have an amazing new chapter here at SG! Love Ashley Wong :) 7

Letter from Valentina in U6 Hi all!

My name is Valentina, and along with Cora and Ashley, we are your international prefects. We are here to make being away from home easier and help you share your culture through various international events. If you have a celebration or tradition to share, please reach out!

I was born in Germany, raised in Canada, and only came to Sherborne last year in L6. I have a lot of experience living abroad and love learning about different cultures! I am studying Biology, Chemistry, and Classical Civilisations A-level.

Starting a new school in a different country can be daunting; I was pretty nervous before I started. Quickly you will see there is no need to worry!

Students, teachers, and staff are all very welcoming and understanding.

The best advice I can give you is to put yourself out there because the SG community is extraordinarily warm, so be prepared to make great friends.

Boarding at SG is a great experience where you get to meet girls with vastly 8

different backgrounds and experiences. I recommend you bring a couple of mementoes (like a stuffy or photos) from home to personalise your room. Also, remember everyone was new at one point, so please reach out if you feel lonely or homesick.

Here is my email: 17AnangVal@sherborne.com I hope you enjoy your time at SG, and I'm excited to meet you!

Valentina Anang x

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Letter from Stephanie in L6 Dear new girls, Welcome to Sherborne Girls!

Before I came to England I was apprehensive and excited at the same time as this was my first experience being far away from home. Remember it’s completely normal to have butterflies in your stomach! But also remember, plenty of others will be feeling exactly the same so you’re definitely not alone! Everyone here is so supportive and my advice is to talk to your house staff, tutors, teachers and friends who are always eager to help you out whenever they can. I still remember my first day of school. Even though I was in a spin over not finding my way, everyone was smiley and kindly showed me around. At the weekends and after school, the boarding house is lively and the girls can be boisterous. I was a bit overwhelmed at first, but the girls here certainly live life to the full.

Now, I’m used to living in a boarding school and having the time of my life.😉 What I enjoy most is all the events. The school provides many opportunities to show off your talents. There are a number of house competitions to

demonstrate your house spirit, and to bond with different years in your House, ranging from sports to house dance and music. On top of that, the international events such as the Chinese New Year Banquet and International Week are also highlights of the year. I was able to show off the K-pop culture in a dance group.

Besides finding out much more about British Culture, these international events provide you with opportunities to broaden your horizons. Most importantly, try not to shy away from all of those opportunities! You will have an incredible time here and have certainly plenty of fun with your friends!

Love Stephanie Ng

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Letter from Camila U5 Welcome to Sherborne Girls, you are going to like being here and you will have so much fun!

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Hello, I’m Camila and I am going to tell you how I felt when I first arrived at the School. At first, I didn’t know anyone, and I felt like I was all alone. But then I started making friends and didn’t feel alone anymore because I had friends to share everything with. Now I love being here because we have lots of fun and enjoy so many different activities together. For example, one day during our cooking lesson we attempted to make Dorset apple cakes - for some of us it went badly wrong - but they all tasted delicious in the end! After just a few weeks I felt as if we were all one big family having a great time together.

What I most enjoy about Sherborne Girls is the sport because you can play different types of sports that I never even knew existed and enjoy taking part in a lot of matches. I also love the weekends because we go on a huge variety of different trips such as Go karting, a pool party, a pamper night and much much more. My favourite memory during my first year at Sherborne Girls was the Neon Lights Party, which was when we all dressed up in bright colours, you could even paint your face with bright colours, and then we played many games until it was time for bed.

Here is some advice to help you settle in the School: first you have to try to make some friends even if you don’t know anyone and get to know other people so you can enjoy being together and not feel lonely. One tip is to remember to bring photos of your family and friends because you are allowed to decorate your area of the bedroom. For schoolwork, just try your best in everything and it will be okay plus you will be proud of yourself for trying so hard.

Hope to see you soon!

Camila Rivera

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Letter from Lizzy U5 Dear new girls, Are you feeling excited, nervous or even a bit of both about starting at Sherborne Girls? It is totally fine to have these kind of feelings as I’d had the same feelings as you a year ago. I didn’t know how I was going to fit in or adapt to a new school in England.

It really isn’t as hard as you may be imagining.

When I first came, everyone was extremely approachable and they helped me to settle in really quickly, from showing me how to use a washing machine to where places are to helping me with Maths prep. I was soon able to feel right at home and find my way around!

I also had a strong feeling of having another home. It actually seems like we are a family, living closely together, having meals together, chatting about our daily life, and supporting each other in everything. All the house events, such as house tennis, netball, music, and dance competitions, help us come together as a House and bond. You don’t have to stress about making friends as everyone is so delightful and willing to be friends.

I have some advice. Remember that it is really normal to be homesick in a boarding school, especially as it may be your first experience boarding, being away from home and in another country. If you ever feel low, all you need to do is talk to your friends or anyone in House. You are never alone and you don’t need to hide your feelings. Secondly, if you are confused about anything, talk to your tutor.

They will give you advice about activities, your subjects and can help you get organised.

Lastly, I hope reading this letter makes you feel better and any worries turn into excitement. I can’t wait to see you in School next year when you join our big family, Sherborne Girls!

Kind regards Lizzy Lui

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Events to look forward to at Sherborne Girls

• Inter-house Events

• Mid-Autumn Festival, Diwali and Chinese New Year

• Castle Challenge

• Musical Events

• Drama Productions

• Commemoration

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Quiz What you might not know … get an ‘old’ girl to help you do this!

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What does BLT stand for? a. Big large theatre b. Bed linen trunk

c. Beddington lecture theatre

2. What do you do with ‘spag bol’? a. Read it

b. Eat it

c. Drive it

3. What is the Oxley? a. Sports Centre

b. Lecture Hall

c. Drama Studio

4. If a student wants some ‘tuck’, how are they feeling? a. Cold

b. Hungry

c. Tired

5. What is the Castle Challenge?

a. Building a castle b. Inter-house run at Sherborne Castle c. Charity sleep out in a castle

6. You would go to the ‘San’ because…? a. You need some money

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b. You feel ill

What does BPR stand for? a. Big prep room b. Basic pencil rubber

c. You are lost

c. Boys purple room

8. Why do Sixth Formers go to ‘The Stick’? a. For punishment

b. For a drink

9. What is the ‘Granny Patch’? a. A garden

b. A group of houses

10. What can you do in ‘Queenie’s? a. Eat the best cookies

c. To sleep

c. A cafe

b. Buy your stationery

c. Wash your clothes 21

The International team and the girls wish your days here to be both exciting and memorable! We all look forward to meeting you.

Sherborne Girls Bradford Road Sherborne Dorset DT9 3QN, UK T: +44 (0)1935 812245 E: office@sherborne.com www.sherborne.com