WELCOME TO ALDHELMS TED WES T
Welcome to Aldhelmsted West (West)
The warmest of welcomes to you. I am so excited that you are about to begin your Sherborne Girls journey and hope that you will soon feel settled in your new home from home!
Aldhelmsted West is a vibrant, happy and fun place to live and from the moment you walk through the door you will feel a sense of warmth and belonging. I believe that a happy, kind and caring environment will allow you to become the best version of yourself There are so many opportunities here at Sherborne Girls and I cannot wait to support you as you explore them all.
W ithin our House we have two year groups, L4 and U4 You are fully integrated and apart from separate dorms and lessons, it is like one big family. We have a wonderful team of staff here in West who will always be available to support, encourage and listen to you. Nothing is ever too much trouble.
When asked what the highlights are in West it will often be said that it’s such a fun place to be, you have the opportunity to make new friends and the thing that usually comes out on top, is that the food is delicious!
I cannot wait to welcome you and look forward to all the fun times ahead
Best wishes,
Rebecca Tillin Housemistress
House
Miss T illin (Housemistress)
r tillin@sherborne com
House email: aldwest@sherborne.com
School
Mrs Briggs
(Senior Deputy Head Pastoral) 07711 002937 deputypastoral@sherborne.com
General SG Emergency Number 01935 818333
Please add these details to your phone. It is important that you can get in touch with the House at all times. The House phone is answered by the Matron during the day, and the Tutor on duty in the evening.
House ethos
• Everyone has the right to enjoy living and working in our community, and each individual should feel valued and proud to be in our House
• It is important that we respect each other’s views and feelings
• We need to care for each other and our home, we should respect each other’s property, space and time
• We should treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves
• Everyone should try to set a good example
• We need to think of the House as being part of a bigger community
• We should support each other, particularly when others feel unhappy, homesick or alone
• We recognise and celebrate everyone ’ s achievements in all areas of their School life
‘Non Sibi Sed Toti’ ‘Not for oneself but for all’ House Motto
House families
West is a small and nurturing House where you really find your feet at the start of your Sherborne Girls journey. The L4 (Year 7) and U4 (Year 8) are very close knit and I like to think of the House as one big family, with the older girls like big sisters, there to help and guide you. You will be together for activities, trips and mealtimes but in your own year groups for lessons and in dorms I hope that during your time here you will have a true sense of belonging and feel valued as an individual. Above all, we value kindness as this is paramount in a boarding environment Learning to be independent is also a focus in West and you will be amazed at how much you will develop from arriving at the start of L4 to when you leave the House at the end of U4
Buddies
You will be assigned a buddy before you come to West. She will be an U4 girl from the House who will write to you, usually during the holidays, and then help you to settle in when you arrive. Your buddy will take you to breakfast each morning in the first week, help you get ready for the school day and make sure you know your way around
Your f irst few days will look something like this…
Day 1
(Home clothes)
2.00-3.00pm Arrive
3 00pm Tea and welcome from the Head
4 00pm Tour of the School
4 30pm Unpacking
6.00pm Supper
6.30pm House activity
8.00pm Bedtime routines
Day 2
(Home clothes)
8.00am Breakfast
9 00am IT induction
10 30am Break
11 00am IT induction
12 00pm Issuing of timetables and prep diaries
12.30am T ime in House with tutors
1.00pm Lunch – change for sport after lunch
2.00pm Unpacking and changing for Sport
3.00pm Games and tennis
4 00pm Tea
5 00pm Showers and unpacking
6 00pm Supper
6 30pm Movie in PJs
Day 3 (Uniform)
8.10am Assembly
8 35am Lessons commence
10 30am Morning break
1 00pm Lunch
1.45pm Group tutorials in Houses
2.30pm Lessons
4.45pm L4/U4 to Activities Fair
5.00pm Tea
5.30pm Free time in House
6 00pm Supper
7 00pm Evening activities in House
By this point you will be exhausted, but ready for the days and weeks ahead!
A typical day in West
Time/Event Where should I be? What should I wear?
7.00am/7.15am Waking up, showering/ School uniform Morning buzzer getting ready for School
7.30am Meet your buddy outside the You should be in Breakfast dining room for breakfast She school uniform and may even come and pick you be wearing slippers up from your dorm! Once you or your shoes have settled in you can come to breakfast without your buddy.
7.55am Come to the downstairs hallway School uniform, House briefing with your books and anything blazer else you need for Periods 1, 2 and 3 Collect your device from the cupboard.
8.05am-8.25am Walk over to the School Hall/ School uniform, Assembly/ The Merritt Centre as a House blazer School prayers
8.30am-10.55am Lessons
10.55am-11.25am Come back to House. Have School uniform Break time something to eat and drink in the dining room Change your books for Periods 4 and 5
11.25am-1.00pm Lessons
1.00pm Come back to House for lunch Take your books and Lunchtime other belongings to your rooms Wash your hands and then line up Lunch is generally with your tutor group
Time/Event Where should I be? What should I wear?
1.45pm-2.30pm Lunch break
There are plenty of ways to spend your time:
• Scheduled activities/clubs or extra lessons e g music or tennis
• Meetings with tutors
• Music practice
• Games in the common rooms
• T ime outside, House garden or games fields
• Chilling out with friends You should not be in dorms except for dropping off belongings or changing for sport.
2.35pm-5.00pm Lessons
School uniform/ Games kit.
5.00pm Hurrah, it is the end of the You can get Tea, change school day! Return to House changed into home unwind and have tea in the dining room. clothes at this point T ime to enjoy some well- if you have no deserved downtime. activities.
5.00pm-6.00pm You may have an activity at this Clothing will depend Activities/ time From this point on you on the activity but Free time must SIGN OUT from the generally it is House Remember to SIGN uniform BACK IN when you return If you do not have an activity you will have free time.
6.00pm Meet outside the dining room. Casual clothes/PJs, Supper slippers.
Time/Event Where should I be? What should I wear?
6.30pm Get settled for prep in your Casual clothes/PJs, Prep allocated prep room slippers
7.30pm Shower, chill, relax. PJs, dressing Free time Occasional House meetings gowns/onesies, slippers
8.00pm Devices to be handed in L4 L4 start bedtime to rooms to get ready for bed.
8.15pm L4 into bed, 15 mins reading PJs U4 start bedtime time U4 to rooms
8.30pm L4 lights out - you will be tired! U4 into bed, 15 mins reading time
8.45pm U4 lights out
Weekends - Saturday
Time/Event Where should I be? What should I wear?
7.30am Lie in!
7.45am Breakfast Sports kit
8.15am House meeting
8.30am-10.55am Lessons
10.55am-11.15am Break
11.15am-5.30pm If there are no matches scheduled in the afternoon, you will have a sport session between 11.15am-12.30pm followed by lunch and some free time in the afternoon. If there are matches, departure times will vary, and you will usually have a packed lunch If matches are at home, you will have lunch in House first.
6.00pm Supper Home clothes
6.30pm Evening activities
Sunday
Time/Event Where should I be? What should I wear?
8.30am You should stay in your rooms PJs (preferably asleep!) until 8.30am. You may then come downstairs or carry on sleeping!
8.30am-10.00am Rolling breakfast, chill time in PJs, usually TV in the common room.
10.00am-12.30pm Get dressed Once a term we Home clothes will have an Abbey service but generally it will be a lazy morning in House and time to catch up with Prep, music practice, tidy dorms and just relax
12.30pm Lunch
1.00pm-5.30pm Activities/ trip
6.00pm Supper (traditional Sunday Home clothes/PJs Roast) if no prayers
7.00pm-7.30pm School prayers in the School Halll Home clothes
8.00pm Bedtime routines
Weekend activities
Our weekend activity programme is jam-packed with a broad range of fun and exciting activities We usually have something planned for both Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons It is assumed that boarders will attend all activities and day girls are welcome to join all of them too. We usually have a full House as girls don’t want to miss out! Example activities are listed below:
Saturday evenings
Themed parties
Pamper nights
Film nights
Mug painting
Bowling
Take away
Quiz/game nights
Sunday afternoons
Splashdown
Dorset Water Park
Longleat
Cinema
Surfing
Falconry
Beach walks
Ringos
Go karting
Escape Room
Outward Bound Activity Weekend
This is one of the highlights of the year and usually takes place at the start of September. It is the perfect way to ‘bond’ as a House and provides an ideal opportunity for you to get to know all the girls and staff in West. We go away for the whole weekend, usually
camping, and take part in a variety of exciting and challenging activities, such as coasteering, kayaking, caving and bushcraft It is an unforgettable weekend and the girls always come back buzzing, with many a story to tell.
Why
we love West
• I love being in West because it’s like a big family where everyone is kind and nice Marieta
• West is a positive environment full of friends that always look after you as well as the House staff. West makes you feel comfortable and encourages you to be yourself Kezia
• I love West for its kindness, friendships, food and team spirit. Isabella
• It’s a home away from home.
Yolanda
• West is really cosy and the pets always make you feel at home. Even if you are a day girl you can decorate your area like a boarder. It’s like a second home for me too.
Camille
• There is always someone to talk to Cecily
• I love West because it is so inclusive and such a nice place to be Maddie
Useful House information
Morning checklist
Before you go to School, please remember to:
• Make your bed
• Open your curtains and blinds
• Switch off all plugs if not in use
• Leave your floor area clear
• Turn off the main light and bedside lights
• Leave your bathroom tidy
• Put your dirty washing in your laundry basket
• Strip your bed on Friday
• Gather what you need for lessons before break
• Brush your teeth!
If you manage to achieve all of the above, you will earn your daily sticker. Those girls who accrue the most stickers in the term are invited to a special pizza night. Beware, competition is tough!
Tuck and treats
• No food is to be taken upstairs
• All tuck should be stored in your named basket in the dining room annexe cupboard
• Tuck days: Monday Thursday Saturday Sunday
• Visits to The Merritt Centre/Coffee Pod: These will vary according to commitments in your spare time
Food
The food in West and at SG in general is excellent and there is a huge variety on offer If you are a ‘foodie’ you will be in your element and if you are a little fussy, there will be options for you too. All allergies and intolerances are catered for and there is always plenty to choose from A sample menu might include:
Breakfast: Selection of cereal, toast and spreads, yoghurt, fruit Hot options may include eggs, mushrooms, bacon or sausages, we also have pastries.
Lunch: Spaghetti Bolognese, Katsu curry, cottage pie, casserole. Jacket potatoes are always on offer We have soup each day in the winter and there is always a full salad bar The puddings are delicious!
Supper: Fajitas, sausage and mash, pasta, pizza, stir fries, salad bar.
We enjoy a lovely roast every Sunday evening after activities
Device guidelines
• Phones and devices are not allowed upstairs at all except for use during Prep sessions
• Phones are not to be used during the school day.
• Devices are used during lessons, they are then put away in the device cupboard during break times and lunchtimes and kept in the Prep rooms overnight
• Phones may be used at the following times:
Monday-Friday:
Lunchtime; with permission usually for overseas girls
Evenings: 7.45pm-8.15pm
Weekends: T imings will vary each week depending on activities
Prep
Prep takes place in the Prep rooms on the first or second floors of the House You should keep all your work, school books and stationery in your baskets in the Prep room overnight and when you are not in lessons. Prep is a quiet hour between 6 30pm-7 30pm and is supervised by House staff and occasional U5 prefects.
Free time
During your free time there is plenty to do. Depending on the day, you can go to the Coffee Pod or Merritt Centre, visit the School Shop or go for a walk around the grounds Walking Mabel is also a favourite past time for some In House, you can watch TV, play games, enjoy the garden, help out with the chickens, chat to your friends or just chill out and read a book or have some quiet time There is never a dull moment in West! In your first few weeks you will be taken into Sherborne as a House and we usually do a treasure hunt as an orienteering exercise. Following that visit, you will be allowed into town at the weekends with your friends in groups of three or more.
Laundry and personal hygiene
Laundry: You may put your laundry in to be washed whenever you need to. The wash bins are located on each floor. Please ensure you put the right coloured clothing into the right bins; there will be signs to help you Your washing will be laundered and returned to your cubby hole in the laundry room on the third floor, usually by the following day
Bed change: is on a Friday You should strip your bed before morning briefing and leave your dirty sheets in the baskets on your corridor. You should then make your bed with your spare set any time before lights out that evening
Personal hygiene: It is really important that you keep yourself (and your clothes!) clean. You will be doing sport most days so items of sports kit such as tops, socks and skorts should be put into the wash on a daily basis. You should change your school shirt and obviously your underwear each day too. You should be showering at least once a day and always at the end of the day if you have had sport You will be reminded to do so.
Make sure everything you own is named, including all home clothes.
Key cards
You will be issued one of these on your first day at Sherborne Girls. It is vital that you wear this at all times to enable you to get in and out of the House and other buildings around School Take good care of it because if you lose it, you will be billed £5 for a new one.
Signing in and out
It is compulsory to sign in and out when you leave the House to attend an activity or visit another part of the School outside of the school day. The same applies at the weekend if you go into town or venture on to the School site This is for your own safety in case of fire but also so we know where you are. Signing in and out is easy, there are books in the hallway by the front door so there is no excuse, you will be constantly reminded to do so You should also let a member of house staff know when you are leaving the House and when you come back. Day girls must sign in and out on a daily basis in a separate book
What to do if you feel unwell
Make sure you tell a member of House staff; don’t suffer in silence even if it is during the night. There is always someone available to look after you If you have a temperature and are really unwell, you will be sent home or to the Health Centre. Otherwise, we will take care of you in House.
The Health Centre
Our on-site Health Centre is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we are fortunate to have an amazing team of nurses. You will also be registered with the School GP so if you need to see a doctor, you can also do that there
Medicine
All medication must be handed in to the House office; girls are not permitted to keep any medication in their dorms If you do require medication, such as paracetamol, this will be given to you by a member of House staff from the House office where it is stored securely. Alternatively, you may be sent along to the Health Centre if necessary Regular medication will also be stored in House and issued by House staff.
Homesickness
This is very common, and you should not feel surprised if you do feel homesick in the early stages of your life at Sherborne Girls. All staff and girls will be here to help you settle in and look after you while you find your feet It may feel daunting when you first arrive, but you will be amazed at how quickly your homesickness passes and you feel part of the furniture. If you do feel homesick:
• Keep busy and surround yourself with others as being on your own will make you feel worse
• Share how you are feeling with a member of staff or a friend, it is likely that others are feeling the same way
• Try not to call home too often, as it may make you feel worse Your best bet is to call home when you are feeling upbeat and positive rather than if you are feeling wobbly before bed
• Find someone for a hug, the house pets are very good at this!
House duties
We have a duty rota in House where dorms take it in turns to carry out evening duties These include:
• Closing all downstairs windows
• Closing curtains and blinds in the common rooms and dining room
• Switching off all lights on the ground floor including the dining room, common rooms and entrance hall
• Making sure the dining room is clean and tidy; tables should have been wiped down, toaster switched off, chairs tucked in
• Ensuring Prep rooms are tidycomputers turned off, lights switched off, chairs are tucked in
• The pool table and table tennis equipment have been tidied away
• Lost property put on the post shelf by the stairs in the hallway
Roles of Responsibility in West
There are opportunities for leadership and positions of responsibility during your time in West. These are rotated on a termly basis and awarded to girls who demonstrate and embody all of our House values We usually have a Head of House and a small team of Prefects Their roles include:
• Birthdays
Organising girls in House to sign birthday cards
• Charities
Helping to collect money and promote and initiate charitable activities
• Pupil Voice including food committee
Leading in-house discussions, feeding back to staff from girls in the House Attending meetings with catering and House staff, attending School Council meetings
• Helping to collect phones before bed
• ‘Goodnights’
Going round the L4 dorms at bedtime to say goodnight
Pocket money
You may keep up to £5 cash in your room in your lockable cupboard, but we advise that any sum over £5 should be handed in to the House staff. We would also recommend that any bank cards be given in for safe keeping You may have the opportunity to go into town at the weekends but will not need huge amounts of money; £10 per week should be ample but this is of course up to your parents!
Who can I t alk to?
A R O U N D T H E
C L O C K S U P P O R T
Everybody has worries or problems at some time in their lives. Although there may be times when you do not want to talk about worries, it is usually sensible and helpful to talk to someone else about them and to try to help sort them out. You could talk to one of the other girls in your year group or the older girls in House – your Head of House or a Prefect. However, there are occasions when an adult may be a more appropriate person to talk to and there are a very large number to choose from at school, as well as your parents and relations.
All members of staff would be pleased to talk to you and try to help. This includes Dr Sullivan and Mrs Briggs. If you need to see the Head quickly, see her Executive Assistant. They will listen to you in confidence, but there may be times when they have to tell someone what you have told them, if they think you or others are at serious risk of harm.
Doctors
Dr Charlie Middle | Dr Katie Thomas
Independent Listener
Mrs Ann Simon | 07890 549135
Mrs Isabel Burke | 07989 527888
Nurses
health@sherborne com | 07977 469663
Chaplain
Revd. Katie W indle chaplain@sherborne com
Safeguarding Leads
Lead: Ms Cole | 01935 818305
Deputies: Mrs Briggs | Mrs Miller
Mr McClary | Mrs Dart | Mrs Beard
LGBTQ+
Miss Brown (r brown@sherborne com)
Mr Greed (g.greed@sherborne.com)
Mr McClary (i mcclary@sherborne com)
Counsellors
Mrs Heddy Smith 07970 843359 | h smith@sherborne com
Ms Lauenna Luddington | Mrs Veronica Rosello
Children’s Commissioner for England 020 7783 8330
www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Learning Support l nurse@sherborne com
Samaritans
116 123 | jo@samaritans org
Tootoot
Senior Staff
Teachers
Top tips from the girls in West
• Bring lots of PJs, lots of decorations and photos of family and friends
• Bring an alarm clock and some fluffy socks
• Keep everything tidy and try not to lose anything!
• Always be kind
• Relax and have fun!
• Pack a onesie
• Sliders are really useful
• Remember a net laundry bag so that your socks don’t go missing!
The House st af f
There are several members of staff in House. From our matrons to resident staff, the duty tutors to the Assistant House Parent. You will get to know us all very well.
The HM is supported by a residential Assistant who runs the boarding house during the HM’s time off in the week The wider house pastoral team includes day matrons who are in the House from 8.00am-6.15pm and a team of residential staff who perform evening and weekend duties. All the pastoral staff work tirelessly to support the girls in making the House feel like a home-fromhome and they are all looking forward to meeting you in September.
The Matrons’ job is to look after the practical aspects of you living here. For example, they will make you appointments at the Health Centre They organise train tickets and taxis when you need them and liaise with your parents about your travel arrangements for exeats and the end of term. Matrons also check that your rooms are tidy and will help you with laundry if needed
Everyone is allocated a Tutor. Your Tutor will see you once a week and can come into the Boarding House and have lunch with you They will help you organise your school work and answer any academic queries.
They meet regularly with the HM to discuss your performance and progress
Sherborne Girls terminology
Year-groups
L4 – Year 7
U4 – Year 8
L5 – Year 9
M5 – Year 10
U5 – Year 11
L6 – Year 12
U6 – Year 13
The Houses and their colours
Aldhelmsted East – Purple
Aldhelmsted West – Pink
Dun Holme – Light Blue
Kenelm – Red
Mulliner – Black
Reader Harris – Green
W ingfield Digby – Yellow
General
Ark – the Ark is a quiet space where the Chaplain is based. It is in the main School building and all pupils may use it as a space for quiet reflection
BLT – Beddington Lecture
Theatre, a room in the Beddington Building
Cubie – Cubicle (bedroom)
Dorm – Dormitory bedroom
Drawing Room – as well as the room itself, meetings that take place there are called ‘Drawing Rooms’
Exeat – when School closes for the weekend (usually from Friday lunchtime to Sunday evening)
Family dining – when year groups are mixed up to sit together for lunch
Granny Patch – The housing area opposite the pitches
Gransden Hall – The main hall
inside The Merritt Centre
Main School – The Main School building, containing the School Hall
The Merritt Centre – The Music School and the W irth Gallery
Morrisons – A shop in the BP Garage
Oxley – The Oxley Sports Centre and Coffee Pod Café
Prayers – Services that take place in the School Hall or Gransden Hall before School on certain days
Prep – Homework (Also the name given to study periods during the School day)
Queenie’s – The café in The Merritt Centre
Socials – Saturday night social events
SS – Sherborne School /The Boys’ School
Packing list
Please make sure all belongings are clearly and robustly named.
• School uniform and games kit, all details are listed online*
• One duvet
• Two duvet covers (sheets, pillows and pillowcases can be provided but please bring your own if you prefer) Where possible, please do not bring any plain white bedding as this can get mixed up easily, even if named
• Two bath towels (with loops sewn in for hanging them up)
• Wash bag with toiletries (including brush, toothbrush and Nitty Gritty nit comb)
• Microwavable wheat bag
• Dressing gown/onesie
• Pair of slippers
• Trunk/suitcase
• Small rucksack for day trips/outings
• Laundry bag/box for storing dirty laundry, the pop-up kind works well
• Small mesh laundry bag (named, for smaller laundry items)
• Tuckbox (lockable and named) not to exceed 55cm x 40cm x 35cm
• Pair of wellingtons or walking boots
• Waterproof coat for trips
• Music case for girls who have additional Music lessons
• Casual clothes and shoes (all named please)
• Nightwear
• Underwear
• Swimming costume and goggles
• Coat hangers
• Hairdryer
• Batteries
• Toothbrush charger and adaptor (if required)
• Bits and bobs to decorate dorm: e.g. photos, posters, cushions, teddies, bunting, fairy lights (battery operated only)
• Stationery: Pencil case, Blu Tack, sellotape, drawing pins, hole punch, scissors, stapler, notelets, rubber, sharpener colouring pencils, Pritt Stick/glue, pens, pencils, calculator, compass and protractor set
• Alarm clock
• One set of slightly smarter home clothes suitable to wear for an evening with Dr Sullivan in White Lodge (skirt, dress, trousers and top)
• Device, charger, headphones (clearly named)
• Mobile phone and charger (clearly named). These items are not compulsory.
Fire safety
It is very important that you know where ALL the fire exits are in House. Please walk around and work out where your escape routes are, so you can get out in the event of a fire. If the alarm sounds, you must make your way as quickly and quietly as possible out of the House.
We assemble at the bottom of the West garden You must line up silently in year groups in alphabetical order. The girl at the front of each line must do a head count so that she can say how many girls from her year are present This is the quickest way that we, as House staff, can work out if everyone is present. We will then do a full roll call to make sure everyone is accounted for
The optimum time for us to evacuate and account for everyone is two and a half minutes. This isn’t a long time, so everyone must be sensible and quiet so that this can happen efficiently
It is possible that, once assembled, we will be notified that the School is having a full evacuation If this is the case, we will all have to make our way to the pitches where we will reassemble alongside the rest of the School in front of the Pavilion. When we line up on the pitches, we stay in House groups
Repor ting faults
Like all buildings, the Boarding House will sometimes require repair and upkeep. Our Facilities Department come to the House most days to carry out routine repairs such as replacing light bulbs and fixing dripping taps You need to report any faults or repairs to Matron as soon as you notice them. If the repair is urgent, we will get someone over as soon as possible to fix it At each exeat and at the end of each half term we ask you to let us know if anything needs repairing in your area of the House.
House contact details:
Miss Rebecca T illin
E: r.tillin@sherborne.com
House Landline: 01935 818381
House Mobile: 07889 539278
E: aldwest@sherborne com
www.sherborne.com sherborne girls aldwest
