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Welcome to Aldhelmsted West (West)

The warmest of welcomes to you. I am so excited that you are joining us in West and that your Sherborne Girls journey is about to begin. You have so many exciting times ahead of you and I hope that you will soon feel settled in your new home away from home!

Aldhelmsted West is such a happy, fun and vibrant place to live and from the moment you walk through the door you will feel a sense of warmth and belonging. I truly believe that a happy, fun and vibrant environment helps nurture each individual girl and will enable you to become the best version of yourself.

Here at Sherborne Girls, you will have so many fantastic opportunities and I cannot wait to support you as you explore them all.

Within West there are two year groups, L4 and U4. Both year groups are fully integrated and apart from dorms and lessons you will be immersed together in all aspects of boarding life. It really does mean we feel like one big family.

Another exciting part of being in the junior house is our weekend programme of activities. After a

busy week in the classroom, we love nothing more than heading off on an adventure and you will enjoy things like, going to the waterpark, bowling, falconry, mug painting, ice skating and so much more.

We have a fantastic team of staff here in West who will always be available to support, encourage and listen to you. Nothing is ever too much trouble and even Mabel, our house dog, is great at listening too!

When asked what the highlights are in West it will often be said that it is such a fun place to be, and you start to feel at home so quickly. You have opportunities to make new friends and try new experiences and the thing that usually comes out on top is that the food in West is delicious, especially the chocolate brownies.

I am so excited to welcome you into West in September and look forward to all the fun times we have ahead of us. I know your time here in West is just the foundation you need to start your Sherborne Girls journey.

Best wishes,

Rebecca Tillin Housemistress

Important contact details

House

Miss Tillin (Housemistress)

r.tillin@sherborne.com

House email: aldwest@sherborne.com

House phone: 01935 818381

School

Ms Leonie Cole

Designated Safeguarding Lead 01935 818305 / 07581 047402

l.cole@sherborne.com

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 family

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 first 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 Time 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

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?

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 you will have 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

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 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.”

“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.“

“I love West for its kindness, friendships, food and team spirit.“

“It’s a home away from home.“

“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.“

“There is always someone to talk to.“

“I love West because it is so inclusive and such a nice place to be.“

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!

Device guidelines

West is smartphone free and we encourage the use of a ‘brick’ phone if needs be.

Communication home can be done through Teams on your school device.

• 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: 5.15pm-6.00pm and 7.30pm-8.00pm

Weekends: Timings 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.

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.

• 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. 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 talk to?

AROUND THE CLOCK SUPPORT

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 Windle chaplain@sherborne.com

Safeguarding Leads

Lead: Ms Cole | 01935 818305 / 07581 047402 l.cole@sherborne.com

Deputies: Mrs Miller | Mr McClary | Dr Stone

Mrs Beard | Mrs Briggs | Mrs Dart (Oxley)

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

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 staff

There are several members of staff in House. From our matrons to resident staff, the 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

Wingfield 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)

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

Hanford – Hanford Preparatory Girls’ School

Main School – The Main School building, containing the School Hall

The Merritt Centre – The Music School and the Wirth Gallery

Morrisons – A shop in the BP Garage

Oxley – The Oxley Sports Centre and Coffee Pod Café

Pantry/Supper Trolley – snacks after prep

Prep – Homework (also the name given to study periods during the School day)

Prayers – Services that take place in the School Hall or Gransden Hall before school on certain days

Queenie’s – The café in The Merritt Centre

Socials – Saturday night social events

SPS – Sherborne Prep School

SB – Sherborne Boys/The Boys’ School

SSG – Sherborne Schools Group

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)

• A pencil case containing protractor, pair of compasses, green biro, purple brio, pencil, pen, easer, sharpener, glue stick, highlighter pens and 30cm clear ruler

• 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)

• Windows 11 pen-enabled device, charger, headphones (clearly named)

• Mobile phone and charger (clearly named). These items are not compulsory.