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ISSUE 111 SPRING
British School Girls Ski Races in Flaine More photographs inside...
From the Head For the many of us who have worked in schools for a long time, the Spring (or Lent as it is known in some schools) term is often the least popular of the three school terms. It starts with the inevitable ‘post festive season blues’, the January days are short, dark and often cold, very cold at times this year. Light, warmth, sunshine and the arrival of Spring feel a long way off. It is also usually the shortest and most intense term of the year; we seem to have the same number of events, trips and activities, as you will see in the following pages, but fewer weeks in which to fit them all in! It is around now, however, as we approach a much-needed half-term, when I feel that things start to look brighter; not just in the length of the days and the first signs of shoots and buds around our beautiful school site, but also as we think ahead to the rest of the school year and beyond. At the top of the school we are starting to plan Prize Giving and the Upper Sixth leavers’ events in the summer and in the last few weeks these girls have received a large number
of impressive offers from some of the best universities in the UK and overseas. At the same time, and as a fitting counterbalance, we are receiving acceptances of offers of places at St George’s for girls who will be joining the bottom of the school in September and beginning their St George’s journey. So, for now, it is time to relax and recharge over the halfterm break before the excitement of more House Parties, Nationals Lacrosse, House Music and the Drama Prefect’s Play, to name but a few events we have to look forward to in the following busy five weeks before Easter. Liz Hewer Headmistress
DID YOU KNOW...? Knatchbull House was named after the previous Chairman of Governors, Mr Knatchbull-Hugessen, who presided over a period of growth in the School during the 70s and 80s.
KNATCHBULL HOUSE Ever wondered what boarding in Knatchbull is like? We interviewed tailored boarder, Katie and Housemistress Miss Myers. Katie, how many nights do you board at St George’s? 5 nights a week.
Miss Myers, describe Knachbull House in 3 words. Fun, caring, community.
What, in the past week has made you smile and why? One of my friends from the Australian exchange programme from 2 years ago came to England on holiday and visited the School. It was so nice seeing her again as I had missed her lots.
What is the most rewarding part of being the Housemistress for Knatchbull? Chatting to the girls and helping them with different areas of their life (academic worries, social issues, career planning). Creating an environment where the girls can come and chat to the house staff is very important.
We know the food at St George’s is delicious, what has been your favourite food memory so far? Definitely Chicken Katsu Curry. What do you enjoy most about evenings at Knatchbull? I enjoy the social aspect, there's always a buzz in Knatchbull, but at the same time I can always just relax with a friend with a cup of tea and have a chat. What makes you feel ‘at home’ in the boarding house? Miss Myers and all the boarding staff are very easy to talk to. I have made many great friends in the boarding house so it’s always very relaxed and fun in the evenings.
What changes have been happening in Knatchbull since September? We have introduced cultural celebrations which enable to girls to experience and learn about different countries, values and traditions.
"Boarding helped me hugely during my GCSEs and I have found it is much easier to work at school"
Why does tailored boarding work for you? Do you feel a part of the boarding community even though you are parttime? I love tailored boarding because I feel I get the best of both worlds. I get the fun experience of boarding but also get to go home and see family at weekends. I definitely still feel part of the boarding community. Boarding has enabled me to make friends within the boarding house that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I also have a great relationship with Miss Myers, even though I am not at school at weekends and feel I could come to her with any problem. What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen your Housemistress (Miss Myers) do this year? I played volleyball against her this week which was very funny, I don’t think she was very impressed by my volleyball skills though.
What would you say to a younger boarder who is thinking about moving up to Knatchbull next year? I definitely would recommend it. Boarding helped me hugely during my GCSEs and I have found it is much easier to work at school, especially as I have grown older and the workload has become larger. Knatchbull is also a lot of fun and I would recommend boarding to anyone.
What's breakfast like at St George's? Amazing! There is so much on offer; whether you fancy a fry up or some fruit and granola – it doesn’t matter, it’s all there to choose from. What makes you feel ‘at home’ in the boarding house? The community feel – everyone talks to each other. The girls from different houses are welcome visitors. It is important for the girls to personalise their dorm so they feel ‘at home’ and this is encouraged. When you all live together, the community have to be considerate of each other and I definitely feel that the Knatchbull girls buy into this.
What's the funniest thing that 's happened in the boarding House this year? It has to be Burns Night. Ms Kennedy was cooking tattie scones for the girls which created a little smoke. In order to avoid the fire alarm going off in the L6 common room, the girls opened the windows and started fanning the smoke detectors. Katie got a little confused and decided to fan the wifi router. Not sure she will live that one down for a while! What would you say to a younger boarder who is thinking about moving up to Knatchbull next year? Knatchbull is a lovely house with plenty of communal space for you to socialise. You have more independence in Knatchbull and are able to go out locally at the weekends, as well as join in with outings we organise like going to the cinema. Knatchbull is a very friendly house and you would be welcomed with open arms. Follow the Boarding Houses on Twitter @SGA_Boarding
Boarding News Boarders in Loveday House are enjoying two newly refurnished dorms this term. It marks the start of a refurbishment project which will continue throughout the year.
Boarding Life & Socials @SGA_Boarding During this half term girls in Third, Fourth and Fifth Years have enjoyed hosting socials with both Eton College and Harrow School. On Saturday 13 January, the Fifth Year girls were the first to welcome boys from Harrow for a relaxed dinner and a disco in the SLR. On Saturday 20 January, it was the turn of the Fourth Year girls to host the Harrow boys. Everyone enjoyed a meal before heading to the Sue Cormack Hall for a disco and dancing. On Saturday 3 February, Third Year girls enjoyed an evening with boys from Eton College.
Burns Night in Knatchbull House On Tuesday 23 January, boarders from Knatchbull House enjoyed celebrating Burns Night. The common room was decorated with tartan banners and many Scottish treats such as teacakes and shortbread were on offer. Ms Kennedy spent time teaching the girls how to make tatties (a traditional Burns Night dish made from potatoes and flour), and read poetry by Robert Burns himself. The girls enjoyed learning about Scottish culture and language, and particularly liked cooking up the delicious tatties!
Upper Sixth Pamper Night The Loveday boarders enjoyed a well-deserved Pamper Evening on Tuesday 30 January after working hard for their mock exams and getting their results. Some of the girls had a manicure, but most opted for a short facial with lavender essences, a face massage and relaxation music. At the end of the evening, they all felt refreshed and delighted with their little treat.
Valentines Night at Knatchbull The girls enjoyed making a chocolate fondue with various treats to dip: marshmallows, strawberries, pineapple and bananas. The girls made popcorn and drank tea together whilst watching The Notebook. It was lovely to see the L6 getting into the spirit, laughing and joking with each other.
Harry Potter Night As any good witch or wizard knows, Harry Potter Book Night was on the 1 February. The boarders at St George's donned their robes, picked up their wands and headed to the library for a magical evening. The evening commenced with a sorting ceremony, and the members of each Hogwarts House then teamed up to take part in a range of tasks. Activities included identifying dragon eggs, pinning the scar on Harry and a golden snitch hunt. After a closely fought battle, Gryffindor emerged victorious – a mere one point ahead of their arch rivals Slytherin.
DofE Night Navigation Exercise The Third Year Bronze DofE club held a night navigational adventure on 5 February. Armed with head torches, compasses and plentiful supplies of chocolate, the four teams competed to win the St George’s Crystal Maze Challenge. The teams had to solve clues and puzzles to discover the locations of hidden treasure. Wrapped up in hats, scarves and gloves, they battled the cold and the dark, zig-zagging around the school following bearings, grid references and points on the map. Highlights included, The ‘Trangia Challenge’ (assembling a camping stove in the dark), a camping scene montage competition, and the kit list memory game. The overall winning team gained a stunning 295 points and received the coveted prize of chocolate Heroes and emergency survival whistles. All participants did a fantastic job utilising their newly learnt skills.
Lower Sixth House Dinners @SGA_Head
Throughout this term, Mrs Hewer is hosting all the girls in the Lower Sixth for dinner at Garden House. She has really enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the girls in a relaxing environment with some excellent food!
Australian Exchange Australian Exchange Programme with St Catherine's, Melbourne This year three Third Year girls have been selected to take part in the annual exchange trip with St Catherine’s School, Melbourne. On Wednesday 17 January, India, Megan and Tilly embarked on their exciting journey to Melbourne where they were paired up with an Australian exchange partner, and will live with her and her family for ten weeks. So far, the girls have explored the Australian culture and enjoyed the hospitality and friendship of their new host families. As well as taking part in academic studies, the girls have enjoyed a week’s rowing camp as well as many extra-curricular activities. The rowing programme at St Catherine’s is one of the largest and most successful in the country, and the opportunity to take part has been an exciting start to their adventure for India, Megan and Tilly.
Trips and Talks @SGA_Academic
On Friday 19 January all Third Years visited the Iconoclasts exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London. The Saatchi gallery is specifically geared towards introducing young people to a range of contemporary art and presents the work of a group of 13 experimental artists who embrace unusual image-making practices from branding imagery on human skin and sculpting crow feathers to embroidering onto vintage photos. Upon arrival, the girls experienced a guided tour to encourage discussion and to inspire and inform their own work. Many girls had already researched the artists prior to the visit and asked the guide plenty of impressive questions.
As well as writing down their favourite artists in the gallery, the girls were asked to complete some practical tasks inspired by the artwork such as choosing an artwork to draw whilst also imagining what lies beyond the canvas and extending the composition. They also created abstract shaped viewfinders to view, photograph and draw the artwork. The girls produced some excellent practical work in the gallery and also finished their drawings at home. In the education room the girls were able to see some impressive artwork created by other students and we hope to enter some pupils’ artwork into the Saatchi Gallery Schools prize later this year.
GCSE and A Level Textiles visit to The Victoria and Albert Museum On 7 February, GCSE and A level Textiles pupils visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to explore exhibitions by renowned designers to help with their studies. On arrival, the girls the visited the 'Exploring Fashion Exhibition' which included works by Christopher Kane and Jean Paul Gautier. Following this the girls delved into the 'Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion' exhibition which explored the work of Spanish designer, CristĂłbal Balenciaga. Balenciaga's work has greatly influenced many prominent designers such as Gareth Pugh and Hussein Chalayan. After lunch, the girls split into small groups and visited the other offerings at the museum such as the jewellery and photography exhibitions. The girls gained much inspiration and research material to help with their Textiles studies this year.
Third Year RS visit to Neasden Mandir Temple Religious Studies pupils in the Third Year were fascinated during a trip to Neasden Mandir Temple on Thursday 1 February. Below are accounts from Kanulia, Ariana, Katie and Olivia. "I found the RS trip to the Mandir Temple fascinating, particularly the intricate designs that were carved onto the statues and pillars. Inside the coach I was able to see the magnificent buildings, it was breath-taking and I could see the other girls enjoying the sights too. The exhibitions were delightful and I really understand more about Hindu culture. I bought a carved elephant with another elephant within it and I gave it to my mother has a present. She told me she absolutely loved it. At the end it was question time and some people asked many questions including me and from all the experience I can gladly say I learned a lot. Thank you for the trip". Kanwulia "I really enjoyed the trip to the Neasden Mandir Temple. Everyone had fun whilst learning a lot about the Hindu religion. My favourite thing about the Temple was seeing the amazing carvings in the stone around the walls. I was really surprised to hear that the beautiful temple took only three years to make". Ariana
"Visiting the Temple was really interesting and I loved watching the Arti Ceremony because it was intriguing. It was amazing to see all the carvings on the wall and I loved watching the video on how the temple was made. At the end we asked lots of questions and we found out that they dress the gods everyday in different clothes. It was a very beautiful temple and I enjoyed the trip a lot". Katie "When we arrived we learnt about the history and architecture of the building. Then we looked round the beautiful temple looking at the marble and how it was designed. Later, we had the privilege of watching a holy ceremony. It was interesting to see the culture of the Hindu religion". Olivia
House Parties Becket House Party
On Friday 19 January Becket House hosted their annual House party. It was the first of the four House parties this term and therefore time was limited for preparations and rehearsals. Over the first two weeks of term the girls could regularly be heard practising their house song at lunchtimes and after school. Parents and girls arrived to a drinks reception where the First Years did a fantastic job persuading parents to buy raffle tickets to win a large bottle of champagne! The theme for the evening was 'festival' which the girls really enjoyed. The dining room was decorated with lots of bright colours and a campfire was created on the back wall. During the evening performances parents and girls were treated to three fantastic soloists – Ellie, Jacqueline and Charlie. All three sang exceptionally well and should be extremely proud. The girls also used the opportunity to perform their House Play - Robyn Hood. Unfortunately lots of girls were unwell on the evening but the Sixth Form did a fantastic job filling in! There were a few giggles but it was an enjoyable and memorable show throughout. The final performance involved the whole House singing 'Happy Ending' by Mika. It was a great choice and all the girls sounded great- a big achievement after such a short rehearsal period.
House Parties Churchill House Party
Girls in Churchill House hosted their annual party on 2 February 2018; the theme for this year’s event was Après Ski. Scarlet and her team had put in a lot of effort to ensure a great evening for girls and parents alike. After drinks, everyone sat down to a delicious supper, courtesy of Mr Cornish and his wonderful team. The back wall in the dining hall was decorated by Matilda; it was plain to see her creative brilliance shining through the alpine motif. The meal was followed by coffee in the Top Foyer and then parents, girls and staff settled down in Cormack Hall for the evening’s entertainment. The first years performed a dance to 'Marry You' by Bruno Mars; this was followed by Chloe singing 'Count On You' by Bruno Mars – a song she performed for Churchill House as a First Year all those years ago. Unsurprisingly Mrs Fidler (the recently retired Head of Churchill House), who was in the audience, was reduced to tears. Then Grace gave a beautiful rendition of 'Jar of Hearts' by Christina Pedro which was followed by our brilliant play ‘Matilda’. Alice and Lucy then sang a lovely rendition of 'Photograph' by Ed Sheeran. After that, we were beautifully entertained by Ruby, Lily and Kendra singing 'Supermarket Flowers' by Ed Sheeran. To conclude the evening; Churchill House sang their house song ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, something we are never going to do. The raffle raised £232 and the evening was a great success in showcasing the talents, resilience and positive spirit of the girls in Churchill House.
House Debating Competition Thursday 25 January
As ever the House Debating generated much excitement and discussion; would they be allowed a point of information during the summary speeches, could they use stories to support their points and how should they address the Chair? Alexander and Churchill Houses debated whether autonomous vehicles would make driving safer. Becket put on an admirable performance but the debate was won by the formidable A House team comprising Lucy, Olivia and Katie. The second debate considered the challenging topic of whether e-sports should be added to the Olympic Games. This was won by Churchill House. The final saw peers and friends pitted against each other in a debate over whether animals should be kept in captivity. In an incredibly close debate the winning House was Churchill which comprised Camelia (also winning best debater), Avah and Alice. The standard of debating this year was very high and displayed the gifts and talents of twelve St George's girls. However, further analytical and questioning skills were shown through the audience's participation raising key issues for the summarisers to reply to in their speeches. Finally, it would be wrong not to congratulate Leila on her able chairing of the event, keeping the audience and the debaters in order, as well as the professional timekeeping of Alice H which she did with clarity and professionalism.
Sports News @SGA_Sport
Prep Schools Netball Tournament St George's annual Fifth Year Prep Schools Netball Tournament took place on Saturday 27 January with 8 schools taking up the challenge this year. The earlier matches were played in two pools with some very tight matches throughout. Pool two was particularly tough with three out of the four teams finishing on equal points. Following the use of the points/goal difference/goals for rule, the four teams making it through to the semi-finals were Godstowe, Hoe Bridge, Hall Grove and Ravenscroft Park. The remaining teams also continued playing in a playoff for fifth to eighth places.
Overall results:Winners Ravenscroft Park Runners-up Godstowe Joint 3rd Hall Grove Hoe Bridge 5th High March 6th St. Piran’s 7th Highfield 8th Maltmans Green
The first semi-final between Godstowe and Hoe Bridge was very tense but eventually ended up with a narrow victory for Godstowe. In the second semi-final Ravenscourt Park, who entered the tournament for the first time this year, walked away winners over Hall Grove. In the final that was cheered on by numerous supporters, Godstowe put some early pressure on Ravenscourt Park, but Ravenscourt Park ended up being crowned this year’s champions.
U14 Ascot Schools Netball Tournament On Tuesday the 16 January the U14s played in the Ascots Schools Netball Tournament. The A team played a lot of tough matches against many schools with strong teams. The girls played well through difficult weather, but unfortunately were not able to win any of their matches. Both teams put lots on energy in to their play and overall, the U14 As came seventh. The B team fought hard and worked well as a team throughout their matches despite very cold weather. The team worked systematically on the pitch and concentrated well. Each match was short so the girls made every minute count. Ariana, Kanwulia and Poppy worked well together shooting some fantastic goals. The team won a few of their matches and gave every game a fantastic effort. The girls finished third overall.
Berkshire Schools Cross Country Championships On 20 January, St George's took a team of 10 girls to the Berkshire Schools Cross Country Championships. The girls were very excited as this was a large event with lots of different schools participating. In the U13 race Oona (left) ran superbly and finished second, a tremendous result as there were over 100 children in her race. In the U15 race St George's entered 6 runners which enabled the School to take part in the team competition. All the girls ran extremely well and St George's achieved seventh place out of 16 schools which is a fantastic result given that this was their first experience of this level of competition. Well done to Patty, Rosie, Lara, Ava, Daisy, Ruby and Charlotte for their excellent efforts.
Berkshire County Lacrosse Tournament On 7 February the County Lacrosse Tournament was held at Queen Anne’s school in Reading. All teams played Queen Anne’s, Downe House and St Barts. The U12s played well throughout the day, with some fantastic performances from Milly and Annie in goal keeping out some difficult shots from the opposition.
The U13s focused on quick decision making and communication in order to ensure they stood the best chance. The U13s had a very hard first match against Queen Anne’s followed by another tough game against Downe House, conceding only two goals and holding out a strong attacking side. The girls played very well and put in a solid team performance throughout the day.
The focus of the day was ground balls, getting ball-side of the attacker and communication. After two very tough games, there was a definite improvement in the key areas and the girls played well in their final match.
The U14s also had tough games, but again played well and showed some great team performances in their games. They communicated well, performed some good unit play and had some solid individual performances.
British School Girls Ski Races in Flaine @SGA_Sport On 26 January, Ella, Molly and Sophie travelled to Flaine, France to take part in the British Schoolgirls Ski Races 2018. The trip began with the girls partaking in two training days. These days were essential as none of the girls had raced in competition before this trip. During the training, the girls had the opportunity to train with Great Britain skiers and develop their understanding of different types of ski racing. This was really useful in building confidence in the girls and as race day approached, nerves built up, but they managed to keep their spirits high. On the first day of racing, the girls participated in the Giant Slalom, which consisted of racing around flags and wide turns as fast as possible. Despite any apprehension, all of the girls skied well and managed to complete the course. Each girl then had a second run and once they were used to the conditions of the snow, found it much more enjoyable.
Excitement grew the following day when the girls were asked to ski the Slalom. The Slalom consisted of poles that were much closer together than Giant Slalom which meant they had to use short, sharp turns to get round. After completing the runs the girls looked forward to their final race; the Parallel Slalom. This was by far the favourite race as all girls were able to compete as a team. The result of this competition lead to the girls competing in the quarter finals which were narrowly lost. Overall, the girls learnt a lot about competing in this sport and had a fantastic time throughout. It will be remembered for years to come by both girls and staff and we look forward to taking part in this event again in the future.
Admissions News
Admissions News Open Morning Saturday, 3 March 2018 10.30 - 13.00 You are warmly invited to join us for our next Open Morning, which will include a tour of the School. For more information and to book a place at any taster event, please email the Admissions Department, or visit our website. admissions@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk www.stgeorges-ascot.org.uk
Boarding Taster Night On Friday 16 - 17 March 2018, St George's are hosting a Boarding Taster Night for prospective pupils in Years 5-7. The evenings are designed to be a fun-packed sleep-over that give the girls a real insight into what boarding life at St George's is like. The girls will enjoy a delicious supper, and many fun activities run by our dedicated boarding staff.
Modern Foreign Languages Workshop On Saturday 17 March, a termly education workshop will take place for prospective pupils in Years 5-7. Many girls who participate in the Boarding Taster Night will also join for this event. The day will be hosted by St George's Languages Department and will include a range of educational activities designed to be challenging and fun. Places on these events are limited, please book a place to avoid disappointment.
+44 (01344) 629900 | @SGA_Head @StGeorgesAscot St George's School, Ascot Berkshire SL5 7DZ | @SGA_Boarding @SGA_Academic @SGA_TheArts office@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk | www.stgeorges-ascot.org.uk | @SGA_Sport @SGA_Library @SGA_Sixthform