eNewsletter Issue 122, Winter 2019

eNewsletter

Winter 2019 Issue 122

www.stgeorges-ascot.org.uk

FIRST YEAR PANTOMIME Page 12

ALUMNAE CAREERS AFTERNOON

HOUSE PARTIES

Page 21

Page 24

SWIMMING MASTERCLASS WITH NICK GILLINGHAM MBE

Page 30

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FROM THE HEAD This edition of eNews is bursting with fantastic photos and accounts of the many events that have taken place during the past 6 weeks. It has certainly been a busy and productive time, culminating in the wonderful #SGAChristmas festivities, including the Upper Sixth ‘12 days of Christmas flashmob’ which, along with carols, delicious food and dancing, was a hugely enjoyable part of our last evening of term celebrations!

ACADEMICS Page 3

THE ARTS Page 10

Our new pupils are now very well settled into life at St George’s and it has been lovely to see so many girls across the school embracing the opportunities on offer in their lessons, in music, art, drama and in a variety of sports. The First Year Pantomime is always a highlight of the year when every girl in the year group takes to the stage at the end of their first term, and ‘Alice in Winter Wonderland’ was no exception. If you were not lucky enough to be in the audience, the photos give you a flavour of the energy and enthusiasm that were such a delight for the hundreds of local primary school pupils who attended the matinee and the packed theatre of families and friends for the evening show.

Our swimming pool is giving us more and more inspiring opportunities, and we have hosted our first home galas in recent weeks for visiting girls and boys from other schools. The swim squad continues to go from strength to strength and we are certainly attracting strong swimmers to the school. Our partnership with Frogs & Friends grows ever-stronger too, and we were very lucky to play host to Olympic swimmer Nick Gillingham who gave a masterclass for our girls alongside other events for the local community.

But for now, it is time for families, friends, rest and relaxation and I wish everyone in the St George’s community a happy Christmas and very best wishes for a purposeful and healthy 2020.

Liz Hewer Head

SGA BULLETIN Page 22

IN THIS ISSUE ACADEMICS Page 3

THE ARTS Page 10

FESTIVITIES

SPORT

Page 28

Page 16

BOARDING Page 18

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CHARITY, COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS Page 19

SGA BULLETIN Page 22

SPORT

Page 28

ACADEMICS

“From The Air and Space Museum to the Smithsonian; from the Holocaust Museum to the Museum of Natural History there was something for everyone.”

WASHINGTON DC & WILLIAMSBURG TRIP A group of excited sixth formers left for Washington on a dull October morning, hoping for brighter weather in DC. Alas! It was not to be. On arrival at Dulles airport the rain was in abundance and continued in that way for the rest of the evening.

History there was something for everyone. Given the sunshine there was time to stop for drinks and take in the day. The meeting point was the Washington Memorial and a view of the White House, even though there was extra protection blocking it!

Thankfully the sunshine replaced the rain on the first full day and the group enjoyed a rather long walk to the Capitol Building. An excellent tour of the congressional building was followed by an afternoon enjoying the museums in the Mall. From the Air and Space Museum to the Smithsonian; from the Holocaust Museum to the Museum of Natural

The following day the tour of the Mall was completed with time at the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials as well as the Lincoln Memorial. Then it was time to board the bus to Williamsburg; the rain came down again!

After at time of orientation at William and Mary College and the library, there was time to explore Colonial Williamsburg.

The following days were taken

up with lectures and time in the library experiencing the American university system.

The final day was spent in the outlet stores which was probably more exhausting than the intellectual challenge of the previous days! Then it was time to board the bus again for a quick visit to the first colony in Jamestown and lunch in Yorktown, where the final battle of the Revolutionary War ensured that British rule did not continue.

An exhausted group of sixth formers returned home the following day with a desire to eat more healthily for the rest of the holidays.

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ACADEMICS

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PARLIAMENT WEEK

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM TRIP

St George's was part of the national Parliament Week which ran from from 2 to 8 November.

There were a wide range of events and opportunities to engage in discussions. On Monday 4 November, the Lower Sixth Politics students met in the Chapel to have an adversarial debate on whether Private Schools should be banned. This was ably chaired by Head Girl, Lily. The following day the girls welcomed two guest speakers to ‘In Our Club Time’ to discuss Liberalism. Throughout the week over 70 girls entered the Parliament Quiz and the overall winner was Trista in the Third Year with full marks. Carmen from the Fifth Year designed the winning poster. The girls at St George's felt fully prepared for the General Election and following hustings in assembly

by Lower Sixth party candidates in the last week of term they had the opportunity to vote in a mock election at school on 11 December.

On Wednesday 6 November 2019, Sixth Form Art Historians visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford for an A Level History of Art Study Day focussing on art and globalisation.

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It was a privilege to be able to hear lectures from Dr Francesca Leoni, Assistant Curator of Islamic Art who spoke on lustre ceramics through time and An Van Camp, the Curator of Northern European Art, who focussed on the impact of colonisation on Dutch Art of the seventeenth century. Girls were then able to enjoy a visit to the temporary exhibition Last Supper in Pompeii before attending a fascinating seminar run by Objects Conservator, Nicky Lobaton, about her varied role within the museum.

DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATIONS On Wednesday 14 November the Second Years learnt about the Mexican Festival, ‘Day of the Dead’. This festival involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, to support their spiritual journey. In Mexican culture, death is viewed as a natural part of the human cycle. Mexicans view it not as a day of sadness but as a day of celebration because their loved ones awake and celebrate with them. Investigating the history behind this festival, the group also found out how it is celebrated nowadays. The girls iced cookie skulls creating decorations for the Ofrendas (altar of remembrance) which was definitely a highlight and hopefully made it a memorable experience.

EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION PRESENTATIONS The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a key component of the Sixth Form curriculum at St George’s and this term has been a busy one for the Upper Sixth as they submit their completed projects and present their findings.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is independently researched, produced and presented by pupils and is highly valued by universities. It is a standalone qualification separately recorded on the UCAS form in addition to A Levels.

A number of pupils also chose to create an artefact based on their research; including a portrait of a soldier to reflect different experiences of war, a monologue to convey a mother’s experience of a child with a drug addiction, a painting representing the inspiration behind the musician Loyle Carner’s newest album, and a piece symbolising coffee consumption and waste management and how it affects developing nations.

Congratulations to this capable group of girls who delivered such accomplished presentations.

The pupils have been working on their research for the past year and this is the culmination of a lot of hard work! Staff and fellow pupils attended presentations on topics as diverse as the Role of Big Businesses in Plastic Pollution, Social Media and Mental Health, Hype Brands, Extrasensory Perception, What Defines a Cult Classic Film, French New Wave Cinema, Seahenge and Whether the Portrayal of Alexander Hamilton in the musical ‘Hamilton’ was accurate.

TUDOR ENGLAND LECTURES The Upper Sixth History group ventured to the Capital on Tuesday, 19 November for a series of lectures concerning the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Given by distinguished academics, such visits provide an excellent chance for the girls to hear cutting edge research, gain an understanding beyond the level of their A Level texts and experience a flavour of university-style teaching. Four talks were heard by the girls who listened to the ideas of Professors Ronald Hutton, Glenn Richardson and Catherine Fletcher covering the significance of the threats to Henry VII, his methods of controlling England, the challenge of opposition to the Henrician Reformation and the extent of modernisation in Henry VIII’s government. Everyone came back to school with a number of sophisticated ideas to develop and having enjoyed the day.

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ACADEMICS

LOWER SIXTH VISIT TO THE NATIONAL SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEAVER SHOW The girls in the Lower Sixth continued their research into potential post-18 options after leaving St George's by attending the National School and College Leaver Show on Tuesday, 3 December. This new event, somewhat conveniently hosted at Ascot Racecourse, saw a large number of universities and employers attend. After the girls and staff had enjoyed a sunny, winter's day walk along the High Street, the students began to

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walk around the different stands.

Popular institutions such as Newcastle University and Royal Holloway were in attendance along with major employers such as Allen & Overy, PwC and Unilever. The girls' discussions with university and business representatives will have added a little more information and inspiration to their investigations into future plans.

“The girls’ discussions with university and business representatives will have added a little more information and inspiration to their investigations into future plans.”

FIRST YEAR RS TRIP TO WINCHESTER On Monday 25 November, girls from the First Year enjoyed a RS trip to Winchester Cathedral.

On arrival at the cathedral, the girls were given a professional guided tour and learned that the cathedral has one of the oldest fonts in Europe.

The girls were also fascinated to learn that the west window was shattered by the Roundheads during the English Civil War and remade by the people of Winchester after the war. The girls also learned about the connections between fish/fishermen

and the bible, and were shown how this is depicted in the stained-glass windows before having the opportunity to make their own stain-glass windows.

After lunch, the girls enjoyed looking around the Christmas markets and tucked into treats such as crepes, fudge and hot chocolate. Finally, the girls had loads of fun ice-skating with many taking to the ice-rink for the first time.

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ACADEMICS

AUTUMN TERM AWARDS On Wednesday 11 December, The Autumn Awards took place in the Sue Cormack Hall. Girls and Staff celebrated the hard work, achievement and successes of all the girls who have worked incredibly hard this term. Mrs Hewer awarded prizes Year group prizes for effort, achievement, progress, for clubs, sports and much more. Well done to all girls for their work this term.

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CAROL SERVICE AT WINDSOR PARISH CHURCH On Thursday 12 December, the annual Festival of Lessons with Carols at Windsor Parish Church was a special end to a busy Autumn Term at St George’s. The congregation enjoyed listening to the Chapel Choir and First Year Choir who performed impressively together with readings from a number of girls from each Year group in the school. We wish our SGA community a happy and peaceful Christmas!

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THE ARTS

FIRST YEAR PANTO Nothing gets the school community in a festive mood more than a fabulous First Year Pantomime, and this year’s performance was no exception! The First Year took on the well-loved story of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, hosting over 300 local primary school children for the matinee performance from Windlesham Infants School, Connaught School, Frogmore School and St Michael’s School. Staff, friends and family attended the evening performance and there was much audience participation with the crowd laughing, boo-ing and hiss-ing their way through the performance. Very well done to this talented group of First Years for whom this was their first theatre production at St George’s. They put on a memorable performance with their comic timing and over the top characterisations. They were nothing short of wonderful and the girls deserve many congratulations!

“They were nothing short of wonderful and the girls deserve many congratulations!”

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THE ARTS

AUTUMN CONCERT Thursday 14 November saw the Music School Open Evening followed by the Autumn Concert in the Sue Cormack Hall.

Many girls took to the stage and the event showcased the diversity and excellence that music at St George’s has to offer. As well as vocal and instrumental solos from girls in several year groups, the audience was treated to performance by the First Year Choir, and pieces ranging from ‘Tell me on a Sunday’ by Andrew Lloyd-Webber to ‘The Swan’ by Saint-Saens, and ‘On My Own’ by Schonberg to ‘Chim chim chere--e’ from the musical Mary Poppins. Everyone was entertained and had a most enjoyable evening.

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THE ARTS

CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION Congratulations to all the girls who entered the St George’s Christmas card competition.

As always, the standard was very impressive and the winning design certainly did not disappoint. First place this year went to Nicole in the Third Year with her stunning Madonna and Child design. Highly commended entries were also received from June in the Lower Sixth, and Sofya in the First Year.

JUNIOR CONCERT On Friday 22 November, the First, Second and Third Year musicians and vocalists put on an informal concert for parents in the Chapel. All the girls sang and played impressively with talent and enthusiasm. There were instrumental solos on piano, violin and flute along with some performances from the First Year Choir including the old time favourite, ‘The Bear Necessities’ from The Jungle book.

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THE ARTS

CHAPEL CHOIR AT COWORTH PARK This is the sixth year that the Chapel Choir have been invited to sing Christmas carols at the prestigious Georgian Manor House, Coworth Park.

As always, Coworth Park was beautifully decorated with festive decorations and a beautifully dressed Christmas tree. The girls were received by Mr and Mrs Rayner, past parents of the school and sang fabulously to an appreciative audience.

“As always, Coworth Park was beautifully decorated with festive decorations and a beautifully dressed Christmas tree.”

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FESTIVITIES

LINK TO HOPE SHOEBOX APPEAL It was great to see a pile of shoeboxes appearing in the chapel after half term. In the end, 35 were dropped off to the Ascot Representative for ‘Link to Hope’, a charity that takes the shoe-boxes to some of the poorest families in Eastern Europe. ‘Link to Hope’ work in Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine and Romania, and it is heart-warming to think that a simple box packed with gifts and treats can bring joy to families in another part of the world. Huge thanks and well done to all who participated!

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FIFTH YEAR CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR

SIXTH FORM VISIT WINCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKETS

On Monday 25 November, Christmas came early to St George's with a very well-attended Fifth Year Charity Fair. There were cakes and games galore including deer-pong, candy cane relays and pin the tail on the reindeer. Face painting and gingerbread decorating kept the girls busy and bubbletea sold out three times over! The wonderful cakes that the Fifth Year girls and parents baked went down a storm. A huge amount of effort went into this event from the girls and they were rewarded with over £600 raised in support of our three chosen school charities.

Sunday 8 of December saw the Sixth Form’s annual festive trip to the Christmas Market in Winchester.

Lower Sixth pupils were treated to a wide variety of interesting craft and food stalls which they could peruse and pick up some last minute Christmas gifts. This was followed by a hearty lunch at Pizza Express. The girls then proceeded to the outdoor ice skating rink in the Christmas Market where they had a great time trying to master the finer points of staying upright!

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CHRISTMAS CAROLS, DINNER AND PARTY As is Georgian tradition, on Wednesday 11 December, the whole school gathered to sing carols in the Chapel before enjoying a delicious roast turkey dinner in the dining hall (with all the trimmings of course).

Girls and Staff enjoyed the opportunity to come together and celebrate a successful term before making their way over to the Sue Cormack Hall for a whole-school party and lots of dancing!

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BOARDING

BOARDING NEWS

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS

On Thursday 28 November, Knatchbull House Lower Sixth girls celebrated Thanksgiving by gathering together and sharing food cooked by one another. The feast included roasted sweet potatoes topped with molten marshmallows, this may sound strange, but it was surprisingly tasty! The girls also enjoyed American style cupcakes and brownies. It was lovely to see the girls spending time together in the common room and paying homage to their American connections, something which they are truly thankful for!

GINGERBREAD DECORATING

On Tuesday 3 December, the Knatchbull House girls enjoyed decorating their Christmas trees, spending time together and icing festive gingerbread biscuits as part of our Christmas celebrations. It was wonderful to enjoy the festivities with the girls who were sporting their new Christmas socks and singing along to Christmassy soundtracks.

LEXICON SHOPPING TRIP

On Saturday 9 November, our boarders were treated to a shopping trip at the Lexicon Shopping Centre in Bracknell where they had the opportunity to embrace the festive spirit and do a little Christmas shopping.

Despite the cold, rainy weather, the girls had an amazing time.

LOWER SIXTH BOARDERS PAMPER NIGHT

The Lower Sixth joined together to make healthy fruit smoothies on Wednesday 13 November. Mixing and matching their favourite fruits, the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth joined forces to make a healthy alternative to the usual treats available in Knatchbull.

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CHARITY, COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

On the morning of Monday 11 November the school gathered in the Chapel for our Remembrance Service. We welcomed Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Jedge Lewin, father of Millie, who spoke to pupils and staff about The Royal British Legion and the work this wonderful charity does for service men and women and their families.

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CHARITY, COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS ASSEMBLY WITH MARY’S MEALS

CONFIRMATION

It was a pleasure to welcome Peter Higgins to chapel on Friday 8 November to talk about Mary's Meals. Mary's Meals is one of three chosen charities St George’s is supporting this year, and works to feed school meals to some of the poorest children in the world. Mr Higgins described his own connection with Mary's Meals, having come from a business background as co-founder of the successful company Charles Tyrwhitt. The charity works with local farmers and families in Malawi and other countries to feed children and enable their education to go forward so that they have the chance of rising out of poverty. Astonishingly, the cost of feeding a child for a YEAR is only £13.90 (less in some countries). Thanks go to Mr Higgins for giving up his time to inspire and encourage our fundraising for this very worthy cause.

A small congregation gathered in the Chapel on Sunday 17 November as Bishop Henry Scriven came to Confirm two girls into the Church of England. Olivia and Isabel had participated in a term of discussion, exploration and reflection, growing in their faith and preparing to be confirmed. They attended a retreat on 8 November to discover more about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christians. At the service, the choir sang beautifully and Bishop Henry spoke about the courage it takes to have faith. There was a lovely atmosphere for family and friends to gather for this celebration and to share in a delicious tea afterwards. Congratulations Isabel and Olivia!

MUN CONFERENCE AT RGS GUILDFORD The preparation for the RGS MUN was rather frantic given there was only a week after half term. Nevertheless, the delegates were well prepared for the first conference of the academic year. For some of the delegates this was their first time at a Model United Nations and the nerves were building. However there was no need to worry as they would be well supported in agreeing resolutions concerning Women's Rights and the Gender Pay gap. Delegates were also assigned to the Human Rights committee discussing the protection of Freedom of Speech and our more experienced delegates, Keshni and Katie to the Security Council. However the excitement built in the General Assembly when there was a news flash informing delegates that the US had left NATO and had invaded Greenland. There was frantic discussions and eventually the General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the invasion and allowing, if necessary, the use of nuclear weapons! An exciting and challenging had been experienced which ended on a high, with Katie being highly commended as the China delegate in the Security Council.

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ALUMNAE CAREERS AFTERNOON St George’s hosted its second biannual Alumnae Careers Day on Friday, 15 November 2019. The girls in the Fourth Year and above were invited to sign up for three sessions given by returning former pupils concerning their careers and current roles. From an extreme skier to a partner in a law firm, to a primary school teacher and a jewellery designer, the pupils were able to listen to a range of fascinating talks. One of the well-attended lectures was given by Sophie Lanfear who spoke about her recent filming with David Attenborough and career as a filmmaker. In the Chapel, all three sessions given by Lara Asprey concerning her roles in television and business were also very popular.

At the end of these talks the girls split into two groups based on houses and asked questions to a panel of the alumnae. These sessions were broader in focus with questions ranging from how women deal with sexism, balance motherhood with work, and the advice the speakers would have given to their former Georgian selves. We were delighted to welcome back our former pupils and the girls were inspired by their advice and the reality of their varied successes.

ELEVATE EDUCATION TALK On Monday 25 November, the Fifth Year took part in an interactive seminar on Study Sensei. The session was extremely useful and gave the girls many new tips on organising their notes and revision techniques. This will prove invaluable when preparing for their mocks in January and their real GCSEs in the summer.

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SGA BULLETIN

HOUSE DEBATING FINAL The House Debating final saw a third/fourth play-off between Becket and Darwin Houses.

The girls debated whether the UK should remove all their nuclear weapons. A topic of contention with discussions over whether nuclear weapons had kept the peace since the Second World War as well as the cost of maintaining our nuclear defence. It was ably debated with Grace winning ‘Best Debater’ of the whole competition.

However, the final saw fiery exchanges between Alexander and Churchill House over the abolition of the monarchy. Perhaps it was the fear of voting in a Trump-like President which won the day although Meriel’s comic timing and ability to argue logically certainly had a significant impact and a strong reason why Churchill House won the debate.

All the debaters should be congratulated particularly those of the younger years who spoke clearly and confidently.

BOARDING TASTER NIGHT Markham House welcomed nine prospective girls for the Boarding Taster Night held on Friday 8 November. The evening began with the girls decorating and painting their own canvas bags. They were then treated to some hot chocolate in the common room before bedtime. The girls enjoyed decorating their own cupcakes on Saturday morning before leaving to go home. It is clear that the girls had lots of fun and that many new friendships were made!

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SECOND YEAR TRIP TO ‘COME FROM AWAY’ As part of the school’s festive celebrations, the Second Year visited London on the last Monday of term to see the musical, ‘Come From Away’. The trip to the theatre was preceded by supper at Pizza Express. The St Martin’s Lane restaurant did the girls proud, with their own room, delicious pizzas and efficient and friendly staff. Deftly negotiating the Christmas crowds, the girls walked the short distance to the Phoenix Theatre where they arrived in time to purchase popcorn and chocolate.

Although ‘Come From Away’ may not appear to have an overtly Christmas flavour, it does focus on the kindness and hospitality shown by the tiny population of Gander to those 700 airline passengers, stranded in Newfoundland following the 9/11 disaster. These were hosts who, despite

limited resources, found ‘room at the inn’ for those in need.

The show opened on a normal day in Gander where the only cause for concern was a local bus strike. This mundanity was quickly shattered by the arrival of several diverted planes and their baffled passengers who were unaware of the catastrophic events in New York. The Second Year might have been baffled too had they not studied these events earlier in the term, especially as this was à pacy show with numerous slick set and costume changes. The foot-tapping tunes, many reminiscent of an Irish jig, lifted the mood of the stricken passengers and the audience, so that, what began as a rather bleak depiction of the situation, ended in a celebration of humanity in the face of adversity.

On the coach journey home via Marble Arch, the girls were able to enjoy the Christmas lights. They had an excellent view of Winter Wonderland’s illuminations and Hyde Park, bathed in a myriad of bright colours, put everyone in the festive mood.

UPPER SIXTH GO KARTING On 17 November, a group of Upper Sixth girls embarked on fun Go Karting experience. On arrival at the venue in Farnborough, the girls were handed ‘blue bags’ to wear under their crash helmets and all-in-one driving suits; it’s fair to say the girls weren’t too impressed by this! After many laps around the track and a fierce fight on the track between Molly and Miss Earnshaw-Punnett, Molly took first place. It was a great afternoon out and really showed everybody’s competitive side. The Upper Sixth have said that they are very keen to return to the track in the not too distant future!

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SGA BULLETIN

DARWIN HOUSE PARTY The House Parties are always a highlight of the academic year and this year Darwin House were first to host with their party taking place on Friday 15 November. As the temperatures started to plummet outside, the Winter Wonderland theme could not have been more apt. However, the atmosphere inside was warm as pupils, parents and staff enjoyed a hearty meal followed by some wonderful entertainment. The Darwin House girls really shone with their accomplished singing, instrumental solos, LAMDA performances and dancing. The evening was complete when every member of the House got together to sing ‘Love Is Easy’ by McFly.

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CHURCHILL HOUSE PARTY The Churchill House party began with girls, staff and guests congregating outside the South Lawn Room for drinks and good conversation. Sixth Formers, Ady and Keira worked the room, taking photos and making the rest of the girls feel like the Disney stars they had come dressed as. After a short while, guests were invited into the Dining Room which had been transformed from Dining Room to a Disney World, complete with ‘Frozen’ masks and a ‘Lady and the Tramp’ inspired menu. The House Captain Meri gave a quick speech thanking all the staff who had made the evening so special before moving over to the Sue Cormack Hall for the evening's entertainment. The girls delivered LAMDA drama pieces, solo’s and duos, and generally put on a real show of talent. The house song, ‘Best day of my life,’ was a rousing rendition, complete with harmonies. The House dance was choreographed to ‘Walking on sunshine,’ which resulted in an amusing and well executed dance. It was a successful and memorable evening.

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SGA SPORT

U12 SOUTH EAST BERKSHIRE NETBALL TOURNAMENT

U13 SOUTH EAST BERKSHIRE NETBALL TOURNAMENT

On Tuesday 19 November the U12A team played in the South East Berkshire Netball tournament.

They played many matches against some tough opposition. The girls focused on improving their timing in order to get free and made lots of interceptions in defence. Player of the tournament goes to India.

Well done to the U13A Netball team, who competed in the SE Berkshire tournament against 11 other teams, finishing 3rd overall. Mrs French was particularly impressed by our chosen MVP Tilly, who combined with Bea in the defensive circle to only concede 5 goals in the 1st 4 games! The teams positioning and interceptions were phenomenal, and our circle attack movement was the best Mrs French has seen. Well done to all players for such an excellent performance.

The results of the individual matches were: • The Holt L 2-1 • Garth L 4-0 • Marist A L 4-1 • Newlands A L 4-1 • St. Mary’s A D 1-1 Our U12B team got through to the 5th/6th play-off and lost to St Mary’s 2-0 but a well fought game, in some very cold temperatures. The defence were incredible all evening , with countless interceptions from player of the tournament Anya.

Individual match scores: • Maiden Erlegh W 19-0 • St Mary’s W 7-0 • Charters W 6-3 • Ranelagh W 3-2 • Holt A (overall winners) L 1-7 • Semi-final vs Marist L 2-6 • Overall positioning: 3rd (12 teams total)

Results: • The Abbey - W 4-0 • Dolphin - L 0-5 • Holt D 1-1 • Charters L 1-2 • Ranelagh W 2-0

U15 SOUTH EAST BERKSHIRE NETBALL TOURNAMENT The U15 A and B teams competed in the South East Berkshire tournament on Wednesday 6 November.

Both teams played well, displaying some slick attacking play and determined defending. The conditions were wet, but the girls stayed focussed and gave excellent accounts of themselves. The A team placed 7th in the Cup competition and the B team placed 6th in the Plate competition.

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HOUSE NETBALL All girls competed in the House Netball competition on the final day of term. Each house fielded an A and B team for juniors and seniors. There was fierce competition in both age groups with some brilliant play. The teams worked incredibly hard in freezing conditions and supported each other from the sidelines.

It was wonderful to see girls from the First Year to Upper Sixth playing and working well together.

In the end Alexander House was victorious and gave the best overall performance.

The full results are as follows: • 1st

Alexander House • 2nd Churchill House • 3rd Becket House • 4th Darwin House Senior Netball • 1st Churchill House • 2nd Becket House • 3rd Alexander House • 4th Darwin House Overall • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th

Alexander House Churchill House Becket House Darwin House

(46 points) (20 points) (34 points) (12 points)

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SGA SPORT

SWIMMING MASTERCLASS WITH NICK GILLINGHAM MBE On Friday 29 November, we welcomed Nick Gillingham MBE to our new pool to run a masterclass with the squad swimmers. Nick represented Great Britain in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics where he won the silver medal in the 200m breaststroke. Four years later at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics he won a bronze medal in the same event. Nick has also represented England in the Commonwealth Games and European and World Championships.

The girls were welcomed by Nick and were shown his silver and bronze medals that he had won at the Olympics - they were surprisingly heavy! Nick spoke to the girls about the training he had endured to be able to compete at the highest level. The main focus of this masterclass was the pool session, of which Nick put the girls through their paces focusing on key elements of head movement in each stroke and streamlining. The girls continued to develop their

strokes throughout this session and we cannot wait to see them use some of the drills learnt within their training sessions with Miss Stepp next term.

It has been a fantastic opportunity for the swimmers to train with one of England’s top coaches and we hope for more masterclasses in the future.

“The girls continued to develop their strokes throughout this session and we cannot wait to see them use some of the drills learnt.”

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FIRST HOME GALA VS HEATHFIELD! The swimming team have made excellent progress throughout the term. The team is becoming much stronger and there have been impressive numbers regularly attending squad training sessions.

Monday the 18 November saw the first gala of this academic year against Heathfield School and it was hosted in our new pool. Not only did this give many swimmers the chance to compete in their first competitive gala, but it also enabled us to showcase our new pool complex.

For many of the First Years, this was a chance to find out what competitive swimming was really

like. There were some excellent swims by all of the girls, especially Sofya’s 25 metre freestyle with a season’s best time for her age group of 17 seconds!

The team of Tina, Fong, Thea, Emily, Amber, Erin, Estella, Seesy, Cara, Sofya, Islay Ruby and Ami won their age category with a huge 108 point win over Heathfield’s 76 points! The open age group which consisted of Alice, Annabel, Daisy, Imogen, Phoebe and Tilly were also victorious.

The final result was an overall win by St George’s with a lead of 19 points. Well done to all of the girls who competed and many thanks to Mrs EarnshawPunnet, Miss Earnshaw-Punnett and Miss Stepp.

SKI TEAM TRAINING The SGA Ski Team are getting ready to complete in the ‘British Schoolgirls’ Races’ to be held in Flaine, France during January 2020. Preparations are now in full swing and the team have been consistently attending weekly fitness sessions in the gym, focussing on leg strength and core stability. With a couple of months to go, the girls are very excited and determined to train hard in order to improve on their 2019 performance. We wish them all the very best of luck!

ST GEORGE’S, ASCOT | ISSUE 122

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ST GEORGE’S, ASCOT | ISSUE 122