Reflections on the Past

This weekábegan with a Bang! On Sunday evening, we marked the end of Half Term (and celebrated Bonfire Night early) with our annual GirlsÆ Division ParentsÆ Association Firework display. This was a wonderful occasion with stalls provided from all parts of the Foundation, delicious food and drinks served in the Dining Room and a delightful ambiance.á I am indebted to Laura and the PA committee for all that they did to organise the event so professionally.

Among those present for the occasion were our French visitors from Moulins. They were with us all week and went on some very interesting visits to Haworth, Chatsworth and Manchester during their time with us.

We marked the US Presidential election on Tuesday with our own vote. Having heard campaign speeches from the two candidates in assembly, we then expressed our own preference in ballot boxes around the school. The next day, our choice mirrored that of the American people, although with us it was a landslide win for Obama.

The Careers Department organised a Challenge Day for Year 10 on Wednesday. The girls had to direct and produce their own short film. They had a great time. One feedback form which we received said: áôThe tutors made the whole day a lot of fun and the actual activities were all very good.á I enjoyed the day and it gave everyone a chance to do something they would never usually do. It was a fantastic day in generalö.

On Friday things were a great deal more sombre. We held our Armistice Assembly in the Great Hall. The girls gathered at 10.45am and were joined by thirty Old Girls, invited back for the occasion. We heard poetry from Wilfred Owen, read by Leda Hadjigeorgiou and Annie Simon, and sang æI vow to thee my countryÆ and æJerusalemÆ. Isobel Faulkner played the Last Post and the Rouse (or Reveille). It was a very moving event and we are resolved to do something similar next year.

After attending assembly, many of the Old Girls went on a tour of the school before gathering in the Arts Centre for lunch. There, they were joined by Year Seven, who sang for them the School Song, as well as some of the songs which they had performed in the Year Seven concert.

At 4.30pm, I rushed home to watch CBBCÆs æMaster ChefÆ and our own Georgie Crowther, from Year 7, who cooked a delicious-looking rack of lamb as well as preparing a salmon starter. The Judges had nothing but praise for the dishes. Well done to Georgie, who came across exceedingly well during the whole process.

The week ended with two related events. Firstly, we welcomed a number of schools (including Highgate, Tonbridge, Gordonstoun, Leeds Grammar and Canford) to a Community Action Conference which we hosted over the weekend. The attendees spent a lot of time sharing ideas and enthusiasm about Community Action. áSecondly, on Saturday morning we hosted our first session of æShine: Serious Fun on SaturdayÆ, in which staff from the school teach members of local primary schools put forward by their teachers as able to benefit from enriching lessons. I enjoyed seeing the children get their first taste of lighting a Bunsen burner.

Luckily, the week began but did not end with explosions!