St George’s Ascot     News

Issue 31,  19^th June 2009

MRS JORDAN’S NEWS You will be delighted to hear that Mrs Jordan has been asked to Chair the Girls’ Schools Association’s Education and Academic Policy Committee. Through her recent work on the committee she has been able to keep us up to speed with curriculum developments such as the AQA Baccalaureate, changes to the GCSEs and the introduction of the A* at A Level. She will now be expected to speak on behalf of Girls’ Schools about any aspect of the curriculum and will sit on the Independent Schools Council’s Education Committee and be a member of GSA’s Council. We are proud that Mrs Jordan’s wealth of knowledge and expertise has been recognised in such prestigious committees. It is good to know that St George’s will be at the forefront of educational development.
Juliet			Anna & Jenny
JUNIOR MUSIC CONCERT There is no shortage of talent in the Junior Years. The audience were treated to a charming selection of vocal and instrumental solos and a toe tapping piano duet, before the concert ended with the 1^st Year Choir’s spirited rendition of “Play a Simple Melody”. Some of the enthusiastic choir were not always sure whether to concentrate on watching their conductor, Mrs Watson, or to respond to Mr Hillier’s gesticulations, at the back of the Chapel, for even louder singing.
Helen					Lily
NORMANDY 2009 The 3^rd Years spent four gloriously sunny days in Normandy visiting the landing beaches and museums associated with D-Day. Our visit was made all the more poignant as the week progressed, as the area became busy with people coming to celebrate the 65^th anniversary, and some girls were able to speak to a couple of the veterans Everyone worked very hard with lessons well into the evening, but the girls did have the chance to relax on the beach in sight of the concrete blocks which form the Mulberry Harbour.
DRAMA SUCCESSES Following auditions earlier this year, the good news is that Katie and Manpreet have both been accepted by the National Youth Theatre, and will spend some weeks with the NYT during the summer holiday. We are delighted that they have been successful and hope that they have an exciting and fulfilling time. Polly has also been successful in being selected to play the challenging role of Agave in The Bacchai by Euripides, which is next term’s Eton School Play. We also wish Polly good luck with this.
WATERSPORTS WEEKEND ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT It was hardly ideal weather, but the bitterly cold wind and rain could not dampen the 2^nd Years’ enthusiasm. Everyone gave 100% to every activity – be it falling off windsurfers, falling out of dinghies or toppling off kayaks. When not having fun getting totally soaked in the water, there were all sorts of other activities to provide even more laughter and team spirit.
To quote some of the girls… “Everybody who had been in the previous years said that it was the best trip that they had been on, and I think it definitely lived up to the expectations! “                  Laareb “My best memory will be when my entire group and I got stuck on a beach of mud, falling over with every step we took, and touching the white boats with muddy hands! By the time we got home everything was covered in mud! “                                        Isabelle “My favourite memory is probably dinghy sailing. Juju and I could not get any wind for 30 minutes, then it started raining really heavily and we had to hold on to our boats. Suddenly we caught the wind, and Darcy and Ellen could not hold on, and so they let go. Then, when we were ages away from everyone, and tried to turn around, the wind stopped. Dasha “My scariest, and most funny memory, was when Bella and I went on a sailing boat with one of the instructors; the weather was not very good, so the wind really picked up the speed of our dinghy. We didn’t realise that there was a hole in the boat, and it started sinking. We capsized completely two times – going head under water!”                           Lily To quote Miss Moody… “All the instructors commented to me on the girls’ infectious enthusiasm, their delightful manners, and their willingness to have a go at everything. Ms Shipley and I were proud to be associated with them”
HAVE BEAR, WILL TRAVEL Mr Charnock is taking time off from his History of Art and Film Studies to participate in a vintage car rally to deepest France. With him in his adventure in his beloved old MG, which is an appropriate Georgian red, will be his lucky mascot ‘George’, a St George’s teddy. He was also presented with a St George’s umbrella – hopefully to be needed only as a sun shade. We wish him well on his travels and look forward to seeing George’s ‘holiday snaps’.             OÙ SOMMES-NOUS?
THIRD YEAR THEATRE TRIP AND WORKSHOP Each summer, the English Department takes the Third Year girls to see a Shakespeare play: at The Globe or, this year, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. The play was Much Ado About Nothing and, as this was unfamiliar territory, Miss Barnett and Mr Stafford ran a workshop beforehand to teach the story. The coach journey was perfectly to time, and allowed us to enjoy a fragrant half hour in Queen Mary’s Rose Garden and the Japanese water gardens close by the Theatre. The return journey passed through the Zoo, so the girls were able to admire the splendid Aviary, designed by Lord Snowdon, the Mappin terraces (for the bears and mountain goats) and, at Perivale, the wonderful Art Deco Hoover building.   For many girls this was their first experience both of a professional performance of a Shakespeare play and of the Regent’s Park Theatre. What a day!
2^nd year NSPCC charity cricket match v staff In a fun charity cricket match, arranged by the 2^nd Year, St George’s pupils took on the staff. Both teams were heavily over-subscribed and very keen to win. St George’s team was led by a very competent and athletic Amber, and the staff team was led by, well ….., Miss Barnett. In the allocated 7 overs, the pupils got 48, with some mighty hits by Jenny. The staff team started off well enough, with the opening duo scoring 18 singles in 3 overs, but then things went less consistently. In the last over the staff needed 8 runs but only managed 6, thus conceding defeat to overjoyed St George’s team. About £80 was raised for NSPCC. The 2^nd Year staff and pupils would like to thank all those who took part, and those who attended as spectators, supporting the first ever cricket match at St George’s.
SPORTS DAY RESULT 4^th Alexander    157 3^rd Darwin         204 2^nd Churchill     228 In 1^st place Becket House with 234 points.
Sports Day was a lovely day, with events keenly contested and supported with great House spirit by all. School records were achieved by Elizabeth (Senior Shot 10.02m), Courtney (Junior Shot 8.13 m) and Emma in the Senior High Jump (1.55m). Becket House 2^nd Year team of Masha, Isabel, Emily and Saskia also achieved a new school record in the relay. Mrs Moss won the Mothers’ race and Mr Halliwell the Fathers’ Race. The quickest Little Dog was Tallulah, accompanied by Darcy, and reigning champion, Monty, accompanied by Hannah, won the Big Dogs’ race.

St George’s School, Ascot, SL5 7DZ