St George’s Ascot News

Issue 32, 2^nd July 2009

The end of the school year was celebrated in many ways as we said goodbye and thank you to leaving girls and staff, reflected on the past, and recognised many achievements in a wide variety of aspects of school life. The Valedictory Service was a poignant mixture of appropriate readings and music enjoyed by girls in 5^th Year and 6^th Form, their parents and staff, as we began to make our official goodbyes.

BERKSHIRE SCHOOLS’ ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

3 girls from St George’s recently competed in the Berkshire County Athletics Championships held at Palmer Park Stadium in Reading. The standard was very high and Emma and Lucy performed well in their track events. Lily-Mae won the Pole Vault event, clearing 2.80 metres, which was a new championship record. As a result Lily Mae has been selected to represent our County at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in Sheffield.

1^st YEAR ECOLOGY

Never in a million years did any of us imagine that we would be butterfly-catching in Science. A week before the end of term, I personally thought that it would be relaxation all the way, but instead IY were peeking and poking through bushes and soil. Never underestimate the amount of different types of leaf in one hedge! This has been a great project. I’ve loved working with people I don’t usually work with, and all in all it has been a great end to the 1^st Year Science.

Emily)

For the last two weeks we studied Ecology. Two groups investigated the hedge and the ditch, and three groups looked at the meadows. We dug pit-fall traps, used pooters, nets and beating to catch different types of animal, and then we identified them and drew them. It was great fun.

Suzanne

SILVER DUKE OF EDINBURGH PRACTICE EXPEDITION

Fifteen girls completed their Silver canoeing practice expedition. In total they canoed 62 km along the River Thames.. As part of their award they have to cook for themselves, using a trangia stove, and must be self sufficient, carrying all their equipment in their canoes. All girls completed the expedition with high spirits, and they are now looking forward to their assessed expedition in October.

BRONZE DUKE OF EDINBURGH ASSESSED EXPEDITION

Sixteen girls completed their Bronze assessed expedition. The three groups departed early on Saturday morning. After navigating approximately 15km in the extreme heat, they reached their campsite.  Once there, the girls set up their tents and cooked their dinner underneath the sunny sky.  As dusk began to roll in the instructors made a huge log fire for the girls to roast marshmallows over. On Sunday morning the girls were off by 9 am on another 15km hike. Their assessors gave each of the groups praise for completing their Bronze expedition successfully.

ASCOT SCHOOLS’ U12 ROUNDERS

The U12 rounders team participated in the Ascot schools’ tournament, held at the Marist. Having qualified for the semi-finals, we were put up against Ranelagh.  The girls fielded magnificently and eventually won 5.5 – 1, to qualify for the final against St. Mary’s ‘A’ team.  After a tense and hard fought match and some excellent decision making when fielding and batting, the girls eventually won by 4.5 rounders to 3, thus becoming the new champions.  Well done to the whole team!

BOX HILL

The 2^nd Year went to study the impacts of tourism on the natural environment. They collected data on footpath erosion and species diversity, and how they vary over the area, as well as evaluating the noise, litter and traffic in different parts of the site. Interviews were carried out to see why tourists go there, and how far they have travelled.

MUSIC FOR A SUMMER EVENING

On a warm summer’s evening, the audience enjoyed refreshments on the South Lawn, before a magical concert, featuring the Jazz Group, Chapel Choir and 6^th Form Soloists. The leaving U6^th musicians gave us one last opportunity to enjoy their huge musical talents as they performed solos and premiered works composed for them. The evening ended with the traditional audience participation in a medley of old favourites.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TENNIS

Flora) and her Mother Camilla and her Mother

15 brave mums joined their daughters to compete in the annual Mother and Daughter tennis tournament. The best turn out for a few years was rewarded by fantastic weather and play. The overall winners, winning by 6 games to 3, were Flora and Mrs Slater. A special mention also went to Camilla and Mrs Wordie, who both received their tennis colours for attending every year since Camilla joined the 1^st Year.

2^nd Year at Chedworth

CHEDWORTH

The trip was fascinating! We got to see some truly beautiful mosaics that had been preserved from the Roman period! It was really fun and interesting!

Kate

It was very interesting to learn how the baths were made and heated by the hypocaust system. The mosaics in the bath were beautifully made and designed. It’s amazing that a lot of the mosaic is still preserved.

Daria

The trip was one of the best day trips I have been on! I particularly remember the story about how Chedworth was rediscovered. A dog went after a ferret, got stuck in the rabbit hole and had to be dug out by its owner who then in the process discovered tesserae from a mosaic.

Darcy

The part I most enjoyed was seeing the water shrine for the Romans’ water nymphs. We were even allowed to flip a coin into the pool and make a wish!”

Hannah

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

A group of 3rd Year went and helped Reverend Steven Johnson prepare to move into the Vicarage in Sunninghill. We helped clear parts of the vicarage, and managed to paint ALL the radiators in the house – without painting ourselves in the process. It was great fun! It felt very rewarding to know that we were helping Reverend Johnson, since he often gives talks and conducts services for us. We at St George’s would like to wish the Reverend Johnson and his wife Rachel every happiness in their new home.

Lydia and Alexandra

SLAPTON LEY

The 4^th Year have been collecting data for their GCSE geography coursework. We spent 4 days at the Slapton Ley field studies centre investigating how river channel characteristics change along the length of a river, whether sediment is transported along a bay and how tourism affects seaside towns. The girls worked very hard and were a credit to St George's.

THE 5^TH YEAR RETURN

Having been, to quote Mrs Jordan, “posh enough to contract swine flu, but clever enough to manage to sit all their exams” the 5^th Year returned for the last few days. Amidst rehearsals for choir, instrumental groups and prize giving, they celebrated being back together again with a

packed programme of activities.

THE U6^TH REMEMBER

With their exam leave about to begin, our U6^th took their seats at the back of Chapel for the last time. It was a poignant moment.School was amused to hear some of their fondest memories which included snow days; power cuts; birthday celebrations; a range of teachers and lessons and many school trips.  Worst moments varied from May bugs in dorms, projectile vomiting, to exams, UCAS and being scared of Mrs Dyer - who appeared unconvinced that any vestige of that still remained. When asked how it felt to be a Georgian, frequent answers included feeling free in the 6^th Form, feeling able to make a difference, being privileged to have such friends. The feeling was summed up by one group simply as ‘loved’.

Having told us of their memories, Mrs Dyer told us how she will remember the U6 fondly because they are friendly, caring, jolly, generous, compassionate and possess a huge sense of what is just and fair; they will stand up for what they see as right and defend each other; they have passion. We hope they will take these qualities into the world beyond St George’s and we wish them every happiness and success in the future.

FRESHERS’ DAY

Freshers’ Day was a great success, with current 1^st Year girls welcoming new freshers to St George’s for an afternoon of fun, excitement and new friendships. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the new 1^st Year in September.

GEORGE’S TRIUMPHANT TOUR OF FRANCE

L’ours est de retour.

It est maintenant bilangue!

George had a fun filled drive through deepest France, chauffeured by Mr Charnock, as they took part in the 25^th and final Deeley Classics “Claret & Classics Rally”. Wherever he went, George was always the centre of attention. They managed to finish 16^th of the mere 20 cars that made it to the end. George had such a good time that he is now trying to persuade Mr Charnock to take him on the Port to Port race (Oporto to Santender, via Santiago de Compostela) next Easter.