West House News
Summer 2012
Mrs Neill’s Message It’s hard to believe just how quickly this term has gone. With the Jubilee celebrations skewing the Whitsun holiday, these last four weeks have sped by particularly quickly. The summer term is always a rather strange time, since routines differ enormously depending on the year group. There have been a huge number of external (over 160!) and internal exams. By and large, West girls have worked extremely hard during what is at times, a very stressful period. There are of course others, who will have to make sure that they prioritise their academic work next year. Maintaining the balance between what goes on inside and outside of the classroom is a juggling act at which Cranleighans become very adept over their time here. As you read your daughters’ reports, I hope that this comes through, as West girls have been involved in a vast number of events and activities – some of which you will read about from various contributors later. Recently, our House Music Evening was an event I will certainly remember! It was great to see so many girls taking part in such a warm, welcoming atmosphere., surrounded by cupcakes and bunting. I appreciated everyone’s input, as did the rest of the house. What was slightly more disturbing, though very funny, was being confronted with 10 Mrs Neills and 10 Mrs Burns in lab coats dancing! The L6th went to such a lot of trouble to create this weird and hysterical routine – needless to say my husband found it a bit scary and will probably have nightmares for some time to come! We were treated to modern and classical performances, comparing by Scarly Rudd and a superb house rap by Livi Burgon and Rachel Lubbock. All in all, it was a great night. House Prayers was again, a real highlight, as it was a chance for me to thank staff and to say goodbye to our leavers. The U6th have been a fabulous year and really have lead by example in terms of how they have approached running the house and their own work. We will all miss them and wish them every success for the future. Thanks must, as always, go to the West team, Helen Burns, Sophie Diamond, the tutors and the matrons Isabel and Carol for their continued hard work in the house. Unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to Sophie, Ellie Mackay and Liz Jenkins, who are all off to pastures new...they may be new, but they won’t be as pink! A sad goodbye too, to Heli Mallory, who has been a West stalwart for so long – she is remaining at the school but that smelly boys house North has nabbed her! Little do they know that pink is in her blood and it’ll creep in to North somehow. As Heli said to me recently “Maroon is a bit like pink isn’t it?” Unfortunately too, I’ve been seconded to Cubitt, where smelly rugby kit will no doubt welcome me. I am so sorry to be leaving West and it really has been a privilege to get to know you and your daughters. It only remains for me to wish you and your families a wonderful summer and fingers crossed for some sun! CN
Summer Term Award Winners Progress: Grace Walker, Georgie Heinrich, Camilla Hampson, Abi Camsey and Immy Way Effort: Sophie Greaves, Ellie Smith, Tilda Martin, Ellie Connor, Lauren Chitty Half Colours: Tara Beamish, Karina Bondereva, Camilla Hampson, Camilla Mills, Georgia Pask, Livi Burgon, Liv Farrer, Georgia Hart, Rachel Hurst, Amy Sansom, Kate Seymour, Lucy Bown, Tash Large and Lise Taunton-Fenton Full Colours: Maddy Austin,, Charlotte Bradbrook, Lucy Burton, Georgie Pegg, Sophie Butterfield, Beth Gwilliam and Tara Walters House Necklace: Lizzie Wait and Freddie Dicks House Shield: Mara Waters, Emma Wallis and Georgia Watson Well done to all our prize winners!