Chavagnes chronicle
Vol. IV No. 2
Easter 2006
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or the first time the boys were not back for Epiphany this year. Last year Father Pilon had heroically blessed every door in the school (and there are plenty of them!) with exorcised water. So we trust that the blessing of the three wise men will not have worn off just yet. A number of Chavagnes families enjoyed a delightful evening of Christmas cheer, courtesy of Bruern Abbey School, Chesterton, where we held a candlelight Epiphany Carol Service on the evening of 5th January, followed by seasonal refreshments in front of a roaring fire. Although many of the choir were absent and those present were still recovering from their Christmas dinners, Marija Morrison came to the rescue of the treble line, to the great relief of all. It was a lovely family event, and what a joy to meet two of our old boys again: Alex and Greg Morrison, now doing well at Oriel and Lampeter. Alex was proudly wearing his old Chavvers tie! ________
In March a contemporary interpretation of King Lear in Nantes (in English) by the Théâtre en Anglais was enjoyed by boys from the English literature GCSE class. However, due to Mr McDermott’s hubris in the role of navigator, boys in one out of the two vehicules arrived late for the play, producing a day of tragicomedy that was enjoyed by all ...
he highlight of January was our fourth annual Robert Burns Supper. This has become a great favourite with everyone, especially our French friends who genuinely enjoy the haggis, secretly smuggled in from Britain for the feast. A special thank-you should go to the boys who sacrificed afternoon sport to peel turnips for the occasion. Our high table was honoured by the presence of the Countess de Suzannet and Anne Catherine de Suzannet; Viscount Gilbert de Guerry, the Chairman of our Board; Colonel and Mrs Leroux, and of course Mrs Andrew McDermott. This year our Toastmaster was Mr Nestor, with the Immortal Memory given by Mr McDermott, the Toast to the Lassies by Mr Gray, and the Reply from the Lassies by Mrs Pattinson.
Only two days later, winter chill was banished again by Mozart’s 250th birthday on 27th January, for which occasion a very fine string ensemble, prepared by Mr Lloyd and Miss Bec, performed the first two movements of Mozart’s Eine kleine nachtmusik. The ensemble also accompanied the choir in a stirring rendition of Ave Verum. Two other numbers were intended to give some of our younger violinists a chance to shine: ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’ and ‘Happy birthday, dear Mozart’, both beautifully scored for violins, cello and piano by Mr Lloyd. Of course we all joined in the singing of the latter, even our French friends (who seemed to know all the words off by heart!) We were honoured to welcome on this happy occasion Father Gabriel Diaz, priest of the Russian Catholic parish in Paris. Father Diaz spent a few days with us and has invited a group from the College to visit his parish later in the year.
Burns Night comes at just the right time of year: in the cold of winter, a month after Christmas. This year we all enjoyed the pageantry of three kilted pipers and a drummer, giving all the traditional honours to the haggis.
The College’s choir and string ensemble joined with girls from La Bonne Nouvelle to give a rendition of Mozart’s Ave Verum during a concert in honour of Mozart’s birthday.
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Our chef Fabrice with cookery pupils Patrick, Michael and Matthew ...
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ne of the advantages of being a British school in France is that we can enjoy the best of both traditions when it comes to planning our menus! Since September boys have been enjoying bacon, egg and sausage on Sunday morning and this has gone down very well indeed (as has their lie-in: they now come down for a very leisurely breakfast 9 am!) We have also introduced a more hearty Sunday lunch. A group of boys now assist members of staff in preparing a traditional Sunday roast, good thick gravy, roast potatoes, two vegetables and a hot pudding with custard. Following a recent discovery that a number of boys really enjoy working in the kitchen, Fabrice Clautour, our chef, will now be giving cookery classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays to two groups of four boys as part of our system of afternoon electives. Already some of our young cooks have helped make bread pudding, banana cake, turnip soup and vast quanities of crepes for Candlemas and Pancake Night.
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ther highlights of this term have been Dr Conlon’s Bridge nights, and even a Poker evening (with buttons for chips), a chess tournament with Collège Charlemagne (Nantes) and the visits of the Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Times, who both came to take photograph for articles in their papers. The articles can be found on the news pages of the College’s own website (www.chavagnes.org). Parents should note that we were not 100% happy with the image portrayed by these articles, with its emphasis on financial considerations. A clarification is perhaps called for: Chavagnes is an apostolate and not a
A Chavagnes boy learns how to be a painter and decorator, a particularly useful skill given the size and age of our buildings, and the continual need for redecoration ...
business, and inasmuch as it can be said to be cheaper than other schools, this is due mainly to the fact that we spend less money on salaries and resources than many other private schools. Our work is only made possible by the heroic dedication of staff - and indeed of pupils who in a very materialistic age have opted for what one parent recently called a ‘wholesome village life’. As this newsletter hits the press we have just hosted a weekend visit of six boys from Collège Charlemagne in Nantes and had great fun challenging them to board game contests, six-aside soccer, basketball and the like.
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n art classes this term boys have been painting icons on wood and copying renaissance masters. In choir we are just about getting the hang of Allegri’s Miserere, with Matthias Lloyd singing the achingly high top line. After the Easter holidays, a few lucky boys will be learning some Yorkshire sword dancing in a bid to keep up our annual tradition of doing incredibly silly things, incredibly early in the morning on May Day. The choir will also be in fine voice at 5am, to welcome the coming of summer, in competiton with the dawn chorus. We hope to make a recording of our singing for the spring and summer, title as yet to be established, which should be available as a CD by the end of the Trinity Term. This CD will include music covering Lent, Eastertide, St George’s Day, Rogation and May Day. Copies of our last CD, Les choristes de Chavagnes (a collection of sacred music, including Christmas carols) is still available from the College, priced 15 Euros including post and packing (in Europe). ____________
The appearance of two grey portakabins in the College’s front yard has been the cause of some consternation from locals who ask “will they be there for long?” The reason for their arrival is to enable building works to begin on the first floor of the building where some staff offices are currently located. When we all return after Easter, Father Pilon, Dr Conlon and Mr McDermott will have temporary offices in the front yard. Some other staff members will have moved to the private accommodation over the laundry and kitchens, so as to vacate completely the area where works need to be carried out. THE CHAVAGNES SUMMER SCHOOL FOR BOYS 3 sessions in July 2006
stay for one or two weeks in the heart of France Daily French lessons in a Catholic language school; Native French teachers. Daily Mass in French (we study the readings first so you can understand them!) Rowing, boating, swimming, football, cricket and other sports Visit an amazing historical theme park, the Puy du Fou, a vineyard, local chateaux and other interesting places in the Vendée Discover French history and culture Enjoy French cookery classes with our genuine French chef, Fabrice Clautour. Make new friends with French boys your own age who will be studying English here while you are studying French!! A week (or fortnight) to remember in the heart of Catholic France, at Chavagnes International College. Dates: Sunday 2nd July (arrive any time before 7pm) until Sunday 9thJuly (depart in the afternoon) Sunday 9th July (arrive any time before 7pm) until Sunday 16th July 2006 (depart in the afternoon) Sunday 16th July (arrive any time before 7pm) until Sunday 22nd July 2006 (depart in the afternoon)
Cost : 390 Euros (about £270) per week. (You can stay for one, two or even three weeks) Email summer@chavagnes.org for further details or to reserve a place