From the Head Girl

Head Girl

My name is Mati La Magna and I was the Head Girl during the academic year 2019~2020. I hope that this short recount of my time at Glendower School can give you a sense of what being Head Girl was like and the memories I have made at Glendower, where I have spent the last seven years.

Glendower has not just been a school for me or a simple place for learning, it has been a wonderful community that has taught me so much.

Being Head Girl was an experience like no other. It was exciting every day and I got to learn how to take on responsibilities with passion and poise. Although a duty I did perform was “prefecting”. A prefect stands on the stairs at the end of break times and kindly reminds the girls how to behave. I also got the pleasure to recite an allegory from the holy Bible at the harvest festival in November. That moment was very touching and fulfilling.

During all those years I have made friendships like no others and bonds with teachers too. Glendower has been like my second family since the day I started in year 1. I remember I was lining up at the front door waiting to shake hands to my headmistress. Millions of thoughts were flooding through me as the door opened at 8.30 am; no second earlier or later as always! (That I will never forget). The moment that I stepped in that hallway, excitedly waving to my parents, I instantly felt that I belonged.

Now that we are in Year Six and inevitably moving on to our secondary schools, I begin to look back on all my memories and what they meant to me. First off the school has taught me how to be kind, respectful of others, patient, resilient, passionate, and committed to improve and to not take my privileges for granted. All the subjects from Maths to Science to History, Glendower has opened my mind to a variety of different topics and allowed me to pursue my passion in them. I am especially grateful for the variety of sports Glendower had to offer: netball, cricket, football, swimming, rounders and the list goes on endlessly. My best sporting memories were going to the netball and swimming I.A.P.S. because the competitive atmosphere. Or, how could I forget, our first Christmas Carol Concert and our residential trip in Year Four. We toasted marshmallows around the campfire and sang jolly songs. Going to the Isle of Wight in Year Five was another highlight, I remember how I was in a group with 3 other girls when we went sailing and I was eager to try and steer, who knew it was going to turn out in disaster! The boat was tipping side to side frantically and I was screaming at the top of my lungs! These memories will remain engraved in my mind forever.

This year has been particularly special and like everybody has said, we are leaving “unprecedented times”. As a result of the corona virus pandemic, we have experienced classes from home in a virtual setting but learning has been with same intensity and fulfilling and despite this has made us all feel quite disappointed and, in some cases, discouraged, as “Glendower girls” we found the best way to get up and we have all been keeping in contact, showing a high sense of community. Additionally, a special thanks go to all Glendower staff for their hard work and dedication; they all have been amazing!

Glendower School: the White House, the teachers, all the staff, the playground, the countless stairs, will always stay in my heart.

I will be personally embracing another exciting experience moving to boarding school and although our paths will divide, I will always remember my school where little girls have been forged to become confident, kind, reassuring, women.

Mati

Head Girl