Boarding Life

Reaching new heights

In February, Leeds House boarders visited Clip ‘n Climb in Tonbridge, where they had the chance to climb over 40 different climbing walls, with some girls attempting to do all of them!

Paddle boarding in Ashdown Forest

On a sunny weekend in June, Gabs’ boarders had a fantastic time paddle boarding and kayaking at Ashdown Forest Water Sports.

Boarders’ trip to Battle

The final Saturday of Spring term saw a mixture of Year 9, 10 and Sixth Form boarders venture to the small town of Battle in the Sussex countryside to see the site of the Battle of Hastings, which famously took place in 1066. In the grounds of Battle Abbey, Mrs Downing led a session in which she created thought-provoking scenarios to allow the pupils to understand the different stages of the battle. The girls also enjoyed a walk around the grounds, which were stunning on such a beautifully sunny day.

Clay Pigeon shooting

An afternoon of relaxation Boarders go stargazing

Micks’ and Dunstans’ boarders had an exciting afternoon of Clayzer laser pigeon shooting over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Using real shotguns which were deactivated and modified with infra-red technology, the girls fired a beam at clays launched from a conventional clay trap. When the trigger was pulled a digital shotgun ‘bang’ was heard and the girls awaited with anticipation to see their score. Yaa was the Year 11 winner and Natalie the Year 12 winner, achieving the highest possible score of 30 in a fantastic final round!

Leeds’ girls enjoyed a pampering afternoon in June, where they practised hand, feet, head and shoulder massages followed by a guided relaxation. It was lovely to see their happy faces and giggles as they started to feel the benefits of the relaxation. In September, the boarders went stargazing with Dr Corvan. They looked at the various constellations in the night sky and used the School telescope to find Jupiter. They were able to see its coloured bands as well as its four Galilean Satellites - Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

On a glorious Saturday afternoon in May, Leeds’ girls visited Raystede Animal Rescue Centre and Sanctuary. There wasn’t a dull moment with lots to see and do, from fluffy cats and dogs to goats and horses and exotic birds in the aviary.

Trip to Raystede Animal Sanctuary

Trip to Middle Farm

In April, Leeds’ girls visited Middle Farm where they had the opportunity to feed the lambs and see other farm animals, including rabbits, goats and pigs. A great day was enjoyed by all.

In May, Gabs’ boarders undertook a crash course in illusion photography, with some impressive results!

Mayfair - the Mayfield village festival - took place in May, with boarders from Leeds House and Gabs in attendance. Both Houses had a stand, with activities ranging from splat the rat to cake sales to pom poms and bracelets. The highlight though was the maypole dancing and the Leeds’ girls performed their routine beautifully.

Just an illusion!

Maypole dancing

Alton Towers

Gabs’ and Leeds’ girls had great fun over the May Bank Holiday weekend, travelling up to Alton Towers. They arrived in time for a couple of rounds of crazy golf before dinner, before getting an early night ahead of a day of rollercoasters. ‘The Smiler’ rollercoaster proved to be a firm favourite and a great time was had by all!

A weekend of hard craft!

March saw many of the Leeds’ and Gabs’ girls participating in Easter themed craft activities. After two hours of steady work cutting out, gluing and sewing felt, every girl had made an Easter bunny with a chocolate creme egg in its tummy!

The Newspaper Fashion Show

In February, Leeds House boarders ran ‘The Newspaper Fashion Show’. The girls’ enthusiasm was matched only by their creativity, which was amazing. From headdresses through to handbags and shoes to stylish garments - they were able to make it all from newspaper!

Gabs Got Talent

St Gabriel’s held their ‘Gabs Got Talent’ show in the Summer Term and it turned out to be an extremely successful evening. The acts were innovative and entertaining, and even impressed our guest judge Simon Cowell!

Trip to London

In March, all the boarders had an exciting day out in London. Starting in Trafalgar Square, Mrs Bushell led a tour and explained the history behind the formidable monuments, ranging from the imposingly tall Nelson’s Column to Britain’s smallest police station! After catching a glimpse of the festivities of St Patrick’s Day celebrations, everyone got to experience culture at the National Gallery, marvelling at the temporary exhibitions of contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley and Gainsborough’s Blue Boy, as well as re-visiting old time favourites in the permanent collection. The afternoon was spent of their own choosing with some deciding to enjoy lunch in Chinatown, others shopping with friends in Covent Garden. Overall, despite the chill and the drizzle, everybody had a great time!

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Learning a new skill

Leeds House boarders celebrated Chinese New Year by making lanterns and a lovely dinner of Chinese food which was enjoyed by all.

Gabs’ Netball

In June, the Gabs’ girls took to the Netball court together for one last time. A lot of our one-year boarders were beginners at the start of the year and grew to love the sport. They wanted one last game together before leaving and it proved to be a fitting occasion.

In January, Leeds House boarders took part in a sign language activity, led by three girls – Martha, Alice and Eleanor - from our British Sign Language (BSL) Club. The girls learned the BSL alphabet and how to say some basic words like please and thank you. A great time was had by all.

Spooky Sunday for Micks’ girls

At Halloween, the girls in St Michael’s enjoyed a spooky party, with an evening filled with games, fun and lots of food!

Trip to Brighton

The Year 9 girls from Gabs went ten pin bowling at Brighton Marina in February. It was lovely to see everyone have a lot of fun, particularly the Spanish girls who celebrated every ball like it was a Strike!

The Year 10 girls from Gabs went to Globalls, where they enjoyed taking part in mini golf with an aquatic theme!

Chocolatiers in action

In January, boarders from Leeds House took part in the Temper Temper Chocolate workshop. One of the things they learnt was how to test the perfect chocolate truffle mixture; you turn the bowl with the mixture over the volunteer’s head, and if it doesn’t fall, the mixture is ready. If it does…!

Gabs’ girls bake off

In March, Gabs’ girls had a fabulous Sunday afternoon of baking, creating delicious layer cakes for our competition. There was much crushing of Oreo cookies as well as some precision icing before the winners were announced; Katrina, Charlotte and Katie in Year 10 and Sabrina, Meryl and Janis in Year 9. Congratulations! The cakes were rather special to look at and tasted amazing.

Gabs’ boarders show ninja skills!

Ready, set, go! In March, Gabs’ boarders visited Ninja Warrior in Eastbourne, where they unleashed their inner ninjas. From racing around the inflatable obstacle course, to bouncing across the big red balls, to running up walls.

Trip to British Wildlife Centre

In October, Leeds House boarders spent a lovely afternoon at the British Wildlife Centre in Lingfield.

British Sign Language (BSL)

In May, Gabs’ boarders signed up to do an ‘Introduction to BSL’, led by our fantastic Sixth Formers, Charlotte G and Charlotte N, with Year 7 Martha also helping. They did a great job introducing the girls to BSL and its culture. There was lots of laughter!

Urban Jumpers

In October, Leeds House boarders had a great time bouncing around at Urban Jump in Heathfield.

Poetry workshop

Lower School boarders had fun creating haikus, limericks and nonsense rhymes in January. The girls wrote poems on a range of subjects, from caterpillars to red trousers, and performed their poems aloud to one another in the Courtyard.

Buzz Active adventures

In September, Lower School boarders had a real adventure at Buzz Active in Eastbourne, where they were able to try out windsurfing and sailing.

International Fair

In April, boarders from Years 7 to 10 attended the International Fair, designed to help the girls learn about different cultures of the world. In Gabs, Year 10 girls helped teach Chinese calligraphy, make red Tiger window grills and wrap some Chinese Dumplings. In Lower School, Maria and Valeria from Year 10 helped the girls decorate Year of the Dead face masks (Calaveritas) and treated the girls to some delicious Mexican cake (Rosca de Reyes). In the Spanish room, Bibi and Rosanna enjoyed some torrijas and tested the girls’ knowledge on Spain with a Kahoot quiz, before ending proceedings with the Macarena dance!

Chocolate workshop

On a Saturday afternoon late in June, Gabs’ boarders visited “Temper Temper” in Southborough for a chocolate workshop. The girls made chocolate moulds, lollipops, chocolate bowls, florentines and truffles. It was a fantastic opportunity to get creative and the girls had great fun.

Micks’ girls make sushi

The girls in St Michael’s really enjoyed making sushi in September and they enjoyed eating it even more!

International English lunch

In January, our annual International English lunch took place in St Dunstan’s. On the menu this year was a delicious lunch of pork dumplings, corn and carrot soup followed by pork and onion, vegetable stir fry and chicken wings in Coca Cola! For dessert we had egg tarts and fruit salad. Everyone had a really good time and was full by the end of the lunch despite having to use chopsticks!

Basketball Play-off finals

In May, 26 girls from Years 8 to 13 headed off to the O2 Arena to watch both the women’s and the men’s British Basketball Play-off Finals. An amazing day was had by all!

Christmas party

Leeds House boarders had a wonderful time at their Christmas party, enjoying games, gifts, lot of laughs and a lovely meal. Christmas arrived at St Gabriel’s House in December, complete with glitter! The girls decorated the House, baked Christmas biscuits and watched a Christmas movie.

During the advent season, the boarders took part in a Christingle making activity. Christingle means ‘Christ’s Light’ and it is a symbol of the Christian faith. Lots of churches hold Christingle services around Christmas time. The girls made their own Christingle and then went to our beautiful chapel at dusk with our Christingle candles for a brief service.

In December, over 80 boarders went to Tunbridge Wells, where the girls enjoyed ice skating and Christmas shopping on the Pantiles.

Gabs’ girls get glittery

Christingle

Festive fun in Tunbridge Wells