MSJ News Spring 2017

MSJ

NEWS SPRING TERM 2017

NEWS FROM MRS RARATY

Gold Healthier Choices Award

And so we come to the end of another term at MSJ – a term which has been jam-packed with all sorts of achievements by our girls, who are so ably led by the MSJ teaching and house staff. I am constantly delighted by the buzz and vibrancy of school life here: the enthusiasm of the girls for their learning, their friendships with one another and their evident enjoyment of the rich and diverse opportunities that the School provides.

feedback from members of the public, and there is always so much positivity surrounding these events. They have also joined with Malvern College for the joint Choral Society production, have been involved with the Malvern Concert Club, originally founded by Edward Elgar, and have had a superb series of masterclasses with Old Girl opera singer, and Northern College of Music graduate, Charlotte Mason.

It is always hard for me to distil a term into a short column.

So I will mention here just some of the highlights; please read on through the rest of the magazine to learn more about what we have been up to.

Two girls deserve mention for events that they have organised and executed independently, showing entrepreneurial flair and talent. Genevieve Phillips organised a musical showcase The Cello in Black for her BTEC performance qualification. Linnea Gannon organised the Tough Schools race – a gruelling non-stop 12-hour event - for her Extended Project Qualification. Meanwhile, I have had the pleasure, along with many parents, family and staff, of listening to some of the EPQ and HPQ presentations given by our Senior girls: they were seriously impressive. Congratulations to all of the individuals involved.

Our girls sparkle in all fields: five girls are holding Oxbridge offers this year in a wide range of degree subjects; thirtytwo girls are holding offers from other UK universities ranked in the top 10; some girls are holding offers from top US universities; our Sixth Form Mathematicians reached the UK Maths Challenge final in London recently (as 1260 schools entered the initial round of this competition, this marks Malvern St James out as being in the top 2.5% in the country!), while our Prep girls performed magically at the Be Epic Ball in aid of the charity Young Epilepsy and again with their wonderful production of Alice in Wonderland.

Our Young Enterprise teams have been busy building their businesses. The girls from the team Dynamic have also produced a wonderful book, The Little Book of You, full of smart ideas for physical and mental wellbeing. Our Model United Nations Society has been in action at Shrewsbury, and I was really pleased to see a scholarly level of debate and critical thinking among Year 12 at the Somerville Supper this term exploring various philosophical ideas around the theme of existence. British Science Week saw special workshops and visiting lecturers including Professor David Evans who leads one of the research projects exploring the Big Bang theory at the Large Hadron Collider in Cern; Prep have had their own mind-blowing experience with Google Expeditions; and our Technology morning was very well received.

Expressive Arts students achieved great things at the Worcestershire Arts Festival. In particular, Flora Barber is to be congratulated on achieving Honours in the Festival Prize Class, and being invited to perform in the celebratory concert at the end of March. We have hosted a Prep and Junior Schools Art Exhibition, which demonstrated an excellent standard of work, and our singers have been out and about in the region from Malvern Priory to Hereford Cathedral, wowing audiences. It is always very gratifying when we get

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We are thrilled to hear that MSJ will be well-represented at the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards ceremonies this year at both St James’s and Buckingham Palaces. All of the girls’ hard work and determination has paid off and they are an inspiration to other MSJ girls who are following in their footsteps.

In other areas of the School, I am delighted that our catering team has earned a well-deserved Gold Award for healthy eating. Our girls have also been cooking up a storm in the kitchen, with Mrs Newby reporting an excellent standard at the recent Masterchef competitions. Meanwhile, there has been a battle of the buns in the recent House Bake Off competition: again, the results were delicious.

To round it all off, the School was inspected by ISI, The Independent School's Inspectorate in the last week of term!

With so much going on, it was hard for the inspectors not to be suitably impressed with all that they saw in terms of the life of the School, the girls' achievements and their personal development. I was incredibly proud of the girls and staff who were magnificent despite being tired from a busy term and in need of the Easter break. I would like to thank all parents who found time to complete the ISI survey in the short window available and look forward to sharing the published report with you in due course.

MSJ’s Catering team is celebrating after being awarded a Gold Healthier Choices Award by Worcestershire Regulatory Services. The School is now the very proud recipient of not only the Gold Healthier Choices Food Award but also the Level 5 Food Hygiene Rating. It is rare to achieve top ratings in these two areas and the School is delighted.

Mrs Fisher, Head of Catering, and her dedicated team work hard to ensure that nutritionally balanced menus that cater for all preferences, nationalities and special dietary requirements are available to the girls and staff at MSJ. “It’s a fantastic achievement and a wonderful accolade for Mrs Fisher and the Catering team, who do an exceptional job in providing us with delicious and healthy meals on a daily basis. The award is validation of what we have known for a long time about MSJ’s catering,” commented Mrs Raraty.

Boarding House Bake Off Sunday 19th March saw eight teams from the Boarding Houses go head-to-head in the annual Bake Off competition.

Each team had to bake and decorate 12 fairy cakes for the Technical Round and then create their Showstopper piece. Mrs Raraty and Mrs Newby were the judges and the standard of baking was very high. After a nail-biting wait, Poulton were crowned the winners for their seven tiered, rainbow coloured cake, with Greenslade taking second place and Batsford coming in third.

I would like to wish you all a very happy and restful Easter break and I look forward to seeing you for the Summer Term.

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NEWS

NEWS

Tough Schools Race Linnea Gannon (Year 12) organised and ran the Tough Schools Race – a 12-hour non-stop running event – for her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Linnea is a keen sportswoman and having worked with Malvern Special Families as part of her involvement with MSJ’s Charities Committee, and inspired by how physical exercise can help people psychologically, she came up with the idea for her event.

Reach for the Skies Mrs Cole said, “You feel like you could die and at my age it is quite possible, but after the 8th round you are on cloud 9"! Millie Cooper (Year 12) summed it up by saying, “Tough Schools’ was a success and I am sure this will not be Linnea Gannon’s last event.”

After a great deal of hard work and organisation, the Race took place on Saturday 18th March at the MSJ Sports Field. Forty-six people, including girls, staff and families, ran, walked and even cartwheeled to raise over £550 for Malvern Special Families. Linnea told us, "The event was a success, with a build-up of excitement before, during and after the event. I wanted to leave a mark on MSJ and with the help of all those who supported Tough Schools, I feel I have done that. MSJ has given me the opportunity to grow and reach beyond the boundaries of A Levels."

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n Sunday 26th March (Mother’s Day!), the Wilkinson family – Mrs Wilkinson (Pre-Prep), her husband, Kester, Liberty (Year 12) and India (MSJ 2016) took to the skies for a very special fundraising mission – to raise money for the Brain Research Trust. This charity is close to the Wilkinsons’ heart as India has a brain tumour. She has been through surgery and treatment with tenacity and courage and said, “I really wanted to do skydiving so that we can reduce the possibility of pain and sorrow for others in the future.”

The Wilkinsons jumped from 15,000 feet with an 80 second freefall, followed by a 6 minute parachute descent to the ground – and have raised over £7500. What an amazing family and well done on such a fabulous achievement!

Google Experience Day On Tuesday 28th March, girls from Reception to Year 13 enjoyed a visit from the Google team. In our separate year groups, we had the opportunity to experience different places and sights through virtual reality goggles.

Our virtual travels took us to the heights of Rio, the Great Wall of China and Antarctica. We saw polar bears, Vikings, sea animals, divers, coral reefs and we felt like we had been transported by magic! It was an amazing experience and the whole class loved it!

Sylvie Hart (Year 4)

University Insight - Looking Ahead On Saturday 21st January, Mrs Huntley and Mrs Hubbard took a group of Year 9 girls on a trip to Oxford. The girls gained an insight into what life at Oxford University is like from MSJ Old Girls, Anna Baird (MSJ 2013) and Victoria Gawlik (MSJ 2015).

“I really enjoyed my visit to Oxford! It gave me a good insight into what university life is really like and it sounds really exciting. I’m glad we were able to ask questions because it helped me to understand how the people we spoke to got there and anything that might help us along the way. It was a lot of fun.” Ruby Davies (Year 9)

also want to aim for the top universities like Oxford. After today’s trip, I feel like I can see my future life more clearly and I have a clearer plan for my GCSEs.” Kristy Huang (Year 9) MRS HUBBARD AND THE GIRLS WITH VICTORIA GAWLIK (IN YELLOW COAT).

“During today’s trip, we went to four of the colleges and met several old MSJ girls there. They talked to us about what life is like in Oxford, what GCSEs and A Levels they chose and gave us some very good advice if we

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STEM BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK

GROWTH MINDSET

10TH - 19TH MARCH 2017

Lots of activities took place at MSJ to celebrate this year’s British Science Week…

The following article, written by Mrs Raraty, was published in the Spring 2017 edition of Cotswold Life and their ‘Life’ magazines around the country:

WHY IT’S OK TO FAIL There is so much pressure from society on young people today. Through advertising and the internet, they are bombarded by images of idealised body shapes, and celebrities and friends with seemingly perfect lifestyles. It seems that high achievement is expected of everyone all of the time.

In education there is huge media interest and emphasis on reporting league table outcomes. Excessive parental or school focus on this inevitably transfers to young people, who in turn can feel incredible pressure to excel at everything. So not only do our teenagers feel under pressure to look a certain way, they can also feel that they have to achieve the perfect score of A* grades and be brilliant socially too. That’s tough!

It’s perhaps no wonder that three children in every classroom have a diagnosed mental illness, according to the charity YoungMinds, and that the average onset age for depression was 45 in the 1960s whereas today it is 14. This focus on perfectionism of one sort or another is to the detriment of our young and to society as a whole. Not only does it impact negatively on selfesteem but it is an enemy to meaningful achievement over time.

It’s not normal nor realistic to be brilliant at everything all of the time, and our failures inform future success.

No wonder one of the first questions that often gets asked in job interviews is: tell me something that you did that didn’t go well and what did you learn from it?

So we need to teach our children that it’s okay to fail. This is one of the reasons why I’m a passionate believer in the importance of having a ‘growth mindset’ and viewing intelligence as elastic rather than fixed. If you read one thing this year, I recommend Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset. Her extensive research into what makes an effective learner demonstrates the importance of embracing

the learning journey, which includes taking risks and not being afraid of getting things wrong as this leads to greater progress over time. Having a ‘fixed mindset’ leads to fear of failure and fragile self-esteem as it is bound up with the approval of others. There is always that fear of being judged or looking a fool, which holds one back.

I don’t want that for my girls at MSJ – instead I want them to put their hands up in class and ‘have a go’, engage in learning and view any achievement as just a staging post; they are more likely to take intellectual and creative risks and enjoy the ride, which means working harder and going further. As teachers and parents we therefore need to be praising effort far more than attainment and encouraging work that reflects one’s personal best at that moment. This means not fixating on outcomes or supposed talent and discouraging perfectionism, which is invariably self-limiting.

At MSJ, our approach is geared towards fostering a ‘growth mindset’. It’s one of the reasons we put such store on positive feedback and encouraging participation in a range of activities beyond the academic curriculum. We have over 60 clubs and societies ranging from creative arts to sport and academic enrichment – coding, Model United Nations and Outdoor Pursuits are just a few – because through them girls learn emotional intelligence, and develop confidence and self-esteem. Most importantly, they learn that it’s okay to fail because the ensuing problemsolving is all part of the journey forward. Some of the greatest innovations and creative works have been borne out of past failures, or creative destruction.

Think of the Dyson: it took 5 years and 5,127 protypes to invent the world’s first bagless vacuum cleaner. If you make a mistake, it shows that you are human and that you are trying to do something that is new and interesting, and that’s exciting!

Year 10 Oxford Engineering Workshop Oxford University’s Engineering Department Outreach Officer brought a team of female engineers to deliver two three hour hands-on workshops for all girls in Year 10. The main purpose was to improve the girls’ understanding of the variety of different roles that engineers take in our society – it’s not all about building bridges! The workshops were also to encourage our girls to consider careers in engineering by providing positive role models. The session focused on applying the techniques of origami to engineer structures with increased strength, or to be deployed in situations such as for solar panels in space or constructing emergency shelters for refugees.

“I found the workshop and talk very interesting because I didn’t know much about engineering before the talk and didn’t realise how broad the subject was. My favourite thing was learning how origami can be incorporated into engineering.”

Jennifer Sydney (Year 10) “I enjoyed the origami structures and what they are used for...it was really interesting to learn that they could be used in space. Making the structures was fun and a new experience. It showed me more about engineering and the different types there are. I found the afternoon exciting and very enjoyable.”

Millie Pope (Year 10)

DOME IN A DOME Years 7 to 9 had an exciting time discovering all about the solar system and black holes when a visiting planetarium came to MSJ. It was rather fitting that the dome planetarium was set up inside MSJ’s very own Edinburgh Dome!

“I really enjoyed the Science Dome and learnt a lot. The 3D effects were very cool and I loved flying around the solar system and learning about the stars and their names. I particularly enjoyed the rollercoaster through Saturn’s rings and the black hole clip. My favourite thing about the experience was the fact we were in a dome and stuff was going on all around us. It was amazing and I would love to do it again as I love learning in new and exciting ways.”

Cicely Gallagher (Year 8)

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Marvellous Me

STEM BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK

10TH - 19TH MARCH 2017

Prep girls have been enjoying working on their Marvellous Machines project, investigating mechanisms enabling movement and creativity. The design inspiration of Rowland Emmet was the starting point for this work.

THE BIG BANG On 20th March, MSJ welcomed Professor David Evans of the University of Birmingham, who came to deliver a lecture entitled: Recreating the Big Bang with the world’s largest machine - the LHC at CERN. From this truly engaging lecture we learnt about virtual particles, high energy physics, recapped about atoms and forces, as well as finding out about anti-matter.

The lecture danced along with our A level studies gracefully and helped reinforce what we have been learning in class. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how we use the LHC to discover what happened a billionth of a second after the Big Bang!

Daisy Jauncey (Year 12)

MILLIE COOPER (YEAR 12) ON STAGE

FOOD TECH

YEAR 9 STEM DAY On Tuesday 21st of March, Year 9 spent the day with Nigel from Young Engineers. It was an action-packed day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We were put into groups and in the morning there was an icebreaker, where we had to come up with ideas of what to use with a plastic bag and CDs. Then we made wind turbines out of paper and designed streamline cars. After lunch we made hydroelectric generators out of Kinetics and raced our cars. Everyone had lots of fun and learnt about what STEM actually is and how engineering can be fun. Thank you to Mrs Turner for organising the day for us.

Mabel Pope (Year 9)

Prep Bubbles and gecko

hen we were choosing our GCSEs in Year 9, Food Preparation and Nutrition stood out to us as it was relatable to everyday life and also to many of our other subjects that we are taking. Secondly, it helps us with ideas for costings and marketing in a business setting. All these skills will help us in later life. At the moment we are learning about the processes of cooking food. After learning these key methods it is interesting to be able to identify how the food that we eat every day is being cooked. As we are both creative, we enjoy this. We have two Food and Nutrition lessons per week. On a Wednesday we have a

W Girls in the Prep Department enjoyed taking part in Science Week with a fabulous workshop with Mrs Collins over in the Science Lab. The girls had fun trying to make bubbles and learning about surface tension. Everyone was very excited to meet Sahara the gecko too.

theory lesson, and on a Friday we put our knowledge to the test by doing a practical; applying the skills and techniques previously learnt.

We thoroughly enjoy the lessons because they are interactive and exciting and sometimes we immerse ourselves into the culture of the food we are cooking by listening to cultural music! Mrs Turner, our teacher, is extremely supportive, positive and creates a fun learning environment.

Lily Rawlings and Zara Scudamore (Year 10)

FOOD TECH

TRIP TO CREED On Tuesday 21st February a group of Year 10, Year 11 and Year 13 Food and Nutrition girls visited Creed in Cheltenham. Creed is a wholesale business that supplies Malvern St James as well as many of the region’s other schools, all the National Trust cafes, nationwide coffee shops and many restaurants. As wholesalers, they are the business in-between the places we eat and the farmers producing the foods; this was a concept new to our MSJ girls.

duck dish has since appeared on the menu at School and has been a huge hit.

The trip gave the girls a valuable insight into the food industry, seeing what they have been learning about in real life and the many opportunities there are in this sector.

Mrs Turner, Head of Design and Technology “We couldn’t believe they were a ‘zero waste’ company - all their surplus food goes to charities for the homeless and those in need, and their waste goes for animal food.

In the ambient warehouse there were over 1500 different types of food. Imagine keeping track of all those Best Before dates!”

Immy Surridge, Zara Scudamore, Lily Rawlings, Minou Ghobrial and Phoebe Ashdown (Year 10) “It was great seeing something we had learned about in practice, like the metal detector to check for foreign objects and how many jobs there are in a large company like Creed, such as promotion and sales. We really enjoyed seeing the Development Chef’s food design, how to make his recipes look appealing and picking up on the new cultural trends.”

The first part of the day saw us all don the appropriate clothing to have a tour of the various parts of the company. We were shown around: the fruit and vegetable warehouse, where we’d never seen so many crates of fruit; the freezer, which was bearable for about five minutes as working at minus 21oC is not much fun; the ambient storage; the butchery section and the offices that control the huge volumes of food going in and out of the company. In our groups we considered all the controls that the food has to go through as well as the hygiene and safety that has to be kept to the highest of standards to ensure food safety. Nowhere was this more evident than in the butchery building; there was great amusement at all the protective clothing that had to be put on, especially the hair nets and shoe covers!

To finish the day off we were given a demonstration by the Development Chef on current trends in the food industry and how Creed stays at the forefront of this with its suppliers. The best part though was sampling the new recipes he had been working on! Girls were very willing to try the Korean street food and the new duck buns. The

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Daphne Cheung, Cherry Lam and Winnie Wong (Year 11)

“We were amazed at just how much food is safely stored and at all the different temperatures. The development chef gave us the best lunch we’ve ever had!”

Celestia Lane-Miles and Felicia Pang (Year 11) “We were stunned by how quickly food is ordered, stored, processed and delivered with over £1,000,000 spent on fuel each year! The quality control was so high at every stage.”

“We learnt about how a big company like Creed manage to maintain quality, decrease food miles, have separate meat handling for the Red Tractor Certified Meat, manage the ripening process from picking and still manage to support local farmers.”

Jenny Yeung and Cecilia Cheung (Year 11)

Hannah Tapley, Cindy Sun and Orm Sriprajittichai (Year 13)

Biology Olympiad The British Biology Olympiad is open to students from all over the world and several of MSJ’s Year 13 took part. We’re delighted to report that Angela Liu has been awarded a Gold medal and Emily Lui a Silver medal.

Congratulations, girls!

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SENIOR MATHS CHALLENGE

SIXTH FORM

The London Finals

Sichen Liu (Year 13), Xing Zhou (Year 12), Chloe Parker (Year 12) and Charlotte Li (Year 12) represented Malvern St James at the Senior Maths Team Challenge National Final 2017 in London on Tuesday 7th February.

The girls qualified for the final by beating teams from the local area, including Dean Close, RGS Worcester and Kings Worcester. Eighty eight schools and colleges from across the country were represented at the final.

There were two distinct competitions on the day. The first was to design an A1 poster about Cellular Automata.

The poster had to include the solutions to three questions that the students had not seen before the day.

The girls had 50 minutes to complete the work, starting from just a blank sheet of paper. Our team produced a lovely poster, which included some research they had done previously.

However, it missed out on a prize, which were only awarded to the best three posters.

The second competition was the same as the regional final with three rounds of unusual and demanding questions. There was an additional final round, which required the teams to chase across the hall collecting and solving questions as they went.

The girls performed very well, being placed 31st. As 1260 schools entered the initial round of this competition, this marks Malvern St James out as being in the top 2.5% in the country!

The team celebrated their success with a meal in Chinatown before heading home.

“Doing the Maths Challenge has taught me new methods for calculating complicated problems without a calculator. It has helped me as I have been able to apply this in my maths studies.” Chloe Parker (Year 12) “I was really pleased to represent the team in the National Round in my final School year.

With lots of intellectually challenging questions, it was fun to participate in the National Final competition, especially with such friendly and supportive team mates. After many training sessions, we worked really well as a team. Of course, it's fair to say we all particularly enjoyed the generous Chinese dinner as part of the London experience. I hope MSJ teams will be able to attend the National Final again in the future!” Sichen Liu (Year 13)

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Oxbridge Successes Three girls have been successful in their Oxford applications: Margo Bondarchuk has an offer to read History and Politics at St John’s College, Elaine Chen has an offer from St Anne’s College to read Engineering and Angela Liu has an open offer to study Biomedical Sciences.

Successful Cambridge applicants are Lucinda Hobden, who was delighted to be offered a place to study Modern and Medieval Languages at Gonville and Caius College, and Xing Zhou, who is holding an offer for Mathematics at Trinity College.

University offers from top UK universities Year 13 girls are receiving more good news on an almost daily basis about where they will be heading to next. The prestigious institutions where girls are holding offers include Kings College London, London School of Economics, University College London, Exeter, Warwick, Imperial, Bristol, Birmingham, Durham and York for courses as diverse as Mechanical Engineering, Law, English Literature, Criminology, International Relations, Geology, Psychology, Classical Studies, Physics and Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Two girls are holding places for Medicine, one for Dentistry and another for Veterinary Medicine.

PLACEMENT WITH TOP COMPANY Romilly Moran (Year 13) has gained a summer internship at Grace Blue through Old Girl Gay Haines (MGC 1963). After speaking with Gay (who was voted one of the 500 Most Influential People in the UK in 2016

by The Times and Debretts) at the OGA Lecture that Gay gave recently, Romilly had a Sunday interview and was subsequently offered the placement. This certainly shows that great things come to those who use their initiative, and that the Old Girls’ network can really deliver for MSJ girls.

GAY HAINES CHATTING TO SOME OF THE SIXTH FORM AFTER HER OGA LECTURE

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Reeling at Radley

SIXTH FORM Oxford Lecture Day On 3rd March, Dr Jones, Miss Marfleet and a group of girls from Years 12 and 13 attended the Oxford Lecture Day: Academy Conferences.

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e started our journey to Oxford on a cloudy Friday morning. After hopping off the bus, we walked into a large building filled with students from around the country. We sat through four thoughtprovoking lectures with an interesting debate in the middle of the last two. The first lecture was called ‘Who am I? What can I hope for?’

It looked at a variety of concepts including whether there is an enduring self, what effect memories have on our personality and whether the mind can exist without the body.

Each member of the group seemed to have a different view on each of the questions, as we were a good mix of religious people, atheists and people who are unaware of what they believe. The next lecture was entitled the ‘Philosophy of Science’ and looked at science and philosophy both as separate concepts and as one with overlapping ideas. The next lecture was called ‘What Should I Believe?’

The speaker talked about different ways of brainwashing and how we are influenced by the things we see and are told every day. We learned that repetition is a key component in brainwashing and it is difficult to blame people who have been brainwashed for their actions. This particularly interested those who studied history as we looked back on Nazi Germany and how the youth were heavily brainwashed through propaganda, peer pressure and teaching. The last lecture (my personal favourite) was the ‘What Ought I to Do?’ lecture on ethics. It questioned whether humans should do things just because they have the ability to do them. The professor talked about having a moral compass and different perspectives on what is moral and immoral. It sparked a debate on whether you are born knowing what is right and wrong or whether your experiences have an impact on your moral compass.

Andrea Rugasira (Year 12)

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“I really enjoyed the day as a whole, particularly the “Who Am I?” lecture because it allowed us to question things that we don’t usually have time to think about but that are very important! It was great to have the opportunity to discuss the topics covered in the lectures at the Somerville Supper the following week.”

Eve Garland Hellewell (Year 12)

“Through these lectures, I learnt how to think deeply and from different perspectives.”

Prudence Lo (Year 12)

THE LECTURES: ‘Who am I? What can I hope for?’

Julie Arliss (Academy Conferences) ‘What Ought I to Do?’ Professor Tom Greggs (University of Aberdeen) ‘Does Science Need Philosophy?’

Dr Andrew Pinsent (Former CERN physicist, University of Oxford)

‘What Should I Believe?’

Dr Stephen Law (University of London)

‘Does Evil mean there's no God?’ Panel discussion

Everyone was able to discuss the lectures at the Somerville Supper the following week and the girls had a chance to explore the ideas in more detail and give their own responses to the discussion. It was a lively evening where girls really explored the meaning and concept of the ‘self’.

On 25th February, 16 of MSJ’s Sixth Form were invited, for the first time, to a Reeling Ball at Radley. When we arrived, we battled the rain and the walk from the coach in our heels, before finally reaching the venue.

We were warmly welcomed with drinks and smiles as we waited for the evening to begin.

To begin, we were treated to a delicious three course meal, where we all got to know potential dance partners and enjoyed conversation with the Radley boys. At about eight o’ clock, the meal having been cleared away, we took off our heels and got into flat shoes, ready to dance. After a slightly unsteady start, we soon got the hang of the reels, led by our experienced partners. The dances included the 51st and the Eightsome Reel.

The whole evening was a huge success, and was thoroughly enjoyable.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with people from other schools, and we would like to take the opportunity to thank Mrs Huntley, Mrs Raraty and Miss Smith for organising the trip and taking us.

Mary Beth Prindezis and Chloe Parker (Year 12)

Sixth Form Social Committee Since its launch in October, the Sixth Form Social Committee has been active and successful in organising fun and relaxing events for Years 12 and 13. The committee is made up of girls from both years of the Sixth Form and chaired by one of our Head Girls, Nova Yu; it meets most weeks. Members of the committee canvass opinion from their peers about the events they want, and the team makes them happen. We started with a Halloween-themed film night in the Autumn, when the Drama Centre became the setting for an evening of ghoulish entertainment. Later in the term they organised a Christmas-themed film night for all years. There have been several suppers in town throughout the year. The committee has also taken on the task of organising the

music and entertainment for the Sixth Form Christmas Dinner, and the Awards Dinner in March. It enables the Sixth Form to experience organising their own events and means that I don’t get to inflict my musical tastes on them! Our next, already very much ongoing, task is organising the Summer Ball which is on 1st July; this year’s theme is James Bond Casino Royale, and as this goes to press we are in the final stages of preparation, making decisions about choice of menu, colour of balloons and how to decorate the tables. The social calendar has been busy, and I hope it will get even busier next year.

Alison Kingshott, Director of Sixth Form

YOUNG ENTERPRISE DYNAMIC

ILLUMINATE

Young Enterprise (YE) is an enrichment that has enabled students to grow as individuals through increased confidence, being more dependable and being innovative. Dynamic is one of the two YE companies this year, with 13 members. Each of us has various management roles ranging from Managing Director, Finance Directors and Sales and Marketing Directors.

Many of us started Young Enterprise with the hopes of gaining some business experience and learning the “behind the scenes” work of a firm and we’ve done just that. As Managing Directors of Illuminate, we have a great responsibility and remain in charge of assigning tasks and surveying the progress of the company as a whole. We have learned about the importance of communication and how interdependent we are as a group, so if one department does not work to the deadline, the rest of the group may be forced to wait, slowing the company’s progress down.

Dynamic’s final product was producing a book titled, The Little Book of You which has 3 segments on Food, The Body and The Mind. Each member of Dynamic has done extensive research for the book to include relevant and unique content on mindfulness and wellbeing. This also included approaching people who are experts in their field, including The Mindfulness Project based in London, who supplied an article about Mindfulness and What-ifs, MSJ Old Girl Elizabeth Rees who wrote about her experience with yoga, Olympic Gold Medallist Helen Glover who wrote about Motivation and BAFTA Travel Writer, Steve Backshall who wrote about Travel for the Mind.

Prior to the final production of the book, Dynamic designed a ‘Little Box of Mindfulness’ to set up the target market for what was to come (the book). Dynamic members assembled the boxes and each box contained recipe cards, candles, chocolates and bath bombs among other goodies, which we sold during the Christmas Trade Fair in Worcester.

On 4th March, Dynamic set up a stall in the streets of Worcester, to sell The Little Book of You. Despite the half hour of rain towards the end of the day, it was a very worthwhile experience for all members. Each member improved their communication skills while trying to draw in and sell to the public. By the end of the day Dynamic sold 30 books and made a total of £270.91, which was the most revenue earned by any YE company at the fair!

The following weekend, we sold at the National Trade Fair at Stratford-UponAvon. The trade fair only lasted for 5 hours, but we managed to sell another 14 books and made £124.96. This was a very rewarding opportunity for us, as it gave us the chance to break-even on our book, so every additional sale will now add to our profit! Even more meaningfully, we met a teacher who found our book appealing and would like us to give a talk in her school. We realise that The Little Book of You isn't just our final product, but a book to influence others.

Mimi Abubakar (Year 12), Managing Director and Sabrina Tsang (Year 12), Finance Director

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Young Enterprise has given every member of our company invaluable experience of business in the real world. We decided to keep our project locally based and use the brilliant resources of the Herefordshire countryside to make “Posh Squash”. Unfortunately, two weeks prior to the Spring Trade Fair in Worcester our cordial supplier was unable to supply us with a product. This stress forced us to use our initiative and work effectively under pressure. Rather than giving up, we worked hard to find another supplier who could provide us with two delicious flavours of Posh Squash, Blackcurrant and Peppermint & Lime.

We attended two trade fairs – one in Worcester and another in Stratford. The fairs went well as we managed to attract lots of customers with our flyers and our free samples. Everyone seemed to like the name ‘Posh Squash’, and even those who didn’t purchase our product complimented our skills as sales people and our marketing boards. After the Worcester Trade Fair we discussed what went well and what we could have improved on. This enabled us to progress as a company and not repeat our mistakes at the Stratford Trade Fair. Both fairs were incredibly successful, allowing us to sell a large quantity of products.

Illuminate was also awarded a prize for the best product at the Worcester trade fair, due to its professional branding and the fact that the judges could picture it in a high end store.

As the competition continues to the next stages, we hope that Illuminate will continue to prosper and that every member of our company will continue to learn and gain valuable experience.

Izzy Lee (Year 12) and Andrea Rugasira (Year 12), Managing Directors

MSJ NEWS

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MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES Why Learn Languages?

Recently in our French lessons we have been researching why we should learn languages. We discovered that there are many reasons such as: it increases your memory; improves your multitasking skills; helps improve your English; it can help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. It also allows you to travel to new places, meet new people and discover new cultures. Furthermore, knowing another language can give you better options for the future and can help you get jobs. I like learning languages because it challenges me and will give me better options for my future. Learning a language will help me get into university and get a job when I am older.

Emily Cox (Year 9)

The Importance of Learning a Language

Is it easier to learn a second MFL?

Maddie Lynch Williams (Year 9) writes:

Yes, it is definitely easier. After learning the first language, grammar and sentence structure become more familiar to you, and also allows you to see similarities between words.

Knowing a Modern Foreign Language is a vital part of life for many people. They are useful to have in such a cultured world. Many companies are widening their eyes and setting up organisations in other countries, many of which employ people of different nationalities and backgrounds, all of whom have a different native language. They are useful to have in universities too.

Many universities take more interest in people who have taken other languages (most commonly Spanish, German and French). This is because these people are able to communicate in different countries as well as expand their knowledge on their subject by reading and writing things in different languages. Another important reason you should learn a MFL is because of holidays.

Visiting a place and being able to understand and/or speak the language is very useful and exciting. It allows you to do more as well.

How does learning a MFL benefit you?

Knowing another language allows you to communicate more freely. It can also help generally with schoolwork and learning other languages.

Why should you learn a second MFL? Learning two MFLs is a lot more beneficial than learning one. For example, many girls at MSJ take Spanish and French, and in some aspects the languages are very similar, which makes it easier to learn grammar and vocabulary from both. Grammar is very important when learning a MFL and many of them have the same structure.

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Spanish Theatre On Monday 30th January, the MSJ Spanish classes attended a performance called “¿Cuántos me gusta tienes?” starring two professional Spanish actors. The students were able to interact with the performers and were also able to be a part of it. It was an excellent experience being able to listen to fluent Spanish and we were challenged when trying to understand what was happening. We were given a brief summary of the plot but working out what the characters were saying was up to us.

Overall the play was a good experience because we were able to listen to native Spanish speakers and were all relatively surprised by how much we understood. We loved the experience.

Faye and Maddie Lynch Williams (Year 9)

El lunes pasado fuimos a ver un espectáculo que se llama ' ¿Cuántos me gusta tienes?' Trataba de un chico que pretendía estar enfermo porque era bastante vago y para obtener mucha atención de las chicas, que sentarían lástima por él. Aparentemente todos los papeles fueron desempeñados por solo dos actores y de hecho estos actores eran españoles.

Top tips when learning a language: I would definitely try and learn a MFL. They are very useful to have (especially living in Europe) and are very beneficial. Some top tips when learning a language are: 1.

Try and experiment with the new vocabulary you learn. Don’t restrict yourself to using words and phrases you are comfortable with. If you learn a new word in class, try and incorporate it in your next piece of work, this will also help you to learn the word.

2. Revise new vocabulary in sections. Don’t try and learn a long list of vocabulary at once, this is very difficult.

3.

Me encantó mucho la obra porque fue realmente graciosa y también tuve la oportunidad de practicar mis habilidades de español. Sin embargo, lo que me gustó más fue la trama de la obra, porque fue interesantísima y divertidísima.

En el futuro si tengo la oportunidad, ¡me gustaría verla otra vez!

Visit the country or try and speak the language more often. When I was learning German for the first time I lived in Germany, which meant I had to speak it a lot. Doing things as simple as reading the menu or watching people’s hand actions while they were talking helped me understand.

I would definitely recommend studying a MFL. It helps me in my daily life; I can talk to and meet new people from different places and communicate with them. It also helps when doing schoolwork, as I can read articles and research things in different languages now.

Galina Boskhamdzhieva (Year 11)

REVISION READY On Saturday 25th March, French, German and Spanish Year 11 students attended a series of revision workshops in the MFL Department in preparation for their iGCSE examinations. The workshop was a great success. As well as valuable advice on how to revise and approach the different examinations, each pupil was given a revision pack including key revision tips to take home.

“The workshop was really good because it helped me with my French. I learnt new things and tips to help me with my iGCSE. It was also a fun way of learning.”

Year 11 student.

“The workshop was a really helpful preparation for iGCSE French and Spanish, especially the part on writing A* phrases.”

Year 11 student.

HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition Seven students from Years 7 to 10 took part the annual Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition at the Victory Services Club in London on Friday 2nd December. Miss Zimnowodzki, who teaches German at MSJ, accompanied the group to London.

Jessica Morris (Year 10) was the first of 24 pupils from the individuals Intermediate Level to speak in front of the panel of judges. She confidently finished her two minute speech, answered unprepared questions in Mandarin and undertook three translation exercises from English into Mandarin. Jessica said after the competition: “I was really nervous before going on but I am so glad I did it. I feel that my Mandarin has improved so much and I have gained lots of confidence from taking part. It was a great experience.”

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CLASSICS

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES Erica Borwell-Fox and Jemima Green, both from Year 7 Mandarin Club, along with Henrietta (Hetty) Meen (Year 9), Gabrielle Boothman (Year 10), Diya Pandey (Year 10) and Emma Jennings (Year 10) took part in the five minute group performance which was based on a very famous Chinese comic talk show called ‘Wu Guan Zheng Gong’. It was the first time that all six girls had spoken Mandarin in public. Although they were all helped individually by native Chinese students before Christmas, they were very nervous. It was a great experience for all the girls, who not only worked together to show their new language skill, but also gained confidence in speaking in front of pupils from 32 other schools from around the UK.

Roman Holiday

I

“I was nervous and really excited but when we had finished I felt really happy. I think it has helped my Mandarin and my confidence. I really enjoyed it.” Hetty “We were nervous before we went on the stage but as we stood there, all the worries went away. It was amazing going to London and having the chance to put our Mandarin to the test. We have been preparing for months and we only had five minutes to do it in. Altogether it was an amazing experience.” Erica and Jemima

IN PRINT Several MSJ girls were published in the overseas edition of the Chinese newspaper People’s Daily in February.

Year 10 girls – Our Mandarin Class

http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2017-02/17/ content_1750977.htm

Andrea Rugasira (Year 12)

http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2017-01/27/ content_1746766.htm

Jenny Yeung (Year 11) – My New Home in the UK

http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2017-02/10/ content_1748946.htm

Sisi Chen (Year 10) – Chinese New Year in the UK http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2017-02/24/ content_1752917.htm

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have so many good memories of the Rome trip. Thirty girls were accompanied by Mrs Lockey, Mrs Baird, Mrs Kingshott and Mrs Dicks. The itinerary was very full.

We got up at 1am, travelled to Heathrow, flew to Rome and arrived at our hotel around lunchtime. First thing on the agenda, obviously, was pizza. For some of us this was the first experience of how fast things happen in Rome: pizza and a drink took about two hours. We then visited the Palazzo Massimo, just across the square from our hotel. The highlight was a bronze statue of a boxer and the frescoes from the villa of Livia, wife of the first emperor, Augustus.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Native Chinese girls from Years 3 to 13 organised and hosted this year’s Chinese New Year celebration Assembly. Their programme included introducing the traditional customs, singing, dancing and playing instruments.

On the second day we visited the National Gallery of Contemporary Art, which contains over 5000 paintings and sculptures. We then visited the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, the Ara Pacis (or the Altar to Peace) and Mausoleum of Augustus.

Day three involved a coach journey to Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli, just outside Rome and then the beautiful Villa d’Este which had several working fountains. The next day we visited one of my favourite places, the Villa Borghese, which is now a museum. It is in a beautiful park which is located north of the Spanish Steps.

Although the Villa was originally a vineyard in the 16th Century, it was later turned into a public park in 1605 by a Cardinal Scipione Borghese, so that the public would be

able to walk around the area, taking in the beauty of their surroundings. One of the most famous sculptures is the one of Apollo chasing Daphne which was commissioned

by Bernini. Apollo was so struck by her beauty that he decides to chase her. Daphne prays to her father to save her and he turns her into a tree. Bernini actually intended it to be viewed from the side as it would then allow the viewer to observe the reactions of Daphne as well as Apollo. Bernini managed to sculpt Daphne’s hair to make it look as though she is actually running.

It was a busy day as in the afternoon we had a tour of the Vatican and St Peter’s Square. There was a lot to see and our guide was very informative.

On day five we had a river cruise to Ostia, the ancient port of Rome. The visit to Ostia was amazing because it is an entire ruined Roman town. We saw a theatre, a bakery with a huge oven and a house with floor mosaics still intact. It was interesting to see what it looked like and find out about the different places. We took a coach back to Rome and visited the Church of San Clemente. A 1st Century temple of Mithras was underneath a 4th Century church which was under a 12th Century church. You could go down to the places where they held ritual feasts and sacrifices. There were many rooms going deep into the earth. This temple was discovered accidentally when building the new church on top of it.

The morning of the final day we visited the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Trajan’s Column. The Colosseum was very interesting because, as the floor used to be wooden and has rotted away, we could see the network of cages underneath the floor where the animals were kept before being released on to the stage. The Colosseum

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CLASSICS A TRIP TO THE BATHS was where the Romans went to see gladiator fights and we could see all of the different tiers where spectators would sit, with the highest ranking people at the bottom and women and slaves at the top. We also saw the cross and plaque dedicating the Colosseum to the martyrs who died there, signalling the end of its use as a venue for bloodthirsty sports. It is so amazing how this huge piece of ancient architecture has lasted so long that we can still see it today.

The final visit was to the Capitoline Museum. Rome was built on seven hills and the Capitoline Hill is where the Temple of Jupiter was built about two and a half thousand years ago. The Capitoline Museum holds many famous statues including the Dying Gaul, the Spinario or a boy removing a thorn from his foot and the famous statue of Romulus and Remus and the she wolf.

There was a good view of the Roman Forum from the basement of the museum.

One of the best things I enjoyed was getting to know everyone on the trip. We quickly got to know each other and were soon experts at getting into our small groups to travel on the underground. We learned a lot but also had a lot of fun. Thank you to all of the teachers who organised the trip.

Tuppence Shaw-Young (Year 11) with a little help from Kay Baxter (Year 10), Hattie Baxter (Year 10) and Romilly Moran (Year 13)

On Wednesday 22nd March, the whole of Year 9 went to Bath for the day. It was a very informative and fun day. It was a nice break from lessons but we were still learning. We first saw the Royal Crescent and learnt about the three types of columns, Doric, the simplest type, Ionic and Corinthian.

Then we were split in to two groups. One group went round the museum and saw the Great Bath, the Sacred Spring and tombstones. We saw curse tablets. One of them contained a complaint about a stolen cloak.

The others had a lesson with one of the members of staff who told them about Bath. They had a look at tombstones more closely. We saw the tombstone of Mercatilla, who was a little girl, a freedwoman, aged one year, six months and twelve days. We also saw a tombstone that was set up by someone's wife, a freedwoman, for her seventy-five year old husband. In the lesson we saw some special objects from Roman times, some replicas and some original. There was a set of tweezers, nail and ear pick, hair pins and oil and perfume bottles. We also saw mosaic pieces and an amphora.

Then we switched around.

It was fun seeing the actual baths and what was actually there when they were rebuilt in 1897.

I especially loved the slave and mistress, actors who were sitting by the baths and they were very funny to talk to. This was a great way to see what happened in Roman times and an insight into the way of life then. Many thanks to the Latin department for taking us on a lovely day.

Mabel Pope (Year 9)

Gloucestershire Latin and Greek Reading Competition Selected girls entered the Gloucestershire Latin and Greek Reading Competition this term. All of the girls had practised both with me and independently and all of them improved their pronunciation and understanding of Latin and, in two cases, Greek. The standard of all of the classes was very high. Lexie and Lola were praised for being ‘hot on their pronunciation’ but none of our junior girls were placed in the top three, although they all did read very well. Maxima, however was awarded 2nd place in the Intermediate Greek. I was very pleased with all of

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the girls and they represented the School very well, with their performances and behaviour. They also enjoyed the afternoon. It is a real treat to hear Latin performed, whether it is a play from the Cambridge Latin Course or Virgil, Catullus or Sophocles. The girls who took part were Emma Green, Alex Byrne, Lola Weale, Alexia Preston, Cicely Gallagher, Teagan Manning, May Chenevix-Trench, Mia Greenland and Maxima Epe. Mrs Baird, Head of Classics MSJ NEWS

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS GENEVIEVE PHILLIPS: THE CELLO IN BLACK

Full Marks from LAMDA for MSJ Girls Congratulations to the LAMDA examination girls, who are celebrating after achieving a 100% pass rate in their recent exams. 70% achieved Distinction and 25% achieved Merit.

Three girls were awarded 98%, 9 girls scored full marks in 2 or more sections and ten girls achieved full marks in the interview. The girls’ creativity, thoughtful characterisation and expression were all commented upon.

On Sunday 12th March 2017 Genevieve Phillips put on a showcase of pieces for her BTEC performance qualification.

She had been working towards this from September and her resilience and effort shone through in the clarity of her playing and the intelligent variety of pieces she had chosen.

The entire evening was compiled by Genevieve including the programme, repertoire choice and order including works by Bach, Piazzola and Nirvana. The aim was to have five performances of each modern and classical periods and this was clearly apparent from the variety of musical styles chosen. Alongside Genevieve were Charmaine Li and Mr Mike Halliday, performing with her in their very different trios and Nina Clarke, another able cellist, in Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit which provided an entertaining opening to the second half.

Flora Barber (Year 13), Sere Oluwayemi (Year 13) and Isobel Vickery (Year 13) explained: Ophelia’s Echo is a story of hope, love and loss following the journey of three characters from Shakespeare’s plays. Written and designed completely by three A2 Drama and Theatre Studies students, the play celebrates over 400 years of Shakespeare in iambic pentameter, built from the quotations of his works and entwined with contemporary music, movement and technology in a timeless story of the human condition. Inspired by the RSC’s groundbreaking production of ‘The Tempest’, Frantic Assembly’s ‘Lovesong’ and Sia’s ‘Elastic Heart’, this play teaches us that “My love must reach beyond where light doth dim/ Encase my darkness just as does my light.”

A2 Drama Students’ Play Celebrates Over 400 Years of Shakespeare The Devised Piece written by the A2 Drama and Theatre Studies group this term was based on the afterlife of the character ‘Ophelia’ from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Having seen, last year, the amazing RSC production, directed by Simon Goodwin, the group took the stimulus of the paintings of Ophelia by Edwin Austen Abbey and John Everett Millais and was inspired to explore Ophelia’s journey.

MUSIC IN QUIET PLACES The Malvern St James Singers were invited to sing with the Hereford Cathedral School Choir in the concert ‘Music in Quiet Places’ at Colwall Church on 24th February. It was a platform for the MSJ Soloists and MSJ Singers to show their musical prowess. Both senior musicians, pianist Charmaine Li playing the Mozart Fantasia and cellist Genevieve Phillips playing The Swan received high praise. There were many other highlights from both Schools and the concert ended with a collaboration of the joint choirs singing a Bruckner Motet and an uplifting gospel number.

Sasha Lloyd (Year 13), Expressive Arts Prefect

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To provide contrast, Genevieve also invited the Senior Vocal Ensemble to sing including Titania, When Maidens Are Young and two Beatles’ numbers. Genevieve has always been well known for her natural skill and talent in music performance especially cello, but her BTEC performance has revealed her to be a very diligent organiser of both herself and those around her.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was a wonderful end to the weekend and we all wish her the best in her BTEC and other exams in the summer.

Eleri Clarke (Year 13) and Nina Clarke (Year 13)

MSJ and Malvern College Choral Society Since September, several of the Malvern St James Singers, along with Mrs Lindner and Miss Dilyte, have been rehearsing with the MSJ and Malvern College Choral Society in preparation for a performance of Mozart’s Requiem. This is a challenging choral piece for full choir with four soloists, accompanied by orchestra.

The choir was made up of MSJ girls, students from Malvern College and other people from the local area, many of whom have a connection with the schools.

Sunday, 19th March resulted in the performance of the music. After a long rehearsal with the orchestra on Sunday afternoon we performed to a large audience in Big School at Malvern College in the evening. The programme began with Ave Verum by Mozart followed by Symphony for Strings by Mendelssohn. The Requiem was the dramatic end to the programme. This was a fantastic experience for us to sing in a large, mixed choir and we thoroughly enjoyed being part of the performance.

Chloe Davey (Year 10) and Beatrice Clifford (Year 10)

EXPRESSIVE ARTS TALENTED OLD GIRL RETURNS TO INSPIRE

FESTIVAL SUCCESS

Charlotte Mason (MSJ 2010) is in her final year of an MA at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, a world-renowned conservatoire of the Royal Schools of Music.

She will graduate this summer to pursue a career as an opera singer. Charlotte came back to MSJ at the beginning of February to perform a recital for current pupils, staff and former staff and to share her passion and talent with current students.

On Saturday 18th March, a number of girls took part in the Worcestershire Competitive Arts Festival. Everyone who competed is to be congratulated, not only for delivering a very high standard of performance, but also showing bravery and stamina in what was an exciting but exhausting event. Mrs Munn commented, “Every girl is to be congratulated on having the guts and stamina to see the event through. It is exhausting and stressful to do but great for the girls’ development. Congratulations must also go to the girls who took part in the Festival for the first time.”

Mrs Fisher added, “Mrs Munn is to be thanked for so much hard work on this, teaching the girls and organising, with Mrs Burton also working hard. I was really impressed listening to the standard of all the girls.”

Charlotte spent time with, Emily Noble (Year 6), whose dream is to become a professional opera singer, as well other MSJ musicians.

8 and Under Poetry Class Libby Cox (Year 4) – Distinction Evie Ede (Year 4) – Merit

Results of the Speech and Drama competitions are as follows:

CHARLOTTE MASON WITH EMILY NOBLE AND MRS LINDNER

INSPIRED IN OXFORD On 9th March Year 9 went to the Pitt Rivers and Natural History Museum in Oxford. It was a really fun day. In the morning we looked round the Pitt Rivers and drew some sketches of Haida Art, human forms and masks. This was quite difficult, but fun to do. After lunch we went to the Natural History side of the museum and saw lots of skeletons and fossils. It was interesting to see all the dinosaurs and there was even a 200,000 year old fossil. The large array of bones gave us some interesting subject matter for sketching and the architecture of the building was also fascinating.

It was a fantastic day. Thank you to all of the Art Department for taking us.

Mabel Pope (Year 9)

Junior Schools Art Exhibition York Hall was alive with colourful artworks on Saturday 4th March for the Junior Schools’ Art Exhibition. MSJ welcomed visitors from 11 Primary and Prep schools to view the impressive array of artwork by pupils in Reception to Year 8.

We were fortunate to have the competition judged by Dora Williams, primarily a self-taught artist. She was impressed by the standard of work submitted and found it very difficult to decide on the prize winners.

Certificates and prizes were awarded in all Year Groups, as well as the 3D and Group Categories. The overall Best in Exhibition went to Laetitia Watt from Abberley Hall, who submitted a beautiful wolf showing wonderful movement and life. MSJ’s Charlotte Brookes was the Year 3 winner and the following girls were awarded a

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12 and Under Duologue Acting Class Lola Weale and Lexie Preston – 1st place Alex Byrne and Emma Green – Merit Cicely Gallagher and Tiggy Manning – Merit 14 and Under Verse Speaking Class Kristy Huang (Year 9) – 2nd place 14 and Under Prepared Prose Reading Class Angela Feng (Year 9) – 1st place 14 and Under Duologue Acting Class Mia Greenland and Emily Wheaton – 3rd place Emily Cox (Year 9) and Freya Powell (Year 9) – Distinction Comedy Open Class Tito Otegbeye – Distinction and winner of Class

Highly Commended – Charlotte Gannon (Year 3) for her 3D work, Matilda Hyett (Year 7), Romilly Quinney (Year 8) and Reception and Year 1 for their Group Work.

17 and Under Write and Speak a Poem Class Flora Barber (Year 13) – Distinction

The event was very well attended and the 200 visitors were able to view both the Exhibition and the Art Department throughout the morning.

Festival Prize Class Flora Barber (Year 13) – Honours. This is the top prize at the Festival and Flora has been asked to perform in the celebratory concert on 27th March.

Flora also won the Michael Lunney Prize, which is presented to a competitor who has given an exceptional performance in acting. The prize includes a week spent at the Middle Ground Theatre discovering how a prestigious theatre company works.

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS

Alice in Wonderland ou would have thought that experiencing almost the entirety of Alice in Wonderland back stage would put your writer in a preposterous position to provide a decent write up of the performance.

"Well, what did you think?", you ask. You anticipate my half-hearted approval of mumblings the other side of the thick curtains.

Y

My actual response differs drastically. In actual fact, a backstage review provides a unique peek down the rabbit hole into the Preparatory Department's Wonderland.

The intonation and vibrancy in the girls’ spoken performance radiated through the air of York Hall. The pitch-perfect notes from each song danced over the top of the curtain, the lyrics galvanised by the sound of the dynamic dance moves accompanying them. Each curtain call was a kaleidoscope of colour and characterisation brought to life; so close to the initial sketches completed by the girls all those weeks ago, their ideas brought to life in collaboration with Mrs Jones and her now-frazzled sewing machine. So slick, independent and professional were the girls in manoeuvring the props required for each scene, that teacher input was rarely required. On the occasion that I ventured out onto the stage to re-arrange a prop, I was met by a superb set.

Teapots hung haphazardly in the air whilst a caterpillar lay lackadaisically on a grassy mound, oozing laissez faire, surrounded by her posse of Wonderland creatures.

Expecting more of the same relaxed vibe, I took the unfortunate decision to spend a ten minute break on the other side of the curtain during Act 2. I sat down just as

the Queen of Hearts unleashed her executioners upon the audience, shrieking 'OFF WITH THEIR HEADS' with such tenacity that the coward in me ran backstage to finish my cup of tea there instead. So convinced by the performance was I, that I nearly curtsied when she swept backstage later.

Congratulations to all of the girls who took part in this production, from the main cast in Year 6 to the supporting Wonderland creatures in Pre-Prep. A special mention goes to all involved in the Caucus Song - you pulled it out of the bag just in time! Special thanks go to all the staff who supported the girls in this production.

I would have saved Mr Fry (Director of Acting) and Mrs Woodhouse (Director of Music) a cupcake from the Madhatter's Tea Party scene as a reward for their efforts, but they went 'missing'......such is the nature of working in Wonderland!

Mrs Lane (Pre-Prep)

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ENGLISH From Flora Barber (Year 13): I was reflecting on the messages we present to others through what we wear and do, creating an encoded depth of layered perception and subtext. My poem is called ‘Simplicity’ and it was used as part of my entry for the Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate competition, under the theme of ‘Messages’, and was awarded Highly Commended. It also won the ‘Write and Speak a Poem 17 Years and Under’ Class at the Worcestershire Competitive Arts Festival.

Let's paint our faces, black and blue.

Which pretty colours will we choose today?

It's not the picture you wanted to see, that gold cream vanilla plastically extracts.

There are some things that we camouflage, they just speak louder, undeterred communicate.

Chasing the days when a little kindness pays and prettiness played pink peppermint purple plum.

It's not brushed over the scars that you feel.

Thin black line drawn skilfully straight.

It's our painted faces, a reminder to traces, repented disgraces, should-be embraces.

It's like a tambourine, a young life's dream.

Searching and stinging when stumbling stairs to climb.

We are painting scars with charcoal marks, fighting darks indigo remarks.

A headrace to encase what needs to replace, deface and retrace; in case we misplace.

Let's paint our faces strive to places forgotten dreams two brushstrokes under.

You take off to replace; hopes to unface.

Who we are, effaced, by the memories of your debase.

It's our painted face, that speaks louder than words.

Tap tap, blink blink.

Lift up the light lid mirror.

Hold and wait.

It's our shout out, our laying bare to the truths we want seen to be unseen.

Grace Knuth (Year 8) has won her age group in the Malvern Rotary Writing Competition.

Grace told us, “For the competition I had to do a piece of writing (poem or story) that was less than 500 words long. Every year there is a new theme; this year’s theme was ‘reflection’. In our English lessons we studied Mirror by Sylvia Plath to prepare us for writing and to serve as our inspiration for the piece of writing. I am really happy to have won the competition as I worked very hard on my poem. This was an excellent experience and certainly one that I will not forget.”

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Year 7 girls have been taking part in their own writing contest. Having written stories to enter into the BBC’s 500 Words competition, Mrs Shaw-Young (English Department) and Mrs Neville (Assistant Librarian) thought they would run a mini version for our girls’ entries in School too.

Mrs Neville has been one of the many volunteer judges since Radio 2 launched the competition, so used the same criteria to judge MSJ’s competition. Mrs Neville and Mr Morris (Head of English) had a tough job deciding on the winners. To make it authentic and fair, just as the BBC does, the girls’ names were removed from the stories before she read them. So the winning name was a surprise to Mrs Neville too!

SIMPLICITY

Top prize for writer

Budding authors put pen to paper

Everyone who took part is to be congratulated – Year 7 is certainly full of budding writers!

Here is the winning entry…

Thirteen More Years “Guess what?”, Leah shouted, “I hate you anyway.” Leah ran upstairs to her room. This is what her life was like. Every hour of the day. She wished she could just run away, but where to? There was nowhere to go. The estate she lived on was the roughest in the city. You never went out at night, not alone. No orders were delivered on the street. No pizzas delivered to your doorstep. Always unpaid rents. Smashed windows. Graffiti everywhere. She had no brothers or sisters, lived with her mum and had no pets. She hated her life. Constant arguing. She was only five, however intelligent for her age. Her mum had no job. She stole from anyone she could, pick-pocketed, scammed, robbed, anything that she could think of. Forever moving from house to house.

Running, dodging, avoiding the police. All their possessions were stolen. Even their clothing. Only thirteen more years ‘til she could move away…

“I don’t care who you hate”, screamed her mother, “you are getting in this car now”. It was a never ending battle between them, but it looked like her mother had won…for now. Leah sighed and trudged downstairs. She climbed into the eroded Fiat and waited. Her mum climbed in. She had rotten teeth, with a menacing smile. Her hair was sickly blonde and cut into a scatty bob. She was about 5 foot 1 and also wore oversized clothes. She started the car. It had no seatbelts; her mother never cared for her daughter. “What’s that noise?” Leah asked. “The police”, her mum gasped.

towards the traffic lights. They were red. Her Mum pulled on to the other side of the road; cars were flinging out of the way. They were all coming towards her. Police cars coming from every direction, forcing them towards the bridge. Suddenly, without warning, the car propelled forwards, smashing into a car coming towards them.

The front window shattered, squashing the bonnet of the car. Leah screamed; only the passenger airbag came out. Her mother jolted forwards, through the windscreen and on to the other car’s bonnet. Police cars and ambulances surrounded the perimeter. Sirens screeched all around her, bursting her ear drums. Leah, stunned, sat in shock. Her motionless mother lay before her. People from every direction crowded; they carried her mother away. Far away.

“Welcome to your new house”, said the care worker.

“A…a care home?” Leah replied in shock.

She had heard distressing things from her mum – once she had been dumped in a care home. Eighteen years, she had told Leah. Imprisoned, slavery. She had filled Leah’s mind for five whole years. Non-stop. With horrendous ideas, but Leah had no idea. Leah looked around. Everyone was staring at her. All eyes were on her, like predators ready to pounce on their prey. Only thirteen more years, she thought to herself. Only thirteen more years…

The car raced off down the street, even though the police car was close behind. Her mum sped along the streets

Poppy Elton (Year 7)

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HISTORY

Philosophy of Religion lectures

Year 9 History Film Fest

STILL FROM GEORGIA HUGHES’S AND MADDIE LYNCH WILLIAMS’S PRIZE-WINNING FILM

Year 9 have been producing documentary films on topics of their choice relating to WW1.

On 25th January they showcased their work at a Film Fest Evening where parents and teachers watched the films and ate popcorn, before the prizegiving, which included a ‘People’s Vote’ award.

Georgia Hughes, who together with Maddie Lynch Williams produced a prize-winning film, tells her story: “Producing the film was a really enjoyable experience.

I learnt so much about WW1 that I didn’t know before.

It expanded my knowledge and made me see the different sides and views of WW1. It wasn’t easy to include everything that we learnt so we made our film specific to the death of Franz Ferdinand. After a while, Maddie and I realised the film wouldn’t be as enjoyable if it was very serious. We decided to make it into more of a comedy, also this way our audience would remember the information more. The whole experience of making the film was actually a lot more fun than I expected. I went round to Maddie’s house and we filmed using her Dad’s vintage car. When we

had finished filming, we edited and tidied up all the scenes. Our final product was great and we both felt it was both informative and amusing. When it came to the Film Fest, I wasn’t expecting to win any prizes and was actually mainly interested in seeing what others had produced. The evening was lots of fun and it was great to watch what everyone else had done; I learnt a lot more than I thought I would. Our video was up first and I was surprised how much people remembered about it, even at the end of the evening. When it came to the voting and results, I was really surprised to find out that our film got a prize. Overall, I really enjoyed it and loved the whole evening.”

Professor Keith Ward first spoke on the topic of the nature of God, specifically the problems raised by the belief in the omnipotence of the traditional Judeo-Christian God. He ran through the general problems raised for theists when talking about a God who is limitlessly powerful and the contradictions it brings. His examples included the well-known paradox of whether God can make a stone too heavy for him to lift? It is statements like this we often have to analyse and reference in A Level Philosophy.

Ward then took us through the possible solutions to these issues, and then his problems with each one.

After a very thorough talk he explained his conclusion that God is more powerful than any other possible being, which I would agree is the best definition to solve most of the issues in that topic.

We then had a lecture from Professor Daphne Hampson on religion and gender, and how perceptions of God as male has influenced Western religion. Although this wasn’t aimed at my year, it was a very interesting topic to listen to and really opened our minds to a different way of thinking about God. It was enthusiastically questioned by the floor, and I found it an extremely thought-provoking topic.

Following a short break, Eve Garland Hellewell from Year 12 and I went on a ‘Philosophy Masterclass’. My masterclass was with the Canadian Philosopher Dr Greg Barker and was based on recognising how God was portrayed in the media. The session included an apparent general knowledge quiz, but he then explained how each part related to philosophy in the media. I really enjoyed the session and found the informal setting refreshing to work in.

The next session was a lecture on essay-writing, which has proved extremely useful!

In the afternoon there was a final lecture from Dr Barker about Religious Experience. This was particularly useful for Year 13s as we had recently studied the topic and he was speaking about things directly related to our syllabus. It was extremely interesting and we all took some very useful notes and tips from him.

Overall I think it was a very useful, enjoyable and insightful day, and I would recommend those hoping to take RS in the 6th Form to go on similar trips – not only do you learn philosophy in a different setting, but it prepares you for the atmosphere at university.

Eleri Clarke (Year 13)

A Level trip to Buddhist Centres

RELIGIOUS STUDIES On Friday 24th February the Religious Studies GCSE class went to the world-famous Hindu temple in Neasden, London. Despite getting up extra early, it was worth it when we got there - the temple was amazing! The shrines were beautiful and the carvings, statues and pillars were so intricate. On the day we were there it was the festival for the birthday of the Hindu god Lord Shiva. Our group was allowed into the main temple where we witnessed the ceremony with all the music and singing, and the priests performing their rituals at the front. It was interesting to see how Hindus worship in the temple and I also enjoyed participating by pouring milk over a statue. I was amazed to see the Hindu sweets piled up in front of the shrines.

We also had a question and answer session and a tour of the temple. This was a really good day which will help us a lot in our study of Hinduism for GCSE.

On Tuesday 31st January, MSJ 6th Formers taking Religious Studies travelled to Cheltenham Ladies’ College to attend a number of lectures from some highly acclaimed philosophers.

Trip to a Hindu Temple

As part of our A Level studies on Buddhism we have visited a number of Buddhist centres. We had already visited the Pure Land Buddhist Temple in Malvern back in November, but on 17th January we visited two further places. Firstly, we went to the Adhisthana Centre in Ledbury – the UK centre for the Triratha movement, which is a new form of Buddhism specifically for Westerners. We were greeted by Danasamudra and Sanghadarsini, two female members of the Order, who talked with us for over an hour on the Triratna movement and how they became Buddhists – their personal stories were very interesting! We then had a tour of the site and saw the large shrine room.

By contrast, we then went to the Lam Tim Tibetan Buddhist Monastery near Monmouth, where we not only saw the amazingly beautiful shrine room but also met a Tibetan Buddhist monk called Lama Geshe who left Tibet in the 1950s with the Dalai Lama and now teaches Tibetan Buddhism in the West. He is nearly 85 now, but he is very lively and full of humour. Whatever question we asked, he brought the answer back to what he thought was most important – the need for compassion and love in today’s world. Wise words indeed!

Kundai Chikosi (Year 13)

Rachel Lin (Year 10)

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SPORT

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

MSJ girls continue to enjoy huge sporting success both in individual and team categories:

Skiing Success for Prep Girls

ShrewsMUN

In February the Bond sisters – Martha (Year 5) and Alice (Year 2) – took part in the British Independent Schools Championships in Pila, Italy.

There was no Under 8 Class so Alice had to move up and race in the Under 10s. The racing took place over two days – day one was slalom and day two giant slalom. Alice came 2nd in both races and Martha came 3rd in both races. Martha was very pleased to share the podium with, and was very sporting towards, her little sister.

On 4th and 5th March Mrs Huntley and Miss van Ravenstein took 15 girls from Years 9 to 13 to take part in the ShrewsMUN Conference. In their own words, here are what some of the girls thought of the experience: ALICE BOND

The girls’ combined efforts over the two days meant that MSJ finished 2nd overall in the Junior School category.

The overall results were as follows: MSJ 2nd British Junior School Alice Bond 2nd British Under 10 Martha Bond 3rd British Under 10 MARTHA AND ALICE BOND

Hockey selection

Success on the slopes for Ibble

Marnie Probert (Year 8) has been selected for JRPC Hockey, which is excellent and equates to regional level.

Ibble Watson (Year 9) has been busy on the slopes this term. She took part in the International Youth Races in Andorra and the Czech Republic. In Andorra, 10 young skiers represented Great Britain over four days in the Slalom and Super G racing.

They collected a bag of medals and took the title of Second Team overall, behind Italy who won. The weekend after, Ibble took part in the English Alpine Championships 2017 in Bormio, Italy, taking 5th places in the Slalom and Super G.

Fencing Success

KATIE GUTHRIE

Sports Round up…

Lilia (Lili) Mico (Year 5) has been selected as one of a team of three girls to represent Herefordshire & Worcestershire Tennis in the Under 10 category to play against Shropshire at Shrewsbury. Good luck Lilia!

Congratulations to the U13 Netball team who have qualified for both County and ISA National finals.

Congratulations to Katie Guthrie (Year 9) who has been selected to play for England Rounders.

Lottie Trevethan (Year 9) is performing very well at her Fencing. Lottie won the gold medal at the British Youth Qualifiers for the West Midlands and didn’t lose a single fight all day, despite having to compete in the U16 age group. She is now the U16 West Midlands Epee Champion and will be competing at the British Youth Championships in May. Lottie also went to Poland in March to fence for England in her first international competition.

Dressage Team off to County Champs Having won the County Qualifier at Allens Hill last November, MSJ’s Dressage Team are heading to the County Championships at Addington Equestrian Centre in April. Good luck to the team – Eve Hobbs (Year 12), Tiggy Manning (Year 8), Hattie Gill (Year 8) and Jess Morris (Year 10).

“I was invited to Guest Chair at this Conference, which shows that you are able to make huge steps in MUN. I went from a Year 10 delegate who was too afraid to ask a Point of Information in the Committee, to a Year 13 who was chairing the committee. My favourite moment was the unity and the banter between MSJ Girls at the meal.”

Sasha Lloyd (Year 13) “Before MUN I was very afraid to step out of my shell, get to know others and interact with different people. Now, after speaking to so many people, I have a really good time and have made some, what I hope to be lifelong friends. I would definitely recommend it and go again.

Thank you ShewsMUN!” Tolu Onadele (Year 9) “Overall, I really enjoyed the ShrewsMUN conference. I feel that I have gained and improved many skills. Before the conference, I was scared. I thought that all of the other schools would be much more experienced than us and would speak with overly-complicated words. However, I have learnt that when speaking, we are all on a similar level. I am also glad I began MUN sooner rather than later.

So, by the time I am in Sixth-form I will be able to address issues in conferences and in other scenarios with ease and clarity. All in all, I had tons of fun and I will definitely consider going to future conferences.”

Bella MacLusky (Year 9) “From this conference, I have learnt a lot of things. I noticed that it does not matter if you say anything wrong, it is only the confidence you need to develop while you speak. You will get better and better at going up and speaking. I also learnt you should make friends and socialise with people as it is fun. It is challenging to talk in front of others and ask questions, but if you challenge yourself, you will build your confidence and you will find it becomes easier to do.

We should all take the plunge and have a go, because it is worth it. It makes you feel better when you have said something and you feel like you can say more afterwards.”

Angela Feng (Year 9)

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MODEL NATIONS MODELUNITED UNITED NATIONS

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD On 8th March, Angela Liu (Year 13) and Old Girl Wan Mecasuwandamrong (MSJ 2016) went to St James’s Palace to receive their Gold Award certificates. Angela sent this message to Ms Cole, Head of Outdoor Pursuits: “Thank you again for helping and supporting me all the way through my DofE journey! It's truly a rewarding experience.”

The following Old Girls have received their invitations to Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Certificates on 24th May – Alannah Byrne, Teresa Hui, Shanya Roberts, Charlaine Yam, Nadia Ahmad Rizlan and Katie Barnes. All these girls left MSJ in the Summer of 2016 (except Katie Barnes, who left in 2015) and are WAN MECASUWANDAMRONG now in their first year at university.

Rosie Baird (MSJ 2015), daughter of Margaret Baird, who is MSJ’s Head of Classics, has also received an invitation to Buckingham Palace, but it falls in her examination period, so she will be going to a presentation in September.

ANGELA LIU

Chloe Parker (Year 12), Eleri Clarke (Year 13) and Flora Barber (Year 13) have just been awarded their Gold Awards too. The girls have all worked so hard for this – congratulations to all three!

DOFE SILVER GROUP AT MALHAM TARN

HAWWA, SHANYA ROBERTS, YVONNE, NADIA, ALANNAH BYRNE ELEANOR

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CHARLAINE, ANGELA, ROSIE, TERESA STANDING. WAN AND ABBY CROUCHING

SHANYA ROBERTS

YEAR 11 GROUP

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Dof E Expedition

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING WEEK

On 18th-19th March, fifteen girls did their ‘How to Camp’ weekend as part of their expedition training. They put up their tents, cooked their own suppers and spent the night in their tents, walking back to school the following day.

The whole School took part in activities for Mental Health and Wellbeing Week – from reading the ‘Books on Tour’, to enjoying the new Healthy Eating Wednesday lunch choices…and the Prep Department was no exception. Girls in Prep really enjoyed the Friendship Flower activity and writing messages for the Beautiful Board, which was overflowing with beautiful comments!

FROM THE LIBRARY SOME OF THE TEAM – LYDIA GREEN, MADDIE LYNCH WILLIAMS, MIA GREENLAND AND MABEL POPE.

Worcestershire Teen Book Award As we go to press, a group of Year 9 girls have been busy reading and revising, preparing to pit their book knowledge against teams from other schools at the Worcestershire Teen Book award Ceremony on Wednesday 29th March. Will they do as well as last year’s team, and will Lying About Summer by Sue Wallman win the award? All of Year 9 had the chance to vote for their favourite from the shortlist, pre-selected by them and other KS3 pupils from Worcestershire Schools.

Anti-Bullying at MSJ The Anti-Bullying Committee is a group of girls from The Prep and Senior School who are here to help you. Whenever you feel down or sad you can come and talk about your concerns about bullying.

During Wellbeing Week, the Prep Committee made a beautiful board to write something beautiful about what they saw, did or their friends did for them. We are also doing a Friendship Drop-in every Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime when you can come in and talk about your worries and concerns. We are going to do a Worry Box also.

The Committee is going to make sure that our School remains a happy place.

Poppy Blandford (Year 4)

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PREP DEPARTMENT WARWICK CASTLE INSPIRES PRE-PREP GIRLS

World Book Day

Pre-Prep girls enjoyed a trip to Warwick Castle in February in support of their Spring Term topic ‘Traditional Tales’. The girls enjoyed storytelling in the Princess Tower, a ‘Meet the Monarchy’ talk in the Great Hall, where they learnt all about King Henry VIII, a fascinating birds of prey demonstration and exploring the castle itself – even venturing into the most haunted room!

What a colourful, versatile human library we made in Prep for World Book Day! When it came to sorting everyone into categories for photographs, we found that our collection had a book for every taste (The Human Oxford English Dictionary was admittedly rather lonesome in our 'Reference Book' photograph shoot, though!).

Sophie Earp (Year 2) said, “‘On Thursday we went to Warwick Castle. We got on the bus and went. When we got to Warwick Castle it was the most beautiful castle ever. It was awesome and we got told a story by a storyteller and she was a musician, an amazing one too. Then we went to the Great Hall to be told about kings and queens. We learnt about Henry VIII and we saw armour, guns and swords. Then we went to see the wax works and then we went to the Bear Tower and there was a gigantic paw print on the wall. Then we went up a very tall tower and it was extremely windy! Then we went to see a princess and we made shields. It was an amazing trip.”

The often sad things about libraries is that so many books are left to gather dust. However, our human library barely had Five Minutes Peace! Stories came alive through activities such as We're Going on a Book Hunt and Book Cover Design Workshops. How Dahlicious it was to enjoy longer story times, where old favourites were pulled out of the teacher's desk drawer and read by The Cat in the Hat or Dorothy; their words savoured and plots brought to life again - just for the record, Giraffes Can Dance, but Miss Pearson probably shouldn't.....

It isn't often that we, the teachers, are lucky enough to register celebrities such as Hermione Granger, or

nag Gangster Granny to tidy her wig up. Everyone made a tremendous effort with their costumes and the girls worked so hard to identify with their favourite book characters. Thank you staff and pupils alike for a memorable World Book Day. Mrs Lane, Mrs Wilkinson and Miss Pearson (Pre-Prep)

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PREP DEPARTMENT

Stars of Be Epic ow in keeping with the current Pre-Prep Fairy Tale Topic that each girl should have the opportunity to dress up in full princess attire and attend her very own Be Epic Ball at MSJ on 10th March, the day before the older Prep girls attended the main Be Epic Ball at Worcester’s Guildhall. In a haze of rainbow sparkles, swirling velvet and glittery hairbands, the girls enjoyed a photo on the red carpet, ballroom dancing and a special performance of Rule the World by the Prep Department Be Epic Chorus. Well done for raising some extra money for Young Epilepsy by attending this event, Pre- Prep!

H

A Day of Singing Years 3 and 4 went on a fabulous Choral Day trip to Edgbaston Girls’ High on 2nd March. They were given a wonderful welcome alongside four other GSA schools. Suzie Vango, of Ex-Cathedra, led the day which was full of songs and laughter. The girls learnt some new game songs and techniques to aid their singing skills.

They also had a go at singing in parts and improvising lyrics too!

It was a very successful day, with all pupils making new friends through a shared love of singing.

affair awaited us. Guests were greeted at the gates to the Guildhall by tuxedo'd princes holding umbrellas.

Inside, they enjoyed a pitch perfect performance by the Prep Department Be Epic Chorus. The guest of honour, Hattie, enchanted guests as she whirled and twirled to the music. A delicious sit down meal followed, as raffle tickets were sold to add to the money raised for Young Epilepsy. An evening of dancing to fantastic live band music by Come Together unfolded thereafter. No shoes were left behind at the stroke of midnight, only Mrs Lane's coat - and Prince Charming has not yet made it across the kingdom to return it to her...

Budding Designer Wins Top Prize Cecile (Cece) Catchpole (Year 1) is celebrating after winning the top prize in her age category in this year’s Toyota Dream Car Art Contest with her design for ‘The Happy Van’.

Cece wanted to create something to make people happy. Her imaginative car can fly, sing ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’, tell jokes, has sweets that come out of the exhaust, windscreen wipers made from gumdrops and fairy glitter and love hearts that come out of the headlights to give people warm hugs.

After her design was chosen as a Finalist out of a total of 680 UK entries, Cece attended the Awards Day at Toyota’s Head Office in Surrey on 17th February. “I was very excited, but didn’t expect to win”, said Cece.

Whilst it was lovely to see the younger girls all dressed up, dancing and behaving so immaculately, the Prep Department teachers couldn't help but feel the pressure to maintain similarly high standards for the Be Epic Ball the following night. None of us would care to admit how long we spent getting ready; Ms Stentiford began on our nails weeks ago! Quite right too, because a real Cinderella

Cece is now the proud owner of an iPad and is waiting to hear whether she has been chosen to go to the World Finals in Japan. Congratulations Cece!

THE PRE-PREP GIRLS TWIRLED GRACEFULLY AROUND THE DANCEFLOOR.

Year 2 hockey match Year 2 were very excited to take part in their first ever hockey match; playing a team from Somers Park School. Everyone gave 110%, with the final score being 3-2 to Somers Park. Well done to Holly Forsyth, who scored both of MSJ’s goals, and three cheers and congratulations to all the girls who took part in the match.

PRE-PREP ENJOYED A RED CARPET MOMENT AT THEIR BE EPIC BALL WITH GUEST OF HONOUR, HATTIE.

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In terms of beautiful, exciting and engaging ways in which to raise money for a charity close to our hearts, this event was second to none. Congratulations and thanks to Lindsay Moore and her team of event organisers for pulling out all the stops. Further congratulations to all of the MSJ girls who performed so exquisitely at this event. Special thanks are also owed to the MSJ teachers who spent time and effort preparing the girls for this performance both preceding and on the night of the event. We all eagerly await the statistics on how much money was raised for Young Epilepsy.

Mrs Lane (Pre-Prep) MSJ NEWS

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PREP DEPARTMENT

PREP ART

Bon Voyage!

The MSJ French Trip 2017 took place on 11th – 20th March, with the girls heading to Normandy to visit an exciting array of places, including Honfleur, the D-Day Museum, the British and American cemeteries, the Bayeux Tapestry, William the Conqueror’s castle and a chocolate factory.

In the girls’ own words: On the first day, we were all very excited. When we arrived at Benhams from supper, we all went straight to bed. In the early morning, even though it was 1.30am, everyone was pumped with energy and raring to go!

When we arrived in Portsmouth after a long, three hour, journey in the coach, we checked in and waited while the ferry was being prepared. As we walked on board, we were all dazzled by the glamorous interior.

After we ate our delicious ferry lunch, we arrived in Normandy! We could barely keep still in the coach as we travelled to Honfleur. It was a magnificent sight – the harbour is surrounded by tall, thin houses, lavish boutiques and traditional, small cafés and restaurants.

We stayed until the sun started to set and then headed for the Château du Baffy where we were staying. On the way, we went over a bridge and everyone loved going over it so much that our driver, Paul, kindly went over it again. Finally, we arrived at the château and unpacked all of our bags and settled in our dorms. We ate fish, peas, potatoes, noodle soup and berry cheesecake. We had a snails and frogs’ legs tasting session after dinner. The year 5 girls in particular really went for it; the year 6 girls, not so much. Some of the girls had four or five snails!

Every day we learnt something brand new. On the first day we visited the D-Day Landing Museum, which was really exciting and interesting. We also went to the American cemetery, which made us realise that lots of

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brave men sacrificed their lives for us and made all of us think. After lunch we visited the Bayeux Tapestry, where we learnt the history of William the Conqueror.

The next day we went to the castle where William the Conqueror lived in Falaise, as well as the Civilians in Wartime museum and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. When we got back to the château we had a French quiz where we had to guess the cheese!

After a good night’s rest we all got ready to leave for England but before we left, we went to a chocolate factory where we learnt how chocolate is made. We also went to a goat farm where we saw lots of baby goats (it was very cute). The sea was rough on the ferry and a few people didn’t feel very well but we were all fine when we got off. After the bus ride we slept at Benhams and the next morning we went back to School.

We had a fantastic time in Normandy; we are so grateful for what everyone has done for us.

Written from pieces by Chloe Lewis, Erica BorwellFox, Lily Chance, Tegan Taylor-Davies, Hettie Smith, Susannah Watkins, Mia Rooke-Hodges, Amber Forsyth, Irem Naylor, Natalya Coldicott and Chloe Liu. A very big “merci” must go to Ms Stentiford, Mr Fry, Mrs Bevan and Mrs Wadman for taking the girls on this fabulous trip.

Springtime Sheep The Little Potters’ Pottery Club have been busy making these wonderful Springtime sheep. Keep your eyes open around School and see if you can spot them in their flocks!

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UNSUNG HEROES

CHARITIES PARTY TIME FOR MALVERN SPECIAL FAMILIES

Continuing the feature of shining a spotlight on MSJ’s unsung heroes, this term we meet Mrs Morgans and Mrs Otto, who are the ladies with the happy, smiley faces on Reception.

alvern Special Families (MSF) is an organisation that provides support to children and young people with disabilities, and their carers and families. Throughout the year MSJ has been raising money for this charity in a variety of ways, in an attempt to raise £10,000. MSJ girls organised a party for the charity and its families. The party gave the children a social opportunity and a fun day out, while also allowing the parents and carers to relax.

M

How long have you been working at MSJ? Mrs M: 22 years. I’ve worked in various parts of the school. I started off working part-time in the kitchens, then I was housekeeper at The Mount for a year and relief receptionist.

When MGC’s receptionist retired, I applied for the job and the rest is history!

On the day the York Hall was transformed into a jungle, filled with decorations created by our Sixth Form, including everything from the canopy of a forest to the wild animals. Sixth Formers were paired with a Malvern Special Families child for the day to ensure that everyone had as much fun as they could. The girls made sure each MSF child felt cared for and participated in each activity, giving the girls a better understanding of people with disabilities.

Mrs O: Since September 2014.

What did you do before working at MSJ? Mrs M: I was a Book Buyer for WH Smith and ran the book department.

Mrs O: I worked in banking for over 30 years.

What do you like most about your job?

Mrs M: Meeting parents and visitors. I love it when the girls from the Prep Department come and visit Reception, or walk through and stop for a chat!

Mrs O: Definitely the girls – saying “hello” to them every day and seeing them on their way through Reception.

Mrs O: If I’m not in School covering Reception, I enjoy walking on the Malvern Hills and gardening.

What’s your most favourite holiday ever?

Mrs M: Thailand and Malaysia. We saw the Golden Palace and the amazing flower markets in Thailand and the rainforest, with its beautiful birds and cheeky monkeys in Malaysia. The people in both Thailand and Malaysia were lovely.

What the funniest/most memorable thing that’s happened during your time at MSJ? Mrs M: Being involved in the Prep Department’s video for Comic Relief and also being a model in the Gambia fundraising fashion show.

Mrs O: When we went to France when my daughter was young. We stayed in a gîte by the beach and the weather was lovely.

Mrs O: When a pheasant recently tried to come in through the front door of the School. He’d have come in if the door had been open!

Have you met any famous people?

Mrs M: I’ve met Richard Hammond. I walked past James Martin at the Spring Gardening Show at the Three Counties Showground one year too!

Where do you live?

Mrs M: In Malvern. I’m from Weymouth originally and often go back to visit friends and family.

Mrs O: In Malvern.

What do you do in the school holidays?

Mrs M: I have a week’s holiday abroad and the rest of the time I’m in School, mainly naming the Reception desk. MSJ has lets that come in and use the School during the holidays, so I’m here for that.

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Mrs O: No. Do you have any pets?

Mrs M: No. My favourite animal is a penguin. I love frogs, tortoises and rabbits too and have china ones in my garden that my sister gave me when we moved to Malvern from Weymouth.

Mrs O: Yes, I have a tortoiseshell cat called Tigger. I’ve had lots of other pets over the years too – cats, chickens, a tortoise, rabbit, goldfish, budgie and guinea pig.

We offered a variety of entertaining activities such as face painting, craft activities, a parachute game, a disco and the most anticipated event of the afternoon, pass the parcel. After the fun and games, the catering staff at MSJ offered a packed lunch to the families.

This lunch gave the Sixth Form students time to bond and learn more about the child they were buddying, but also giving everyone a chance to rest after this action-packed day.

Both MSJ girls and MSF families had a great day and learnt a lot from their experience. Overall it was a fantastic event and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who organised the party.

Eleanor Rees and Chloe Parker (Year 12)

Roses are red…

Red Nose Day

February’s ‘Share the Love’ non uniform day raised over £230 for Malvern Special Families. Roses were also sold and £229.50 was raised for Greenslade’s House Charity – WaterAid.

MSJ was filled with red noses, onesies, ‘wild and wacky’ outfits and staff dressed in School uniform for Red Nose Day on 24th March. A great day was had by all and we raised over £380 for Comic Relief.

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FRIENDS OF MSJ

MSJ OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

The Friends started 2017 with a fun bingo night. We were thrilled to welcome 150 girls and their families, and with Ms Stentiford as our very able caller, it was eyes down.

We were delighted to be able to use the Alice Dining Room for the first time for one of our Friends’ events – it allowed the evening to flow seamlessly with breaks for a hot supper and ice cream cones. We raised £684.

MSJ has a thriving Old Girls’ Association (OGA). With over 4000 members, the OGA not only provides social opportunities to bring old friends back together, it also connects a network of contacts with experience and expertise across a wealth of business sectors; Old Girls who are just starting out, to those who have made it to the very top of their professions, and every stage in-between.

We have also been busy donating money to projects at School to benefit MSJ girls.

The Music department has been having a makeover and The Friends have donated £2700 towards some lovely new furniture and accessories to enhance one of the rooms that all girls are welcome to use within Avenue.

Old Girls come back to School to give Careers lectures and workshops; to contribute to the Careers Fair; to conduct mock interviews for Oxbridge entrance; to talk about their own University experiences; to talk about the tools for success in today’s highly competitive global marketplace.

We want to show MSJ students how to stand out, how to demonstrate valuable skills, and how to engage potential employers. Here are a few stories from the OGA this term…

Networking in London London Networking Drinks at the Houses of Parliament took place on 29th March. Thanks to Victoria Prentis (Boswell, 1989) who kindly offered us The Jubilee Room to host the event and led the Guest Speakers. Thanks also to our full line-up of Guest Speakers who were Angelina Ma (MGC 2000 – co-founder of ASI Data Science), Tamsin Barber (MGC 1998 – award-winning broadcast journalist and producer), Rachel Hawkins (Moon, MGC 2001 – counsel for O’Melveny), Anthea Cheung (MSJ 2011 – management consultant at Bain & Co) and Catharine Wozniak (Parliamentary Office and Research Manager).

We were also delighted to be joined by Guests of Honour – Mrs Lindner, from the Music departments of MSJ and St James’s, and former Housemistresses, Mrs Pallett and Mrs Prophet. The evening was a huge success and we are already planning the next OGA Networking event.

We funded a Spanish theatre production visit at the end of January too, which was great fun for the 90 girls who attended. The play was performed by native Spanish speaking actors, was written for a modern audience and involved audience participation, which ticked all the boxes for our Spanish learners. (See the Modern Foreign Languages section for a write up and photos of the production).

The secondhand uniform shop continues to be busy on a Friday morning when we open between 8.00am and 8.30am. We have high stock levels currently and welcome any donations of uniform.

You may have noticed the launch of MSJ Merchandise!

There is a cabinet in the corridor just outside the Prep Department. Please do have a look next time you are in School. Orders can be placed via Parent Portal or you or your daughters can collect an order form from Reception. All money raised will be donated back to MSJ

by The Friends.

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NEWS FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

Rose Owen

(MSJ 2013)

Antigua, Martinique, St Marten, St Barts, Grenada, Antibes, Monaco, Porto Cervo, Koh Tao – these are just a handful of the places I have visited since leaving MSJ in 2013.

It seems only yesterday that I was with all my fellow classmates on the last day of Sixth Form. I was full of mixed emotions – excited, nervous and scared all at the same time. After spending so long under the wing of my Housemistresses and tutors, I was finally ready to crawl out and see what the world had to offer outside of Malvern.

I had been accepted into Westminster University at the end of 2013. However, I had a gut feeling this was not the right thing to do. So, I deferred my entry and drove down to the Isle of Wight to do a three week intensive course on sea survival, firefighting and tender driving. A week later, I flew out to Antibes to try and become a Stewardess on a Super Yacht. I dock-walked for weeks trying to find a job. When I was starting to think that this idea wasn’t going to work, I got a call from a captain in Monaco asking for me to join his crew and start my new role as Junior Stewardess onboard M/Y Lady Marina, 64m.

I am happy to say that after all those years at MSJ, I had actually learnt a thing or two. I was on Lady Marina for three months, and then I joined S/Y EOS, 94m - my favourite yacht so far because the crew felt like a large unconventional family. We travelled all over the Caribbean visiting many private islands, paddle boarding through crystal clear waters, witnessing England vs The West Indies cricket and often sailing through winds of up to 51 knots with swell as high as 6/7m.

books, not websites, and not even the wise words of my father “Just don’t do anything stupid”. Within three hours of being in this new world, I had lost my GoPro, my debit card and my flip flops.

Somehow, I made it to Koh Tao and began my course at Crystal Dive Centre. Diving in Thailand has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I cannot explain the feeling of breathing underwater at 30m deep; the most beautiful sea life circling you and all you can hear, is the peaceful sound of bubbles. I met some incredible people in Thailand and I still keep in contact with them and intend to visit them when the next student loan comes in... (cough cough).

After three years of these wonderful, mad adventures, I have now dedicated the following four years to studying BA TV Hons at Bournemouth University, to become the next female Steven Spielberg.

I hope that this small snippet of my time since leaving MSJ might just inspire the girls to not follow the crowd and do what they really want to do, no matter how scary it might be to leave their comfort zones. Just go for it, even when people say you can’t do it, show them you can.

One story I will never forget is when I was hiking through the rainforests of Grenada. A young boy of either 10 or 11 years stopped me in my tracks holding a machete towards my face and asked me for my clothes, my money and my rucksack.

You can imagine the fear of my poor parents on the other side of the world when I explained these experiences.

For friends, family and teachers that have known me since being a young girl, I have always been one for spontaneous ideas. My next adventure was to head to Thailand to do a three month course of scuba diving to become a Dive Master (having never dived before). My mother and father did not think this wise, as I was still naïve about what a third world country actually was. Nevertheless, I sneakily booked my flight to Bangkok. Nothing could have prepared me. Not

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MSJ NEWS

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NEWS FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION I didn’t deserve it. I used to go home to John at night and say, “I can’t do it”.” She realised that to get on with the job, she needed to shed the fear, not try and be something she wasn’t, and play to her strengths – as a networker and a team leader. With a “brilliant and supportive” management team of six around her, she threw down the gauntlet and publicly set herself the aim of being Agency of the Year in 12 months’ time – and achieved it. But she did not do it by herself, for it was here that Gay learnt the power of being part of a team all pushing in the same direction. A lesson which has served her well during her years as a headhunter.

(Gail Conolly, MGC 1963)

Courage and integrity. These are the key tenets of Gay Haines’ philosophy on life and it is the mantra that has seen her career trajectory sky-rocket from a stay-at-home mum to leader of a global business empire – at that time the only female Chairman and CEO of a publicly quoted company and voted one of The Sunday Times/Debretts Top 500 Most Influential Britons in 2016.

An Old Girl of Malvern Girls’ College, she returned to MSJ in February to talk to the girls about her three decades in business, first of all in London’s leading advertising agencies and then on to running blue-chip headhunting agencies, placing the most senior communications executives from America to Asia and Australia.

There is no doubt that she is a tour de force, exuding a palpable energy, warmth and ‘can do’ mentality that is totally infectious. “Anyone can do what I have done. I’m not a great intellect, nor strategist, but I know what I’m good at”. In her own words, “If you had told me, or my teachers at Malvern Girls’ College, that I would achieve half of what I have done, I think they would have laughed out loud!”

Following school, Gay’s life had followed a happy and predictable route for women of the time. She was married to John, a barrister, had three young children, and lots of friends in the same position. She saw her job as making

She has an innate curiosity and has always been an ideas person – a naturally entrepreneurial mind - and having gone as far as she could go in agency land, she spotted her next project. At the time (1993) headhunting was very much a cottage industry of small independents and individuals.

She bought a ‘faded’ agency, Kendall Tarrant, and, with characteristic chutzpah, “set out to be the best headhunter in London.” Within three years, the business had 80% market share and had been reported to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for controlling the advertising sector.

In 1996 Gay floated the company and she became at that time the only female Chairman and Chief Executive of a publicly listed company. She went on to open offices all over the world.

sure her home ran efficiently, “that the children were fed and bathed by the time John got home, that dinner was on the table, and that he had a clean shirt for the morning”.

From Y&R, she went on to Collett Dickenson Pearce and was then personally persuaded by the CEO to join J Walter Thompson, known as “the university of advertising”, attracting Oxbridge’s brightest and best. This was telling recognition of her reputation in the industry, but it didn’t stop her being dogged by the fear of failure. “I arrived frightened.

I was on a mega salary but it was like a millstone, I felt that

But you have to accept that there will always be good times and tough times, and you have to have the courage and the integrity to do the right thing.”

By 2005 she didn’t want to run a public company any more – always having to operate at the behest of investors’ opinions rather than her own instincts. In 2006 she started Grace Blue, with her long-term business partner Juliet Timms and son, Jolyon. The success of this company, which has offices in the US and Asia, has, she says “been down to choosing great partners – people I like, trust and respect.”

More recently, Grace Blue, which places senior executives in the communications business, has been complemented by Liberty Blue, which looks after younger practitioners in the industry.

As for being a woman, it has never been an impediment to anything she wanted to do. “Being a woman in business has only ever been a good thing. Women are wanted. CEOs say that they would actively like to have more women in senior positions.” That said, she believes that talent – not fulfilling gender quotas - has to be the number one reason for getting the job. “Sometimes the men put forward are just better than the women”.

So what happened to change a happy and comfortable, but quite ordinary, life as a wife and mother, to someone who has established herself as one of the UK’s leading business women and the go-to woman in the advertising and communications industry?

Gay’s story takes off in her mid-thirties, when she broke her leg and, with three small children to get to school, she had to take on a nanny. To cover the expense, she signed up at her local temping agency which offered her a role as a secretary at ad agency Young & Rubicam (Y&R). She discovered she loved working – the validation of being recognised for doing something well, the buzz of working with top creative talent on some of the most high-profile campaigns of the day – and, crucially, she was good at it.

GAY TALKS TO MSJ GIRLS AFTER THE LECTURE

GAY WITH STUDENT ISSY ASHDOWN

The ride has been hairy at times. She says, “There is a saying that you are only ever two phone calls away from disaster in agency life, and I totally subscribe to that. Lose a couple of big clients and you can find yourself in immediate dire straits. I’ve had my moments. When we opened Kendall Tarrant in New York and San Francisco, our costs spiralled and the economic dip at the turn of the millennium meant we were on a knife edge. I’ve had to do the things you don’t want to do: making excellent people – who I respected and built the business with – redundant. That has a personal impact.

Gay gave the MSJ girls (and actually, the staff too) some great advice: the power of charm, of listening to people, and being genuinely interested in what they have to say; the value of being tenacious and determined; the necessity of courage and integrity – “never tell a lie or an untruth”; the importance of putting your hand up when you get something wrong; and the almost unstoppable force of a strong team of people who offer 100% support.

MSJ is grateful to Gay for coming in to share her knowledge, expertise and wisdom. It will give our girls some big things to think about as they move forward to university and their professional lives.

NEWS FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

Sophie Grant (Mills, MGC 1999)

buffalo charges you in thick bush!

With direct views of Mount Kenya and the Ewaso Nyiro river marking our western boundary, this high altitude, mixed habitat is a haven for naturalists. Forget the image you have in your mind of endless dusty, game drives and think rather of walking quietly in the bush with your binoculars surrounded by browsing giraffe and feeling the sandy soil crunch under your feet.

In addition to walks we take guests on game drives, night drives, fly camping and bush meals, all of which are done at 2000m, right on the Equator!

There is no phone signal or wifi in the lodge itself, just in our office so people can have a real break from their lives at home. The sparkle comes back to all of us after a few days under the stars eating delicious food and falling asleep with the sound of elephant rumbling and lion calling in the distance.

S

ophie Grant (Mills, MGC 1999) owns and runs El Karama Lodge, an award-winning, intimate and family-friendly eco safari lodge in Laikipia, Kenya, specialising in ecologically responsible wildlife and walking safaris.

Laikipia is a 3,385 square mile area of mixed habitat in the heart of Kenya, known for its incredible wildlife diversity.

“It is now 16 years since I left MGC and in the intervening years since leaving Nairobi where I was involved in eco building and community training, I have set up a business in Laikipia, and made a home with my husband Murray, a talented bronze sculptor, and our two children Archer (5) and Celeste (2).

My safari lodge employs a permanent team of 15 local Kenyans to host and manage safari experiences for guests from all around the world. It is an affordable and intimate lodge (award-winning!) and is just one part of a much bigger habitat stabilisation project – El Karama Ranch. This 14,000 acre private, working livestock ranch with wildlife, has over 50 years of cattle breeding and wildlife protection under its belt.

The lodge brings around 2000 bed nights a year to the property and contributes to wildlife monitoring programmes for the 80 mammal species and 427 bird species identified here. In addition to offering ‘straight’

eco tourism products, we also offer short courses, retreats, special events and a mentorship programme for young Kenyans. We welcome school children free of charge throughout the year to learn about self-sustaining private sector business, tourism, conservation, renewable energy (100% solar powered, we are!) and other interesting subjects that relate to our operations.

Guests can expect to see four of the ‘Big 5’ including leopard, lion, hippo, buffalo, elephant, cheetah, reticulated giraffe, northern species like gerenuk, grevy’s zebra and vulterine guinea fowl. We are also extremely fortunate to see African hunting dogs, bat-eared foxes, aardwolf and the ever elusive aardvark! The only large mammal we don’t have is rhino, but you can do a day trip nearby to see both black and white rhino.

Bush walks are a memorable way to explore this landscape.

We walk a lot here, always armed, as the potential for encounters with cape buffalo and elephant are high. We are trained to carry a .458 calibre rifle, which is essentially a ‘buffalo gun’. The aim is not to ever have to use it, but it is a necessity and we wouldn’t ever leave the lodge area on foot without it. I recently completed an advanced rifle-handling course in Kruger, South Africa as part of my guide training, but I can safely say no blind loading drills or simulated charges will ever compare to the moment a

The stars at night here are mind-blowing with no light pollution and with our proximity to the equator it’s as though we can see the curve of the earth itself. A recent astronomy event we hosted showed guests perfect views of Mercury and Venus, the surface of the moon and all the constellations including Orion’s belt, which often used to sit above the apex of the roof at Lindfield when we arrived back late at the end of an exeat or some event.

Although the wildlife and the birds are something we all marvel over, the people in Kenya are also a huge part of its attraction. Our team is made up of Kenyans from all over the country, half of which built this lodge from scratch. Lovi came to dig a trench 11 years ago and now he is running the lodge as the Assistant Manager.

It’s a strange and visceral life we all lead here, full of challenges, never dull. We have had to adopt a fairly zen attitude to change though as the political landscape here is fluid and never predictable. This life is not for the faint-hearted nor is it for those stuck in their ways. To survive you have to be flexible, forward thinking and definitely not work-shy!

I am certain that my family life and my time at school prepared me for what was to come. The rigours (and insecurity) that come from placing oneself outside of a comfort zone, the

adaptation skills and work ethic required to survive and flourish in a highly competitive and creative environment, gave me some serious foundations for what we face in this country today. I could not have done what I do without that part of my education. We were nurtured and encouraged at MGC, our voices were heard and we were given the space to experiment both with our thoughts and our identities.

Although I have always been grateful, it is really now as an adult and a mum of two girls that I can see just how unusual that degree of pastoral care is for many within education.

Now that I have made my life in a developing country, I also see how very fortunate we have been in our schooling and recognise the discipline, training and opportunity that it has provided throughout life. We were - we are - so lucky.

I am extremely grateful to my teachers, Housemistresses and Heads of Departments. The friends I made at school are still the closest girlfriends, we continue to be very much in each others’ lives, godparents to each others’ children.

Every single one of the MGC girls I know has gone on to do great and sometimes very unusual things, which in itself is testament to our education.

So don’t worry if you leave school unsure of where you are going … the things you learn here will come in useful in more ways you could ever imagine. If you had told me then I would end up in one of Africa’s last areas of wilderness running my own safari business I would never have believed you!

For safari information you can contact us directly on through www.laikipiasafaris.com / www.elkaramalodge. com or you can reach Sophie direct on sophiemills16@ gmail.com anytime.

All alumnae will be given special rates on all safari packages. Just ask for Sophie.

THE ‘LITTLE POTTERS’ WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY EASTER TO ‘EWE’!

Call 01684 584624 admissions@malvernstjames.co.uk www.malvernstjames.co.uk Malvern St James, 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA