ACTIVITIES
CO-CURRICULAR AND WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
AUTUMN TERM 2024
CO-CURRICULAR ETHOS
At St Swithun’s we are proud of our academic excellence but also believe in the concept of being ‘appropriately academic’. This means encouraging the girls to work hard in class but also providing them with opportunities to do something else. The ‘something else’ is as important as academic lessons, and sometimes more so. We expect the girls to try new things, to make mistakes and learn from them, to develop commitment, perseverance, teamwork and organisational skills.
We accept that some girls will naturally want to take part in many activities and that others will need some gentle persuasion. We would be failing in our duty to the latter if we did not emphasise the importance of balancing academic work with other activities. After all, the girls will never again have so many opportunities to try such a wide range of activities.
Boarders are expected to sign up to a certain number of co-curricular activities that take place after school. This number depends on which year group the girls are in but, generally speaking, the younger girls are expected to do more activities when their workload is lighter. Day girls are welcome to sign up to these activities. There is also a wide range of lunchtime clubs.
Pupils commit to an after-school activity for one term and the sign-up process happens at the beginning of each term. Form tutors help with this process to ensure that the girls have a good balance of co-curricular activities and that they honour any priority sport, music or drama activities for which they are required.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AUTUMN 2024
6.45-7.30am Swimming training Swim squad (by invitation) Swim squad (by invitation)
7.30-8.30am
8.15-8.45am Brass ensemble (by invitation) Chamber music ensembles (by invitation)
Chamber music ensembles (by invitation)
Chamber choir (by audition M5 up) Chamber music ensembles (by invitation) Chamber music ensembles (by invitation)
Chamber music ensembles (by invitation) Jazz/Swing band (by invitation) Band (by invitation)
1.05-1.35pm
L4/U4
football club (L4-L5) L4/U4 cricket
Reading room
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
ETHOS
At St Swithun’s we offer a full and varied programme of cultural, social and recreational activities at the weekends to suit all of our boarders, which we believe will broaden their experience. We believe that the weekend is a time when girls should have the opportunity to take some ‘downtime’, to try out new experiences, to learn how to organise their time appropriately and effectively, and to get to know girls of different ages and backgrounds. Our aim is to provide an appropriate balance of constructive activities and relaxation within a home from home environment.
The weekend activity programme is open to all boarders, free of charge. Day girls will be charged for any activity they wish to sign up for at the weekend. We welcome feedback from the girls about the trips they go on and we are always interested in suggestions for future trips.
STRUCTURE OF WEEKENDS
The organised weekend activities for the Autumn Term 2024 are set out in this booklet. The overall structure for each weekend is as follows:
On Friday evening girls have the option of taking part in activities or relaxing. On Saturdays there are matches and other school activities, optional weekend activities (detailed in this booklet) and the opportunity to go shopping in Winchester. On Sundays there are matches and other school activities, optional activities and chapel in the evening.
I hope your daughter will make the most of the opportunities available to her and that she has a fulfilling and enjoyable time while she is with us. If you have any queries regarding the weekend programme, please do not hesitate to contact me on hansenb@stswithuns.com
Mr Bruce Hansen
Finlay housemaster and weekend activities co-ordinator
FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY
Learn a new game: Croquet 16:30 – 17.30 ALL Supermarket visit 19:15 – 20:45 ALL
SATURDAY U6 ‘re-sit’ exams 08:30 – 16.30 U6
Lacrosse and netball training 09:30 – 14:00 ALL
Supervised study in the library 10:00 – 12:00 ALL
–17.00
–
–21.00
SUNDAY
1st, 2nd & 3rd lacrosse - Berkhamsted tournament (A) 09:00 – 15.30
Chessington World of Adventures 09:30 – 17:00 L4 - L5 Thorpe Park 09:30 – 17:00 L5 - U6
CHAPEL
High House, Earlsdown, Le Roy 17:25 – 17.55 L4, U4, L5, M5, U5, L6 Hyde Abbey, Hillcroft, Finlay (optional) 18.00 – 18.30 U4, L5, M5, U5, L6, U6
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY
parents’ meeting 16:30 – 18:30 U6
Cinema 19:30 – 22:00
– 20:45
Super Saturday vs St Catherine’s (A) 09:30 – 14:00
workshop 10:00 – 12:00
SNDAY Greenpower: Dunsfold Park heat 06:30 – 19:30
rock climbing 09:30 – 12:00
and the Beast rehearsal 10:00 – 18:00
House, Earlsdown, Le Roy 17:25 – 17.55
Abbey, Hillcroft, Finlay (optional) 18.00 – 18.30
FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY U5 6th form meeting 16:30 – 19:00 U5 Learn a new game: Boules 16:30 – 17:30 ALL
visit 19:15 – 20:45
SATURDAY Lacrosse vs Putney (A) 09:30 – 14:00
CHAPEL
Earlsdown, Le Roy
Abbey, Hillcroft, Finlay (optional)
FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER FRIDAY
CHAPEL
Hillcroft, Finlay (optional)
FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER – SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER
FRIDAY Learn a new game: Kubb 16:30 – 17:30
– 20:45
U13 internal netball & lacrosse training 09:30 – 12:15 Super Saturday vs Downe House (A) 14:30 – 17:30
CHAPEL
Final (Goodwood) 06:30 – 18:30
Top Test Lacrosse tournament (A) 08:30 – 16:00
Earlsdown,
Hillcroft, Finlay (optional)
FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER
SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
Boarders return: Le Roy 18:00 -19:30
U4 - U5 18:00 - 20:30
L6 18:00 - 21:30
U6 18:00 - 22:00
FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER – SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER
FRIDAY Learn a new game: Nine Men’s Morris 16:30 – 17:30
visit 19:15 – 20:45
SATURDAY
Lacrosse Super Saturday v Guildford (H) 09:30 – 15.00 ALL
workshop: coursework 10:00 – 12:00
and the Beast rehearsal
House Chess competition: 3rd round 14:00 – 16:00
Ginger Crunch 15:00 – 16:30
CHAPEL
Abbey, Hillcroft, Le Roy
House, Earlsdown, Finlay (optional)
FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER – SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER
FRIDAY
SATURDAY Super Saturday Lacrosse vs Berkhamsted (H) 09:30 – 14:00
vs Wellington College 13:00 – 15.00
workshop 10:00 – 12:00
CHAPEL
Abbey, Hillcroft, Le Roy
House, Earlsdown, Finlay (optional)
FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER – SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER
L6 & U6 MUN Global Conference (Oxford) 07:30 – 21:30
Lacrosse Super Saturday v SHSK (H) 09:30 – 12:30
vs Phoenix Lacrosse Club (H) 09:30 – 10:45
CHAPEL
Netball Super Saturday vs Benenden (A) 10:00 – 14:00
