Boarding

“I want to be confirmed because I will be more ready to tackle challenges with God by my side to always support and love me. ” Anon.

TOGETHER IN FAITH

Our Christian ethos and values are at the heart of the Sherborne Girls community, creating a culture of compassion, integrity and generosity. Confirmation provides an opportunity to reflect more deeply on these values and what it means to be Christian.

Confirmation is a yearly event at Sherborne Girls. Pupils in M5 and above who want to be confirmed attend six weekly classes to understand what it means to be a Christian and walk more closely with God. During the Lent term we were delighted to hold three confirmation services, after having to postpone due to COVID. Determined that they would all be confirmed in Sherborne Abbey this year, I am delighted to report that all but two of the 38 candidates were confirmed, and all three occasions were very moving and special for those involved.

Rev. Katie Windle, Chaplain

SOMEONE TO RELATE TO

Our outgoing prefects leave behind a wonderfully positive legacy for our community with a Peer Mentoring Programme that provides younger pupils with an avenue of support, independent of ttheir house or year group.

Now at the end of their time with us, our twelve Peer Mentors have beautifully demonstrated our school values with a scheme motivated by compassion for others. Having undergone training in safeguarding, as well as key mentoring skills, they successfully launched their programme to the entire school body in January. Offering guidance on all aspects of school life, the Peer Mentors have been visiting the boarding houses each week. They have enjoyed reconnecting with the rest of the school while younger pupils have benefitted from their valuable insights and help.

Peer Mentors: Katie Browning, Helena Campbell, Evie Coulton, Bella Cripwell, Honor Davis, Cayla Downer, Amelia Longpre, Matilda Massey, Lucy Maynard, Amber Nielsen, Lailie PlattRansom & Lara Tomlin.

LIFE’S A BLAST IN WEST

Girls in Aldhelmsted West have been letting off steam at weekends with a variety of exciting activities including trips to Flip Out, laser tag, camping, surfing and walking parts of the South West Coastal Path.

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Imogen Hodgson, L4:

“Weekends in West are always full of fun and happy memories. My favourite was our weekend in Devon camping in bell tents. On Saturday nights, we do fun things like neon parties, silent discos, trips to the cinema or Flip Out. On Sunday afternoons, after a lie in, we go to places like Splashdown, Dorset Water Park or laser tag and in the Summer, we go to the beach. We always have a blast!”

Congratulations to Dun Holme for their well-deserved victory in the InterHouse Tug-of-War for Comic Relief last term.

STRICTLY BRILLIANT

Well done Wingfield Digby for winning the House Dance Competition 2022. The t b huge amount of eff entries was evident ort in put the i into all mpress six ively high standards achieved in all performances.

KINDNESS CONSIDERED

Meet Fiona Cracknell, the new Housemistress of Reader Harris. She joins us in September, together with her husband Mark, who succeeds John Jenkins as Director of Music, and their daughter Clemmie. In her vision for the role, Fiona emphasises the importance of kindness and adds a modern twist to the House motto.

MUSIC: THE NEXT CHAPTER

We are equally excited to be welcoming Fiona ’ s husband, Mark Cracknell, as our new Director of Music in September. An experienced and accomplished musician, Mark stood out from an excellent field of candidates with his passion for music, understanding of boarding school life and his obvious rapport with young people. We look forward to hearing about his plans for the next chapter in our musical story in the Autumn/ Winter issue of ‘The Voice ’ .

As soon as I set foot in Sherborne Girls, I experienced a feeling of arriving home that I shall never forget. Becoming Reader Harris Housemistress is an opportunity to join the wonderful Sherborne Girls community and to continue the legacy of my predecessors in supporting my new extended family as they write their amazing stories.

When I reflect on the ethos and values I will bring to Reader Harris, I think of kindness. I believe that a life with kindness and consideration at its heart will provide a solid foundation for the highs, lows and in-betweens we all experience. Upholding the school values of courage and curiosity will also be top of my list. I want to help every girl in Reader Harris to change that inner voice

from ‘I can ’t’ to ‘I can!’

I will also encourage Reader Harris girls to discover the joy of being part of a team, either by representing their House in inter-house events or in smaller inhouse activities. This is a uniquely special time in the girls ’ lives and helping them achieve a happy balance of learning, enrichment, friendship and fun is so important. As Housemistress, I will, of course, lead by example: expect to see me dragging myself along in the Castle Challenge!

Joining a boarding house prompts me to consider what boarding offers young women in the 21st century. I believe it provides a uniquely special environment that facilitates the fulfilment of both personal and academic potential. It offers a vibrant, tolerant and supportive community where girls can express their views confidently, explore their interests to the full, learn to work independently and collaboratively, and form friendships that will last a lifetime.

The House motto,

‘Do unto others as you would have done unto you yourself’ , is ancient but relevant. That said I would add a twist to its modern application: we also need to treat ourselves as we would treat our best friend. It is too easy to be critical of our limitations and to feel we are not worthy of others ’ time or kindness. We are human and we make mistakes, yet we are all valuable and deserve to feel safe, happy and respected.