2015 Autumn Term

Chapel was full at break time on the last full day of term to watch live coverage of the launch of Major Tim Peake in the Russian Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station.

This year’s Christmas Carol Service was held at St Mary’s Parish Church on Sunday 13th December, and drew a large congregation, filling the church. As tradition states, it started in candlelight, and a single voice rose out of the silence with the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City.

On Wednesday 2nd December James, from Elevate Education, came to deliver the second seminar of the three-part programme. This was on Time Management and we learnt lots of useful skills including how to produce an effective revision plan, the advantages of study groups and the difference between required and non-required tasks.

On 9th December some of our LAMDA students took to the stage to showcase the fantastic work they have been doing in their LAMDA lessons. The performers ranged from LIV to UVI and were supported by their friends, family and teachers.

This week we were thrilled to be able to give out certificates to the girls in UIV who had succeeded in gaining their AQA Certificate in Mandarin last year. At St Mary’s, all girls in the first two years (LIV and MIV) study Mandarin, and are introduced to both the language and the culture.

We expected the final St Mary’s lecture of 2015 by Alastair Humphreys to be eventful, especially when he asked for the use of a violin and bow. How right we were! Alastair, who is a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, treated us to an exceptionally vivid account of his daring, and sometimes not quite so daring, feats both at home and abroad.

Many congratulations to Lucy (LV Form), who has produced the design for the Boarding Schools' Association's (BSA) e-Christmas card.

In readiness for Christmas (Weihnachten),some of the LIV German pupils made Weihnachtsplätzchen, traditional German biscuits in the shapes of bells, stars, Christmas trees and gingerbread men. 

Saturday, 5th December was a very blustery winter’s day but that did not detract from the wonderful Confirmation Service that was held that morning. For the 27 confirmation candidates the day began with a special breakfast with the Bishop of Ramsbury, The Right Reverend Edward Condry. 

On Monday 30th November, a mixture of UV, LVI and UVI Drama students enjoyed a physical theatre workshop with the Frantic Assembly Theatre Company.

On Monday 23rd November, Mrs Visser and Mrs Handy took a group of 12 girls studying Government and Politics in the Sixth Form to visit Westminster for a tour of the Houses of Parliament and later to partake in a question and answer session with the school's local MP, Mr James Gray.

The Senior Team Maths Challenge, run by the Further Maths Support Group in conjunction with the UK Maths Trust, took place at Hardenhuish School on 1st December.