Private School News

Co-Education at Our Lady’s, Abingdon

For nearly one hundred and fifty years pupils have enjoyed the benefits of a first class education at Our Lady’s Abingdon. I am delighted to announce that as from September 2009 boys will be admitted to the Senior School.

We will be offering the same opportunities in the Senior School that boys presently enjoy up to the age of 11 in the Junior School. OLA will be the first independent senior school in the town to offer co-education. This is an exciting step forward not only for Abingdon, but also for the surrounding area.

In today’s world, we strongly believe there are educational advantages to be gained from teaching boys and girls together in a co-educational senior school. Co-education offers many benefits to both boys and girls. In modern society and in the work place it is important for girls and boys to understand each other’s attitudes and to appreciate each other’s points of view. Co-education will help them to achieve these aims.

You are warmly invited to come and visit the school, to meet our pupils and staff and to see at first hand our vibrant and exciting community.

Lynne Renwick

Headteacher

Football Success

The Junior School Girls’ Football team are the proud holders of the Jack Seymour Trophy having recently won the Vale of White Horse Primary Schools Girls 6s. This is the second time we have won this competition, having been previously successful in 2006. We were also runners-up in 2008.
The tournament was a fantastic occasion with a win over Blewbury and draws against Cumnor and All Saints in the group games. In the knockout stages we beat Millbrook 3-2 on penalties at the end of a gruelling match which had ended in a 0-0 draw at the end of extra time. In the final we beat Willowcroft 2-1 to become Vale 6s Champions for 2009.

Thanks from the Palace for A Special Poem

It was in 1924, first in the pages of Punch magazine, then by the end of the year with the publication of “When We Were Very Young” that local writer A.A.Milne achieved literary immortality with poems such as “The King’s Breakfast”, “If I were King” and “Buckingham Palace”. The latter with the memorable lines:“Do you think the King knows all about me?”
“Sure to, dear, but it’s time for tea”.

Now nine-year-old Harriet Miller has made sure the Queen knows all about her. The Stoke Brunswick school pupil has written her own poem about the monarch and sent it to the Queen together with a handmade card. In response she has received a grateful letter of thanks from Lady Richenda Elton, the Queen’s Lady-in-Waiting. One presumes the Queen is “much too busy a-signing things” to write herself.

Harriett’s poem focuses on the Queen constantly being in the public eye and being photographed continuously. It echoes Milne’s line:“I wouldn’t be King for a hundred pounds,”
as it begins:
“Some times I just would not like to be queen,
All the time people with their cameras staring over me,
I would say if I am the queen
‘You have to obey, go away’”

Someone may pip her to the post but Harriet is well on course to become our first Lady Poet Laureat

Comic Relief at Lyndon Prep

On Comic Relief Day pupils were invited to bring a joke and wear a funny hat to school. Our morning assembly was a very happy and colourful occasion, with children wearing red noses and brightly coloured fancy hats. It was a time during which we had fun, raised a considerable amount of money and remembered those less fortunate than ourselves – especially the boys and girls living in Uganda.

Meeting Prince Charles

Welsh teacher, Miss Wynne-Jones and Tomas Lee, a Sixth Form pupil at Rydal Penrhos presented a bibliography to Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall during their visit to the ‘Welsh Historic Gardens Trust’ (W.H.G.T.) at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire. Mark Baker, a pupil from Rydal School is connected with the W.H.G.T. and, prompted the idea that Miss Wynne-Jones and Rydal Penrhos work on a project of developing a bibliography for Prince Charles’s home in South Wales, the Llwynywermod Estate.

At last the day arrived, a perfect summer’s day, not a cloud in the sky, and all hands in a last minute preparation of the visit. Tomas Lee did Rydal Penrhos proud in his presentation of the bibliography, and many said what a delightfully polite young man he was. The highlight of the day for Miss Wynne-Jones was to meet Prince Charles, discuss the project with him and thank him most earnestly in allowing Rydal Penrhos to carry out the project.

At the end of the day, sitting on the terrace surveying the pond, in discursive reflection with Mark Baker, the project had been well received and, it is with thanks to Mark that we owe the opportunity of participating and completing a privileged piece of work.

Hymers Sevens Tournament in Hull

Report by Liam Hopkins in Year 9:
Merchant Taylors u14 Sevens Squad, won the Hymers Sevens Tournament in Hull. The team arrived, after a long bus journey, and were major underdogs to win the tournament. How wrong everybody was!
The first game Merchants played, was against Mount St. Mary’s, a tightly contested affair. Merchants went up after an early try, but conceded before half time, leaving the scores at 15-5 at the break. Merchants came out in the second half, all guns firing, and scored another two tries to level the scores at 15-15. The opposition once again took the lead 22-15. With two minutes to go, Merchants put another past Mount, but still needed a conversion. Curtis Bell converted, from a very difficult kick from a wide position, leveling the scores at 22-22.
After scraping through with a point from their first game, up next was Bradford Grammar School, who were defeated in their opening game. Merchants found the going easy and played well, running out eventual winners 36-7. A comfortable victory for the Merchants team. However the next game was against Ashville, who had won their first two matches comfortably.
Merchants went two tries down early on in the game, but showing awesome spirited to fight back to within 7 points. Unfortunately, there was little time left for Merchants to equalize, and eventually they lost the game 24-17. This now left them with a bit job to do in the final group game, again St. Peters of York, who looked a very strong side.
Merchants seemed to have been intimidated in the first five minutes, conceding two avoidable tries from some silly mistakes. Just before half time, they scored to pull themselves back into contention. The second half started with many attacked from Merchants, who inevitably scored. At 14-14, Merchants once again broke through the defense to score. Then another went past St. Peters to put the game beyond their reach. The final score was 26-14, and meant that Merchants had finished second in the group and were through to the semi-finals. They had exceeded everybody’s expectations.
The draw left Merchants to play the team that had finished top of the other group, which was Woodhouse Grove, who had won every match in their group. The boys started brilliantly and before they knew it Matthew Gilchrist had a hat-trick. A further two tries saw Merchants eventually win the game by five tries to Grove’s two. The underdogs were through to the final.
This set up a rematch between Merchant Taylors and Ashville Grove. The game started at a furious pace, and it wasn’t long before the first try was scored. It went to Merchants, through Ollie Noble, who scored from an intercepted pass. The game swung both ways, with Ashville scoring to equalize, then they went ahead but, once again, Merchants pulled back to level the scoring. At the end of normal time, the scores were tied at 17-17. The referee called for a ‘golden try’ situation, meaning the next score wins. Ashville won the toss, and bizarrely chose to receive from the kick off, meaning Merchants could put them under early pressure and could force a turn-over ball, which is exactly what happened. The kick came in from Ethan Allen looking for the winger Liam Hopkins, who was unmarked, but it rebounded off the opposition and fell for Alex Roberts who scored the try to secure the trophy.
Merchant Taylors, the team all the way from Liverpool, that nobody had ever heard of, had defeated all Yorkshire had to offer, coming away which their first piece of silverware this season.

Young Enterprise team wins awards

This year’s Young Enterprise team, Eterna, have had a very successful time at the recent trade fairs, winning best stand at last weekend’s fair, which was held at Peterborough Town Hall.

The Town Hall was very busy and the team worked hard throughout the day to prepare their stand and present to the judges.

Previously, the girls were successful at the Huntingdon fair, winning the Best Publicity award. This came with a cheque for £25, which was gratefully received by the Finance Manager!

Fabulous Fundraising on Appeals Day

This year’s Appeals Day has raised a wonderful total of £1450 for the NSPCC.

Whilst pupils paid to wear their own clothes, many teachers got in to the spirit of the day and wore school uniform. Then, throughout the day each year group devised their own money-making enterprise and everyone in the school enjoyed sweet stalls, chocolate fondues, nail bars, competitions, challenges, cocktail bars to name but a few of the marvellous activities which were on offer.

In the afternoon an expectant audience was treated to Year 11′s version of ‘Big Brother’ and the Sixth Form’s skits, all the time with the NSPCC buckets being passed around.

Kate Hudson from the NSPCC, who was in school to experience for herself the magic of Appeals Day said of the amount raised, “This is fantastic! Such an amazing amount from such a great day. Well done to everyone!”.

Stonar’s fundraising for Human Powered Aeroplane Project

Last Sunday members of Stonar School’s Human Powered Aeroplane team, who are entering the Royal Aero Society’s Kremer Prize to design and build a human powered aircraft, undertook a sponsored bike ride from Bradford on Avon to Devizes and back along the canal towpath.

The group are currently raising money to buy Carbon Fibre spars for the wings of what is hoped will be the first girl-powered aeroplane in history. The spars have to be very light weight but still strong enough to support the massive18m wingspan. Adventurer and balloonist Andy Elson is one of the experts assisting the team with the project.

The fundraising bike ride included an ascent of the Caen Hill locks; one member of the team ran part of the course in full hockey goalie kit and managed an amazing 6 miles. With only a couple of months of build-time left, the race is on to complete the plane and make the record attempt.

If any local businesses are interested in sponsoring the project, Stonar School would be delighted to hear from them. The project build can be viewed at Stonar’s forthcoming Open Morning on Saturday 16th May. For further details please contact Carrie Rolls, Marketing Director (c.rolls@stonarschool.com / tel. 01225 701742) for further information.

Photo: Stonar’s Human Powered Aeroplane sponsored bike ride

Durham School U16s win Inaugural Weston Sevens

The Durham School Under 16 Sevens team has won the inaugural Weston Sevens Competition held at Durham School on Wednesday 18 March. On a glorious spring day they remained undefeated in their 5 matches to lift the trophy which was presented by Mr Michael Weston, former Durham School pupil and former British Lion and England captain.

Victories in the group stages against Dame Allan’s (40-0), Ampleforth College (14-7) and Harton Technology College (26-7) secured a semi-final place against Ashville College who they beat
20-12.

In an exciting final (their second encounter of the day with Ampleforth) Durham won through by 26 points to 10. In the Plate competition final RGS Newcastle beat Harton 21-7.

Congratulations go to all the participating teams who made the event so successful: Durham School, RGS Newcastle, Barnard Castle, Ashville College, King’s Tynemouth, Dame Allans, Harton Technology College and Ampleforth.

Photo: Winning U16 Durham School squad in action

SCHOOL PROVES TECHNOLOGY IS KEY TO FUTURE SECURITY

One of Britain’s leading boarding schools has become the first in the country to lock its doors and throw away the keys!

Rossall School, situated on Lancashire’s coastline to the north of Blackpool, is believed to be the first UK boarding school to switch to technology to keep its pupils safe and secure by installing an electronic keyless entry system on its 160 acre campus: home to around 600 boarding and day pupils and a permanent boarding population of around 300 pupils and teachers.

The new computer-controlled system, which dispenses with the need for conventional locks and keys, works with electronic data cards and sensors placed next to points of exit and entry. Resembling a conventional credit card, the new security access cards have been given to staff and pupils and are programmed to unlock doors when passed within feet of electronic proximity sensors, positioned at main entry points in the School buildings. The wall-mounted sensors employ intelligent technology that enables individual pupils to be recognized through personal data programmed into their access cards, thereby allowing them access to all or only part of the campus facilities, depending upon need and security clearance.

The first phase of the installation involves Rossall School’s ‘Pelican House,’ a recently refurbished accommodation and study block for senior boarding pupils. The Grade II listed building has been fitted with proximity sensors adjacent to outer and inner doorways and each sensor is programmed to allow entry only to pupils from the House, their teachers and essential ancillary staff. Pupils from other school houses would be barred from entering, unless accompanied by a card holder, as would visitors or any unauthorized personnel.

Built around special security and access software, called ‘Fusion’, the Rossall system has been customized to suit the particular needs of a busy boarding school environment. In accommodation areas, students use cards to open outer doors, at which point the card sensor recognizes the individual and allows a pre-programmed amount of time to elapse before automatically activating the door lock on the student’s own bed/study room. The time allowed per student is determined by the distance between the individual’s room and the access point. This facility dispenses with the need for individual card readers on bedroom doors, thus dramatically reducing costs and making keyless systems a viable proposition for schools.

A standard PC in each building, operating on the ‘Windows XP’ platform, controls the system: monitoring and recording all card usage and enabling house parents to identify the exact location of any pupil on campus. The system is designed to operate even in the event of power failure or fire. In the event of fire, all internal and external doors are programmed to open automatically to allow safe escape from buildings.

In addition to major security benefits, the smart technology employed in the system enables security cards to store other data. This allows students to use cards in the school’s campus shop and also in its dining room – recording all transactions as part of a move to make Rossall the country’s first cash-free campus. In time, it is planned that students will also be able to present the cards in the School’s on site international restaurant, Mondo Café, which is another pioneering venture in UK education, bringing a commercial restaurant operation onto the campus, exclusively for pupils, parents, teachers and visitors.
With a programme of building refurbishment planned for Rossall’s 165-year-old campus, the new security system will be rolled out to other areas of the School as an integral part of each phase of building development.

Commenting on the new system, Rossall School’s headmaster, Dr Stephen Winkley said: “We’re delighted to be the first boarding school in Britain to adopt such technology and it is already proving popular with staff and students in particular, who are always quick to embrace new technology.

“Having such a large campus and a resident population equivalent to a small village means that security issues are paramount and we are always looking to improve our systems to ensure that our school remains a safe and secure environment for our children. This system gives us peace of mind and is proving more efficient than conventional locks and keys. For a start, it is impossible for a door to be left open inadvertently by a member of staff or a pupil; therefore we know that our perimeter security has been stiffened a great deal. The additional benefits allowing us to monitor movement and location of children are also extremely important, particularly in the event of fires or other threats to safety on campus, because in such cases we will know exactly how many people are in a particular building at any time, thereby enabling more effective evacuation. Of course, such instances are very rare, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be prepared.”

Photo: Keyless access system technology will soon be used to replace all cash transactions, making Rossall a cash-free campus.

Sidcot School, Somerset, Open Morning Monday May 4th at 9.30am for Junior & Senior School

Join us on the May Bank Holiday for our whole school Open Morning at 9.30am. This event will provide you with an informal opportunity to experience Sidcot and learn what our students really think of our school.

The morning consists of a welcome from our Head John Walmsley in our brand new Arts Centre, a tour of the school given by our students and refreshments with some key teaching staff. Please contact our Admissions department on 01934 845212 or email to register your interest.

SIDCOT Arts Centre Grand Opening

The stunning new Sidcot Arts Centre is now in use by the children at Sidcot and we are already taking bookings for exhibitions and arts classes for this year. The centre will not only be an extraordinary resource for the school but for our surrounding communities and local schools as well. It is our intention for the centre to become self sustaining by developing usage outside of school hours. The professional performance theatres and contemporary exhibition space will be used to provide a programme of events throughout the year for local residents, activities will include: film, theatre, art exhibitions, performances, art, dance and drama courses and will be available to any groups interested in using our workshops, studios or recording suite. We are also keen to support local festivals and events.

If you would like to learn more about Sidcot Arts Centre and our other campus facilities please click here to contact our Arts Centre & Lettings Manager Alexis Butt by email.

Sidcot continues to excel against other South West selective schools

Newly released league tables continue to place Sidcot as one of the highest ranking schools in the South West, averaging 3 A grades at A Level, outperforming some of the better known selective schools in Bristol and Somerset. These results also do not include our IB students grades, as we are only in our 2nd year, those grades will count towards next year.

As a non selective school, these fantastic results demonstrate the commitment of staff and students in working exceptionally hard, no matter what an individual’s abilities. We are glad the school is finally receiving the academic recognition we deserve for the effort our student’s dedicate to their studies.

Percy Parker’s Flying Fridge

Percy Parker was born five years ago when Andrew Holdsworth was asked by a science teacher at Hurst Lodge School to compose a song to help his pupils remember their physics formulae. Five volunteers from years 7 and 8 formed the “Percy Parker Band” and spent many hours in the school recording songs which are now sung daily by thousands of children at schools all over the UK and beyond.

“Percy Parker – The Musical” started life on a beach in Cyprus two summers ago with a fairly ridiculous plot about the time-travelling adventures of Mozart, Gandi and an angry duck called Reggie with Percy Parker in his flying fridge. The musical has been expanded to include fifteen scenes about history and science.

The first performance of part of the musical was seen at Hurst Lodge School last weekend. The children at the school played all of the characters and an audience of around 200 people enjoyed the performances.

It is planned to develop the musical and perform it in front of other audiences and at other venues.

STONYHURST PUPILS STRIKE GOLD IN MATHS CHALLENGE

A GROUP of pupils from Stonyhurst College claimed an impressive tally of 42 gold, silver and bronze medals from the latest round of the UK Maths Intermediate Challenge 2009.

The competition organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust* saw 180,000 entrants this year, with only 6% winning gold medals.

Stonyhurst College team of 69 pupils was awarded eight gold, 13 silver and 21 bronze medals.

Gold medal winner Hannah Phoenix (15) from Gisburn also received the ‘Best In School’ award and goes through with four other pupils from the college to the next round, when teams from 25 countries take part.

The Trust invites competitors from Years 9, 10 and 11. Two of the Stonyhurst gold medals were won by Year 9 pupils, a highly commendable achievement, and both will go through to the next round.

“We are very impressed with the number of medals won by our pupils. The exam they took lasted an hour with 25 multiple choice questions. The five pupils going through to the next round are looking forward to the challenge,” said Mr David Rawkins, Head of Mathematics.

In addition to the recent Maths Challenge success Philip Alton, Allamin Daggash, Haruki Kawano, Jason Kwok, Tony Lee, Anson Leung, John Leung, Anna Marlborough, Pawel Rzemieniecki and Justin Wong, all achieved grade A in Maths AS level, after just one term.

PICTURE CAPTION:
Gold medal winners
Back row left to right: Michelle D’Souza, Hannah Phoenix, Chen Tan and Wendy Leung.
Front row left to right: Alice Grout-Smith, Magnus Whittle, Julian Au-Yeung and Eric Zhang

MUSIC SCHOLARS PERFORM THE FIRST ‘HEADMASTERS CONCERT’ AT STONYHURST COLLEGE

A GROUP of talented pupils have performed the inaugural ‘Headmasters Concert’ at Stonyhurst College to an audience of about 120 people.

The concert provided a dedicated platform for the music scholars who are especially talented.

The concert held in the Top Refectory consisted of duets and solo performances skilfully played by the Stonyhurst Music Scholars and Exhibitioners, to staff, parents and other music lovers.

Prior to the concert the headmaster Mr Andrew Johnson held a drinks reception for special guests.

Featured performers were:

Yoann Belon aged 15 from Isle of Wight, piano solo: ‘Etude no. 3 in E major’ by Chopin
Piano Duet (with Dr Morgan)‘Ballet’ (Petite Suite) by Debussy

Lucia Turner aged 14 from Stonyhurst and Lydia Fisher aged 15, from Chipping, flute duet: ‘Valse des Fleur’s by Kohler

Stephanie Link aged 14 from Cheshire piano solo: ‘Waldvoglein’ by Hofmann

Andreas Wilfling aged 15 from London, cello solo: ‘Le Cygne’ by Saint-Saens

Simon Whittle aged 15 from Shropshire and Thaddee de Panisse aged 15 from Paris, violin duet: ‘Duo in G major’ by Pleyel

Elizabeth Robinson aged 14 from Preston, clarinet solo: ‘Voi che sapete’ by Mozart

Jordan Chadwick aged 14 from Pleasington, trumpet solo: ‘First Movement from Trumpet Concerto’ by Haydn

Natalie Crouch aged 17 from Stonyhurst, vocal solo: ‘O mio babbino caro’ by Puccini

Lucy McFarlane aged 17 from Aberdeenshire, vocal solo: ‘Like to the damask rose’ by Elgar

In addition to their music studies at Stonyhurst, Jordan Chadwick who plays the trumpet, studies at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester each Saturday. Lucy McFarlane is a member of the Scottish Youth Choir, and Andreas Wilfling was previously a Westminster Cathedral chorister.

Andrew Johnson, Headmaster, said: “The talent displayed by the Stonyhurst Music Scholars and Exhibitioners was exceptional. They all take their music very seriously and clearly enjoyed performing to a large audience. Hopefully this is the first of many concerts as we hope to make this a regular part of the Stonyhurst diary.”

Anyone who would like to attend the next ‘Headmasters concert’ on Friday June 5th at 7.30 pm in the Top Refectory should book their seats by telephoning 01254 826345. The concert is FREE.

Photo: L TO R, Natalie Crouch, Jordan Chadwick, Lucy McFarlane, Andreas Wilfling, Lydia Fisher, Thaddee de Panisse, Elizabeth Robinson, Yoann Belon, Lucia Turner, Simon Whittle and Stephanie Link.

NEW HEADMASTER FOR KINGS SCHOOL BRUTON

Mr Ian Wilmshurst has been appointed as Headmaster of King’s School, Bruton, from September 2009

Ian Wilmshurst (42), who is currently Deputy Head at The Royal Hospital School in Suffolk, said he was attracted to King’s on account of its reputation, size and location.

“I was delighted to accept the position of Headmaster of King’s Bruton”.

“King’s is well known for its very strong pastoral care; it has a strong family feel and is part of the community. I have already been impressed by the down to earth attitude of the pupils and the commitment of its staff.”

Educated at The Edinburgh Academy (1971-1984), where he was head boy, Ian Wilmshurst obtained a Geography MA and PGCE at Pembroke College, Cambridge (1985–1990).

His first teaching position was as geography master, house tutor and games coach at Highgate School, London (1990-1992) before moving to Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh (1992-2005) where he taught geography, was a housemaster and the 1st XV rugby coach. He will have spent 4 years as Deputy Head at The Royal Hospital School when he and his family move to Bruton later this year.

Ian is married to Helen and they have two daughters; Anna aged seven and Natalie aged five. He enjoys sports, hill walking and spending time with his family.

He will be taking over in the autumn from Nigel Lashbrook, who has been appointed Headmaster of Oakham School, Rutland.

Founded in 1519, King’s School has been fully co-educational for more than 10 years. Of its 330 pupils, 70% are boarders, while its associated prep/pre-prep school, Hazlegrove, at Sparkford – also co-educational – has a roll of 350 and a strong boarding element.

As Chairman of Governors at King’s, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire said, “The Board of Governors is delighted that Ian Wilmshurst has accepted the appointment and we look forward to welcoming him and his family in September, to lead King’s into the next chapter of its development.”

Science made simple

Science was made simple by four talented Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School physicists when they went to London?s world famous Royal Society for the finals of the SCICAST science awards.

The Crosby classmates were selected from hundreds of entries nationwide after submitting their own two-and-a-half minute film explaining laser technology.

“The object is to demystify science with an imaginative and ingenious brief explanation of a physics concept that would normally leave the layman scratching his head,” said Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School Physics teacher Paul Cooper.

Alastair Houston, 15, from Formby explained: “Laser technology sounds daunting but in essence you fill a tube with helium, pass an electric current the tube to energise the atoms and then shine a light through the gas using reflective mirrors to intensify the beam.” Richard Kirkwood, 15, from Formby, added: “Many people are blinded by physics, but the subject is truly enlightening. It helps us to understand the way in the world works, from the smallest scale particles to the composition of the multi-universe and anything and everything in between.”

Pictured from left to right are Richard Kirkwood, William Devane, 15, from Crosby, Alastair Houston and Vansee Bheemireddy 15, from Crosby.

Marist Girls Raise £448 for the Thames Valley Hospice

School girls have organised a special ‘Bag2School’ clothing collection to raise money for charity

Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire, March 18, 2009: Two pupils at the Marist Preparatory School have organised an event with school friends to raise £448 for the Thames Valley Hospice.

Rianna Monteagudo and Olivia Waldron, both aged 10, heard about the ‘Bag2School’ initiative as an ideal way of supporting a local charity. They spoke to their Headteacher, Mrs Jenny Peachey about it, and then presented the idea to the rest of the school during an assembly. The girls showed an example ‘blue bag’ and explained to their school friends that if the bags were filled with clothes, soft toys, bedding and shoes, a donation could be made to a local charity. The girls made posters to put up around the school showing that the bags should be returned by Thursday 5 March.

On 5 March, Marist families and friends brought over 200 blue bags into the school which were filled with clothes and toys. Bag2School collected the bags on the same day, weighed them, and confirmed how much money the school had raised for the Thames Valley Hospice.

Headteacher, Mrs Jenny Peachey said “Rianna and Olivia have shown great initiative in organising an event which has raised money for a very worthwhile cause without asking for cash. With a dated and timed collection, it meant the initiative could be readily supported. The girls have done an excellent job. We look forward to welcoming a representative from the Thames Valley Hospice early next term to collect the donation and speak to the girls about the work the Hospice does.”

Photo:L to R, Olivia and Rianna with one of the posters they made and some of the blue bags collected on 5th March.