st. francis' college school magazine 2016cadbury’s world, buckingham palace and brighton....
TRANSCRIPT
ST. FRANCIS' COLLEGE
SCHOOL MAGAZINE 2016
03 .............. Head Girl's Introduction
04. ............. 6th Form Review
05 .............. Prep
06 .............. Life in the Boarding House
08. ............. Art
11. ............. Art Exhibition
12. ............. Drama
14. ............. The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
16. ............. Geography
17. .............. Mathematics
17.. ............. Food & Nutrition
18. ............. Modern Foreign Languages
20. ............. Music
21. ............. English
22. ............. Religious Studies
23. ............. Science
24. ............. Sport
26. ............. House Events
27............... P.S.H.E
27............... Charity News
28. ............. India
29. ............. International Women’s Day
30. ............. Kanyike
32. ............. School Trips & International Trips
34. ............. School Events
36. ............. Exam Results
37............... Year 13 Leavers
38. ............. St. Francis’ Old Girls (SFOGA)
39. ............. 10 Photos from the Archives
We hope you enjoy this year's St. Francis' College
Magazine; it has been a fantastic year for the College and
we hope you enjoy reading about it.
Best wishes,
The Magazine Team:
Lanaire Aderemi, Lauren Aldridge, Isabel Frohlich, Abbey
Hobbs, Danielle Males, Holly Scanlon, Grace Twitchett, Alix
Wentworth Foster and Mrs McDermott
Cover Painting:
Helen Sheng
Workshop with Ben Ellery Daily Mail Columnist
The magazine team were treated to a workshop with award
winning writer Ben Ellery on Monday 11th January.
Ben spoke in assembly about how he had become a
journalist and described some exciting and terrifying
moments when he had been working undercover;
posing as a migrant in Calais and searching for a runaway
couple in Brasil.
In the workshop he talked about structuring articles and got
the team to work on their own journalistic writing skills.
The girls really enjoyed asking him about his work as a
journalist and what it is like to go under cover.
CONTENTS
2
I’ve always found the night before the first day of school
to be the most stressful. Every year whilst packing
my things, the memories of uncompleted tasks I was
supposed to do in the summer flood back in. The last-
minute recollection that you needed to buy a new ruler
(you can’t get away with a set square forever), the hunt
for your other hockey sock, the frantic ironing of your
kilt, desperate to get those once-perfect pleats back in
place - we’ve all been there. Fortunately, once the bags
are packed, calmness ensues, and you feel more than
ready to face your first day of school. After all, there’s no
better way to start the academic year than with a shiny
30cm ruler and clean pair of hockey socks.
The start of the year saw students from our partner school,
Unison World School in India, come to visit for three
weeks. During their time here, they went to Cambridge and
enjoyed a rainy British day: punting, shopping and visiting
old colleges. They also ventured out to Windsor Castle,
Cadbury’s World, Buckingham Palace and Brighton. Akshita
Chauhan, one of the visiting students said, “This was a very
memorable trip. I made good friends and was also able to
visit many historic and fun places. Brighton was the highlight
of the trip for me: we went with boarders from
St. Francis’ and had lots of fun together. It was also
interesting to be a part of a college in a different country
and note the similarities and differences.” The girls from
St. Francis’ were able to experience the Indian culture,
watching dance performances, listening to Bollywood Music
and admiring various regional fashions within India.
The first major event for the Lower Sixth is undoubtedly
organising the Recycled Fashion Show, this year on the
theme of Roald Dahl. Whilst creating numerous lollypop
and chocolate bar decorations, we were reminded of how
PVA glue gets absolutely everywhere! However, we were
determined to transform the theatre into a room from
Mr Wonka’s Factory, ready for all the models to grace
the runway with their immaculately designed dresses.
The variety and quality of outfits designed by the girls
was extremely impressive. Efforts made by all led to a
thoroughly enjoyable show!
In November, the theatre was once again transformed, this
time into the winter wonderland of Narnia for our Senior
School musical, ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’.
This was a definite personal highlight of the year for Grace,
as she was able to play the wardrobe! The performances
brought actresses and a backstage crew of all ages together,
and was a real team effort (especially when clearing up all
the fake snow on stage!)
For the Sixth Form Revue, the Lower Sixth really wanted
to show off the scope of talents we are blessed with at
St. Francis’ so, naturally we chose the theme of Big Brother.
Whilst the housemates struggled through relationship
issues, mistrust and Justin Bieber lyrics, the acts stole the
show with their well-rehearsed performances – we’re
immensely proud of everyone who performed! Finishing
with a huge group selfie and dance to ‘We’re all in this
Together’, the Lower Sixth really hoped that you enjoyed
the Revue as much as we did!
Once again this year saw our Houses going head-to-head in
the annual challenges and quizzes. This year, there has been
no sweeping victory for any particular house and, instead,
each one has had its moment of glory. Athene walked away
with the House Music trophy, Artemis impressed in the
Science and Geography quizzes, Selene won the sporting
events and Hera triumphed in the House Quiz.
Arguably one of the highlights of all House events is Sports
Day. After all, an excuse to cover oneself in face-paint is not
to be missed! House spirit was contagious and, as always,
we saw some great sporting success (though perhaps not
in the staff race!) This year’s Sports Day also coincided
with the day the EU referendum result was announced. An
overwhelming majority for “Team Remain” from the results
of our College referendum conflicted with the British Brexit
vote, and so the fun and light-hearted events of Sports Day
were much embraced.
Aside from Sports Day, we had a great year for College
sports, particularly in Hockey, with Year 8, Year 9, Year 10
and Year 11 coming first in their Hockey Tournaments. A
particular mention goes to Year 7 who won North Herts
Rounders this year, and to Charlotte Ashwin (Year 10) who
surpassed two school records in her swimming!
The extra-curricular opportunities presented this year have
been endless. Our Music department put on some fabulous
concerts this past year, including the Latin American themed
concert last Easter where we all sported colourful T- Shirts
and saw all singing groups in the school unite for a mass
performance of “Evita”.
In addition to Sport and Music activities, St. Francis’ girls
have been travelling to numerous destinations abroad for
school trips. As always, this year’s College excursions
didn’t fail to deliver on their amusement and reward. We
began the year with a successful Unison World School
student exchange and Sixth Form trip to Amsterdam.
Other destinations this year have included Copenhagen,
Le Touquet, Normandy and a small group of our Sixth
Formers were fortunate to go to Uganda in the summer.
Throughout the year, forms have done individual events
such as stalls and tombolas to raise money for their
chosen charities, including The Darwin Centre, RSPCA,
Save a Child’s Heart, Aqua Aid International and Cancer
Research. As a school, we held the annual Recycled
Fashion Show and had a picnic in the Summer Term to
raise money for Kanyike (a project in Uganda to help fund
infrastructure, clean water and education). Other events
include our ‘Wear it Pink’ day, ‘Women for Women’ day
where students dressed up as a woman who inspires them,
and we also held a Macmillan Cake Stall. Alongside this,
students in the Sixth Form raised money independently as
part of the ‘Tenner Challenge’. Members of the Lower Sixth
held a Holi Event where students were able to take part in
a traditional Indian festival, listening to Indian music being
played while throwing coloured powder and squirting water
at each other. The event allowed students across the Senior
School to participate in the event together and have fun
together. It was a great success and raised almost £300 for
the Malala Fund!
Finally, Results Day in August is always a mixture of nerves
and excitement (though predominantly nerves). The day
is the culmination of everyone’s dedication and hard work,
and this year’s spectacular results are a testament to this,
pupils and staff alike. Thank you to everyone in the
College for making this a tremendously rewarding year
for all of us. I’m confident that next year will be another
fantastic tribute to the wonderful work of the St. Francis’
College community!
Amy Lian
In November, the theatre was once again transformed, this time into the winter wonderland of Narnia
INTRODUCTION
3
4
A highly-anticipated event each year is the Sixth Form
Revue - a production scripted, performed and staged by
the Lower Sixth, but also featuring acts from younger
years. Having moved up through the College and having
promised each year to our classmates: ‘When it’s our
turn, we’ll put on the best Sixth Form Revue ever!’,
it was finally our time.
With surprising efficiency, we decided on our theme – Big
Brother – and started rehearsals. In order to combine all
our ideas, contestants were not limited to celebrities, but
also included television and film characters. This resulted
in an eclectic mix of contestants, ranging from Beyoncé to
Simba to Sharpay!
On 12th February 2016, after a manic morning of rushing
around to finalise scripts and dances, it was time. During
the show, the acts were framed by short sketches, where
the ‘contestants’ would complete tasks set for them by Big
Brother. One of the most memorable moments would be
Danielle Males, as John Cena, being pied in the face after
answering a quiz question incorrectly! Mr Mashiri kindly
agreed to provide the famed Big Brother voiceover, a task
that involved recording nearly 30 individual tracks, which
were then perfectly timed by Mrs Ekers and the lighting and
sound crew.
Other highlights included Grace Twitchett as Jedward –
that’s right, both of them, wearing a mask on both sides of
her head and turning back and forth to say her lines!
We finished the show with a dance to High School Musicals’
‘We’re all in this Together’, choreographed by Lucy
Hebden, and invited the audience to join in with the
‘Cha-cha Slide’ as they left the Theatre.
Each year, the quality of the acts seems to get better and
better. This year, the number of girls wanting to participate
was higher than ever and included a delightful mix of song
and dance. The ever-popular teachers’ act – this time a
rendition of ‘We go Together’ from Grease – was sheer
brilliance. Miss Wallace, in her last Sixth Form Revue, was
given the role of Big Brother presenter Emma Willis. Under
the guise of the winner of Big Brother, she presented the
prize to the best act. The well-deserving winner was Jessica
Bryant, who sang the beautiful ‘A Life that’s Good’ by
Lennon and Maisy.
Not only was the Sixth Form Revue great fun, it taught us
invaluable lessons about organising a major production and
all the aspects that go into producing a show. Independent
thinking and teamwork skills were developed as we worked
our way through to performance day and, of course, none
of this would have been possible without the commitment,
enthusiasm and hard work of all those involved. A huge
‘thank you’ goes out to everyone who helped make the
Sixth Form Revue such a success. We can’t wait to see what
this year’s Lower Sixth have in store.
By Georgie Foot
6th FORM REVIEW
5
PREP
Shakespeare does Rock!!
2016 is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death so
Prep V performed the musical “Shakespeare Rocks!” by
Steve Titford in the theatre on 25th February. As part of this
project the girls researched Shakespeare’s life, the Globe
theatre and the time he lived in. The girls learnt that they
wouldn’t have been able to be actors in Elizabethan times
as only boys and men were allowed to act on stage.
Last year the same girls performed their shadow theatre
version of Macbeth so they are fast becoming our resident
Prep Shakespeare experts!
Fête des Rois
Despite some coughs and colds our girls and staff launched
into 2016 with great enthusiasm. The highlight of the week
was our very first French assembly in the form of a play,
written by Mrs Mackey and performed by Prep IV, V and
VI. The girls acted out the Epiphany story with the dialogue
entirely in French. This was most innovative and I am
delighted to say that once again your daughters rose to the
challenge. Their spoken French was exceptional . Très Bon!
Merci beaucoup.
Thank you to Mrs Mackey, Mrs Foot, Mrs Balcombe,
Mrs Baldwin and Mrs Bassnett for your professional help
and encouragement.
Victorian School Day
Prep Vs enjoyed a wonderful day at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin. They all looked very authentic in their white
pinafores and waistcoats. The lessons in the galleried classroom included working sums on slates and using dipping pens to
practice beautiful copperplate handwriting. The Victorian teacher pretended to be very strict and two pupils volunteered for the
dunce's hat and the cane! In the afternoon we were shown around the headmaster's house which was a beautifully preserved
Victorian family residence. The day brought our Victorian studies to life and was a perfect way to end our history topic.
Prep Careers Day
In the Spring term, Prep held a ‘Careers’ day. All the girls
were involved in listening to and interacting with parents,
who generously gave their time, to talk to the girls about
their work.
We found out that only five percent of pilots are women
and we were able to see a drone used in farming. From
Dentistry, Medicine, the Law and PR – the girls learned
about the World of Work.
Brexit in Prep
Prep VI Debating Society were joined in June by St. Chris’
pupils for a live Brexit debate. The boys and girls were
given opportunities, on the day, for research and group
work providing a chance for the two schools to combine
their intellects.
For the final vote, the Debaters were joined by the whole
of Prep VI and the vote cast.
It was a unanimous ‘Remain’.
LIFE IN THE BOARDING HOUSE
6
Boarding House Trips
This year we have had a fantastic time and been to some
really exciting places.
Harry Potter Studios
We spent a magical day at Harry Potter Studios; it was
amazing to see Hogwarts and walk down Diagon Alley.
We even drank butter beer! It was delicious!
Visit to Windsor Castle
We felt like royalty when we got to visit one of her homes.
Windsor castle is a wonderful place to visit.
Lunar New Year
Every year at St. Francis' Mrs Moore helps us to organise a
special celebration for the Lunar New Year.
Woburn Safari Park
It was terrifying and exciting when we got to hold the birds.
Bletchley Park
We got the chance to try code breaking at Bletchley Park.
Aroma Buffet
We love the food at Aroma! Yummy!
Climbing Wall
It was amazing to climb so high; some of us were really
scared of heights to begin with.
St. Francis' College Boarding House is full of girls from
different cultures from around the world. Being a boarder is
a completely new experience for lots of us and although at
times we feel homesick; we love it here.
As boarders we participate in many activities such as
weekend outings, concerts, parties, socialising and lots
more. We believe it is a great opportunity for us and for
lots of us it is a dream come true; studying in England.
Blessed Uzamere
It was amazing to climb so
high, some of us were really
scared of heights to begin with
7
8
YEAR 9 | The Memory Portrait Project
This provided pupils with the opportunity to learn how to
measure, observe and understand facial proportions and
learn how to record this information through drawing.
The Memory Project is a non-profit organisation that invites
Art teachers and their students to create portraits for youth
around the world who have faced substantial challenges
such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents and extreme poverty.
The portraits help the children feel valued, important and
loved. They also act as meaningful pieces of their personal
history for the future.
This was run over the course of a six-week drawing project
for Year 9.
This is a video of the children receiving their drawing.
https://vimeo.com/165631565/9c918ca4f2
Roald Dahl Visit Fashion Designer Luke Archer's Visit
Print Workshop
ART
“THE ARTS AWARD IS
CHALLENGING ME TO LEARN
SOMETHING NEW AND
EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT
MEDIUMS. IT ENCOURAGES
PARTICIPATION AND HAVING
TO LEARN A SKILL IN ORDER
TO TEACH IT!”
RACHEL FOSTER9
10
ART
Year 9 Senior Recycled Fashion Show
Royal Academy Print Workshop
Winner
11
ART EXHIBITION
2016 Art Exhibition
DRAMA
Classics and Drama Performance of ‘Antigone’
On the evening of Monday 4th July, students in Years
7-9 performed their version of the Ancient Greek play
Antigone. Written by Sophocles in 441BC, it tells the tale
of a girl torn between duty to her king and love for her
family. The girls put on an excellent show and it was a truly
enjoyable evening.
National Theatre Connections 500
‘Take Away’ 2016
Each year the National Theatre’s Connections Festival
provides schools and youth theatre groups across the
country with the opportunity to stage a new play to the
public. St. Francis’ girls from Years 9-12 were fortunate
enough to be involved in this year’s event, performing
‘The Takeaway Play’ to the director at our College Theatre,
as well as at Cambridge Junction in front of other schools.
‘Take Away’ is a unique play written by poet and novelist
Jackie Kay, and follows the story of a town corrupted with
the possession of onions. Dorcus, a travelling poet, offers
to rid the land of the vegetable, which is metaphorically
a drug that has gripped the young people with addiction.
However, the villagers deceive Dorcus and do not repay
her with the reward she herself wishes for, in return for
their wish. As a result, Dorcus guides all the young children
through the village like the Pied Piper, leading them into the
waves where they perish. The story is a complex one and
as a whole focuses on the moral of keeping the promises
which you make.
Our first performance in March took place at College,
where we were very grateful to perform in front of the
Director herself as well as our parents. After the successful
show, Jackie Kay took the cast backstage and gave us
valuable feedback on our scenes and movements. We
discussed how we all felt about the play as whole; how we
were intrigued by the complexity of the story and enjoyed
working as a cast to devise the movements and dances. We
explained how we also used various techniques such as
emotional memory to prepare for our roles; for example,
using the genuine empathy we share for each other as a
cast and applying it to our character’s friendships. We were
overjoyed when Jackie told us she was very impressed,
complimenting our devised stage directions and teamwork.
She gave us some exciting new ideas to add to our next
performance, so over the following month we continued to
rehearse and create new features.
On 30th April, the cast travelled down to Cambridge where
we would perform at the Cambridge Junction for the very
first time. It was a completely new experience for some
of the cast members, performing in a theatre open to the
public, in front of an audience in different seating levels. We
were delighted that we had the opportunity to perform in
such a venue and were so pleased that the performance
went well. Later on in the day, the cast took part in some
workshops as well as working with a different cast from
another school. We learned a variety of new movements to
enhance our synchronisation and communication skills with
each other, exploring how we can present different ideas
within a story. We devised and performed in individual
groups involving new people and created pieces of artwork
representing our own creative ideas.
On behalf of the cast, I would like to say a huge thank you
to Mrs McDermott, Mrs Ekers, Jackie Kay and to everyone
who has made this year’s performance possible. Bringing
the ‘Take Away’ play to life as a cast has not only enhanced
our friendships and knowledge of theatre, but has also
given us greater confidence to perform, especially through
new experiences like at Cambridge Junction. We’ve built
memories that we’ll never forget and we all look forward to
future performances and opportunities!
Abbey Hobbs
12
13
Our first performance in March took place at College, where we were very grateful to perform in front of the Director herself as well as our parents
On 28th November, months of casting, line-learning
and rehearsing amounted to the most professional and
characterful St. Francis’ College production that I had
ever seen. Confidently-acting drama students were
accompanied by the GSCE music group, as they sang
songs from Adrian Mitchell’s adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.
Changes were made to the usual College play this
year, such as the use of fake snow which caused much
excitement on the night and added to the crisp Narnian
atmosphere created. Other alterations included the casting
of girls from lower down the College in main roles, often
reserved for A level or GSCE students, such as Imogen
Harper who gave a heart-warming performance as Lucy on
Saturday night and was near note-perfect in her duet with
Lucy Cole who played a very convincing Mr Tumnus. It was
also pointed out to me by many others that the set was
particularly striking this year with the eclectic furnishings of
the country house to which the children were evacuated,
doubling neatly as those in Mr Tumnus’s cave, all in front of
a beautifully painted Cair Paravel castle backdrop.
The cast’s enjoyment when performing was reflected in
the high standard of acting displayed and the value of these
performances is added to by what the girls gained from
their involvement. “It was great being in the production as I
got to know people from other years. I also learnt so many
new drama skills: Father Christmas isn’t really a character
you have to play very often!” said Athena Woodbridge
(Year 10). Cassidy Harvard-Davies, Mrs Beaver, also spoke
of the “Sense of real spirit between all the years,” saying,
“When I was a tiny Year 8 who was excited to have two
lines, I thought the older girls were so inclusive and easy to
talk to, and I hope that we’ve managed to keep that unity as
we’ve moved through the College.’ It seems the cast enjoy
the show more and more each year and can all agree on the
sense of “relief and joy at the end of every one” knowing
that their practice has paid off.
Towards the end of the performance fun songs such as
Mr and Mrs Beaver’s ‘Swiggles’ received large rounds of
applause and their encore added to the audience
coming away feeling uplifted by the talents and efforts of
St. Francis’ students.
Lauren Aldridge
The LION The WITCH & The WARDROBE
14
15
Playing Edward:
When I first heard that the College was doing a performance
of C. S. Lewis’s ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, I
knew I just had to be in it, given the fact that I love the books
and the films. So, when I got the role of Edmund, I was over
the moon. Everything about the experience was amazing;
from the crazy rehearsals, to trying on costumes, to the
frantic last-minute line learning, to the actual performances.
It was magical being able to step through the wardrobe into a
snowy Narnia, even though my knuckles were as white as the
snow as I clung on desperately to the wardrobe being moved
about on stage. I really enjoyed being up there, singing,
betraying my family, being a grumpy teenage boy, dying, the
usual stuff. The whole cast was so talented, especially Maria
and Anna, our scary White Witches and Clara and Lucinda,
our singing Mr Tumnus, and we all got along really well.
Everyone really puts 101% into the productions, which really
makes them so enjoyable to be a part of, and also to watch.
Mrs McDermott organises everything so it all goes according
to plan, and, even though there are sometimes a few last
minute nerves, everything always goes off without a hitch,
although we did nearly run someone over with the sleigh!
Productions at St. Francis’ are so much fun and I’m looking
forward to see what opportunities there will be to get up on
stage in the following year.
Isabel Frohlich
Working Backstage:
Whilst our talented actresses shone under the stage lighting,
several of us were working hard behind the Theatre wings
backstage to ensure that the magical world of Narnia
transformed smoothly between scenes, and that all props
were ready and waiting for action. For this performance,
we faced the challenges of rotating a full-sized wardrobe
(and hiding out of sight behind it!), and lifting a very realistic
‘stone’ table - we were all grateful for the long rehearsals that
enabled us to practise and perfect these manoeuvres! A little
piece of Narnia was taken home with me; several snowflakes
had found their way into my boot! Communication and
collaboration were vital for our backstage success, and we
were all so proud of the final performances.
Grace Twitchett
St. Albans Trip
Year 7 students examined the changes that have taken place
in St. Albans since Roman times, focusing on the growth
of retail parks and the fightback of the high street, as well
as the impact of the floodplain on the development of
the town. They practised fieldwork techniques, including
drawing a cross-section of the river and interviewing
shoppers as well as the important technique of keeping
your clipboard and notes dry in the rain! They coped
admirably with the atrocious conditions and gained a real
insight into this old town.
Year 9 Denmark Trip
Year 9 travelled to Denmark and enjoyed not only the finest
weather a geographer could dream of but the hospitality
of Copenhagen and its various institutions. The visit
focused on urban sustainability in Copenhagen, tourism in
“Hamlet’s Castle” and Tivoli, coasts and coastal defence in
Helsingor in the north and urban and cultural Geography.
The skills used were observation and interviewing. Arrival
in Copenhagen was delayed due to a strike by air control
personnel in France, and thus began an understanding of
how things are inextricably interwoven in the Geography of
Europe. Visits to a school, a walk along the old quarters and
past many lakes to the Danish Parliament and a boat ride
along the harbour to look at harbour-front regeneration
were enjoyed by all. The role of the Danish Youth Council
in galvanising youth participation in every aspect of Danish
society was highlighted through intense debates at their
Head Office. The importance of heritage buildings and ideas
to tourism were discussed with visits outside Copenhagen
(including Kronborg Castle), as was marine transport
between Sweden and Denmark as a gateway to the Baltic
republics. Continental foods solicited varied responses
from the Year 9 students. Having met Hans Christian
Anderson near the Town Hall and paid a courtesy call
on the famous Tivoli gardens, the group flew back to the
United Kingdom. Our gratitude must go to Mrs Coles and
Mr Buckland who drove the party to and from the airport.
Year 8 Flatford Mill, Suffolk
Year 8 Geography students stayed at the wonderful
Flatford Mill field study centre. The converted mill looks
out on the scene of Constable’s famous painting of the
Hay Wain. They used GPS devices to track down clues
in the gorgeous surroundings. The next day they used
technology to examine geographical processes on the
coastline, in a coastal resort town and in an idyllic village.
On the coast they examined managed and non-managed
stretches of coastline at Walton-on-the-Naze. The girls also
reflected on the impact of tourism on the area and whether
different parts of Walton-on-the-Naze are experiencing
decline or rejuvenation. The data was uploaded onto a
Geographical Information system so that the data could be
used to display complex maps and graphs. It was a fantastic
experience and greatly broadened their knowledge. The
fieldwork was hectic, days were long and lessons went on
until 8 pm in the night, but Year 8 acquitted themselves well
in their tasks and were complimented for their outstanding
academic aptitude and steely determination to accomplish
tasks to a very high standard.
Year 11 Juniper Hall, Surrey
This traditional venue elicits varied reactions from any
student who has travelled to it in Surrey. This year, students
settled into the Hall for their GCSE Controlled Assessment.
This included preparation for the fieldwork which then
took place on the Saturday. The data collection along the
River Tillingbourne took place on a very rainy day but
spirits were not dampened and everyone worked together
spectacularly well. Everyone then started the write-up after
the fieldwork. Lessons finished at 8 pm and, by Sunday,
with a lot of snacks provided by Mr Mashiri, it was time to
drive home on a very sunny day! Juniper Hall shall forever
be etched on the mind of everyone who went on this
memorable fieldtrip.
Osmington Bay
Last year, a group of A Level Geography students travelled
five hours by train with Mr Mashiri and Mrs Coles to
Osmington Bay on the Jurassic Coast as part of their
studies. We went during Halloween weekend, which
proved to be eventful as the accommodation had hired a
company to dress in Halloween costumes – I can safely say
the first time we saw them we were scared and, yes, we
did run away.
We conducted research of coastal erosion on the Jurassic
Coast. We took many measurements of each coastline
we visited, including beach height, wave frequency and
sediment size (yes, it was very interesting). We did not
expect the Jurassic Coast to be as beautiful as it was.
Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, were especially breath-
taking. These areas are commonly used for location shots
within the movie industry; our guide mentioned that a
Bollywood movie (Houseful 3) was shot at Durdle Door
days before we arrived.
This trip has left us with so many memories: Mr Mashiri’s
never-ending supply of snacks, Halloween night and so
many more.
Year 13 Trip to the Royal Geographic Society, London
The Year 13 girls spent a fruitful day at the Royal
Geographical Society where they attended lectures by
university academics on topics relevant to the A Level
specification, including Plate Tectonics and World Cities. It
gave students a glimpse into university life but also a chance
to meet students from other schools. This was a good day.
GEOGRAPHY
16
FOOD & NUTRITION
On Thursday 23rd June the Year 10 Food and Nutrition students went to London for the day. In the morning we went to
Harrods and looked at the vast array of foods from all over the world and marvelled at the extraordinary prices. We went
on to Borough Market for lunch where we could choose whatever food we fancied from a huge range of multicultural street
food. The day ended with ice-cream at the nitrogen-oxide ice cream parlour in Camden, which was the highlight of the trip.
Juliette Saunders
Maths Inspiration Roadshow
The girls at St. Francis’ College accomplished great success in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Maths
Challenge achieving 9 gold, 10 silver and 16 bronze certificates. Over 250,000 pupils from across the UK sat the Junior Maths
Challenge with the top 6% receiving a gold certificate, the next 13% silver and the next 21% bronze.
5000 of the top students are invited to take part in a follow-on round, the Junior Kangaroo. We were delighted that five
of our pupils; Heather Christie and Alessandra Cocevar from Year 7 and Rosalind Mackey, Jasmine Duru and Lucy Taylor
from Year 8 qualified to sit this paper. Furthermore, Rosalind and Alessandra’s scores put them in the top 25% of all the
participants and they were awarded a certificate of merit.
The Maths challenges provide material to promote students’ mathematical thinking and test their problem-solving skills in
an accessible yet challenging way. The UKMT is a registered charity whose aim is to advance the education of children and
young people in Mathematics. It organises national Mathematics competitions and other enrichment activities for UK
secondary school pupils.
Team Maths Challenge
Michell Bonuah and Maisie Burroughs from Year 9 and
Emily Rumley and Lucy Taylor from Year 8 represented
St. Francis’ College at the UK Mathematics Trust Team
Maths Challenge. They competed in a regional final against
twenty-four other schools. The competition combines
mathematical, communication and teamwork skills and
offers pupils another way to express and develop their
enjoyment of Mathematics. St. Francis’ College finished
in fourth place!
Senior Maths Challenge
The Sixth Form A level mathematicians took part in the
UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. They achieved fantastic
results with seventeen girls achieving either a gold, silver
or bronze award. Particular mention should be made
of Audrey Liu in Year 12 and Lily Yu and Sofie Stubo in
Year 13 who achieved gold awards. Lily’s score was high
enough for her to qualify for a follow on round, the Senior
Kangaroo, where she achieved a merit.
MATHEMATICS
17
Translation Bee
On June 15th, four Year 9s, Michelle Bonuah, Maisie
Burroughs, Eleanor Hobson and Helen Sheng travelled
to Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge to participate
in the National Final of the Translation Bee. They were
amongst the last 121 competitors out of the 7659 who
started the competition across the country in September.
All participants were challenged to translate into French
as many sentences as they could across three tenses in
the space of a minute. All the girls held their nerve and
performed extremely well in front of the large audience. It
was a challenging and stimulating afternoon and while they
didn’t make it into the semi-finals, they were rewarded with
a medal and a certificate. Bravo les filles!
Eleanor Hobson
On June 15th we went to Anglia Ruskin University to
compete in the regional Translation Bee. When we were
there we were told that we were the top 121 out of the
7000-plus people who entered. Although we only made it
to the first round of the final, I am very proud of how far
we got. It was a very enjoyable day and everyone there was
very good. I feel that my translation skills have improved a
lot and this was a worthwhile experience.
Maisie Burroughs
I was very lucky to be offered the opportunity to participate
in the Translation Bee. At first, I was very nervous, because
we had to translate as many sentences as we could in a
minute, in front of about thirty other people! However, we
practised hard, and it was a great opportunity.
The Translation Bee helped me to speak more fluently
in the past, present and future tenses, and improved my
French vocabulary. The trip was good fun, because we saw
people from other schools reciting the sentences, and we
were able to cheer each other on.
I would recommend the trip, because you can practise
speaking French fluently, and it is a new and exciting
experience.
Michelle Bonuah
The translation Bee was a great event to attend. Preparing
for the competition improved my skills in the past, present
and future tenses.
Le Touquet
On Thursday 30th June we went to Le Touquet! I was really
excited as I have never been on a ferry before and I was
experiencing a different part of France. Once we had got on
the ferry everyone started going around the ferry into the
shops and buying sweets. When we drove off the ferry on
the coach, everyone said “We are in France!”.
We arrived in the hotel and we found our rooms: I was
with Clara and Emily. I was really happy with the room
choice because we all get along. I really enjoyed the fact that
we all had a balcony and we were talking to each other on
the balcony. It was really fun.
My favourite part of France was going to the chocolate
factory. I learnt a lot about how they make chocolate
and how they mould it and colour it. I learnt about the
difference between milk and white chocolate. I also
enjoyed making pancakes on the last night. We all had
to flip them in the air and my first pancake landed on the
table but my second pancake landed in the pan. They were
really delicious!
When we went to the snail farm, I was a bit scared about
trying snails. I tried one but I spat it out: I thought it was
disgusting! We were also given snail biscuits which were not
made out of snails, and they were great: they were lemon
flavoured. When I first bit into it, it was really hard so I had
to wait a while until it got soft.
On the last day we went to the market and I always say
that French markets are a bit more interesting than English
markets. I bought a pair of earrings and some macaroons.
The macaroons were delicious! We also went to the beach
and we ran down the hill and buried people in the sand: it
was great. Afterwards we went on a walk through Montreuil
and went to the bakery. At the bakery we learnt how the
croissants and bread are made.
Then we made our way to Calais and boarded the ferry.
I had a great time in France and wouldn’t have missed it
for the world. It is an amazing experience and I would
recommend this trip to everyone. I had an amazing time
with all my friends. This was an experience I will never
forget; it was truly wonderful!
By Avneet Bhamra 7 MRY
I had an amazing time in France. We went on many trips
including, a snail farm, Nausicaa (aquarium), a chocolate
factory, a bakery, went to the beach and had a drink at a
café. My favourite place that we went to was the aquarium
because it was really interesting to see lots of different sea
animals. The rooms were really well chosen because it was
me and Sophia Davis La Camera. Some other activities that
we did were making delicious pancakes, walking around a
small village and filling in a quiz at the same time and playing
games outside. I would definitely go to Le Touquet again!
Thank you to all the teachers that chaperoned us all!
Alex Diedrick 7 MRY
National Foreign Language Spelling Bee 2016
Three Year 7 students, Avneet Bhamra, Alessandra Cocevar
and Florence Semple, represented St. Francis’ College at
the Eastern Area Regional Final of the National Spelling
Bee on 27th April. The girls were amongst 116 Regional
Finalists out of the initial 11,000 participating pupils across
the Eastern Region. Alessandra went forward as one of the
last 36 across three languages, but didn’t make it into the
last four. A truly outstanding performance from all three of
our SFC linguists. Bravo!
French Spelling Bee – Avneet Bhamra 7 MRY
On Wednesday 27th April, I went to the Spelling Bee in
Cambridge to represent St. Francis’ College. I was really
scared and nervous as everyone else there was really good
and fast. I was glad we weren’t in the massive theatre with
the microphone, we were in a small classroom.
I was glad that I wasn’t the first or the last, I was just in the
middle, so I heard how good everyone else was. After we
had gone though everyone in the room we had a break
and afterwards we found out the results. Alessandra got
through and she was really fast! There was this one girl who
got through each word in two seconds and she was very
accurate. I didn’t get through but I was really pleased on
how far I did get. I didn’t think I was going to get through
the first round as I was really nervous! I had a great time
and it was a good experience.
Insitut Français Tuesday 2nd February
Year 12 and 13 French students spent the day at the Insitut
Français in South Kensington. The girls spent the morning
learning about the different waves of immigration that
have enriched French culture from the beginning of the
20th Century until today. In the afternoon they enjoyed a
screening of the award-winning film Les Intouchables at
the Ciné Lumière.
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
18
the correct rhythm. As a result, I had to sacrifice the use of
rhyming couplets, since I would risk losing the sentiment of
the language itself.
The use of varying tenses also proved challenging. With
several tenses, including the passé simple, I had to be
careful in the translation of each tense into English, so that
the final result created an air of calm before sudden panic,
as the wounded soldier took aim.
Normandy 2015
On 16th October, thirty-three bleary-eyed Year 11s
and four staff left the College at 4am ready for a week
of immersion in French language and culture in rural
Normandy. We stayed in a large converted eighteenth-
century farmhouse and from there set out on a wide variety
of visits and excursions. For many, the most exciting day
was our visit to Mont Saint Michel. The Abbey is over 1000
years old and sits majestically at the top of the winding,
narrow streets of the tiny island surrounded by water. We
returned home on foot walking across the bay at low tide
through rivers, quicksand and the grey mud left by the
tide. We also spent a wonderful day working at a children’s
centre where the girls excelled themselves playing, chatting
and singing to the children and making apple crumble
for seventy with the help of forty 5-9 year-olds! Other
excursions included visits to M. Martin’s Goat Farm, a visit
to the Bayeux Tapestry, and an evening spent in a local
Crêperie. By the end of their busy week all students felt
they had made enormous progress in both their speaking
and listening skills.
The Stephen Spender Prize
Three Students in Year 10 and one in Year 13 took up
the opportunity to enter the The Stephen Spender Prize,
for poetry in translation this year. Entries came from Alix
Wentworth-Foster, Athena Woodbridge, Charlotte Ashwin
and Hannah Buisman.
Hannah Buisman (Year 13) submitted the following entry.
Entrants are required to also submit a commentary on the
translation they have undertaken.
After the Battle
My father, that softly smiling hero,
Followed by a sole Hussar who he admired most
For his great bravery and his towering stature,
Travelled on horseback, the eve of a battle,
The night falls on the fields covered by death.
In the shadows, he seems to hear a muffled sound,
It was a defeated Spanish soldier
Who was crawling whilst bleeding along the edge of the
road,
Wheezing, shattered, pale and more than half dead,
And who said: drink, drink, I beg you!
My father, filled with emotion, held out to his loyal Hussar
A flask of rum that hung from his saddle,
And says: here give this wounded man a drink
Suddenly, as the Hussar reached down
And leaned towards him, the Moorish man,
Seized a pistol which he still clasped,
And takes aim at my father’s forehead, shouting “Caramba”!
The shot passed so close that the hat fell
And the horse stepped back,
- Give him a drink anyway, my father said.
Après la bataille
Mon père, ce héros au sourire si doux,
Suivi d’un seul housard qu’il aimait entre tous Pour sa
grande bravoure et pour sa haute taille, Parcourait à cheval,
le soir d’une bataille,
Les champs couverts de morts sur qui tombait la nuit. Il lui
sembla dans l’ombre entendre un faible bruit, C’était un
espagnol de l’armée en déroute
Qui se traînait sanglant sur le bord de la route,
Râlant, brisé, livide et mort plus qu’à moitié, Et qui disait
: A boire, à boire par pitié ! Mon père ému, tendit à son
housard fidèle Une gourde de rhum qui pendait à sa selle,
Et dit : Tiens donne à boire à ce pauvre blessé
Tout à coup, au moment où le housard baissé
Se penchait vers lui, l’homme une espèce de Maure, Saisit
un pistolet qu’il étreignait encore,
Et vise au front mon père en criant “ Caramba “ ! Le coup
passa si près que le chapeau tomba
Et que le cheval fit un écart en arrière,
- Donne-lui quand même à boire, dit mon père.
Victor Hugo (La légende des siècles)
Hannah Buisman – Commentary
French post-war literature is of particular interest to me
as I find the futility of war leads to emotive and insightful
writing. Having studied French Novels, the Stephen
Spender Prize gave me the chance to explore the
fascinating array of French war poetry. ‘After the Battle’
provides an insight into the paradoxical world of war, where
brutality meets morality, in the contrast between Hugo’s
forgiving father and the aggressive wounded soldier, who
seemed to have killing engrained in his philosophy.
The period of the text led to the difficult translation of old
French words, which bore no relevance or meaning to the
modern-day audience. After attempting to give the poem a
modern twist, I decided to keep to the language of the era,
since period features like ‘housard’ could not be replicated
in modern English while displaying the correct meaning.
The term ‘housard’ was particularly hard to translate due to
its deep connection with French history, therefore leading
me to choose the lesser known, but better-fitting term of
‘Hussar’.
Due to Hugo’s style of writing, the enjambment throughout
the poem had to be conserved. This meant trying to convey
the correct meaning while keeping to the rhythm of the
original. This was particularly difficult, as I had to match the
syllables of English and French words so that the poem had
19
20
MUSICSpring Concert 2016
Written by Alix Wentworth-Foster
On Thursday 10th March, girls from Years 7-13 treated
us to a night of Latin American music. We were soon to
find ourselves surrounded by songs influenced by Latin
American roots, such as songs from musicals and twists on
modern music.
Opening with a number by Five Seconds of Summer, the
Rock Band set the bar high for the evening to come. A
group who stood out (for the right reasons!) was Year 10
GCSE music, playing “Libertango” with an interesting range
of instruments from the accordion to the double bass.
It was lovely to see how many students and staff are part
of the Senior Orchestra. We were lucky enough to hear
a variety of dance styles, including the famous “Mambo”
dance. The evening came to a close with the choirs
performing an Andrew Lloyd Webber medley from “Evita”.
The amount of time and effort put in by the performers was
clear and commitment played a key role. Performance after
performance showcased real talent amongst the groups. My
highlight of the evening was the brilliant performance from
Harmonix, from beginning to end, you couldn’t fault it! The
concert as a whole couldn’t have been possible without the
music staff. Like the girls, it’s hard to imagine the work and
preparation put in to making the concert as good as it was,
so thank you to Mrs Scott, Mr Herring and all other music
staff involved. I am very intrigued to see what the Music
department plan for the next concert!
The World Is a Book and Those Who Do Not Travel
Read Only One Page
I never quite understood how a few hours can change the
atmosphere of any place till I stepped foot into the theatre.
The once-formalised setting, used to enrich our minds in
the form of assemblies, had been transformed.
It’s two minutes past seven and there are loads of
people already
I glanced at my watch in amazement at the high turnout of
people as I sat on the wine seats. I realised, although slightly
insignificant, as the cymbals clashed and the guitar strings
were struck delicately, that my journal, in which I was to
document this great journey through time was the same
colour as the seats.
All performers were dressed in a black ensemble with
colourful scarves tied around their necks. The vibrant
colours of the scarves were in harmony with the beautiful
lighting effects creating a youthful exuberance evident
through the audience’s wide grins. I sat anticipating the first
performance which turned out to be a beautiful rendition
of the upbeat track, ‘On Top of the World’ performed by
the Year 10 Band. What followed was the Cantamus joined
by the Percussion ensemble which energetically performed
‘Africa’ by Toto.
Throughout the night, the conductors brought the written
score to life through their lively motions and intangible
charismatic gestures. The next set of performances were
proof of this as eighteen alto and soprano singers from the
Chamber Choir sung joyously. Silver woodwind instruments
penetrated the air with ethereal waves producing soft
mellow sounds and the Chamber and Senior Orchestra
were sheer brilliance from the string instruments whose
bows produced sonorous and lustrous sounds. The smooth
and expressive legatos of the clarinet and alto saxophone
gave the orchestra the grandeur it possessed.
Around the World in eighty Minutes. The word
‘world’ certainly had links to Geography and the
reference to time (eighty minutes) was clearly an
obvious link to History
A Pilot and Air Stewardess introduced the acts and
always made reference to a journey. We were going
through a musical journey. Every act depicted a moment in
time and so we were also given an insight into the culture
of each place.
Next up was the Jazz Band. Their performance was one
that would have made Duke Ellington proud. The speedy
hard-hitting rhythms of be-pop and intricate melodies
gave the Theatre earthy grooves. After that beautiful
performance we heard the magnificent voices of three
choirs who performed meaningful music including a
traditional Irish folk blessing.
I have been to several music concerts but this concert
struck chords. By introducing unconventional instruments
such as the Djembe drum, the concert was very versatile.
I was impressed to see five girls strike the different areas
of the leathery drum skin in a similar manner. Nigerian
drummers beat the drum in ceremonies (I experienced a
great feeling of nostalgia as they left the stage with a huge
round of applause).
Wade in the water, children
It became apparent that we were going to visit America
once again, this time to the early 1900s, some years before
the birth of jazz. The performance was incredibly lively and
uplifting as each band member of ‘Noit Animaxe’ played
their instrument or sung in rhythmic fashion.
The final performance sung by the ‘Harmonix’ choir was
a fantastic way to end the spectacular concert.
The notes plunged emphatically and imparted a glorious
sense of triumph as they sang. It was no surprise that
Mrs Goulding requested an encore in which the audience
gladly responded to with bursts of excitement and cheers
of enthusiasm.
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho . . . and the walls come
tumblin' down
As Mrs Goulding said in her closing remarks, the music
concert was a great opportunity for the girls to display their
talents. Indeed, it was an absolutely fantastic performance
that certainly ushered feelings of festivity. You cannot grow
as an individual if you know nothing beyond the borders
of your world. Music is an art that allows us to learn about
other cultures and traditions which will help in not only
satisfying our inexorable penchants for learning but will
better our understanding of our world, which is the book
we read. St. Francis’ College Music Department took
us around the world in eighty minutes and gave us the
opportunity to read more pages.
21
Autumn Concert
In the hour before the show began, excitement was
building inside the College theatre. Microphones were
tested, a large variety of instruments tuned, outfits put
together. With each run-through the musical pieces became
more vibrant, and it became clear to me, as a member of
the audience, that this show of 'Around the World in 80
Minutes' would be captivating and refreshing. I managed
to speak to a few girls between their busy performance
rehearsals, and they were unanimous about the pride they
felt as performers. Scarlett Tilley and Ellie Warwick, Year 9,
said 'You feel very special as the people are coming to see
you perform'. Some girls also expressed some nervousness
as show-time crept closer and closer: 'Mrs Scott has put a
lot of effort towards producing the concert, as have us girls,
and expectations are high' (Year 7 choir). I'm sure you will
agree that any expectations were undoubtedly exceeded!
9 Lessons and Carols review
There was an air of anticipation as the Orchestra finished
their piece, and the service began. The Choir processed
in singing O come, O come Emmanuel, with a solo at the
beginning. The readings were delivered by students, staff,
and the Chairman of Governors. Students from all years
gave wonderful performances, but one of the favourites
was Long Before the Night, which was a new carol, and
had been introduced to us this year. The evening finished
with the Choir processing out singing Of the Father’s Heart
Begotten, and the music echoed beautifully through the
College’s halls.
Athena Woodbridge
The Tempest Theatre Trip
The Sixth Form English students enjoyed a great trip to
London on Thursday 25th February to attend a production
of The Tempest at The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at the
Globe Theatre.
After the play we met Mr Hetherington, who practised his
tour-guiding skills by giving the girls a tour of the Southwark
area focusing on some of the historical background to the
Elizabethan and Jacobean plays they are studying.
Poetry by Heart Competition
The English Department set all girls in the College the
challenge to learn a poem by heart and perform it to their
class. The resulting performances were very impressive and
the winners from each class were invited to perform in our
Poetry by Heart Final on 7th January.
Imogen Harper was our winner in the Years 7-9 category.
Isabel Frohlich was our winner in the Years 10-13 category.
Isabel qualified for the regional final of the Poetry by Heart
Competition at the Quarry Theatre in Bedford on 28th
January; she did a fantastic job, performing two poems
before a large and rather intimidating audience.
Model United Nations
Earlier in March this year, from Friday the 18th to Sunday
the 20th, myself and nine other St. Francis students ranging
from Year 9 to Year 12, as well as over six hundred other
students from across the globe, had the privilege of
taking part in Haileybury College’s Model United Nations
Conference of 2016. This was an event in which our
diplomacy skills were tested as we took on the task of
delegating for our assigned country. For many of us, this was
our first time taking part in such a large conference, causing
it to be both a nerve racking yet exhilarating experience.
To prepare for the event, extensive after school planning
took place in the weeks leading up to the conference, in
order to make sure that as delegates we were as prepared
as possible. During this time, we crafted our opening
policy statements, our position papers for each topic being
debated in our committees, practiced debating and most
importantly, gained an overall understanding of what we
were going to be involved in.
Upon arrival at the conference, we had the opportunity to
begin lobbying with other delegates. We read through the
resolutions proposed by others, in order to resolve a range
of topical problems, and signed them if we wanted to see
them be debated in committee. The conference officially
begun after the opening ceremony, an assembly which
involved all delegates, security and council members, along
with a motivational speaker as a guest.
Bright and early the next day, we commuted back to
Haileybury College where each of us parted to go to
our separate committees, ranging from Human Rights to
Ecology to the Environment. Once the final lobbying session
had taken place, we were ready to debate the resolutions
which had gained a sufficient amount of signatures, and
had also been passed by the Approvals Panel. I sat on the
Disarmament committee along with around eighty other
delegates, each representing a different member-state of
the United Nations. I personally delegated for Nigeria,
meaning I had to research Nigerian interests and views
on topics such as piracy, arms trade between members of
state and terrorist organisations, militant groups’ use of
ground to air missiles and finally, the question of limiting the
increasing violence in Latin America. As a committee, we
debated the different resolutions proposed by delegates,
resulting in the resolution either being passed or failed after
a final vote.
On the Sunday after a Model United Nations act of
observance, which involved a large chapel service, followed
by a morning of being in our committees, to end the
experience, a General Assembly took place which involved
all delegates, security and council members. Here, we
continued to debate different resolutions however this
time, the resolutions proposed concerned different topics
from every committee. This meant that as a (very large)
group, we explored a broader range of stances on the
prevalent issues raised.
Overall, it can be said that Model United Nations was a
thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding and recommendable
experience, in which all of the prior planning was definitely
made worth it. Haileybury College must be highly acclaimed
for their extensive preparations put into place in order for
the conference to succeed in the way that it did. Finally, our
thanks go out to Miss Wallace for organising our entry and
attending the conference, as well helping in the preparations
for the event.
By Hollie Scanlon
ENGLISH
22
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Hindu Temple visit
On Tuesday 28th April Year 8 visited the Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir (Hindu Temple) in Neasden. This is the biggest
Temple outside India and is quite a breath-taking sight. On
arrival we all took our shoes off as a sign of respect and
were welcomed by a member of the Temple staff. We then
watched a DVD about how the Temple was constructed.
After this, we had an opportunity to walk around the main
worship hall in silence. Many girls were amazed by the
intricate marble carvings and the life-sized murtis (statues)
of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
We then spent time walking around the ‘Understanding
Hinduism’ exhibition and finding answers to questions from
the worksheet. We learnt about some of the contributions
Hindu scholars have made to Mathematics, Astronomy and
even plastic surgery.
At 11.45am we watched the daily Arti ceremony, a unique
experience consisting of prayers, mantras and blessings.
Finally, we had a ‘question and answer’ session with another
member of the Temple staff. I was very impressed by the
thoughtful questions asked by the St. Francis’ girls. These
covered a variety of topics including family life, food,
festivals and how religion affects daily life.
The trip concluded with a visit to the gift shop, with many
purchases of friendship bracelets and bindis. At 1pm we
went over the road to the Shayona restaurant and all
enjoyed a delicious vegetarian buffet. Some girls even found
room to buy an ice cream from the attached ice-cream
parlour before we returned to College.
Jewish Museum visit
On Monday 9th November 2015, Year 7 had the
opportunity to experience “A Taste of Judaism”.
We travelled into Camden in London, to visit the
Jewish museum.
During this trip we were able to taste traditional Jewish
foods, and we discovered what makes food kosher.
We went into a room, where we read a small part of a
Jewish book, which was about the Passover. It was called
the Seder book. After reading a bit of this, we were all
given some food eaten at Passover, including parsley dipped
in salt water to represent the bitterness of the slaves’ tears,
when the Jews were in Egypt. Everyone in the year thought
this tasted horrible, apart from Jessica! We also had some
matzo (unleavened bread). This was more popular! Finally,
we ate some doughnuts which Jews eat at Hanukkah.
They have lots of food which is fried in oil to remind them
of the story of the miracle.
Then, we examined some food packaging, so we know
what Jews can and can’t eat. We found out that “hechsher”
is a food label that tells Jews whether the food is kosher or
not. We made menus for a Jewish family, following kosher.
We all found this really fun but quite tricky, considering that
they cannot eat some meat products or eat meat and milk
products in the same meal.
During the Holocaust in World War 2, Adolf Hitler,
who despised Jews, had about six million of them killed.
This really moved us all, and it is surprising to see how
many of them had the confidence to stand up to him.
The final thing we looked at, in the Jewish museum, were
some exhibitions on the history of Judaism in Britain. The
whole year learnt much about the Jewish heritage from the
big information boards.
We are so happy to have been able to visit the museum, as
we all learnt so much. It was a very enjoyable trip.
Year 7 trip to Regents Park Mosque
On 27th April 2016 we visited the mosque. During our
trip we had to wear a scarf that covered our head to show
respect. When we got there we removed our shoes and
put them on shelves so we didn’t ruin the carpets which
had mats built into them for prayer.
We had one of the four Imams (religious leader) show us
around the prayer hall. While being showed around we saw
the prayer times on the wall which told us when you were
meant to come to prayer. We also saw the Minbar (a stand
like a lectern). As soon as you walked into the prayer hall
you were stunned by the huge chandelier. After the Imam
showed us around, we asked some questions and we
were amazed that the whole mosque held 2,500 people
all at one time.
After we had a Q and A we were shown around the
exhibition about Islam which consisted of large factual
boards about topics such as the life of Muhammad and
the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’. There was also a shop full of
vegetarian food and some nice souvenirs, which we
enjoyed buying.
After a busy morning at the mosque we were given a
room to have lunch in, and talk about all that we had seen.
We enjoyed our visit and it deepened our understanding
of Islam.
By Hannah-Laura Schlote and Lauren Howland
Unison and Year 10 Religious Studies Lesson
On Friday 25th September Mrs Elliott’s Year 10 GCSE
Religious Studies group joined with the Unison visitors to
research and give presentations on aspects of Christianity
and Hinduism. There were seven groups in total, all with a
mixture of St. Francis’ College and Unison World School
students. Some of the topics examined included: ‘One
God or Many?’, ‘The Role of Women in Religion’, ‘The
Importance of the Scriptures’ and ‘Ideas about the Afterlife’.
The presentations were of an excellent standard, comparing
and contrasting the issues studied in the two different
religions. It was very impressive to see what was achieved
by all students in only an hour and a quarter.
SCIENCE
23
Heather Christie – Animal Care Club
I love Animal Care Club. It’s super fun how you get to look
after all of Mrs Glanville’s animals! There’s a leopard gecko,
a crested gecko, some tree frogs, a crayfish, lots of stick
insects, some black beauties (not the horse kind!) and the
breeding snails. Every week on a Wednesday, we come in
and feed the animals. Sometimes we have to get privet
(a type of leaf) for the stick insects or even change the
privet in the cage. The stick insects go everywhere –
especially now there are tiny ones too. We might even get
the chance to get the geckos, Rupert and Florence, out
for a hold if we’re lucky. Hilary’s really good at pulling off
Rupert’s dry skin when he’s moulting. Rupert doesn't like it
though! I remember the time when Rupert ran away.
We got him back of course! The best bit about Animal Care
Club is being with my friends and learning new things about
the fascinating animals.
Industrial Cadets – CAD
The St. Francis’ College Industrial Cadets team shone
with team spirit, confidence and presentation skills at the
Celebration and Assessment Day on 27th June in Ware.
The team of Eira Bagenal, Michelle Bonuah, Eleanor
Hobson, Ruby Lung, Mehar Magon and Ellie Warwick
(all in Year 9) worked over the last ten weeks on their
project entitled “Our healthy school”. Apart from
graduating as Industrial Cadets and achieving CREST Silver
Awards, the St. Francis’ team also won the Students’ Choice
Award for their project. What a fantastic achievement!
Industrial Cadets was a challenging scheme, but it all paid
off in the end. We learnt a variety of skills that will help us
later on in life.
Mehar Magon
The Industrial Cadets programme was a great experience.
This programme encouraged me to think about taking a
career in STEM. Over the ten-week period we learned skills
such as teamwork, organisation, presentation and public
speaking. I would definitely love to do this again.
Michelle Bonuah
In Industrial Cadets, I learned how to work to deadlines and
overcome challenges with my teammates. The experience
was both educational and fun, and the graduation day was
really fun.
Eira Bagenal
Industrial Cadets allowed me to learn how to cooperate
with teammates and work to a deadline. The graduation day
was good fun and I met some really great people.
Ellie Warwick
I really enjoyed Industrial Cadets. It was sometimes a bit of
a challenge, but it was worth it. I also really enjoyed meeting
everyone else on the Celebration Assessment Day.
Eleanor Hobson
I think that the Industrial Cadets is a great experience
for me because it is all about teamwork and cooperating.
The Cadets also improved my public speaking and
confidence by talking to the assessors.
Ruby Lung
Snuffling in the Grounds of St. Francis’
This year I have been proud to continue my work with
Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital, however in October we
had a slightly different resident. When I met Natasha in
reception to hear a quiet growl coming from the pet carrier,
I thought I must be mistaken. But no, when picking up Milly
the hedgehog in my hands to place her into her new home
– the first time she has been outdoors since her rescue in
the summer – once again I heard this peculiar sound. It may
surprise you that curling into a prickly ball isn’t a hedgehog’s
only defence. Milly is proof of their vocal abilities to warn
off danger.
After her noisy arrival, Milly soon settled in and would
confidently potter out of her shelter for food, which I would
bring to her daily for a fortnight during the rehabilitation
period, after which she was released into our grounds.
In September 2016 I will be looking for a new pupil to
assist me with the care of new arrivals and to continue on
the partnership with the Hospital, and am sure that these
animals will be grateful for your help!
Grace Twitchett
"Spectroscopy in a Suitcase"
On Monday 14th March, us A Level chemists opened
the familiar door of Dr Fengler’s laboratory to find, not
A5-sized past papers (we would receive these later that
week), but the benches laid out with unfamiliar equipment,
and two new guests from Anglia Ruskin University;
Dennis and Trevor, who delivered the ‘Spectroscopy in a
Suitcase’ workshop. The two stations were for infra-red
and UV-vis spectroscopy, and I was curious as to how a
portable machine could tell us so much about the unknown
compounds contained in various jars and tubes on
the benches.
Before we could get our hands on the portable
spectrometer, we learned the main principle behind its use:
spectroscopy is the study of the way light (electromagnetic
radiation) and matter interact. So, by shining a beam of a
particular EM radiation onto a sample, and observing how
it responds to this stimulus, this allows scientists like us to
obtain information about the structure and properties of
matter. And it really does matter.
Whilst we could test first-hand for the components of
food dyes with the UV-vis spectrometer and identify the
functional groups of compounds from their IR-spectra,
specialists use the art of spectrometry for anything
from looking for toxins in toothpaste, to providing clues
from the traces left by a suspect, which is utilised by
forensic scientists.
This connection between what we had covered in
textbooks (and are tested in those papers I mentioned)
and the real-life application of spectrometry proved to us
the importance of this science whilst sparking our interest
in the broad field of chemistry.
Grace Twitchett
24
SPORT
‘This Girl Can’ National Campaign
Eleanor Skipp and Danielle Males worked busily with local
primary schools inspiring young girls to get involved and
stay active to lead healthy lifestyles.
They wrote and presented speeches about their sporting
experiences, how they became involved in sport, their
achievements and the challenges they faced along the way.
Tennis Masterclasses
Twins Annie and Sophie Watts (Old Girls) returned to give
our Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils masterclasses in tennis. The twins
study at Fresno State University in California on a full tennis
scholarship and have been representing their University in
singles and doubles now for four years. They are due to
complete their Biology degree in December 2016.
Netball
Our Years 7 and 8 Netball teams competed with vigour and
deft skill at their district tournaments. Year 7 came away
winners of the plate competition!
RECORD BREAKERS
This year’s Athletics season
saw many records broken
Congratulations to the
following girls:
Aele Ebai-Eyong
Year 7 Hurdles
Sophie Shackell
Year 7 High Jump
Jasmine Duru
Year 8 200m
Lucy Taylor
Year 8 800m & 1500m
Jasmine Duru, Olivia Lindsay,
Ella Pentland, Lucy Taylor
Year 8 Relay
Tennis Tour to Mallorca (Easter 2016)
A 23- strong party enjoyed an Easter Tennis Tour to
Mallorca where the sun shone, the sea beckoned and
the tennis was played on clay courts surrounded by
stunning scenery. Our Spanish coaches Xavi, Alfonso and
Laura ensured all pupils had an excellent mixture of fun
and challenge.
Annual Sports Awards Dinner
It was fantastic that there were 83 attendees at "The
Sports Awards Dinner" on Monday 27th June 2016 where
many awards were presented and the year’s sporting
achievements were celebrated.
Emmie Kerr and Hannah Loosley picked up ‘Sports
Personality’ and horse riders Isabel Scott, Lucie Payne,
Phoebe Hill and Emma Welbourne won ‘Team of the Year’.
District Athletics Championships
Our Year 7-10 athletes battled valiantly in the wind and rain
at the Ridlins Athletics Stadium. They were many highlights
of the day with a number of personal best performances.
All pupils showed strength and determination contributing
valuable points to their teams. The Year 8 team, captained
by Jasmine Duru and Olivia Lindsay, featured a District
1500m Record breaker in Lucy Taylor and the team were
also crowned winners in their age group - a first ever win
for St. Francis’ College!
Hockey
Our Year 9 Hockey Team have been incredibly successful
this season. They were crowned champions in both the
indoor and outdoor district hockey tournaments and were
also, together with some of our Year 8 girls, U14 County
Cup Finalists!
Athletics
It has been yet another successful Athletics season for
Lauren Aldridge, Year 12. We congratulate her on many
outstanding performances and her qualification to compete
in the U20 Girls ‘Hammer’ at the National Championships
in July 2016 at Gateshead.
25
Swimming
Charlotte Ashwin, Year 10, swam at the East Regionals in
seven events! She won Gold in the 200m Individual Medley,
Silver in the 400m Individual Medley and also competed
in the finals of the 50m and 200m Breaststroke. Another
outstanding year, in fact her best to date, ensured her
qualification to swim at the English Nationals in the 200m,
400m and 200m Breaststroke events in August 2016.
Rounders
Plenty of excellent batting and fielding skills were on
display as the Years 7 and 9 Rounders teams won their
District Tournaments and the Years 8 and 10 teams
finished as runners-up.
Cross Country
Congratulations to all our Cross Country teams who
performed incredibly in the recent District Championships.
The Year 8 team, led by Ella Pentland and Lucy Taylor,
came first in their age group and Lucy Taylor also won
the individual event. The Year 10 team, led by Charlotte
Ashwin, were runners-up in their age group and Charlotte
also came second in the individual event.
Horse Riding
Phoebe Hill and her pony Max qualified for Nationals, for
achieving a clear in all three rounds of show jumping, with
the height increasing every round, to reach up to 1.10m.
Phoebe achieved a treble clear in a quick time finishing in
second place.
Rugby
Catherine Cirkel (Year 10) was selected again for Herts
County U15 and captained the side on numerous
occasions. She has also been selected to join the RFU South
East U15 Junior Academy. It must have something to do
with all the tries she has been scoring!
Cricket
In Cricket, Catherine Cirkel (Year 10) is already playing a
big part in Herts County U15 and U17 squads. In February
she was awarded the 'Best Bowler' for the U15s and also
the 'Best All Rounder' award for the U17s after stand
out performances.
Football
Our Year 10 girls have discovered the fun in football after
having the opportunity to try it during their curriculum time
and the extra-curricular Football Club has now built up a
loyal following.
Self Defence
Our Year 11 Girls have been busy learning many self-
defence techniques and have become adept at applying
them in a number of practical situations. Confidence in
their ability to take care of themselves in difficult situations
has been evident
26
HOUSE EVENTSHouse ‘Bake off’ 2015
The variety of scrumptiously baked and skilfully decorated
goodies, presented at the House Bake Off this year
certainly made it a difficult competition for our judges to
select a winner.
The judges, Mrs Goulding, Mrs Harrison and Mrs Lomax
were greatly impressed with the multiple cakes and scones
made by House representatives from each year group.
Sophia Davis la Camera from Athene was the Year 7
winner, with her exotic ‘Lemon and Seed Muffins’, in Year
8, Katie Holman from Athene with her delicious ‘Chocolate
Orange Scones’ and Jess Turley in Year 9 with her colourful
Athene-themed ‘Purple Swirl Cakes’. Asha Noakes won
the Year 10 category with her sweet ‘Banoffee Cakes’
for Hera and Phoebe Holdsworth in Year 11 for Artemis
with her elegantly-decorated ‘Raspberry Flower Cake’.
Lauren Aldridge won overall in the Year 12-13 category
with her incredible ‘Chocolate Orange and Malteser Cake’,
representing Selene.
Congratulations to all the girls for participating in the
competition and for representing their Houses. Overall, the
results are as follows: in 4th place, Artemis, in 3rd place,
Hera, in 2nd place, Selene and our winners for this year’s
Bake off, Athene!
Thank you to our wonderful judges, Mrs Purchon and
House Captains for all their support and, of course,
Miss Major, who made all of this possible!
House Music 2016
By Abbey Hobbs
Late June this year saw Houses Artemis, Hera, Athene and
Selene come together once again to compete in the
St. Francis’ House Music Competition. The contest was split
into two categories, the 'House Solo Act' and the 'House
Song'. A solo act was put forward to represent each House
in the first category as well as a Queen song chosen by the
House to perform.
This year’s judge, Mrs Childs, the new flute teacher in the
Music department, opened the event with a prayer, which
was then followed by a warm-up of 'Here Comes the Sun,'
performed by all the Houses.
Selene's solo act was the first act to perform, Alicia Rubert
Puchalt accompanied by Erin Murray: a natural, artistic
performance of 'Let it Be'. Artemis followed with Becky
Aldridge & Eleanor Hobson: an energetic and skilled
piano duet of 'Trepak'. Hera came after Artemis with Cara
Heanue and Jemma Starling's beautiful, harmonic duet of
'The Feeling'. Last, but not least, Athene closed the category
with Athena Woodbridge's graceful and heart-warming
piece 'Adoration' on the violin. Mrs Chil's shared her
valuable feedback to each of the Houses, highlighting each
act’s strengths and offered tips for everybody to reflect on.
She finally announced the winners for the first category,
Athene, represented by Athena Woodbridge's violin piece.
The competition moved straight into the second category,
Selene taking the stage once more to perform their House
song, 'We will Rock you'. Creating their own backing track
with the help of drums and a guitar tune, Selene pulled off
an epic and an effective, powerful performance.
Artemis created an entire classroom setting, featuring Mr
Hobbs as their Class Tutor. Portraying an amusing story
alongside their song, 'I want to Break Free', Artemis's
performance this year was definitely an intriguing and
entertaining one.
Hera took to the stage in perfect formation, performing
their song 'We are the Champions'. Harmonies on point,
they skilfully captured the sense of how powerful one can
be in a team, pulling off a fantastic performance.
Athene's 'Don't Stop me Now' was packed with both visual
aids and creative choreography. From a cardboard cut-out
image of a grenade bomb to a kindergarten playground car,
accompanied by strong vocals, Athene's performance was
full of thrilling energy and enthusiasm.
Everybody was buzzing after their performances and Mrs
Childs took to the stage to announce the results. Similarly
to the solo acts, she gave each House great compliments
as well as advice, reflecting on their performances.
She told us how challenging it had been to choose a winner,
considering how everybody had ‘gone all out this year’ with
both creativity and technique. Overall, she selected Athene
as 2016's winning House, complimenting the group’s
enthusiasm and teamwork!
“Although organising Selene for House Singing was
probably the most stressful part of being a House Captain
(so far), having everyone’s efforts come together at the
end was worth it. It was really satisfying to see everyone
participating, and getting to watch the other Houses’
performances. All the time spent listening to Queen in
preparation was pretty great as well.”
Jessica Rowe
Selene House Captain
Many thanks to all the year groups and Staff, House
Captains, Heads of Houses and everybody who contributed
to this year’s successful House Music Competition!
27
CHARITY NEWS
Charity News – 2015/6
Here at St. Francis’ College I think it is fair to say that cake stalls are a very popular way of raising funds for the many charities
we support. Last year began with a very successful whole-school cake stall for MacMillan Cancer Support, which was quickly
followed by our Recycled Fashion Show which raised money for Kanyike, “Wear it Pink” day for Breast Cancer Care and
a “Glitter and Sparkle” day for Garden House Hospice. Form charities raised over £2000 during the year for charities as
diverse as Cancer Research, Syria Relief, Vinjeru School Trust in Zambia, RSPCA and The Darwin Centre, Cambridge.
In the Spring Term our Charity Prefects, Mary Collins and Kelly Lung, came up with a practical and very different way to
support three charities. They organised a collection of books for the local charity, “Just Be a Child”, which has already shipped
a large shipping container full of books and toys to a remote part of Kenya. The shipping container is turned into a library
upon arrival. Five boxes of sanitary products were delivered to Luton Women’s Refuge, and a massive box of underwear
and unwanted bras were delivered to a UK charity, “Say Pants to Poverty”.
On International Women’s Day, girls dressed up as a woman who inspires them, and the funds raised were used to sponsor
Marie Chantal through the Women for Women International Charity. Marie Chantal is from Rwanda and the funds we have
raised will enable her to receive life-skills training and basic business training so she can support her four children.
The final fundraiser of the summer was the annual whole-school picnic for Kanyike. Girls in the Senior School hosted a
series of stalls and games to raise money for our whole-school charity, Kanyike. Welly throwing, Sponge the Teacher and
Hair Braiding were all very popular. Over the summer a group of girls and staff visited the Kanyike Project in Uganda to
experience life in this sustainable project, and see the difference that the money we raise makes to these communities.
Katharine Purchon, Charity Co-ordinator
P.S.H.E
We were privileged to welcome back the team from Green
Dragon Enterprise to work with our Year 7 and 8. Students
were challenged to invent or innovate an ethical product.
Exploring concepts such as the carbon footprint, climate
change and the product lifecycle, students worked in teams
to agree on a strategy and product.
Students were also introduced to the United Nation’s
Sustainable Development Goals initiative, a global pathway
to achieving inclusive growth by 2030.
To challenge each student’s ability to think critically,
they explored the concepts of poverty stereotypes and
cause marketing.
The photographs highlight some of the fantastic
presentation work produced throughout the day, which
accompanied spoken ‘pitches’ by each team in the final.
28
INDIA TRIP 2016India was an amazing and eye-opening trip this autumn, as
I’m sure all the girls who went with me would agree.
As soon as I heard it was available to me next year, I was
filled with excitement, and as I sent in my letter of request, I
couldn’t wait for Year 9 to come.
I have always wanted to visit India: the country appealed to
me, and I felt this was a great opportunity to explore this
vast culture, from smells to spices, colours and care-free
cows to stunning saris, spectacular festival shows and
splendid Bollywood movies.
It wasn’t just India itself that I yearned to experience, but
the girls from Unison World School that I had befriended
when they came in September, just the month before.
I was excited to experience their education, and to come
to their lessons.
However, a part of me was worried that I would miss my
family. I had never been away from home for such a long
time, let alone staying away halfway across the globe!
In hindsight, I need not to have worried, as I would be so
caught up in the adventure I wouldn’t worry whatsoever.
Iin fact, at the end of each fun-packed day, I would be so
tired that as soon as my head touched the pillow, I would
be fast asleep.
I remember someone telling me, ‘bring a notebook, and
write a daily diary, as you will be doing so much you may
forget the little things’, and she was right. I was doing so
much over those two weeks that I could barely remember
what I had had for dinner! Keeping my diary up-to-date was
fun, as I could reminisce about what I had done that day
and, in the future, I would read back what I had done and it
will bring back such good memories.
So, it has been a month and a bit since I left the airport to
embark on the unforgettable journey to India. I must say, it
will be one I will never forget.
Thank you to Mrs Goulding and Mrs Foster for making this
a memory of a lifetime.
By Frances Clark, Student, Year 9
I have always wanted to visit India: the country appealed to me, and I felt this was a great opportunity to explore this vast culture
Yoga by the Ganges
Amy ringing the temple bell
A sari stall on the road to Rishikesh
29
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAYInternational Women’s Day was on 8th of March.
St. Francis’ celebrated this day by asking the girls to dress
like a woman who inspires them. This event was ushered
in by an evening event the day before. It was truly a
spectacular night full of laughter and occasionally moments
of reflection. There was no way any woman or man left the
event without feeling stronger and more confident.
The Chamber Choir opened up the event, which took
place in the Theatre with a beautiful song. As soon as
they finished, Mrs Hayes introduced the speakers. The
first speaker was Brita Fernandez-Schmidt, the Executive
Director of Women for Women International. Her
fifteen-minute talk highlighted the importance of addressing
social injustices that women in the world encounter on
a daily basis. Thereafter, she played a video produced by
Women for Women centred on the struggles women in
war-torn areas face. She highlighted the importance of
lending our voice to create a change of inspiration even if it
is through the hashtag She inspires me, which was created
to celebrate the achievements of women. Her anecdotal
references to the trials and triumphs she faced in her career
were incredibly inspirational, leaving us to think about the
alarming fact she mentioned that ‘in modern times, it is
more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier’.
The next speaker, Wendy Smith, a Paralympian basketball
player who represented Great Britain in the women’s
wheelchair basketball team in Athens in 2004 spoke about
the barriers she faced in her childhood. ’I wanted to be
a car mechanic’ she explained but her teachers couldn’t
understand why a girl like her would aspire to do a male-
dominated job. Wendy did not let their doubts stop her
and worked in a garage for a short time till she was involved
in a terrible motorbike accident at aged 17 and told that she
would never walk again after suffering a severe spinal injury.
While in the hospital, Wendy’s sister would spend time
with her often fiddling her toes. She was determined to
spend hours in the gym, which she did and soon changed
her mindset saying, ‘my thought process repaired my spinal
cord’. Her final remarks that ‘our beliefs and behaviours
are interlinked’ was illustrated with the dilemma of
getting off the bed in the morning. She explained that if
we told our minds to get off the bed, we would get off
and be productive.
The audience was clearly captivated by the powerful
messages they had heard. You could tell by the smiles on
their faces and their alertness and attentiveness to every
single word the inspiring speakers uttered. Emily Jupp, the
owner of Milly J shoes walked to the stage in her strikingly
unconventional shoes and began her speech. ‘We all have
our stories to tell’ she said, and she told hers through
her articulate voice narrating her childhood from Jamaica
to Bangladesh and finally acting in top drama schools in
England. She still had an affinity for curiosity, striving to
find positive ways to contribute to the world. In growing,
Emily Jupp spoke about how personal growth can manifest
itself in circumstances, which proved to be true when she
lost her brother. A shoe designed in honour of him made
her realize this as she narrated that ‘our most powerful
moments come from pain’. Almost immediately after she
received an applause, Emily Jupp gave a powerful opera
performance that left many awe-struck.
By eight o’ clock, guests were eating and drinking. The three
speakers met with a number of people who found their
stories and them inspiring. Photos were taken, canapés
were munched and women inspired other women - a
definite chain reaction.
Lanaire Aderemi
My Inspiration
Frances Clark, 9SOM
We all have people we look up to. I have quite a few
idols, however I have spent quite a while trying to think
of someone who I really look up to, and I can’t think of
a single person.
I think that’s my problem. I can’t think of a single person,
but I can think of dozens of empowering and influential
women who altogether become what I look up to.
Firstly, there is my mother. That’s a no-brainer, she has
done so much for me, given up so much for me, and
helped me so much that no gift I bought her could ever
compare to what she’s given me, (however I’m sure
she’d agree that a Jaguar would come pretty close, she’s
always wanted to drive one).
Then, there’s my Grandma, also a no-brainer. I’m pretty
close to my grandma, and I love to hear the stories of her
childhood and her travels, because she has been all over
the world, and seen some absolutely marvellous things.
Some day, I want to travel the world, and marvel in the
midst of the Earth, just like she did.
Then there are the powerful women of the celebrity
world. Michelle Obama is someone I am particularly
fond of. She always tries to help where she can, and use
her power for good purposes. She’s a lawyer, which is
a profession I have come to love, and she is a strong yet
humorous woman.
Another woman who I look up to is Amelia Earhart. She
was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic solo, and
also became the first female pilot. I have always looked
up to Amelia Earhart, because she was independent, and
achieved the greatest records and awards for her bravery.
A lesser-known woman, Laura Dekker, who is Dutch, is
also an inspiration to me. She sailed around the world
solo when she was just 14 in 2012, and finished when
she was 16, in 2014. You might remember this in the
news, as she brought a camera with her to film the whole
journey. She wanted to start when she was 12, however
the Dutch government stopped her from doing so. She
never gave up and, two years later, set off on the journey
her parents made twenty years earlier. She is such a
persistent woman, and she never gave up, and that’s why
she’s inspiring to me.
These women are inspiring for me, for different reasons,
and that’s why they are my idols. I look up to them, for
what they have achieved, and they are my inspiration.
30
After waving goodbye to our families we headed to
Heathrow airport in the College mini bus driven by
Mrs Lomax.
There was a sense of real excitement but also anticipation
of the upcoming weeks, as nobody really knew what
to expect. After a long 13-hour flight we arrived at our
stopover in Dubai. Even though it was 2am, none of us
could resist a trip to the airport’s McDonalds. Many
card games later we were ready to board our flight to
Entebbe Airport.
We were greeted at the airport by Aidah and Dan, two
members of staff and piled into two vehicles in the hot
Ugandan heat on the way to the Kanyike Project. The
Kanyike Project consists of eight villages working together
to improve the communities’ quality of life and maintain the
on-going developments. The project uses the money that
we raise in order to make this happen and during our time
there, we were able to see the various schemes that have
benefitted. When we drove into the Kanyike project you
could see the excitement on the children’s faces as they
all chased the vehicles down the dirt tracks. We all found
this very surreal and got a glimpse of what it must feel to
be a celebrity.
We were shown to our rooms: although simple with
just two beds in each room we were very grateful that
we would be sleeping in proper beds with mattresses.
The food we were given to eat was simple but delicious.
During the two weeks of our stay in Uganda a lot of rice
was consumed. We ate lots of fresh fruit and vegetables,
including pineapple, pawpaw, watermelon, green beans
and sweet potatoes. Beans also came part of our daily diet;
I don’t think I have ever eaten so much rice and beans in
my life.
The school was one of our first things we experienced. It
was set up in 1987 with a single teacher and only a handful
of children. Now they have eight members of staff, over
300 pupils and a recently-constructed roof. Seeing the
lack of resources in the classrooms, such as a group of
seven children sharing one textbook, made us realise how
important our fundraising is. The moment we gave them
the stationery and gifts that we collected was unforgettable.
During our time at the school, we taught classes of various
age groups subjects such as Maths, English, Science and
Music. Despite being A-Level students, we struggled
to understand the questions set for 13-year-olds in
their exams.
One afternoon at the school involved an exchange of
singing and dancing, which enabled us to embrace Ugandan
culture as well as share ours with the pupils. We were so
impressed with their talent, but also with the enthusiasm
and dedication of the teachers, who spend countless hours
teaching them various instruments and dances.
Our time at the nursery, although most of it was spent
playing with children, involved trying to translate ‘Duck
Duck Goose’ into words that they understood. We ended
up with ‘Cat Cat Dog’ which quickly became a favourite.
It was magical to see how the children were always smiling
and happy, even though they have basic facilities to live
and learn.
During our stay we were able to visit an HIV outreach
centre and found the experience was heart-breaking at
times but the staff were thoroughly professional and the
clients were resilient and incredible. Miss Major and Miss
Semmens nearly fainted at the sight of a tooth being pulled
out with basic equipment but Elizabeth was strong and
found it incredibly interesting. The rest of us, horrified at
the sight, were assigned to various tasks including handing
out and recording medicines given to clients, filling out
health forms and watching people being tested for HIV
and Malaria. While we were there we learnt that 50% of
the population were under eighteen, however, the life
expectancy is slowly increasing which shows that people are
benefitting from increased medical support.
We were also able to see the great progress that has been
made with the water and agricultural projects but we were
horrified that the children had to walk a mile to get water
for school up a steep hill because their borehole wasn't
working. It made us realise how lucky we are to have clean,
accessible water and we swore never to complain again
about having to walk across school to the dining room.
We saw the sense of community within the project at many
different points during our stay. St. Hilda’s Women’s Club
highlighted this spirit particularly. The women met every
fortnight and learnt a range of craft skills which we had the
opportunity to see. We were also able to buy some of the
products they made, in order to show our support for the
group and enabling them to expand.
Our trip to the Kanyike Project was definitely made
memorable by the warmth and hospitality of everyone in
the villages and particularly the project staff. The children
on site provided us with entertainment in our spare time,
and were even kind enough to give us new nicknames.
Everything we saw during our trip made us realise how
important it is to keep supporting the project. Seeing the
children without shoes and only one change of clothes was
one of the many moments which opened our eyes to how
different our lifestyles are.
We are so grateful to the Kanyike project and everyone
involved for giving us this experience and we
recommend to anyone who has the chance to go to seize
the opportunity.
By Danielle Males
KANYIKE PROJECT
The school was one of our first things
we experienced. It was set up in 1987 with a single teacher and only a
handful of children
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32
SCHOOL TRIPS & INTERNATIONAL TRIPSBorneo
In July 2015 sixteen girls embarked on a globetrotting
adventure across the world to Borneo in Malaysia. The
journey started at Heathrow Airport early Sunday morning
where we all met. We were all very excited but nervous
about the month ahead as we had no idea what was in
store for us. After a thirteen-hour flight and six movies later
we finally landed in Singapore where we got a connection
flight to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo. Our new base for the
month was ‘Borneo Backpackers’ in the centre of the
city. Here we ate at the local market and, for the month,
noodles and rice became our staple diet. The market was a
bustling place with different smells and noises, something I
think I will never forget.
The first phase of our trip was our ‘jungle expedition’. Here
we travelled to Kiulu to stay in the jungle and complete
a jungle trek. We walked up ‘killer hill’ and saw different
plants and animals on the way, even if it was one of the
hardest walks of my life. We stayed in hammocks and had
to carry all our equipment on our backs. We were one of
the only groups throughout the summer to make it up killer
hill. One of the best parts of the jungle week was picking,
carrying and eating a fresh pineapple after a long, hot trek.
The views were breath-taking and our guides were very
kind and encouraging. It was a hard but enjoyable first
week. When we arrived back at our hostel, smelly after not
showering for a week, everybody was buzzing as we were
onto the next phase ‘diving’.
We made a short walk to a five-star hotel where we were
going to train in an Olympic-size swimming pool. The hotel
was amazing and we wished we could stay there for the
duration of the trip. We then made a boat journey across
to a small island where we would be staying and diving.
Here we were going to be completing our level one PADI
diving course. There was one cafe on the island and on the
island lived many exotic animals included monkeys and wild
boar. On our dives we saw a variety of fish and one group
was lucky enough to see a turtle. We then took a boat back
into Kota Kinabalu for the next part of our trip.
The project phase was in Kudat where we were going to
restore a playground, build a playground and restore a
nursery. We stayed in tepee-like huts that could only fit two
people; Amy and I had a third occupant though in the form
of the biggest spider we had ever seen. The project was the
best part as it was great to meet all the children who lived
in the village with whom I played a daily game of football.
We organised a games afternoon for all the children on
the beach and they had great fun. We completed the three
projects excellently with everyone working together as
a team. We built a see-saw and a climbing bridge from
scratch, which the children played with straight away. One
of my favourite parts of the trip was handing over the
nursery to the mothers and children at the end of the build.
The final part of our trip was our ‘relaxation’ period where
we went to Sepilok on a river cruise and visited two
monkey sanctuaries. It was a great end to the trip and it
was fantastic to see the orang-utans in their natural habitat.
Overall the trip was an amazing experience and one I will
never forget. There were highs and lows but I had such
good memories and encourage anybody else to take up the
opportunities that are on offer at St. Francis’.
Danielle Males
Amsterdam
On 16th October at 6am, a sleepy Sixth Form traipsed onto
a coach for a trip that promised to be even more tiring
than the early start, however much more enjoyable! Most
of the first day was spent travelling the 375-mile journey to
Amsterdam via coach and ferry, until finally arriving at our
hostel on the outskirts of the city where we enjoyed our
evening meal.
The next morning, we set off into the centre of the city,
towards our first cultural experience of The Netherlands,
the Rijksmuseum. Here we saw Dutch art alongside pieces
from Asia, and other European Countries, the tall museum
displayed pieces chronologically throughout its height so
that the Sixth Form could climb from the early Middle ages
to Modern Art. For girls with a less passionate approach to
Art than others, the afternoon offered more excitement
as we walked through the beautiful streets intertwined
with canals to the Heineken Museum. Here the history
of the brand’s advertising, economics and science came
together to explain the success of the company and at the
end of the tour a 4D-experience showed us exactly what
it felt like to be hop being made into beer. Finally, we were
offered a small taste of the finished product. Always ready
to experience regional foods we bought waffles on the way
back to the hostel and enjoyed the local speciality of spiced
apple cake.
We passed the next morning at the Anne Frank House
and Museum. This was a moving experience for everyone
and a very interesting museum showing the plight of the
individuals involved in the Holocaust, real people so often
quoted as statistics but each with their own family and
aspirations. Those of us who had visited before agreed that
it was worth seeing twice and even more powerful with
new clips of Anne’s father reading from her diary. From
here we caught the coach to a theme-park and water-park
outside the city before returning to safely see the city at
night from the comfort of a river cruise. Our humorous
tour guide narrated the sights and we celebrated the
birthday of a classmate in the beautifully lit up city.
Leaving the Netherlands, the next morning we had time for
one last activity as we passed through Belgium. We stopped
at the Peace Palace at The Hague, a beautiful building but,
more importantly, a Court of International Justice. In silent
groups we toured the palace and learnt of its importance
both in the past and today as a library, court of arbitration
and court of justice all with the aim of keeping and restoring
peace worldwide.
The Sixth Form returned to the UK with a better
understanding of Dutch culture, the victims of World War II
and International Law, having had a fantastic time exploring
the European city of Amsterdam.
Lauren Aldridge
On Top of the World
After finishing GCSEs, I was looking forward to a well-
deserved, chilled-out summer with friends. Little did I know
that the chill I would experience would be from the Arctic
winds on a tiny RIB ride to 78° North precise. I had been
invited along on an Arctic expedition by my uncle, Richard
Twitchett, a leading researcher at the Natural History
Museum, but it was far from an ordinary family trip.
The first day in Svalbard was busy to say the least; getting
accustomed to the northern-most ‘city’ in the world,
packing bags ready to collect fossil samples, collecting rifles,
picking up a rather scruffy sled dog, Jarle, for polar bear
protection (they don’t look like the well-groomed huskies
on Eight Below in real life), and finally climbing on board a
RIB to take us from Longyearbyen to our uninhabited island
near Isfjorden.
The boat ride instantly took my breath away. As we left
the basic dock, the scene quickly became devoid of signs
of civilisation. There was bright blue sky (it was midnight
Sun), endless snow-capped mountains, and sea dotted with
puffins bobbing up and down. I was amazed by the beauty
of the land, but as the clouds came over and the waves got
rougher I soon realised just how extreme the environment
was. As the waves reached three metres high, and the
skipper had to stop the boat completely for safety, I felt
extremely nauseous. Waves were crashing over the sides of
the boat, soaking my bags containing clothes for the next six
days. My boots were filling with icy water, and the buoyant
body-suit I was issued with by the company was certainly
not as waterproof as they promised. It was freezing cold
and, to top it all, the boat started spinning. I was sick over
the side, but we persevered with our journey onwards.
By this point I was panicking that I had made the wrong
decision to take this opportunity. I was the only girl, the
youngest by over ten years, and only knew my uncle out
of our team. I was incredibly grateful to Jarle, the wolf-dog,
who came and sat on my feet after my sickness (we became
firm friends over the trip). He reminded me that although
the five of us would soon be the only people in one of the
remotest places in the world, I was not alone. Sea-sickness
makes you incredibly tired, and I remember closing my
33
eyes to shut out images of the waves splashing everything
I had to survive.
When the skipper stopped the boat once more, I almost
rolled off the edge just to end the journey! He whispered,
and pointed to the side of the boat. The water had finally
calmed, and a glowing white figure rose silently out of the
sea: a beluga whale. It was one of the most magical things
that I have ever seen, a sign of hope. From then I knew that
I would be okay, and I was so touched to see such a sight:
it was a dream come true. The boat ride was predicted to
take one hour: it took three. But I was so, so glad it did
Grace Twitchett
Classics Trip to Greece 2016
St. Francis’ College was just beginning to wake up as
our coach pulled away from the gates at 7:30 on a cold
Wednesday morning in March. The excitement (and
sleepiness) was clear on all our faces as we arrived at
Heathrow, but we soon woke up as we froze on the short
walk into the terminal as we had come dressed for Greece
and had underestimated how cold it would be this early
in the morning. After we had checked in our suitcases and
gone through security, it was time for everyone’s favourite
part of the airport - shopping! We had about an hour to
kill before our flight, so we traipsed longingly around shops
like Chanel and Gucci, pretending we were rich enough
to purchase anything before we were called back to board
the plane. The flight wasn’t too long, about three-and-a-half
hours, and the food was actually really nice. We settled in
to watch the new Star Wars, and before we knew it we
were touching down in a dark and murky Athens. This was
followed by a three-hour coach journey down to Tolon,
where we had dinner and fell asleep, leaving the exploring
for the next day.
The next morning we woke to the sun glittering on the
Aegean Sea, and a couple of miles of sandy beaches. It was
like waking up in a postcard. After breakfast and lots of
picture taking, we set off for Epidavros, a place that housed
the Theatre of Epidavros and a museum about more
ruins that had been discovered there. There was a myth
surrounding the theatre: apparently, the acoustics were so
good that someone could stand at the bottom corner of
the amphitheatre and whisper, and supposedly someone
standing at the very top could hear what they were saying,
and vice versa. Needless to say it’s not a myth, which was
very impressive. The fact that they made the architecture
so well that it could amplify sound like that without
machines was amazing. After visiting the museum, we set
off for Mycenae, an old fortress on top of a mountain. The
ancient ruins really provided an insight into what it would
be like to live in Ancient Greek times, but I think that most
people were focusing on the crazy 360˚ views of the Greek
countryside. We could see for miles over the mountains
and the hills, all the way down to the sea. We wandered
around for what felt like hours, basking in the sun and
letting out our inner David Baileys. A couple of us ventured
down into a pitch black, slippery cave which played home
to more than a few wasps, but we soon hit a dead end.
After our exploration, we drove into Nafplion to have
lunch, and we walked around the quaint town afterwards,
and then returned to the hotel where we spent the rest of
the day on the beach, messing around in the sea. That night
we fell asleep pretty quickly after the day’s adventures.
On the Friday we packed up and waved goodbye to Tolon.
We departed for Nafplion to watch an Independence Day
parade. Unfortunately, it was called off due to the rain that
had followed us from England, so we drove to Olympia
instead, which took about three hours. We made a couple
of stops along the way to have lunch at a tavern which did
amazing spaghetti bolognaise, and to buy snacks for the
journey. When we arrived in Olympia we left our things
at the hotel and went for a walk through the picturesque
town. The Sun was beginning to set and there wasn’t a
cloud in the sky. It was lovely and warm, the trees were
covered in pink blossom and it was gorgeous. We walked
down to the original Olympic stadium but we didn’t go in,
and at that point we didn’t think that we would be allowed
in so we took lots of pictures. We came back into the town
and walked around, eating ice cream late into the evening
and admiring the stalls and shops. We returned to the hotel
for dinner and fell asleep that night, again exhausted.
The next day dawned boiling hot and sunny, and we set off
to explore the ancient sites of Olympia. There were lots of
ruins, including the old gymnasium that was built with the
Olympic Stadium and many other temples and buildings.
We spent a couple of hours there, enjoying the sun and
taking photos of the ruins, and then we went into the actual
stadium, which was awesome. A few friends and I ran a race
and I didn’t lose! I didn’t win either but at least I’m able to
say that I have run a race in the original Olympic stadium.
After we left the ruins, we had lunch in the same tavern that
we had visited the previous day and then started a six-hour
coach trip to Delphi. We kept ourselves entertained by
playing rummy, among other things, and we stopped a
couple of times, once in a shop/café to buy snacks, and the
other was an Olive shop were we tasted different olive oils
and bread and brought some traditional Greek oils and
vinaigrettes. We then continued on to Delphi, most of us
getting in a couple of hours of sleep. When we arrived, we
were stunned by the views that our mountain-top location
gave us, then we checked in to the hotel, watched a
procession of mountain goats walk along the mountain side,
then went to walk around the town. It soon became dark,
so we went to a restaurant where we had dinner and then
we walked back to the hotel to sleep.
On Sunday after breakfast we went to see the ruins of
Ancient Delphi and visit the place where it is said that the
Oracle of Delphi lived. The ruins were sprawled across
the mountainside, and the views were amazing. There
was also a museum about Delphi which was full of statues
and was really interesting. After we had spent a couple of
hours looking around, we got on the coach for a four-
hour journey back to Athens where we had started our
trip. When we arrived we went to the Acropolis Museum
which is an enormous building near the Parthenon where
we learned about the Acropolis and Athens and its history.
After that we went to the hotel where we had dinner,
and some of us went out into Athens, while some stayed
behind to sleep.
Our last day in Greece dawned bright and sunny. After
breakfast we stored our luggage and then went to visit the
Theatre of Dionysus and the Acropolis. The ruins were
fantastic and so were the views. Greece is definitely one
of the most picturesque countries I have ever visited. We
walked around Athens and we came to another smaller
museum which displayed artefacts found in and around
the Acropolis. We had lunch in a traditional Greek and
Mediterranean restaurant and it was delicious, definitely the
best meal of the trip. After that we went in search of some
ice cream, and after having eventually found some, we
returned to the hotel to get on the coach which would
take us to the airport. We said goodbye to Dimitri, our
friendly bus driver, and sadly checked into the airport to go
back home. Our flight was slightly delayed, but we made
it back with our fond memories of Greece that we will
treasure forever.
Isabel Frohlich
34
I have to write all-year-round and need to be writing all the time, so that I have something to think about, when I wake up in the middle of the night or when I am doing a boring domestic task, like shopping or the washing
Interviewwith JacquelineWilson
35
Jacqueline Wilson’s visit to St. Francis’ College
On Sunday 15th May, St. Francis’ College was thrilled to
welcome Dame Jacqueline Wilson, children’s author, to give
a talk about her new book, Rent a Bridesmaid. Her visit was
organised in conjunction with David’s Bookshop.
Jacqueline Wilson addressed an audience of over three
hundred girls and parents in the school’s Theatre and
she captivated the audience for over an hour with an
entertaining talk about what inspired her to write,
accompanied by amusing anecdotes from the journey that
has led her from schoolgirl, to journalist, to famous author
and to have 104 published books to date!
The pupils were really inspired by what she had to say.
“She has encouraged me to try and keep on trying and if
I want to write, I have to keep practising” commented one
Year 7 girl. Another said “I liked how she talked about her
own childhood. I could really relate to what she had to say.”
Interview with Jacqueline Wilson
Our intrepid reporters, Danielle Males and Hollie
Scanlon, were very excited when we discovered that
Jacqueline Wilson had agreed to an interview.
Danielle: ‘You loved reading as a child; what were your
favourite books?’
Jacqueline: ‘I loved family stories. My favourite was Ballet
Shoes by Noel Streatfield.’
Danielle: ‘I love that book too.’
Jacqueline: ‘I used to pretend that I was at Stage School
too and that I could do ballet. I adored that book; I read it
many times.’
Hollie: ‘Who is your favourite author today?’
Jacqueline: ‘Two of my favourite writers are Anne Tyler, an
American author and Kate Atkinson, a British author. Kate
Atkinson wrote some detective-style books with a very
attractive character in them called Jackson Brodie. I called
my terrier Jackson. My twentieth century classic would be
‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath.’
Danielle: ‘How would you encourage children to read,
rather than play on their iPads?’
Jacqueline: ‘I think if you take a child and sit them on your
lap and show them this is a fun thing, a sharing thing and let
them turn the pages rather than swiping; hopefully that will
turn a child on to reading.’
Hollie: ‘How does it feel to have inspired so many with
your writing?’
Jacqueline: ‘Quite extraordinary, for years I didn’t realise
it was happening. I find it quite touching now when girls
your age or women in their twenties, come up to me and
say, ‘You were part of my childhood.’ It makes me feel very
proud and very pleased.’
Danielle: ‘My 26-year-old sister is a teacher now and reads
your books to her class.’
Hollie: ‘My sister came back from University to be
here today.’
Jacqueline: ‘That’s lovely to hear, girls.’
Danielle: ‘Some of your books have been turned into
TV programmes, such as Tracy Beaker; was she how you
imagined her?’
Jacqueline: ‘When I first went on the set for Tracy Beaker, I
said don’t tell me who she is, I want to guess. As soon as I
walked in I saw this really loud kid shouting with wild frizzy
hair and I knew it was her. Danny Harman was perfect
for the role! I think I have been very lucky with every TV
adaptation.’
Hollie: ‘Have any of your own experiences influenced
your writing?’
Jacqueline: ‘None of the experiences I have written about
directly happened to me, but I didn’t have the most
conventionally happy childhood. I think that leaks over
into some of my books. When you read about different
children’s writer’s childhoods, they have often had
unconventional childhoods.’
Danielle: ‘When you write, do you have lots of projects
on at the same time or do you just concentrate on one at
a time?’
Jacqueline: ‘I usually focus on one book at a time but at the
moment I am promoting my new book ‘Rent a Bridesmaid’
and have finished a new Victorian book called ‘Cloven
Moon’; I have just sent that to my Editor. I am also one
chapter into a new book on evacuees. I am not writing
them all together but I have to bear them in mind. The
older you get the harder it is to remember all the stories.
Hollie: ‘How did you find your illustrator, Nick Sharratt?’
Jacqueline: ‘I didn’t get partnered with Nick until I was
working on Tracy Beaker. I went to see my Editor and said
that I wanted lots of illustrations in the book and I asked my
Editor if he knew anyone. He said, ‘I’ve just the person for
you.’ Nick had published several books of poetry with his
illustrations and when I saw them I thought, yes!
We arranged to meet, which is quite unusual as an author
usually doesn’t meet their illustrator, but we did, and got
on, like a house on fire. Twenty-five years later, we’re still
great friends.’
Danielle: ‘Do you think you might write sequels to some of
your older books like Cookie or Candyfloss?’
Jacqueline: ‘It’s a bit difficult because you don’t know
whether to bring the characters up-to-date or to keep them
in the past. For the Jacqueline Wilson Magazine, I wrote
a story about a grown-up Tracy Beaker who has her own
child, so perhaps there could be a story about Tracy as a
young mum. I really don’t know; I don’t like to say never as
I may get a new idea.’
Danielle: ‘Do you prefer to write at a certain time of year,
like in the summer for example?’
Jacqueline: ‘I have to write all-year-round and need to be
writing all the time, so that I have something to think about,
when I wake up in the middle of the night or when I am
doing a boring domestic task, like shopping or the washing.’
The Holi Festival
The Holi Event, created by the International Revolution
Team as one of their Tenner Challenge projects, was
highly anticipated. Several announcements in assemblies,
colourful posters on the College’s walls and interactive
presentations later, the festival took place on the St. Francis'
College field on 22nd March. Students had purchased their
tickets previously or on that day and were subsequently
given a talk by a few members of the team on the “Dos
and Don’ts” for the hour-long activity. The empty field was
already full of excitement: a range of sweets, biscuits and
drinks lay on the table as though they, too, were fervently
hoping the colourful festival would officially open.
In minutes, the students rushed out of the door and in that
similar fashion ate and drank. Like Suzanne Collins’ famous
book-turned-movie franchise, the students were equipped
with tools: colourful sachets and buckets of water spread
round the field. A variety of cadences were harmonically
punctuated with simple lines sung by Indian men and
women in similar rhythms. In no time, the coloured dye
had made its way to every single girl’s white t-shirt. If one
could rewind time, perhaps a few seconds before rainbow
colours beautifully found their way to rosy cheeks and
plaited braids; a snapshot of time in slow-motion would
open one’s eyes to see the elegance and joy of the slightly
theatrical movements of the students who either avoided
colour gracefully or choreographed their movements in
such a manner that displayed a love for the dye and its
music. The once-green lush field was now full of primary
and secondary colours. Littering the field with both
popcorn and enthusiasm were the girls with laughter so
hard, moments of genuine smiles had to be captured on
phones and cameras which, of course, were interrupted
by occasional squirts of water from guns and a vivacious
combination of coloured dye caught in one’s eye; a moment
accompanied with an instantaneous response of laughter.
The buzz generated for weeks was worth it an hour after
the festival commenced. It was clearly fun and enjoyable for
all who attended, whether it was the teachers who
watched and supervised the event or those who took
part in its festivity. More importantly, the International
Revolution Team made a substantial amount of money for
the Malala Fund Charity.
SCHOOL EVENTS
36
GCSE Exam Success…
The girls at St. Francis’ College are celebrating this morning
having received excellent GCSE results. 100% of girls
achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including
Maths and English. Of those results 27% are A* and 61%
A*-A. 40% of girls achieved eight or more A*/A's. A
delighted Zoe Rubins achieved an amazing 13 A*s.
The Art and Music Departments are celebrating 100%
A*/A grades achieved with a number of subjects receiving
all grade B or above. Overall 85% of grades were A*-B: a
fantastic achievement.
Mrs Goulding, Headmistress, has said "I am very proud of
our girls' achievements. It is good to see some personal
triumphs as well as the usual sweep of outstanding
performances. The teaching and pastoral staff at St. Francis'
work very hard with the girls to ensure they fulfil their
potential and these results are a credit to all involved. I am
delighted for them.”
Amazing A Level results - again…
St. Francis’ College has yet again received a set of
outstanding A Level results with 84% of grades being A*-B,
with 48% of these being A/A*. These results are testimony
to the hard work and dedication of staff and students which
breeds excellence here at St. Francis’.
It is known that girls excel in STEM subjects at all girls’
schools and this is certainly demonstrated in the Chemistry
and Biology results where all students received A*. A
fantastic achievement. There was also a 100% grade A*/A
pass rate in German.
Luwaiza Mirza achieved an amazing 3 A*s and has fulfilled
her dream of studying Medicine. She goes to Kings College,
London in September. An excited Luwaiza said “I’m really
thrilled with my results and I cannot thank my teachers and
my year group enough for supporting me throughout my
time at St. Francis’ College.”
83% of the girls have confirmed places at their first-choice
universities. Angelica Wolanska goes to Oxford to read
Languages and she says “The teachers have been a massive
part of getting the results – all the extra work that they put
in to support me was amazing.”
Mrs Goulding, Headmistress, says: “At a time when
the nation is celebrating the successes of Team GB, it is
wonderful to see our young people also achieving so much
success in the academic arena. I am very proud of the girls
and the staff who have supported them in achieving these
‘medal-worthy’ performances.”
EXAM RESULTS
37
YEAR 13 LEAVERS
38
Guinea Pig in a Pencil Case!
Some of you may have read the series of books
called Animal Ark by Lucy Daniels when you were
growing up. In our house Koala in a Crisis was a
particular favourite, and I remember listening to
it many times on audio tape on long car journeys!
What you may ask has all this got to do with a
feature on St. Francis’ College Old
Girls Association? Read on and I hope all will
become clear.
On 26th June SFOGA hosted an afternoon tea for
over one hundred former students and their families
and friends. Some people had only left a few years
ago, but for some former students it was the first
time they had ever been back to the College
since leaving many years ago. The undoubted
highlight of the afternoon were the tours of the
school undertaken by Year 10 and some Sixth Form
students. Many stories and memories were
shared – here a few which we hope you will enjoy.
For some students who were at St. Francis’ College
before 1983 the Sisters had a big influence on their
lives. The Sisters occupied the right hand side of
the building and pupils were not allowed into the
corridor beyond Mrs Foster’s room or through the
door by Miss Wallace’s room. The Sisters were
strict and insisted that plates were clear in the
Dining Room before girls could have a glass of
water. Girls had to walk on the left hand side of the
corridors and curtsey if they saw a Sister.
Many remembered the bottle green uniform, and
the Preps wearing custard-coloured socks up to
their knees.
We were all amazed by how clearly former students
remembered specific classrooms. Many rooms
have changed their function over the years: MIT
used to be an Art Room, while the existing Art room
was a common room to some students and a dining
room for day girls. Mrs Glanville’s Biology lab was
a Chapel, and Science was taught in the RE room.
Sewing used to be taught in the Music room. The
Chapel had no chairs, only benches where you
would lift up the seats to kneel for prayer. Boarders
had a service in the Chapel every Sunday and
sometimes at six in the mornings. Some people
remembered the Maths classrooms being boarding
dormitories, while others remembered climbing
out of the Maths rooms onto the balcony above the
main door.
Life for the boarders was very different to what it
is today. The layout of rooms has changed a lot,
and everyone had to be in bed and quiet after
10pm. Ballroom dancing took place in the JCR for
girls at weekends, and on Sunday night there was
cocoa and movies in the JCR. One current boarder
commented that it sounded more fun as nowadays
everyone is on their phones all the time! Boarders
were encouraged to have pets in the 1970s and 80s,
and they were kept in the garden outside the Food
Tech room. It was affectionately known as pets’
corner. Some pupils remember someone passing
a guinea pig into a classroom during a lesson. The
guinea pig was hidden in a pencil case and passed
around the whole class without the teacher realising.
Every time it squealed the girls coughed loudly to
hide the noise. I am happy to say it returned to its
hutch and was none the worse for its adventure!
Other former students told a story of how some
girls climbed into the rafters above the Theatre
and dropped bits of paper down on the school
during an assembly.
We are delighted to report that SFOGA is going
from strength to strength. We now have over 1400
members and have recently launched a new website
for the Association which can be found on the
Alumni heading of the College website. As well as
information about the work of SFOGA, there is also
an interesting section on the history of St. Francis’
College with photos from the archives. Next year
we are hoping to launch a SFOGA group in Hong
Kong and develop a mentoring service whereby we
can use the knowledge and expertise of our former
pupils to help existing Sixth Formers with their
career or university choices.
For more information on the work of St. Francis’
College Old Girls Association please contact
Mrs Purchon.
ST. FRANCIS’ COLLEGE OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION
10 PHOTOS FROM THE ARCHIVESome of you probably know that, as well as being the Librarian, Mrs Purchon is also the custodian of the College archive.
Over the last decade she has begun the task of sorting the old photographs and beginning to piece together the history of
St. Francis’ College. Here she has selected ten photographs from each decade of our College’s history. If you are interested
in finding out more about the history of St. Francis’ College do have a look at the SFOGA website where there is information
and photo galleries. http://www.stfranciscollege.web-intouch.com/
01. Lessons on the Loggia
The loggia classrooms are the oldest part of our school and
were built when St. Christopher were based here from
1919 until 1924. Outdoor lessons were a regular part of the
curriculum for students in those days.
02. New Broadway Building
St. Francis’ College opened in 1933. The College was hugely
successful and by 1937 it became clear that a new building
was needed. Work on the Broadway Building began in
1938. Work was completed by September 1939 just as the
Second World War began.
03. Mikado 1945
The College put on some magnificent drama productions
produced by Sister Loyola. Gilbert and Sullivan was a
particular favourite – just look at the lavish costumes in this
photograph. No sign of make do and mend here!
07. New school uniform 1986
In 1986 a new school uniform was introduced to replace
the brown blazers which had been uniform since the 1960s.
05. Chapel Extension in 1962
By 1962 there were so many pupils in the College that they
had to extend the Chapel and the Dining Room below.
The JCR and Chapel Annexe were built at the same time.
09. 75th Anniversary 2008
In September 2008 the College celebrated its 75th
anniversary with a 1930s day. Girls dressed up in clothes
from the nine decades of the College’s history, had
1930-style lessons and watched the 1933 film King Kong.
04. Boarders’ Study Room in the 1950s
Any idea which room this is now? The Boarding House
shared the Broadway building with the Sisters.
These studious-looking girls are probably doing their
homework in their study room which became a Senior
School Library in 1960.
08. Recycled Fashion Show 1996
The first Recycled Fashion Show was organised by the
Sixth Form in 1996. Twenty years later the event is still
raising money for the Kanyike Trust.
06. Opening of the swimming pool in 1972
After years of fundraising the College finally opened its
swimming pool in 1972. The girls are doing synchronised
swimming with tiaras at the official opening!
10. Kanyike Project
The Kanyike Project has been our whole-school
international project for over 20 years. Over the last six
years, groups of Sixth Form pupils have visited the project
in Uganda to help with the wonderful work being done in
this self-sustainable community.
39
COR UNUM ANIMA UNA
ONE HEART ONE SOUL
St. Francis’ College
Broadway
Letchworth Garden City
Hertfordshire
SG6 3PJ
01462 670511
www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk