I can’t believe we have come to the end of another weekend in school.  It has really focussed the mind writing a report of what has been going on as then it is easy to appreciate all that our girls do during the term.   This was an exhausting weekend and I am sure that all will enjoy the chance to rest in the coming weeks.

The Christmas concert on Friday night was a joyous occasion and it was lovely to see so many parents there.  On Saturday morning, a real military operation took place as 5 coach loads of girls went to Bath and 1 to Poole for our annual Christmas shopping trip.  Accompanied by over 25 Staff, over 250 girls set off for bargains to buy for their Secret Santa presents, their sweets for St Nick’s and the odd new pair of shoes!  Everyone enjoyed the day and returned safely to school in time for supper with the Indoor Hockey team attending Mass in Shaftesbury in the evening on the way home.

That evening, Upper IV and Upper V (from Givendale and Mulwith) were honoured to attend College House in Winchester School’s formal dinner and Christmas party.  According to all the girls and the staff who went, (Mr James, Mrs Salmon and Mrs Andow) the boys were absolutely charming, served the food, cleared the tables and wouldn’t let any of them help.  Although it was a late night (return to school at 11.40pm) it was well worth it, as they all had so much fun.  The Upper VI were entertained at a Christmas party at “the Stick” in Sherborne Boys’ School during the same evening and renewed old acquaintances before the beginning of the Christmas holidays.

Sunday saw an early start for the Under 18 Indoor Hockey team who set off with Miss Walker and Mrs Webb to go to Cheltenham for the West of England Championships.  There was very fierce opposition and the team lost to both Blundells and Millfield (who had a full Indoor International playing for them!) but beat Wycliffe school 1 – 0.  It was a long but rewarding day as the team had to battle hard in all matches.  We have some new equipment (see photos) and are grateful to Sophie and Alice for modelling it!  Leaving school at the same time was Laura who went to represent Dorset at Under 17 level in a practice match against Somerset.  She played really well and was pleased to be part of a team that won 5 – 0.  Clare, Rosie and Sophie represented Dorset at Under 14 level, also in a practice match at Millfield school.

In the afternoon, the younger girls in school were taught how to wrap a present properly and then the Upper IV made table decorations for the Christmas dinner tables.  Christmas parties followed in each of the houses (see separate photos) and the evening was a flurry of girls running around the school for our annual St Nick’s celebration, where girls leave a shoe outside their bedroom and their friends can leave them some sweets or a little present anonymously.  And then it was time to begin the next week ....

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