On Friday night it was the final selection evening for the Under 17 County Hockey Squad and we are delighted that Florrie, Emily and Clare were selected to play in the West Tournament next weekend at Bristol and we wish them luck for that. We also had the very beautiful night prayers to end the day of Lenten Vigil with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Saturday was a very busy day for some girls as they played two sports fixtures – both hockey and netball - with mixed results. It was also one of those glorious spring days with a touch of warmth in the air and a sense of the forthcoming spring which always brightens up our days in England! GCSE Art girls were putting final thoughts to their ideas for the coming week whilst a group were planning the evening’s entertainment for parents and friends of the school in the form of a Curry Quiz Night. There are 16 girls going to India on a World Challenge Expedition in the summer of 2011 who need to raise money for their venture. The kitchen staff cooked a splendid curry and Mrs Reddyhoff, Mrs Rushton and Mrs Webb put their minds to work in selecting questions to test the most intellectual of guests! The evening was a great success with the Taj Mahal team, consisting of highly intellectual members, coming first past the post. It was a really good social evening (over 90 people attended) with some money raised towards the expedition as well. In the meantime, the Upper IV set out to try to brainstorm their fund raising ideas for next weekend in school; they are hoping to do a series of sporting events to raise money to support some sporting ideas in a needy school abroad.
On Sunday, Mass was particularly special with Gi Young and Ella making their First Holy Communion in the Chapel. Both girls were accompanied by a member of their family, who had travelled from abroad to be with them, as well as the family of St Mary’s and it was a beautiful Mass.
In the afternoon, the Jarrow set continued their preparations for their production next week, whilst the Lower IV did Tie Dying with Mrs Thomas whom we were glad to welcome back after retirement last year! Upper IV walked into Shaftesbury and had a session on the climbing wall with an instructor who really put them to the test! Some Upper V and Lower VI were doing the final 7 hours preparation for their NPLQ (which takes place next Wednesday – good luck to all 8 of you!) The final group of girls to be active were the Lower V who had their walk around the coast at Lulworth to try out their new walking boots, carry their heavy rucksacks and generally feel what it is like to do D of E. One girl said it was the best afternoon she has had this year so it must have been good! Extra freckles were noticed on the noses of several girls (and some staff) and the Australian Gappie commented on what beauty there was to behold in Dorset! Even after a walk and a busy afternoon, we had the strength and energy to listen to Mrs Reddyhoff telling us about her rise to fame in the OK dinghy world before ending the weekend exhausted but happy!
Finally, one of our Upper IV girls was representing Dorset in the West County tournament at Bristol for Under 14 girls. Tink played really well throughout the tournament and the Dorset team were undefeated, conceded no goals and were eventual winners of the West of England County Hockey finals. A proud moment for us as we congratulate Tink on her success so far!
Next weekend, we have another County hockey tournament, the Junior Production, a visit to Salisbury, as well as our sporting challenge for Upper IV.
D Webb
