Magazine 2012 EDITORIAL This past year has been no exception to the busyness and talent filled years of St Helens. When starting out with the challenge of creating this magazine, we wanted to capture the enthusiasm, vibrancy and passion of this year, including also our support for the “Because I am a girl” campaign, so focusing particularly on the “power” of the girl. Our vision for this year’s magazine was to incorporate every aspect of school life and combine these strands in a way that would reflect the character of the school, and the girls and staff that make it. We felt very strongly that every girl, who wished to be, should be included, in order that this would be a personal reflection, for everyone, of 2012. So we have included whole year pages, in order that all girls are featured and also have a say in how their year is represented. We have had not only the editorial team, but representatives from every form, designing the layouts and forming the content of these pages, so that there would be a genuine student feel to the magazine. We are conscious, also, of retaining the balance between reflecting the present moment in time and styles of today, yet also moulding something that will withstand the test of time. Despite work being temporarily lost, the school network shutting down, creating a larger more complex magazine in a much shorter time period, the team has risen to these challenges in true St Helens spirit. But none of this would have been possible without the smiles, support and guidance of Mr Drew - we thank you for everything you have helped and encouraged us to achieve. And of course to Chris Busby, whose invaluable patience and technical expertise has never failed and has always been at hand. Being part of this wonderful team has been a challenging and great experience, and we hope that the time, effort and care that has undoubtedly been worked into every page, is evident as your read through this past year. Meg Buckingham The School of St Helen and St Katharine Trust Faringdon Road Abingdon Oxon OX14 1BE Tel: 01235 520173 Fax: 01235 532934 www.shsk.org.uk Registered charity no. 286892. Company registered in England no. 1710695 and limited by guarantee. Registered office as above. Photos from school image library A special thank you to Chris Busby for IT Support Printed on recycled paper by Leach’s the Printers, Abingdon 01235 520444 contents Miss Edbrooke 2 Year 7 Photo Competition 36 Art: Trips 78 Prefects 3 Year 8 38 Art: GCSE 80 Chapel 4 Drama 40 Year 11 82 Charities 5 Year 9 50 Sport 91 St Kate’s Day 6 Year 9 Photo Competition 52 History of Art 92 Library 8 French 54 Design and Technology 94 Music 10 Spanish 55 Food Studies 96 English 14 German 56 Art: AS Level 98 Juniors 20 Italian 57 Year 12 100 Year 6 22 Religious Studies 60 Work Experience 102 Year 5 24 Science and Maths 61 Archives 104 Duke of Edinburgh 25 Classics 69 New Staff 106 Geography 28 Debating 72 Leaving Staff 108 Art: Lower/Middle School 30 Psychology 73 Art: A2 110 Year 7 32 History 74 Year 13 Leavers 112 Kilve Court 34 Year 10 76 Destinations of Leavers 114 Headmistress Schools now have such a variety of ways to present the life and activities of the school to their various audiences that much of the day to day life of the school is recorded in newsletters, prospectuses, films and on the web site, so that the place of the traditional school magazine, a glossy summary of the previous academic year, has been under threat. The answer to the question of whether the magazine still has a place has been a resounding ‘yes’ at St Helen’s and I am delighted to introduce this year’s, which is a product of wide consultation by the Editorial Team plus their own vision for the style and content of a publication which represents all pupils and records the work and activities in their year. The year 2011-12 was certainly one full of creativity which was expressed in so many different ways. Through drama and music, with the outstanding produc- tions of Cabaret and our first opera, Dido and Aeneas; through debating and pub- lic speaking which has grown so positively; through art and ceramics, with the wonderful Summer Art Exhibition; and through movement, with our first Dance and Choreography Competition. Creativity was at the heart of the entrepreneurial activities of Young Enterprise and in all the girls’ stalls at the Christmas Fair; it was evident in the photographic response of Year 9 to their visit to the World War 1 bat- tlefields and in the imaginative Olympic competitions initiated by the PE Depart- ment which were such an excellent addition to the sporting year. It has been a superb year of growth and development both for individuals and for the school and I am sure you will enjoy a sample of the life and spirit of the school in the pages which follow. 2 ST HELEN & ST KATHARINE Magazine 2012 Prefects Being a Prefect at St Helen and St Katharine Being elected as a prefect adds a new dimension to your final year at St Helen’s: as well as studying for your A levels you are given a new role of responsibility and you are taking part in the running of the school. It is really lovely to work with the nineteen other girls in our year to carry out tasks to help with events, and there is a great sense of achievement when we realise what a strong team we have become. Having worked our way up the school, with our own memories of what each year entails, we are now able to give back to the school using first-hand experience. Whether it is supervising a cover period, or helping girls on their induction days, we have been in their shoes and are now enjoying the St Helen’s experience from the other side, at the other end of the school. And we all agree that the Saturday mornings we spend in school are worth it for the notorious boaters that will have a place in our rooms when we have left, to remind us of the fantastic last year we shared with our fellow prefects. Venice Shrier ST HELEN & ST KATHARINE Magazine 2012 3 Chapel Where do you go in the middle of a busy school to find some space? To find some time to simply be still, to gather your thoughts, to gain a sense of perspective in the midst of an often frenetic world? Here at SHSK we are very fortunate to have such a space in the chapel. At any time, girls and staff are able to seek out the peace and sanctuary it offers. The stained glass cross at the front, encircled by the wheel, is not only a reminder of how our patron saint Katharine was martyred for her faith, but a focus for quiet reflection on the things that are important in our own lives. The prayer board and the votive candles both provide opportunities to offer prayers to God for people or other issues that we may be concerned about. Not only is the chapel at the heart of the worshipping life of the community – with both choral and contemporary worship styles now accommodated – it’s also used for occasional weddings and bap- tisms for those who have a connection with the school. Again, the aspect visitors always comment on is the sense of peace within its walls – no doubt as a result of the many prayers that have been offered down the years. And what do girls who’ve left the school often miss most...incredibly, it’s the cha- pel services! Out in the working world, rarely is there the opportunity to begin a day in collective worship, cultivating a right relationship with God and receiving His strength, comfort and encourage- ment for all that day might bring! Reverend Taft 4 ST HELEN & ST KATHARINE Magazine 2012 Our school charity of the year is Jubilee Pageant Plan UK’s ‘Because I am a Girl’. The money that we raise can help girls in third world countries to stay in education and fulfil their potential. Girls hold the power to help break the cycle of poverty. With education, skills and the right support, girls can make choices over their own future One hundred girls from and be a huge part of creating last- St Helen’s supported ing change. Plan UK as part of their ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign on Waterloo Bridge during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Year 10 Charity Dinner Fun Chemistry! Girls in year 10 performed exciting chemical experiments Year 5 Charity Fete 7D’s Tie at lunchtime Amnesty Every girl in the school has been set the Staff sponsored cycle challenge to raise £52 each. Girls have fundraised in a variety of ways, such as; cake sales, sponsored swimming and mountain climbing, dinner parties and many others............ Individual Fundraising Balloon Debate ST HELEN & ST KATHARINE Magazine 2012 5 Streams of girls chattering There was a young lady called Kate, and laughing She was famous because she was great. Traipsing through corridors at the start of the day For her was built this school, On her day we start to drool, Knees clean and unbruised before the 2p race At the thought of kit kats for break! Lauren Reed 5S All girls excited at the lesson- free day.