Keeping the Notre Dame flame alive EDITION 1 • 2018 TEAM GB SPORTING SUPERSTAR FI TILLMAN RETURNS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION See page 3 THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE OF NOTRE DAME SCHOOL, COBHAM n SCHOOL NEWS WELCOME THE LATEST NEWS FROM CONTENTS TO REKINDLE YOUR OLD SCHOOL... SCHOOL NEWS 3-5 Hello! My name is Ros Roberts and as Alumnae Manager for Notre Dame It’s official – Notre Dame Happy 80th Birthday Notre Dame! Catch up with all the latest news School, I’m delighted to welcome you School is excellent! Incredibly, it’s over 80 years since the school was founded in 1937 at from Notre Dame School to the first issue of our new alumnae The Independent Schools Burwood House, by a small group of visionary Sisters passionate about magazine, Rekindle. Inspectorate has awarded the education of girls. Today, it’s grown from just seven boarders into ALUMNAE FEATURES 6-11 The aim of the Notre Dame Alumnae the school its highest possible a thriving community of over 1,500 pupils, parents, teachers and the Association is to keep the Notre Dame accolade following a rigorous current generation of Sisters of the Company of Mary Our Lady. Alicia and Anna are flame alive all over the world by reuniting Proud: Merinda D’Aprano & Anna King assessment process earlier To mark this special anniversary, Prep School Head Merinda D’Aprano 6 definitely hired! friends, maintaining our community this year. planted an oak tree in the grounds opposite Burwood House on Friday and using the power of our connections A team of inspectors spent several days visiting lessons, meeting and 17 November watched by the Sisters, staff and pupils. The school also How apprenticeships are to mentor and support the current interviewing pupils and teachers, checking facilities and scrutinising celebrated on Tuesday 21 November with a special Mass and Feast Day, providing a valuable route into generation. As the mother of two Notre questionnaires filled in by parents. Their verdict – that the school was and everyone was given a commemorative badge as a memento. the workplace Dame girls, one of whom is now an alumna, excellent in all areas – is a tribute to the hard-working staff and the We are planning further celebratory events in 2018, so do make Snap! Jenny is the image of it’s my absolute privilege to be a part of this strong leadership team of Anna King sure we have your up to date contact details including a current email 7 digital innovation process. and Merinda D’Aprano, the Heads of the address if possible. New data protection legislation coming into force I’m always happy to welcome alumnae Senior and Prep schools, who said: “We this year means you have to Jenny’s revolutionary phone app back, so if you’d like to see how the school are delighted with the Reports and the give us express permission is changing the way we shop has changed why not come for a tour? If you live too far away, stay up to date by ‘Excellent’ grading across all aspects of Independent to contact you about school Schools’ joining our Notre Dame Cobham Alumnae Facebook group, or keep an eye on the our school. We are justifiably proud of events, so you may need to Wisdom, kindness and a 8 Inspectorate positive influence Alumnae section of the school website. We’re also planning to launch an exciting the whole community, with excellence Inspection Report re-register even if you are new communications network online in 2018 so please make sure we have up in teaching, Governance and Leadership January 2017 already on the database (see An update on the Sisters you to date contact details for you, including a current email address if possible (see reflected in the learning and personal opposite for details). remember from your schooldays The quality of panel below). outcomes of our pupils.” pupils’ academic We look forward to and other I hope you enjoy Rekindle. If you have any news and photographs for future A full copy of the report is on the achievements welcoming you back to join A Sporting Chance for Fi 11 is excellent. editions, or can help the girls with careers advice or mentoring, I’d be delighted school website. ND 2017 ISI Report MS IWB Final.indd 1 the celebrations! 01/03/2017 09:56 How basketball gave Fi Tillman to hear from you. back her future ALUMNAE NEWS 12-13 Old Friendships become ‘Forever Armed with a few names, Sarah got to This took place on Friday, 20 October 2017 From fashion to flying, a round-up Friendships’ at London Reunion work and by August 40 former pupils had at the BFI Bar and Kitchen on the Southbank. of what some of our alumnae are Notre Dame School is always thrilled to learn reconnected. They shared their life stories, It was attended by 26 alumnae, many of up to now Ros Roberts about ex-pupils, especially when they reunite as well as reminiscing about school! Photos whom had travelled from as far away as Qatar, Email: [email protected] or write to me at over thirty years after they left in 1985! were shared of school trips and Sports Days; Ireland and Spain just to spend time with their THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES 14-15 Notre Dame School, Burwood House, Convent Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1HA. Earlier this year, Sarah MacDonald (Harding) school girls in uniform and the ladies they are friends once more. Name badges were issued, Tel: 01932 869990 (ext 391). Alternatively contact me via Facebook or Twitter. decided to create a “Getting Back in Touch” today! There were sad stories and tales of but proved unnecessary because as Sarah Seven alumnae take a tour of Facebook page in an attempt to track down fulfilled lives, but at the heart of it was a very said, “Everyone was just a little bit older and a the school and a trip down some long-lost school friends. She had often strong connection with one another. There whole lot wiser!” The Notre Dame girls wasted Memory Lane thought about her time at Notre Dame and the was only one thing left to do – organise a no time in catching up on each other’s news friendships she had made there. Reunion! and the room was filled with excitement, MESSAGE BOARD 16 DON'T MISS OUT ON laughter, tears of happiness and admiration for one another. There was a buzz of elation See who’s been in touch recently FUTURE NEWS AND EVENTS! and the sound of clinking glasses throughout and trace old friends the entire evening! Lost friendships became From next year, new data protection laws will prevent us from contacting you forever friendships. Cover picture shows, from Keeping the Notre Dame flame alive EDITION 1 • 2018 unless you have given your express permission – even if you are already on our Speaking afterwards Sarah (left) said: “I left to right: PE Teacher database. If you left Notre Dame before September 2015, please go to www. never thought that my Facebook page would Heather Marsh, Sister notredame.co.uk and fill in the membership form under the ‘Alumnae’ tab. reunite so many people. It has been the most Faith Ede, Fi Tillman, Sister Include your email address (it will not be shared with anyone else) and be sure to amazing experience and such a wonderful Maria Quinn and Prep TEAM GB SPORTING SUPERSTAR FI TILLMAN RETURNS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION See page 3 tick ‘yes’ to the data protection question. We will make sure you continue to receive night. We are all firm friends again – so this THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE OF NOTRE DAME SCHOOL, COBHAM ND-Rekindle-Magazine-Nov-2017-IWB v9.indd 1 14/12/2017 11:57 Head Merinda D'Aprano news and updates on our alumnae events and look forward to seeing you soon. will be the first of many Reunions!” 2 Rekindle Magazine | 2018 2018 | Rekindle Magazine 3 n SCHOOL NEWS Goodbye and good luck A sad farewell to Giselle brings Olympic magic to our to the Class of 2017! Bridget Williams and new All-Weather Pitch Sister Catherine McLenaghan It is with sadness that we report the passing of former Senior School Headmistress Bridget Williams and Sister Catherine McLenaghan ODN. Mrs. Williams, who passed away in August 2017, joined the Senior School as Headmistress in 2003. During her 10-year tenure, the school thrived and many important new facilities were added. Known by her famous catchphrase ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’ Mrs. Williams is remembered with gratitude and affection by her pupils and colleagues. Champagne glasses clinked on the lawns in front of Burwood House Sister Catherine, who passed away in April 2016, was a key presence Muddy trainers and lumpy turf have been consigned to the history in July as this year’s Year 13 Leavers, their parents and teachers drank in the school for many years and a Governor from 2003 until 2014. A books at Notre Dame thanks to the opening of our fantastic new a celebratory toast to the future. After a delicious sit-down dinner quiet source of strength, wisdom and support, she is sorely missed. All-Weather sports facilities in 2017. courtesy of the school’s Catering Manager Mandy Crane and her team, • Mrs Williams’s family is raising money for the Pancreatic Cancer To a loud chorus of cheers from all the students, Olympic hockey the girls listened to moving farewell speeches by Headmistress Anna Research Fund in her memory.