September and October 2023
12 October 2023 - Shelburne
The first half of term has been a blast! I hope you enjoy reading what the girls have been getting up to!
New Pupils and the Family Tree
It has been a pleasure to welcome 15 new pupils into our Shelburne family and I am delighted to say that they have all integrated brilliantly. To mark their official induction into the House, all new pupils have been added to our House Family Tree– a big day in the lives of every Shelburne girl. House Family bonding activities and competitions have also taken place, including a quiz and art competition. The girls are already looking forward to the annual pumpkin carving contest after Long Leave too!
L6 Positions of Responsibility and Evening Activities
The L6 have been allocated to their positions of responsibility and are doing a superb job of fostering a sense of community and leading by example. They have been hosting ‘L6 Takeover’ evenings to bring the House together, running activities such as ‘hot chocolates and chats’ with individual year groups, academic support clinics, book clubs and baking.
The girls have also been making use of their new Games Room, complete with ping-pong table, karaoke machine and board games. This space has been used for ‘Just Dance’, fitness workouts and yoga classes led by our wonderful DHM, Miss Tay. Other evening activities have included the ever-popular chocolate fountain, Thoughtful Thursday with Sr Fuentes, smoothies and jewellery making to name but a few!
It has also been great to see the girls making their own fun and taking much-needed breaks from their devices. Whether through practising their lacrosse passes, running together in the mornings, watching women’s football, spontaneous sing-a-longs or games of uno on top landing, I am proud to say that they are learning the importance of balance and dedicating time to bonding as a community.
Charity Bake Sale
Shelburne have also hosted the first Charity Bake Sale of the year, raising a fantastic £231.52 for the school’s elected charities. The money will be split equally between Mary’s Meals and Wycombe Refuge. A huge thank you must go to Shelburne’s Charity Prefects, Maya and Laeticia, as well as all the girls who baked, bought, sold and ate the cakes on the day!
Individual Successes
There have bee countless individual successes since the summer and far too mang to name them all. However, some holiday have included Nell and Frida performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Emily achieving a place on the National Lacrosse Academy, Felicity being appointed as an Upper School prefect, Nelly receiving the Head’s Commendation for her work in English, Annabelle representing Wycombe Abbey at the British School’s Indoor Ski Races, Chrissie being selected to compete at the regional heats of the English Schools Chess Championships, and Frida, Francesca and Penney getting through to the final of their classes in WACMF.
Looking ahead…
As the nights draw in and we approach the first Long Leave of the academic year, L4 are busy working on their ‘Guy’ for Bonfire Night and the U4 are choreographing their House Dance for the big performance in November. We cannot wait to see what they produce and look forward to supporting them in these projects next half term.
Pupil Highlights
It is always a pleasure to be in the company of the Shelburne girls and to hear them talk about their days when they get home from School. Below are a selection of the highlights they have shared with me. I hope you enjoy reading them and getting a further insight into life in Shelburne!
“I have loved pretty much every chat I have had with my dorm. At times I laughed so hard that I couldn’t stand up anymore!”
“I loved making cupcakes with my sister for the Shelburne bake sale.”
“Tutor breakfasts are always a highlight. I have also loved singing Karaoke in my dorm and trading in my commendations for stickers!”
“I have enjoyed coming together with other girls in the House to watch some of the women’s football matches in the study”.
“Uno flip on top landing!”
“Playing Uno with the younger girls on top landing.”
“I love spending time with my dorm, they’re all so nice and it’s always so fun to spend time with them.”
“Getting to know my House family at the quiz.”
“Tutor breakfasts!”
“Full marks for my performance at WACMF.”
“The funfair was great!”
“I have really enjoyed making the guy with the L4s, it’s been a blast!”
“Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with my friends.”
“As a day girl, I love coming up to visit Shelburne.”
“16 periods of Maths a week!!!”
“The food in Daws Hill is really good”.
“Hanging out with the older girls is really fun.”
“A highlight of mine has been the activities in the evenings. They have been so fun and I really enjoy spending time with everyone in Shelburne.”
“Meeting and bonding with the new girls in House and starting Sixth Form.”
“Cuddles with Mabel.”
“Chips and dips” (a highlight for several!)
“I love that we can make our own food!”
“Playing ping-pong and wiisports in the new Games Room.”
“It’s great to have more freedom in Senior Houses.”
“Starting Legally Blonde rehearsals.”
“Watching sing-a-long Pitch Perfect in Mons.”
“Making new friends and taking up kickboxing and singing.”