The termly magazine of Queen’s Gate School
Issue 51 · Summer 2017
Honk!
The Junior School musical and its feathered friends 10 things girls most need
Author Steve Biddulph’s new book launch plus
New Prefects
Outdoor Cinema
French Exchange
A run in the sun
The Queen’s Gate Sports Days bask in bright sunshine
We always hope for good weather in the summer term and this year we have been blessed
From the Principal’s Study Dear Parents, I have pleasure in welcoming you to the Summer 2017 edition of the QG News. Another academic year has come to an end and we prepare for the long Summer holidays. As always, the Summer Term is dominated by public examinations, but we have found time for other activities and trips about which I hope that you will enjoy reading. We always hope for good weather in the Summer Term and this year we have been blessed; our only complaint being that it was too warm, necessitating the curtailment of both Sports Days to morning-only events. There have been many special events; the visit of Steve Biddulph, the Australian psychologist, the Junior School production of Honk!, the various residential trips in both the Junior and Senior Schools, the Summer Garden Party and the outdoor screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – each event much enjoyed by those involved.
During the past term, our nation has had much to contend with; a General Election, terrorist activity in London and Manchester and the dreadful fire on our doorstep at Grenfell Tower. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to all those who have suffered or lost loved ones as a result of recent atrocities. As the academic year comes to a close, we say goodbye to a number of staff, including three long-serving members who between them have served over 50 years. We wish Dr Bell, Ms Hörcsög, Mrs Neale and all our leaving staff the very best of luck, good health and happiness. In conclusion, may I wish you all a very good holiday. Yours sincerely, Rosalynd Kamaryc Principal
Summer 2017
3
editor
Miss A. Hinds
Autumn Term 2017
sub-editors
Mr H. Capper Mrs S. Evans Mrs R. Kamaryc Mrs H. Thackwray design & art direction
ARCH Design Studio photography
DFPhotography Fergus Burnett Photography Miss A. Hinds contributors
Mrs L. Arthur Miss C. Askem Mme F. Collombon Mr J. Denchfield Miss J. Hasler Mrs G. Haynes Miss C. Hurlbatt Mrs H. Hutton Dr M. Lee Mr E. Liepa Mr S. Mataya Mrs S. Neale Mrs C. Makhlouf Miss A. Molineaux Miss S. Palframan Miss C. Podavitte Mrs E. Scott Miss N. Sitko Mrs L. Shanley Miss F. Sutherland Mrs H. Thackwray
term begins Wednesday 6 September half-term Monday 16 — Friday 27 October term ends Friday 8 December
Dates for the diary August
November
Thursday 17 August A Level Results Day
Tuesday 21 – Wednesday 22 November LIV Play (times TBC)
Chelsea Theatre
Thursday 24 August GCSE Results Day
Monday 27 November Careers Convention
Senior School
September Tuesday 6 September LVI Induction (Am) Remove Induction (PM) Saturday 9 – Friday 15 September Remove trip to Normandy
October
Thursday 30 November Kids for Kids Concert
St Peter’s Eaton Square
December Friday 1 December Junior School Nativity
Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road
Tuesday 3 – Wednesday 4 October GCSE Drama performances
Saturday 2 December Christmas Fair
Senior School Hall
Senior School
Tuesday 10 October Inspiring Women Series 17/18: Christine Armstrong
Wednesday 6 December Carol Service
Senior School Hall
Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road
Queen’s Gate School 133 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5LE 020 7589 3587 queensgate.org.uk @queens_gate /133queensgate
key senior school junior school whole school 4
QG NEWS
Contents Senior School
Junior School
6 Art and DT Exhibition
32 Sixth Form Enrichment Days
8 Head Girls leavers speech
34 Sport Report
9 New Prefects
36 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? trip & GCSE Drama examinations
28 You can’t judge a book by its cover Girls join the judging panels for several prestigious book awards 30 QG Challenge 31 Charity Report & Age UK Tea Dance
20 QG pupil stars in Carousel & Ancient Greece Workshop 21 IIA visit New Barn & IIA’s trip to the Isle of Wight 22 Art Exhibition
37 Spring Term Concert & Piano Concerts
23 Crossing swords with Harriet Hillier
38 LIV French Exchange
24 III Form’s week in Normandy
39 Buddhist Temple visit
26 III Form Enrichment Week
12
Events
40 LIV Bushcraft trip
10
Featu res
A Kind of magic
A wizard outdoor cinema experience in aid of Royal Trinity Hospice
18 Honk!
The Junior School’s musical based on Hans Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling Summer 2017
Sports Days
The sun shines on Battersea Park for this year’s record-breaking events
33
Lara the Champion
Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio wins 800m gold at the LSAA 5
42 Summer Garden Party & Steve Biddulph’s book launch 43 Old Girl Culture Alumnae visit the National Gallery and enjoy a food & drink tour
Staff N ews 44 Farewells We say goodbye to the teachers leaving Queen’s Gate
Sen ior School · Acade m ic
6
Artful display The annual GCSE and A Level exhibition shows off the exceptional calibre of Queen’s Gate Art and Design Technology
T
his year’s Art and Design Technology week-long exhibition of GCSE and A Level students’ work took place at the end of June, with work exhibited in the Senior School Hall. A Private View evening on Wednesday 28 June saw nearly 200 visitors attend the exhibition, as well as pupils and friends of the School touring the exhibition during the School day, all of whom praised the efforts and talent of the pupils whose work was on display. GCSE students presented their final outcomes on chosen topics, set by the AQA examination board, and A Level Art students’ work on display was of their personal investigation projects, for which each individual chooses a subject they would like to research, prior to producing final outcomes. A huge variety of different working techniques was shown, from waxwork to laser cutting, sculpture, and even some biro-drawn pieces. The Design Technology Department presented their Product Design prototypes, including a children’s baking set (which doubles as a stool), a selfassembly playhouse and an ergonomic sporting skort.
Summer 2017
The entire exhibition showed perfectly that, yet again, the standard of creativity and the calibre of Queen’s Gate Art and DT students is exceptionally high, and congratulations go to the pupils and staff who have worked so hard on creating such a wonderful showcase for the Queen’s Gate Community to enjoy.
7
Sen ior School · Sixth Form
Head Girl’s Leavers Speech By Poppy Hoope r Head Girl 2016–17
I
I’d also like to thank Miss Palframan for making Sixth Form so inviting and listening to all our weekend antics. I’d like to thank Mrs Kamaryc for helping us become the best Queen’s Gate girls we could be, and making us proud to represent the Royal Borough – I do wonder how many of us will drop out of university and end up on Made in Chelsea!
t feels surreal that Queen’s Gate is now something I have left behind, and there’s no doubt I’m going to miss it. I’ll miss the incredibly dedicated teachers; I’ll miss walking to school each morning with Alex and saying good morning to Tina on the way in; I’ll miss waving to Mrs Lewis on the stairs; I’ll miss being able to go into Dr Lee’s office and talking to her whenever I want to and I’ll even miss those fabulous Saturday mornings with Mr Crundwell … well, maybe just the abundance of pastries on offer.
a G-string! It’s times like those that I’m really going to miss after Queen’s Gate, when I’ll be starting a new chapter of my life in September. So at the end of an era, I’d like to thank some special people. I’d like to thank Dr Lee, not only for all the times she’s emailed me accidentally
I started at Queen’s Gate in Remove wearing Hollister and Jack Wills, as that was the craze back in 2010, and I remember thinking how far away Sixth Form seemed. Well I can tell you that time truly does fly by when you’re having fun! So clichéd! I’m trying to avoid being clichéd here but I really do love Queen’s Gate and it’s so sad to say goodbye. At the start of the year I finished my welcome speech by quoting Einstein. ‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school’ and I really do believe in it. Of course I value Queen’s Gate for all the things a school is meant to provide, but what I’m really going to remember is the countless times we’ve all been in fits of laughter over something stupid like when Mrs Jockhu came in and Maha was twerking on the lockers, or the time in LIV PE when I thought a hamstring was called
Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school
I’d also like to give a special thanks to Mr Crundwell, who has made me love Geography as a subject and for making his lessons something I always look forward to. I don’t know if it’s his jokes or the passion he has for the subject, but he must be doing something right. I look forward to returning to Queen’s Gate in the future as an alumna, and seeing you all then!
calling me ‘Poopy’ instead of Poppy, but also for the endless love that she projects into the Sixth Form. Her dedication is out of the ordinary and her sarcasm makes me laugh every time. I hope we’ve done her proud as a year group and I’m happy to leave knowing we’ve cultured her on 21st-century slang and what the Houseparty app is… 8
QG NEWS
Sen ior School ¡ Sixth Form
Sixth Form Leavers 2017
New Prefects A warm welcome to our new Prefects for the Academic year 2017/18. They have already made their mark at School, helping out with initiatives and events. We look forward to seeing what else they achieve during their tenure Lydia Bacon Drama Antonia Bryceson Events, Inspiring Women and QG Challenge Christiana Didizian Environment and Sports Ariane Goudie Science and Tours Jasmine Holder Charities Elisabeth Long Junior School and Music Clara Morrissey Challenge & Enrichment and Environment Isabel Ocampo Model United Nations Marina Ocampo Art and Design Technology Annavittoria Porter Model United Nations and Tours Caroline Winter Library and Tuck Shop Julia Wolchover Debating Helen Xu IT and Tuck Shop
Summer 2017
9
Events · Outdoor ci ne ma expe ri ence
10
QG NEWS
Events · Outdoor Ci ne ma expe ri ence
Big screen magic Queen’s Gate transforms into Hogwarts for a very special outdoor screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
A
s the Summer Term drew to a close and Queen’s Gate pupils, staff and parents prepared to take some well-earned time off, the External Relations Department created one more opportunity for the Queen’s Gate family to join together for a final special event – an outdoor cinema experience, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first movie adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s worldfamous series, shown on a giant pop-up cinema screen! The evening took place at Royal Trinity Hospice on Clapham Common, as part of the School’s fundraising partnership with the charity, and was also run in partnership with local estate
Summer 2017
agents, Chestertons, on Friday 30 June. The magical evening opened with the opportunity for guests to picnic on the grass in the Hospice’s beautiful grounds, whilst stalls offered drinks, pick ’n’ mix, candyfloss, popcorn and ice-cream. Not only were guests treated to an abundance of food and drink throughout the evening, there was also the opportunity to meet and socialise with one of the film’s actresses. Old Girl Geraldine Somerville (1983–85), who played Lily Potter in the film franchise, took part in a Q&A session, answering questions from ‘How did Queen’s Gate help get you into acting?’ to ‘How did you film the dream sequences on set?’ and 11
even ‘How many pets do you have?’…! As the sun began to set over the grounds, the 150-strong audience settled down on blankets to watch the film, enjoyed through ‘magical’ wireless headphones. A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all, and we are grateful to Geraldine for her wonderful interview, to Royal Trinity Hospice for the use of their stunning grounds and Chestertons for their support in assisting the External Relations Department to create the event. Most importantly, thank you to all those who came to support the evening, and for your generous donations towards the Hospice’s invaluable work.
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Sport
Senior School Sports day This year’s Senior School Sports Day took place on Thursday 22 June, with a number of records broken throughout the day. The girls’ sporting prowess was shown off at Battersea Park, and there was heathly spirit of competition between the four Houses, Wyatt, Spalding, Johnston and Douglas. Across the year groups, Johnston proved to be the strongest House, winning the meet overall on 135 points, with Spalding in second (120 points), Wyatt in third (102 points) and Douglas House in fourth with 88 points. Victrix Ludorum (Overall Champion) went to LVI’s Christiana Didizian, who also took home the Sixth Form Award. Individual Champions were awarded to Remove’s Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio, LIV’s Isla Wallrock, Form IV’s Julia Brown, Sabrina Mannes Diaz de Cerio and Fiona Thalhofer and Form V’s Natasha Bustnes. Congratulations to everyone who took part to create another wonderful display of sporting achievement.
New Records 2017 A special mention to the girls who set new records LIV Long Jump
Isla Wallrock
4.45 m
IV Form 200 Metres
Sophia Mafi
28.12 sec
Overarm Throw Clara Oke
40.35 m V Form
200 Metres
Natasha Bustnes
29.96 sec
High Jump
Natasha Bustnes
1.33 m
Overarm Throw Catalina Marti 12
33.20 m QG NEWS
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools ¡ Sport
Wi nn i ng House Johnston 135 Indivi dual Cham pions Remove Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio LIV Isla Wallrock Form IV Julia Brown, Sabrina Mannes Diaz de Cerio, Fiona Thalhofer Form V Natasha Bustnes Victrix Lu doru m Christiana Didizian
Summer 2017
13
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Sport
Junior School Sports day This year’s Junior School Sports Day was a great success … despite the hot weather encountered by the participants and spectators! Admirable team spirit was shown by all the girls who took part, competing for either Victoria or Elizabeth House. Both Houses produced fairly even wins throughout the year groups, though it was Elizabeth who won overall by a mere four points, finishing with 177 points to Victoria’s 173! The KS1 Individual Champion prizes were awarded to Preliminary’s Rebecca Quan, Transition’s Zoe Tabojer and IB’s Sophia Harmsworth. In KS2, the Individual Champions were Audrey Agapov for IA, Ava Porcaro for IIB, Cecily Morrissey for IIA and Justine Bourrette for III Form. Justine was also awarded the Overall Champion shield.
Record Breakers A special mention to the girls who set new records Overarm Throw Beatrix Hillier 80 Metres 14
Valeria Lebedeva-Alexopoulou
16.53 m 13.50 sec QG NEWS
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Sport
Wi nn i ng House Elizabeth 177 KS1 Indivi dual Cham pions Preli m i nary Rebecca Quan Tran sition Zoe Tabojer IB Sophia Harmsworth KS2 Indivi dual Cham pions IA Audrey Agapov II B Ava Porcaro IIA Cecily Morrissey III Form Justine Bourrette J u n ior Ove rall Cham pion Justine Bourrette
Summer 2017
15
Junior School 18
HONK!
A musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling
23
Champion Fencer
Harriet Hillier crowned England Youth Fencing Champion 2017
24
Normandy landings III Form’s residential trip to Northern France
Honk! p. 18
Summer 2017
17
J u n ior School · Drama
Honk if you like musicals The Junior School present a wonderful production of Honk!
W
ednesday 3 and Thursday 4 May saw girls from III Form and IIA take up residence at the Chelsea Theatre for their annual School Production. This year’s show was a personal choice by Mrs Neale, as her final Junior School production, and was the wonderful musical Honk! with its story based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling. It was the perfect show to select. The audience follow Ugly, an oddlooking baby ‘duck’, played by this year’s Junior School Head Girl, Harriet Hillier, on his journeying to find an explanation for his difference from his brothers and sisters. Ugly realises he needs to go on a quest to find his true mother, and events unfold, including an encounter with the evil Cat, played enthusiastically by Kitty Searle, and the beautiful swan Penny, gracefully portrayed by Victoria Allen. After his many adventures, Ugly is finally reunited with his true family, before transforming into a handsome swan! The musical’s main characters were supported by a wonderful cast of their peers, and the audience were delighted by the singing, dancing and acting prowess of these theatrical youngsters. Well done to all the cast and crew involved in producing such a fantastic show!
18
QG NEWS
J u n ior School · Drama
Summer 2017
19
J u n ior School ¡ DRAMA
A taste of stardom Queen’s Gate pupil joins the cast of Carousel at the Coliseum By Vale ria Le b edeva-Alexopou lou IIA
O
ver the past few months, I have been very lucky to have a small part in the musical Carousel at the London Coliseum. It was amazing. The experience of acting in front of 1,000 people every other day was very nerve-wracking though. The stars of the show were singers Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe. They made all the children in the cast feel so comfortable, and were very kind, which made each performance fun. I enjoyed wearing my costumes, which were very old, and in one scene I
had to do a quick change, which is when you have to get out of one costume and put on another, in order to change your character. Eventually I managed to do this in three minutes! I do think my favourite part of the experience was feeling like a star. I was asked to sign some programmes by the theatre-goers, and they also asked me to pose with them for photos. This certainly has given me an idea of what I might want to be when I grow up! In the meantime though, it is back to the daily routine of school life and examinations!
Return to Ancient Greece IA travel back in time for a legendary workshop
I
A had a very exciting morning on Wednesday 7 June. They travelled back in time to Ancient Greece, with the help of a trainee time-traveller. They completed lots of different tasks, answered questions and solved problems. They learnt about the alphabet, gods and goddesses, battles 20
and discoveries before they acted out the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Along the way the class met a woman from Ancient Greece called Jocasta, a slave called Grizelda and even the King of the Gods, Zeus! By the end of the mission, IA were made trainee timetravellers too! QG NEWS
J u n ior School · TRI PS
Homemakers IIB learn how to build a shelter at New Barn Field Centre in Dorset By E lla Johnson IIB
G
oing to New Barn was great! My favourite activity was shelterbuilding. Building a shelter is fun because it would be a great help if you were lost in the wild. I also like it because it’s really fun sorting out where to put the wood. Using the Y sticks for our shelter was quite challenging. My team worked very hard to make it. At the beginning we used mini sticks to plan our work. Eventually we mixed everyone’s ideas and created a plan for our shelter. My team was determined to get our shelter done, but we rushed and when we finished it didn’t look like a rectangle. A teacher helped and pointed out where
O
Isle of Wight fun
n Monday 5 June, IIA set off for their annual residential trip to the Isle of Wight. The group spent five days at the Medina Valley Centre in Newport, and took part in a variety of activities throughout the week. These included pond dipping, watching a falconry
Summer 2017
display, village study, fossil hunting, orienteering, rock-pooling, visiting Osborne House, and going on an all-day coastal hike. Despite the rainy and windy weather, the girls immersed themselves in all the activities and had a wonderful, though exhausting time.
21
we had gone wrong. Soon we were back on track until we had one more piece of long, thin red rope. We went mad, absolutely mad. We tied our last piece of rope to our shelter, though it really could stand up by itself! Then we moved on to the shelter cover, the big blue cover. My team and I found it quite hard to put the covers on. We managed to get the big blue covers over the shelter. After that we looked at other people’s shelters. They were very good! If I had to change one thing about the task, actually, it would be that everyone got ten pieces of rope rather than six. I loved that activity so much!
J u n ior School · Acade m ic
Art exhibition
O
n Tuesday 22 May the Junior School hosted their annual Art Exhibition of work completed during the academic year by III Form, IIA and IIB. There was much to celebrate, including winning entries in the Chelsea and Kensington Borough Calendar Competition at the beginning of the year, the Young Art submissions, the Art on Show submissions, and completion by III Form of the Arts Award from Trinity College. Each year group completed an extensive project each term inspired by different artists.
IIB displayed their work based on Patrick Caulfield, where they experimented with overlapping still life objects, formed into a collage. IIA’s architectural pieces were inspired by Hundertwasser and produced in oil pastels, monoprint and watercolours. III Form looked at fish and birds as their subject matter. Artists Martin Leger and Paula Swisher were their inspiration, and their projects explored collage, collagraphy and pencil drawings. The exhibition showed pupils’ full potential in the subject as well as the 22
engagement and pride they took in producing and showing the work to the wider audience who attended. The exhibition was another triumph for our young artists, and something of which they should be very proud.
QG NEWS
J u n ior School · Sport
I
n the Summer 2016 edition of the QG News, then IIA pupil and now current Head Girl, Harriet Hillier featured as a ‘one to watch’ fencer, with a string of medals around her neck. A full calendar year on and Harriet has been continuing her winning streak in fencing – with a new Championship under her belt as well as further medal success. On Saturday 27 May, Harriet travelled to Cardiff to compete in the prestigious Leon Paul Junior Series (LPJS) in the U11 Girls Épée discipline. The Series is designed specifically for young fencers, and holds over 30 competitions nationwide for ages 7 to 17 throughout the year. Fencers collect points from each event to climb up the LPJS rankings tables and win medals. Harriet performed exceptionally well throughout the competition, and came away with joint bronze medal place: an excellent achievement. Following this competition, a couple of weeks later, Harriet fenced at the England Youth Championships, a competition run by England Fencing, the
Summer 2017
National Governing Body of Fencing, again in the U11 Girls Epée category. Following a number of matches, Harriet triumphed in her last of the day, and was crowned Champion at the end of play! With Harriet moving into Queen’s Gate Senior School in September, we are excited to see where this budding fencer’s career can take her next. Well done Harriet!
23
Harriet Hillier England Youth Fencing Champion 2017
Normandy Landings This year’s III Form residential trip was to Northern France. Here, the pupils recount their experiences during the week We arrived at school for 4.45 am on Monday 15 May, eager to start our adventure to France. After a quick snooze, we found that the coach had already arrived at the Eurotunnel. It was exciting and a little bit scary to go under the Channel but soon we had arrived in France. Our first stop was a museum about the battle of Agincourt. The armour was amazing and we actually were able to hold a bow and an arrow. — Harri et H i lli e r
The next day, we woke up to a beautiful day and the cockerels! We had a breakfast of hot chocolate(!), orange juice and French baguette. Delicious! We then made some bread, which we ate later that day with some chocolate and a drink of grenadine. In the afternoon, we visited the sea museum, l’Estran, in Dieppe. We learnt to make sailors’ knots: the demi-noeud (half knot), le noeud en huit (figure of 8), le noeud plat (reef knot), and le noeud de pêcheur (fisherman’s knot). — India M i ddleton - Roy
On Wednesday, we woke to beautiful weather and set off on our trip to Rouen. We met our guide who took us around the city, giving us a great insight into the streets and amazing architecture. We visited the cathedral, which is where Richard the Lionheart’s heart is buried. We also got to see medieval houses which almost looked as if they were going to fall onto each other. — Clau dia Crawford - B ru nt
We also learnt that the beautiful cathedral of Notre-Dame, made famous by Monet in his paintings, was damaged by bombing during the war. This meant that some of the old stained glass windows were no longer there. Next, we visited the place where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. She was an army leader, who helped France win the Hundred Years’ War. — India M i ddleton - Roy
QG NEWS
J u n ior School · Tri ps
On our last day of our adventure to Normandy, we went on a shopping spree to Saint-Valery-en-Caux. We enjoyed our last picnic lunch and began our long journey home. After our amazing experience in France, we arrived safely back in London that evening. We were tired but had loved every second of our trip. — Rosi e Wolstenholm e
On Thursday, we visited a local French school. When we arrived we saw they had hung a welcome banner out especially for us, and from the moment we stepped inside everyone made us enormously welcome. We had a chance to spend some time with the French school children. I made friends with Luna and tried my hardest to talk French (luckily her English was amazing!). We ate lunch together (with a lovely chocolate fudge pudding). The time passed too quickly and, before we knew it, we had to leave our new friends at the French school. — Harri et H i lli e r
After our visit to the school, we went round a chocolate factory and learnt about the history of chocolate-making. After the tour, we tasted some divine chocolate and bought some to take home. — Rayya Ham eed
Summer 2017
25
J u n ior School · Tri ps
III Form trio in London While most of III Form are on the French trip, three girls arrange a sightseeing tour of London for themselves
W
ith most of III Form away for the week in France, three girls who didn’t go on the trip – Melina, Daniela and Sophia – were looking for something to do. So, with the help of Mrs Neale, they organised a sightseeing tour of London. With the rain setting in on Monday, it was most sensible to visit the Natural History Museum, just around the corner from school. After a look around the Human Body exhibition, it was revealed that Mrs Neale had organised a behindthe-scenes look at the specimen collection! Melina remembers…
‘After meeting our Scientist we were taken into the basement. We were told that the Museum is a working laboratory and that they have 80 specimens. ‘The first room we passed we were told “Better not go in – there are flesh-eating beetles in there!” In the storage area, we saw lots of “pickled” animals, and were asked to try and identify some. ‘We also met a giant squid called Archie, and learnt a lot about him, including that his brain is doughnut-shaped so food can pass through it into his stomach which is on top of his head! Perhaps the most amazing thing was to see Charles Darwin’s specimen collection.’
On Tuesday Mrs Kamaryc went with the group to the Royal Mews. Daniela tells us about the day…
‘The Royal Mews is attached to Buckingham Palace. First, we met the horses; they were magnificent. Then we went through the harnessing room, and finally saw the Queen’s many carriages, including the Gold Coach which she rode in on her Coronation Day. The most interesting coach was her Diamond Jubilee Coach. Instead of having a shamrock representing Ireland, it had flax. Mrs Neale and Mrs Kamaryc explained that this was because when the older coaches were built Ireland was one country, but now it is two.’
26
QG NEWS
J u n ior School · Tri ps
Friday dawned, and the group visited Banqueting House and Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms. The ceiling of the banqueting room was painted by Rubens, and the group lay down on the large beanbags provided to listen to the audio commentary. They all agreed they would like to visit again in the future. Following a short walk past Horse Guards Parade and Downing Street, the girls entered the underground Cabinet War Rooms, which is where Winston Churchill lived and worked with all his cabinet, secretaries and top Army people during the Second World War. It is preserved as he left it in August 1945. Mrs Neale would like to thank the girls for giving her the opportunity to sightsee in London, but she was totally exhausted by the end of the week!
On Wednesday the girls spent time helping out in Preliminary and Transition during their sporting activities, which was lovely. Thursday proved to be the most tiring day. Firstly, everyone took a taxi to the Thames Clipper jetty and boarded a boat to the Tower of London. Sophia remembers the day
‘As we made our way down the river Mrs Neale pointed out various landmarks. The most exciting to me was HMS Belfast, as it was a World War II ship. ‘We arrived at the Tower of London and made our way to St Thomas’s Tower, the oldest part of the Tower. We toured King Edward I’s bedroom and private chapel, which are being restored. From the top of the Tower there was a wonderful view. ‘Then came the highlight of the day, visiting the Crown Jewels. We saw the most magnificent diamonds and golden crowns sprinkled with rubies, emeralds and sapphires. We saw the largest diamond in the world and the Coronation and Imperial Crowns. There was so much gold and jewellery on display we were quite taken aback, so had a refreshing ice cream! To finish off the visit we went to the White Tower, which William the Conqueror had built. This houses the armoury of many kings including Henry VIII – he was much taller than we imagined, especially compared to Charles I. It was an incredible day.’
Summer 2017
27
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Li b rary
You can’t judge a book by its cover Queen’s Gate girls exercise impeccable literary judgement in some of this year’s most prestigious book awards
A
cting as a judge for a major book award is an exciting and rewarding experience that encourages young people to engage with books in a creative, analytical and empowering way. This year girls from IA to III Form have had the opportunity to participate in judging books that have been shortlisted for three awards: the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, the Awesome Book Awards and the CILIP Kate Greenaway & Amnesty Honour Awards. Additionally, girls in Remove to Form V shadowed the CILIP Carnegie & Amnesty Honour Awards.
Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize In the second week of September, III Form began the judging process for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize
during one of their Science lessons. This major award recognises books that best communicate science to young people. It aims to inspire under-14s to read about science and promotes the writing of excellent, accessible books. Although a panel of expert adult judges narrows a shortlist of six books, the winner is chosen by groups of young people in judging panels, like ours, from across the UK. The individual participants of the Queen’s Gate Junior School panel spent several weeks reading and evaluating the six shortlisted books according to its looks, quality of writing, interest and appeal. Then a final meeting was held with the whole panel, during which the merits of each book were discussed and debated. When the total scores were tallied it was almost too close to call, with Rebel Science by Dan Green edging out How Machines Work by David Macaulay to be our panel’s winning title. However, it was the latter that was voted top book by the most judging panels.
Awesome Book Awards The Awesome Book Awards is an exciting new book prize, organised by the Head of English and the Librarian at Cranleigh Prep School in Surrey, to celebrate the best debut book by an author writing for children aged 7–10. During the 2016 Summer Term, hundreds of Prep and Junior schools across the South East of England were invited to form judging groups, which would take on the responsibility for selecting the winning book. The groups then eagerly awaited the announcement of the five books that would comprise the inaugural shortlist. The 30-member Queen’s Gate group consisted of any girls in IIB to III Form who wished to participate, and four invited girls from IA, who read the five books between November and March. Prior to the Easter holiday, the girls were asked to vote on QGBuzz for their favourite. As there were no particular judging criteria for this award, it was simply a matter of thinking about which book each reader felt captured their imagination the most. These votes were then submitted to Cranleigh, who tabulated the results and the winner was announced at a 28
spectacular ceremony on Thursday 4 May. Mrs Scott and Miss Podavitte were pleased to attend the ceremony, along with other librarians, parents, teachers and pupils of the many schools that took part in the judging. The event was presided over by Lauren Child, MBE, who has recently been named the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate 2017–2019. Additionally, all five shortlisted authors were in attendance and regaled the audience with stories of their inspirations and later signed books. Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford, which was the joint favourite of our group (tied with The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine), had the honour of being named the first winner of this Awesome Award.
QG NEWS
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Li b rary
CILIP Carnegie Award & Amnesty Honour
CILIP Kate Greenaway Award & Amnesty Honour This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the Greenaway Award, which celebrates outstanding illustrations in children’s books. Previous winners of this prestigious medal include Levi Pinfold, Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes, former Children’s Laureates Quentin Blake, Anthony Brown and Chris Riddell, as well as current Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child. Every spring, CILIP (the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals) invites groups in libraries and schools to participate in their shadowing programme. In 2016, CILIP and Amnesty International UK also launched a new commendation, the Amnesty CILIP Honour, which is awarded to one title from the Greenaway shortlist that most distinctively illuminates, upholds or celebrates our personal freedoms and core values. Over the Summer Term, all girls in III Form and IIA had the opportunity to read and discuss the eight shortlisted titles for this year during their weekly Greenaway sessions. Each book was then evaluated according to its artistic quality and overall visual experience by submitting an electronic form on QGBuzz. Girls Summer 2017
have explored the natural rights and civil liberties at the heart of all the shortlisted books by contributing to the discussions on the ‘Thinking about Human Rights’ forums. The 2017 winners of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Award and Amnesty CILIP Honour were announced on Monday 19 June, and the girls had the opportunity to watch the award ceremony live via the official stream channel. Wild Animals of the North, illustrated and written by Dieter Braun, was the highest rated by the group; however, it was There is a Tribe of Kids, illustrated and written by Lane Smith, which won the actual award. The Journey, illustrated and written by Francesca Sanna, was the group’s choice to win the Amnesty Honour, and it did.
You can read our Greenaway and Carnegie group members’ reviews of the shortlisted titles on: carnegiegreenaway.org.uk
29
2017 also marks the 80th Anniversary of the Carnegie Award, which celebrates outstanding writing in books for children. From the very first winner, Pigeon Post, by Arthur Ransome, to last year’s One, by Sarah Crossan, the books that have been awarded this prize have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature and have been inspiring for many generations and will continue to be so. Our shadow judging panel consisted of 24 girls across four year groups – our biggest panel to date – many of whom have participated for several years. Similar to the Greenaway Award, Amnesty International UK teamed up with CILIP in 2016 to add the additional Amnesty CILIP Honour. Therefore, not only did our group discuss the literary quality and merits of the shortlisted titles with regards to appropriateness of style to plot construction and credibility, effectiveness of dialogue and literary techniques, subject matter, theme and believability of characterisation, they also looked at the books in relation to how they address aspects of human rights. The Bone Sparrow by Zara Fraillon was the group winner of the Amnesty Honour Award and, although it was agreed that all of the books are amazing in their own way, The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock was the group’s favourite to win the Carnegie Award. To no one’s surprise, The Bone Sparrow did indeed win the 2017 Amnesty Honour and Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, the shadowing group’s second favourite, won the coveted Carnegie Award!
Sen ior School · QG Challenge
T
his term, Removians have completed their independent projects for the Queen’s Gate Challenge. Each girl was given a broad topic area and asked to produce a presentation in any style on a subject of their choice, within the areas of Politics and Current Affairs, Geography and History, Sport and Endeavour, Arts and Entertainment or The Natural World. Although the girls benefited from support and encouragement from their LVI Coaches (some of whom had undertaken Extended Project Qualifications and were, therefore, experts in this area), the key word of this task was independence, with no help or guidance from teachers, no limits on scope and no ‘hand-holding’. There was little idea how this newlyadapted venture would be received by the girls, and so it was a delight when, on submission day, the projects arrived and proved to be of a very high standard.
When Mrs Kamaryc and Mr Alter toured the Form Rooms to see the exhibition, they encountered an investigation into the implications of European migration, a study of the Tudors’ secrets, an intricate model of the effects of tornadoes, a biography of Charlie Chaplin and many other original and thought-provoking projects. Three things really impressed: firstly, the subjects that the girls had chosen to research showed that Queen’s Gate girls take a genuine interest in the world around them and have many questions to ask. Secondly, it was most encouraging to see how eager our pupils are to embrace independent study and how, with encouragement from the older girls, they had collated such wide banks of research. Finally, the presentation of the final pieces was truly marvellous, demonstrating great skill and attention to detail.
30
Debating in Remove
A
s part of the Queen’s Gate Challenge, each Removian has taken part in a debate. Motions have ranged from ‘This House would ban advertising on children’s television’ to ‘This House believes that the British Empire did more harm than good’. The girls have been very impressive; the independent research that they each conducted was wide-ranging and extremely interesting, their speeches were well-structured and persuasive and their public speaking skills were superb. The greatest strength of the Queen’s Gate Challenge is the way in which teachers step back and pupils step up, taking ownership of their projects and satisfaction in their achievements. The skills that have been learnt and demonstrated will be of great value to our pupils as they move through the School, and the relationships the Removians and the Sixth Form Coaches have built during the project is wonderful to see. QG NEWS
Sen ior School · Charity
Charity round-up Fundraising this term has supported the WWF, RNLI, Mind and Grenfell Tower
T
By Jasm i ne Holde r Charities Prefect
his year Queen’s Gate has been involved in a variety of events to raise money for charities dedicated to an extensive range of causes. This term we had a bake sale and Jeans Day for the WWF (organised by Victoria Langen, LVI), collected donations for RNLI and had glow sticks, donated by Mr Vere, that were sold by his daughters Nina (LIV) and Giselle (V) in aid of Grenfell Tower victims. This, along with the proceeds raised by a bake sale run by prefects, has been given to the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation. We also began a series of fundraising events for Mind, a mental health charity, starting with a Krispy Kreme doughnut sale (organised by Marianne Malhame-Khawam, Alyssa Trabelsi, LVI, and myself). This term we raised a total of £1,882.32, contributing to the impressive sum of £13,000 raised throughout this academic year.
We have raised the impressive sum of £13,000 this year
Age UK Tea Dance On wednesday 21 june, we held our annual Age UK Tea Dance, which involved a large selection of delicious cakes and biscuits baked by prefects for guests to enjoy, while they listened to music performed by girls from the Senior School. Following several rounds of tea, everyone joined together to dance to the musical stylings of entertainer, Ric King. Prefects were also taught by Age UK guests how to cha-cha and line dance. As the afternoon came to a close, a raffle was held so that each guest left with a small gift, and everyone said how much they had enjoyed the afternoon. A big thanks to all the girls and staff, especially Mrs Hutton, our Charities Coordinator, who have contributed to the success of all these events.
Summer 2017
31
Sen ior School · TRI Ps
Enriching the LVI Each year the LVI spend three days taking part in an array of events to help expand their knowledge by learning new life skills and taking part in cultural trips By Clara Morrissey Challenge & Enrichment and Environment Prefect & Ariane Gou di e Science and Tours PREFECT
O
n Wednesday 14 June, we woke up early (or attempted to!) for an 8.00 am start and then drove to the Avenue Cookery School, in South London. We arrived to the smell of freshly-baked goods and were greeted by Head Chef Diana, who taught us how to cook delightful quiches and chocolate roulade, accompanied by seeded bread, which we thankfully didn’t burn! At the same time, a few of LVI went to Tate Britain to take part in a drawing lesson, which entailed drawing with a diverse range of techniques and focusing particularly on proportion and composition. The budding lawyers amongst us visited the Old Bailey, which is the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, to witness exciting trials first-hand including those of an ISIS sympathizer, a gang murder, and even the trial of a 17-year-old boy accused of murdering two men.
We had an equally enriching afternoon, with groups visiting the Royal Courts of Justice to take part in a mock trial based upon a 1931 case of a man accused of burning a homeless man to death. In this we mimicked a real trial with wigs and costumes, according to the positions we were allocated. At the end of the trial the man was charged with murder and consequently condemned to death although (thankfully) this part we weren’t compelled to recreate! The rest of the group took a tour of the National Theatre. Exploring the world of theatre was fascinating, particularly because we saw behind-the-scenes of some of the greatest performances in the UK today! On Thursday morning, after an early breakfast at school, we headed to Brighton for what promised to be a swelteringly hot day at one of England’s most historically rich seaside resorts. We first visited the British Airways’ i360, a 32
162-metre observation tower offering a splendid view of the seaside town. After only a few minor cases of vertigo, we proceeded to the renowned Royal Pavilion. The building was one of the first of its kind in that its exterior, with its multitude of domes and minarets, is in the Indian style, whereas the interior is predominantly Chinese with its bamboo furniture and palm tree columns. After an immensely intriguing tour of the opulent palace we treated ourselves to a fish and chip lunch as we roamed the seafront (only narrowly escaping a series of seagull attacks) and shopped in Brighton’s famed Laines. In the afternoon, we visited the Sealife Centre, which showcased around 3,500 different species, and we ended the trip with a visit to Brighton Palace Pier. This was a truly great end to our exams and a wonderfully enriching experience.
QG NEWS
Sen ior School · Sport
The Running Queen Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio tops a year of sporting achievement with a win at the LSAA Championships
R
emovian Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio has certainly made a name for herself within the London running elite over the past 12 months. Eagle-eyed QG News readers will have followed Lara over the Winter and Spring issues to see that she undertook her first season as a biathlete, with an astonishing first result at the British National Biathlon Championships, achieving eighth place in running and 31st overall in the country. Lara then went on to conquer the Inter-Borough Schools’ Cross Country Championships, as part of the Queen’s
Gate team, becoming the first-ever Queen’s Gate pupil to gain the title of Inter-Borough Schools’ Cross Country Champion. However, her year of triumphs was not over yet! On Tuesday 13 June, Lara journeyed to Mile End to compete in the Year 7 and Year 8 London Schools’
Athletics Association (LSAA) Track & Field Championships. The Association is the
oldest Schools’ Athletic Association in England, having been formed in 1925, and organises Cross Country, Combined Events and Track & Field competitions for the Inner London boroughs,
Summer 2017
33
culminating in the selection of athletes to represent London schools at the English Schools’ Championships. Team GB in Beijing contained five ex-LSAA athletes, of which two gained medals! Lara competed exceptionally well and came away as overall 800m Champion for the competition, finishing the Year 7 race with not only a medal round her neck, but a Personal Best in the bag! Well done Lara for this outstanding achievement. We very much look forward to the next 12 months of news on your promising athletic career.
Sen ior School · Sport
Sport Report Rowing London Youth Games Rowing Regatta On Saturday 6 May, six Form IV pupils travelled to the London Regatta Centre to represent the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the London Youth Games Rowing Regatta. The Regatta began with a time trial where the crews had to finish in the top four to qualify for the final. With a very strong performance, the QG coxed quad qualified for the afternoon’s side-by-side finals. The crew of Mia Beechey, Christina Mouchantaf, Izzy Searle and Valentina Levi finished as the fourth fastest London borough. Amy Gillyon, Izzy Searle, Mia Beechey and Valentina Levi raced in the mixed quad event finishing seventh overall, and Zoe Dassas represented the School and the Borough in the Year 10–11 mixed doubles category, despite being in Year 9, where she finished tenth overall. The girls gained some very useful racing experience in a highly competitive field. Well done to all involved!
Putney Town Regatta On Saturday 13 May, Form IV’s Ceci Tombolis and Mercedes Hildreth won gold at the Putney Town Regatta, where they represented the London Youth Rowing Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club in the WJ14 coxed quad event. Congratulations to both girls for this achievement. 34
QG NEWS
Sen ior School · Sport
LIV Rowing Taster Session On Tuesday 6 June, 18 girls took part in the LIV Rowing Taster session at the Team Keane Sculling School. The purpose of the session was to provide an insight into the rowing programme before pupils are able to sign up for sessions at the beginning of Autumn Term as Form IV pupils. All the girls had a successful afternoon, trying indoor rowing as well as having their first experience on the water. The session ended with an indoor rowing team relay. We hope the girls enjoyed the experience and we look forward to seeing many of them back in September!
Rounders U13 Rounders v Portland Place On Thursday 25 May, the U13 rounders team travelled to Regent’s Park to play Portland Place. The game got off to a quick start with Portland Place making the most of the short time on the pitch, however Queen’s Gate responded with a catch in the field by Charlotte El Hage, helping to minimise their opportunities. Queen’s Gate then dominated the batting and were up by four rounders after the first innings. The second innings was more evenly matched, however, with some sensible fielding and consistently strong batting from Nina Vere. Queen’s Gate were able to secure the win 14–9., and player of the match was awarded to Maddie PerrySmith for her work at second post.
U12 and U13 Rounders v More House On Tuesday 9 May, the U12 and U13 Rounders squads played their first match of the season against More House. The U12s played excellently, winning 16½–4½, with Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio as player of the match. The U13s also played well losing by just half a rounder – 13–13½. The player of the match was Nina Vere. Congratulations to all pupils involved for a superb effort. Summer 2017
35
Sen ior School · DRAMA
Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? Queen’s Gate girls watch a thrilling production of Albee’s play and meet one of its stars, Imogen Poots (OG 2001–05)
O
n Wednesday 10 May, a group of GCSE and A Level students went to see Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf? by Edward Albee at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End. Directed by James MacDonald, the four-strong cast consisted of Imelda Staunton as Martha, Conleth Hill as George, Imogen Poots as Honey and Luke Treadaway as Nick. The best aspect of the play was not the storyline, but how strong the acting was from all of them. Staunton’s Martha was an openly aggressive monster who made the audience grimace at even being in the presence of her incredible aura of savagery. Hill, who played George, at first seemed to brush aside Martha’s comments with gentle humour, but as the play progressed, he began to crave the need to
By Cressi da Bass LVI
Martha and George’s relationship. retaliate and became equally as vicious as her. Poots, who played Honey, in the first The most special moment of the two acts was a vision of innocence and a afternoon, however, was yet to come! buffer for the audience against the intense After the performance we went around aggression of the sparring couple. In the to the Stage Door to meet Imogen final act, however, we saw her reflect the Poots, Old Girl (2001–05). Ms Arthur pain of the broken older characters. Lastly, reminded her of her ‘starring’ role as the Luke Treadaway showed an emotional servant who stole the show in the School intelligence which diverted our attention production of The Taming of the Shrew away from the painful aggression of when she was in Form IV! Imogen was charming and friendly to us all, very appreciative of our praise and delighted to be photographed, despite having to get ready for the evening performance in less than two hours’ time. Although she is a highly experienced film and TV actor, with credits including Bouquet of Barbed Wire and A Late Quartet, this is her West End debut. A treat and an inspiration for us all!
GCSE Drama examinations
T
his year’s GCSE Drama pupils executed their final practical assessments in front of the AQA moderator on Wednesday 26 April. The two groups presented extremely different pieces, with some scenes from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and an adaptation of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. The polar-opposite performances illustrated the strong acting talents of this group, with Wilde’s sparkling wit and larger than life characters contrasting well against the nightmare of Kafka’s tale of a man who turns into a dung beetle. 36
QG NEWS
Sen ior School ¡ MUSIC
The Spring Concert
T
his year’s annual Spring Concert took place on Thursday 30 March at Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road. A programme was presented with a wide range of items from large choir items and vocal ensembles to smaller instrumental ensembles and soloists. All in all, it was an enjoyable evening for all, with a diverse selection of musical genres. We welcomed a large audience who really enjoyed the evening and went away having been thoroughly entertained by the high standard of the performances; there was nothing to disappoint. I would like to say a big thank you to all the performers, instrumental teachers, choral and ensemble directors and accompanists for all their hard work and dedication, which made this concert one of the highlights of the academic year.
Piano concerts
E
ach year piano pupils of Mrs Haynes in both the Junior and Senior Schools take part in concerts at the end of Summer Term, to show parents and friends the progress they have made. A wide range of repertoire is performed, from the nursery rhymes of the Transition girls up to the Grade 4 Bach, Berkivitch and Czerny of the Senior School pupils. It was an enjoyable occasion for all involved, and thank you to Mrs Haynes for organising these wonderful events.
Summer 2017
37
Sen ior School · Tri ps
Vive la France! LIV pupils discover Paris in the springtime on this year’s French Exchange
E
ach year LIV pupils spend a week on a French Exchange, enhancing their language and communication skills with French partners. Head of French, Mme Collombon, recounts the time the girls had across the Channel this March. ‘We spent a lovely week in France, arriving by Eurostar on Thursday 16 March, ready for the week ahead. The 14 LIV girls jumped into action, having their school lessons in the morning with their exchange partners. They found the French school very different from Queen’s Gate, as lessons are often less interactive and teachers more strict. The presence of boys was also a novel departure from Queen’s Gate conventions! ‘In the afternoons, Madame Riglet 38
and I accompanied the girls on visits. We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa which is called La Joconde in French. We had a guided tour in French of medieval Paris and heard some horror stories about the Dark Ages. We also went inside the beautiful Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. ‘On one day we had a delicious lunch in a typical Parisian brasserie and then did some shopping in the atmospheric Rue de Passy. The weekend was spent with families and was a chance to explore Paris further. It was a very successful stay and many of the girls who took part said they will meet with their exchange partners again in the future. We hope to have established some lifelong friendships and many enriching linguistic exchanges!’ QG NEWS
Sen ior School ¡ Tri ps
Awake to Buddhism
O
n Wednesday 3 May, Form IV visited the Buddhapadipa Buddhist Temple in Wimbledon. The girls were led during the day by one of the resident monks. He began by describing his daily routine and talked about the history of Buddhism, before teaching the girls about meditation and inviting them to try this themselves.
The meditation was a very calming experience Beatrice Grant
The group then explored the exotic plants and flowers in the Temple grounds, and saw some of the outdoor areas for worship. The trip was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to consider Buddhism and learn first-hand about this faith. Summer 2017
39
Sen ior School · TRI Ps
Into the woods LIV get to grips with Bushcraft By Ree m Thaku r LIVHH
T
he idea of Bushcraft was pretty intriguing to me. Not only was I expecting the difficulty due to the abrupt, complete change of lifestyle for a couple days, but there was also the packing…. When we first arrived, it really made me feel as if I was being lifted out of my comfort zone. I was put in a ‘tribe’ with a fantastic leader called Gab, and girls whom at the time I wouldn’t have considered very close friends. But the amount everyone bonded was eye-opening! Bushcraft was a test of durability, stamina and survival skills in the most awesome way possible. We first learnt camouflage and 40
concealment by experimenting with natural materials and black and green face paint! We played multiple games in the woods, one of them was a game called ‘Predator’, which was a hide-and-seek game, where the objective was to touch the tree where a tribe leader was hiding, without them seeing you! We also had to build shelters out of tarp, rope and anything we could find in our area of the forest! My most vivid memory of the trip was certainly the food. There was just so much of it, but definitely not enough caramel wafers to sustain 49 hungry girls covered in dirt! QG NEWS
Sen ior School ¡ TRI Ps
The next day, we learnt the most important ways of trapping food in the wilderness, which was so interesting considering that when we look at our meals all we see is food on a plate. The Bushcraft Challenge was the most exciting. It was a three-part challenge, firstly we had to take apart our shelter, then create a smaller version which could fit on a slice of bread! It sounds easy, but was honestly so painful! Then, to practise camouflage and concealment, we had to hide our tribe leader and camouflage them only using our surroundings. Basically, we just threw Gab into a ditch and tried our best to cover him up with dead roots, leaves and dirt! It was a success, as the camp leader, Rob, was unable to find him! Finally, we had to come up with a way to lure Rob into a trap by using our own knowledge. My tribe and I knew how much Rob hates rubbish around the woodland, so we scavenged for as many possible pieces of rubbish as possible and Rob was lured into the trap! Overall, our experience at Bushcraft was certainly memorable with numerous songs, dances and riddles still stuck in our brain today! I had a lot of fun and I think I should really practise more gardening or at least be one with nature. I mean, I can barely stand getting my hands dirty without a bottle of hand sanitiser next to me! Summer 2017
41
Whole School · Events
Summer Garden Party Sunshine and songs in Stanhope Gardens
A
Steve Biddulph Queen’s Gate hosts national book launch for parenting guru
W
orld-renowned psychologist and parenting author, Steve Biddulph, launched his new book, 10 Things Girls Most Need to Grow Up Strong and Free, in the UK on Thursday 27 April, with Queen’s Gate School the venue of choice for this prestigious event. The Australia-based author and psychologist has written a number of books including Raising Boys and The Secret of Happy Children which have sold millions across the globe. The sell-out talk, entitled Raising Girls, based on his best-selling book of the same name, gave guests an insight into how to tackle the rising issues that pressure girls into growing up too quickly, and missing crucial years of their development. Following his compassionate talk, which was at times extremely emotional, Steve chatted to guests whilst signing copies of his new book, 10 Things Girls Most Need…, which hit No. 1 in the Amazon Book chart shortly after release.
t the end of the academic year, parents, staff, alumnae and friends of the School gather together in Stanhope Gardens to celebrate the year’s successes with their annual Garden Party. The event, hosted by the Principal and the Queen’s Gate Foundation, saw guests arrive on the evening of Thursday 22 June to be greeted with a beautiful orchid display by florist Alisa Lambina, Old Girl (2003–10). Guests then made their way to the Queen’s Gate marquees, where drinks flowed freely throughout the evening. Everyone also enjoyed a selection of delicious canapés and sweet tartlets, prepared by the School’s catering team. As part of the evening, guests were serenaded with a selection of songs from the Girls’ Barbershop, under the direction of Teacher of Singing, Mrs Mailley-Smith. A wonderful evening was had by all. Thank you to all who came along and made the event such a joyous occasion.
A huge thank you to Steve for choosing Queen’s Gate to host this fascinating and thought-provoking event.
42
QG NEWS
whole School · Events
Cultural capital Alumnae enjoy some London sights over two special evenings
D
uring the Summer Term, Queen’s Gate Old Girls were given the opportunity to enjoy two cultural tours in central London. On Friday 5 May, attendees took advantage of the late opening times at the National Gallery and took a private tour entitled Trade Secrets: Encoded Messages and Unusual Discoveries. With the knowledge of their guide, the group uncovered secrets about a range of paintings including Bronzino’s An Allegory with Venus and Cupid and Bellows’s Men of the Docks, and had the opportunity to contribute their own thoughts and interpretations about the works. On Thursday 25 May, alumnae and
Summer 2017
43
former staff were treated to a food and drink tour around Mayfair and St James’s, given by award-winning Blue Badge Guide Leo Heaton. Stops on the tour included Shepherd’s Market to uncover the beginnings of Mayfair, Charbonnel et Walker to learn about Royal Warrants, and Duke’s Hotel, whose bar supposedly inspired Ian Fleming’s choice of shakennot-stirred beverage for Mr Bond. As is important on a food and drink tour, the evening included a pub stop where everyone had the chance to enjoy a drink and discuss all the fascinating things they had learnt.
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Staff news
Staff farewells SENIOR SCHOOL Dr Bell Head of Classics
In his novel Bleak House, Charles Dickens memorably coined the term ‘growlery’, as the name for the study where Mr Jarndyce would spend his time. The name referred to the unapproachable moods into which this central character would fall when the wind was ‘in the East’. Alumnae of the Queen’s Gate Classics Department might well find Dickens’ description of a book-filled room, inhabited by a gentleman of unimpeachable integrity and imposing intellectual gravitas, rather reminiscent of our own room 1.4. Dr Terry Bell joined Queen’s Gate School in 1998, and began his steady helmsmanship of the Classics Department in 2000. He cites as his main achievements the addition of Ancient Greek and Ancient History to the other two subjects (Latin and Classical
Civilisation) already on offer. Certainly it is true that it is a rarity for a school of Queen’s Gate’s size to teach all four classical subjects. But perhaps Dr Bell’s modesty prevents him from seeing, or perhaps he is truly unaware of, all that he has given the School. It is a hallmark of his students that they develop striking skills of critical thinking and independent study. Girls from outside the Department know equally that his guidance is invaluable when undertaking any kind of serious academic project. Deep and considered as his knowledge of the ancient world is, just as deep, and broad, is his command of other subjects such as art history, European literature, early cinema, political thought, philosophy, modern history, cookery, and the form of racehorses on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ms Wise Teacher of Physics
I am leaving Queen’s Gate after four years and moving to Kew House School, in Chiswick, where I will be Head of E-Learning and STEM Coordinator for Science. I have enjoyed teaching in a school where the pupils are so hardworking and supportive, and where the staff are so enthusiastic and friendly. I will miss all my classes, colleagues and the exciting opportunities and roles that Queen’s Gate has given me, such as being a dwarf in the pantomime.
His advice has been the starting point for many voyages of discovery, for staff as well as students. The Department’s record stands as further testament to Dr Bell’s gift for inspiring and nurturing curious young minds, having had notable successes sending Classics students to Oxbridge (amongst them his own daughters, Treasa and Rosie), as do the regular visits of his ex-students. Dr Bell leaves Queen’s Gate for Rome, and no student, past or present, would wish him anything less than a long and happy sojourn there, of continued academic explorations, punctuated by morning cornetti, dog walks in the Villa Borghese and availment of the Eternal City’s many cultural delights and treasures. — Mr Rupert Moss
Mrs Hutton (maternity leave) Head of Sociology
After three years at Queen’s Gate, I will be heading off on maternity leave at the end of Summer Term. I am sure the exercise I have gained from climbing the huge numbers of stairs in the school has been beneficial for me and the baby, and hopefully the birth will go swimmingly as a result. I wouldn’t have coped without the support of my wonderful colleagues, but also all the offers of help I have had from the girls. They regularly turn up at
44
my office door before my lessons offering to carry things for me. I will send a picture and details of the baby’s name to Mrs Kamaryc – there is much debate about whether it will be a boy or a girl, with some very strong opinions on both sides (the most vocal being the guests who come each week for the Age UK lunch). I will try to come and visit before Christmas so you can all meet him or her. Have a lovely holiday!
QG NEWS
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Staff news
Mr Booth TEacher of Computer Science
I am very sad to be leaving Queen’s Gate, which has the best girls and the best teachers I have ever worked with. I have many memories to treasure, the mud course on the Remove trip to Normandy being one I will never forget, along with Mrs Hutton guiding my trusty steed on
Mr Toby Head of Maths
my (very nervous) first horse ride! Of the three of us, I’m not sure who was the most scared. Mrs Kamaryc always reminds us ‘once a Queen’s Gate Girl, always a Queen’s Gate Girl’, to which I would add ‘Once a Queen’s Gate teacher, always a Queen’s Gate teacher’!
JUNIOR SCHOOL
I have many fond memories to look back on from my time at Queen’s Gate and I couldn’t possibly have asked to work with a nicer group of pupils, whom I will miss very much. I look forward to moving on to the next stage of my career as a tutor in the South Kensington area, and I hope I still have the opportunity to continue working with some of you. I would also like to thank my peers for making the past three and a half years so enjoyable, and I am sure that I will keep in contact with many of you. I wish you all continued success!
Mrs Neale Director of the Junior School
At the end of this Summer Term, we said a fond farewell to our Director of the Junior School, Mrs Sharie Neale, following 24 years of excellent service to our School. Mrs Neale arrived at Queen’s Gate in 1993, having held Director of Music positions in several schools. She began life at Queen’s Gate as Form Teacher to III Form with responsibility for 11+ examinations. Later she became Key Stage 2 Co-ordinator and Head of Mathematics, then Director of Studies with responsibility for Junior/ Senior School liaison, Senior Tutor, Acting Headmistress and finally our first ever Director of the Junior School. Throughout her many years at Queen’s Gate, Mrs Neale has taken a genuine and keen interest in each of her pupils, treating each as an individual, challenging them to achieve their potential, supporting them when needed and celebrating their successes. Her interest Summer 2017
continued as they moved to the Senior School where she loved to hear of their continued success and direction in life – and the girls in turn loved to return to tell her of their achievements. Mrs Neale is an outstanding educator with a vast experience of Queen’s Gate and of 11+ preparation. She set high, but realistic, goals for her pupils and was able to advise parents exactly which Schools they should consider. However, such was her loyalty to Queen’s Gate that she often finished by telling parents that the best Senior School for their daughter was on their doorstep; there was no need to look elsewhere! As a member of Senior Management, Mrs Neale was a mine of sensible advice and information; forthright in her opinions, she spoke with genuine passion about our Junior School and the pupils in her charge. Her achievements have been many; the much-loved Maths clubs which raised mathematical standards whilst showing girls that Maths was fun, the introduction of iPads, Modern Language opportunities including Mandarin, and of course she combined the traditional with the contemporary through the teaching of Ancient Greek alongside coding and computer programming. Mrs Neale was never one to shy away from initiatives or challenge. Mrs Neale’s love of music was evident 45
throughout the School as she shared this passion with pupils of all ages. She encouraged girls to perform and to enjoy their music, through choirs and the Junior School orchestra. And of course, she encouraged parents to join in through her well-attended Parents’ Choir. Mrs Neale brought stability to the Junior School in recent years – a firm, but calm, hand on the tiller – and I was very pleased to appoint her as our firstever Director of the Junior School. Mrs Neale was proud to hold this position and during her years of office, led the School with purpose and vision, gaining the respect of pupils, parents and staff. Mrs Neale’s Northern Ireland upbringing, I am sure, provided the foundations for many of her qualities – her loyalty, integrity, excellent work ethic, her true appreciation of family life and its values – as well as her love of rugby! In addition, Mrs Neale has a very kind heart as well as a mischievous sense of humour. I have enjoyed working with Mrs Neale in her various positions and thank her for her outstanding contributions to Queen’s Gate; generations of girls have benefited from her care and guidance. We shall miss Mrs Neale very much, but wish her good health and happiness in her retirement. — Mrs Kamaryc
J u n ior & Sen ior Schools · Staff news
Miss Askem IIA Form Teacher
Sadly, after such a short time here as a member of staff, I am moving on to my next adventure. I have enjoyed teaching IIA and I have loved every moment of getting to know all the girls, and being part of the Queen’s Gate Community again. I will cherish many memories from being a teacher, which will add to all my happy memories as a pupil here. It has been a pleasure to teach in the Junior School and I wish all the girls the very best for the future.
Ms Hörcsög Music Co-ordinator
Mrs McDonnell Transition Teaching Assistant
I am leaving Queen’s Gate after 14 years, to dedicate my time to music therapy work closer to home. I would like to say a very special thank you to the whole QG Community for these wonderful years and memories, especially thanking Mrs Kamaryc and Mrs Neale for their unwavering support. I have truly enjoyed working with all the girls, encouraging them and seeing them grow, and I wish you all the very best for the future.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my year at Queen’s Gate, and feel honoured to have had the opportunity to have worked with such wonderful colleagues and pupils. I am also thankful to all the marvellous parents who have been so welcoming. I would like to say a special thank you to Miss Bradnick and the girls in Transition class, we made a great team and have had a great year together, I will miss you all. I wish everyone at Queen’s Gate all the best for the future.
Mme Tweedie Teacher of French
Mrs Shanley III Form Teacher
I am sad to be leaving Queen’s Gate. I will, of course, miss the pupils and the staff very much. It has been a great joy to work in the friendly, nurturing, multinational, vibrant environment that is Queen’s Gate School. I wish the pupils, the staff and the School every success for the future.
It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Queen’s Gate community. I have such fond and happy memories of my time here and I would like to say a special thank you to the girls and parents of the wonderful form group with whom I have spent the last two years. Thank you for your kindness, generosity and enthusiasm. I will miss you all very much. I look forward to moving to Wetherby Prep in September.
Queen’s Gate Baby Congratulations to the newest member of the Queen’s Gate community!
Miss Adler, Head of Computer Science, gave birth to Noah Adler-Abdulkadir on Sunday 21 May in Lewisham.
46
QG NEWS
Keep Calm And
Plan
Your Christmas Fair
Donation
It’s never too early to plan your raffle and silent auction donations for the Christmas Fair.
Think now, donate later Proceeds support school projects and supplies for the girls, bursaries for those that otherwise would not be able to join your girls at Queen’s Gate and charities supported by school. Donations often comprise tickets for sporting or musical events, hampers, work placement offers or mentoring sessions, vouchers for yoga/pilates session or a meal in a restaurant or time away in a villa or chalet or lovely products and gift sets.
Planning for the Queen’s Gate Christmas Fair is already underway and many thanks to girls who have completed a survey about the fair. New and exciting stallholders, offering potential Christmas presents of interest to the girls, their family and friends are being sought out. Aromatherapy balms, pet products, Christmas wreaths and cakes, jewellery, leather goods, clothing and trendy accessories which will appeal to older girls to name but a few stalls. In addition, there will be new activities for the girls to enjoy. There will be a photo studio to produce pop art images (perfect for capturing some Queen’s Gate memories), a caricaturist and, for those who enjoy getting into the festive spirit, a Christmasthemed dressing-up competition is being considered.
Please contact Linda or Emma with any offers or queries: linda.diotallevi@btinternet.com · emmahillpost@gmail.com
Queen’s Gate School 133 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5LE 020 7589 3587 queensgate.org.uk @queens_gate /133queensgate