The weeks of hard work, learning poetry, rehearsing prose and planning and practising presentations have certainly paid off this year, with record numbers of pupils (33!) achieving distinctions in their English Speaking Board exams. Almost all of our candidates achieved a merit, with no less than 84% getting Merit Plus or higher; our best results so far. The results apart, the opportunity for independent, personalised study and research, the chance to learn from and critique one another’s work, and the development of analysis and presentation skills make this a hugely important part of our curriculum.

Early years and KS1 enjoyed some exciting Easter activities on Tuesday.

The day started with an egg rolling competition in Reception, where the children rolled their hard boiled eggs across the playground, trying to get their egg to land nearest to the Easter egg target. Hannah and Maddie were victorious, but all the children enjoyed the challenge and lots of interesting techniques arose!

The Easter Bunny had been hard at work in the woods, and all year groups enjoyed searching for the Easter eggs, which he had thoughtfully left behind. This was certainly the highlight of the day for many, and we had some very vigilant Easter egg hunters! The eggs came in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes, and were found in some unusual places! Fortunately we were very thorough and every class ended up with a sizeable collection to share out.

Variety is the spice of life - this was certainly the case at the Chamber Music Concert presented by the Senior School pupils. From the serene sound of Debussy's Syrinx on solo flute played by Hannah to the Gorilla Rock, composed and performed with panache by Katie. Hannah also gave an accomplished performance on recorder and piano of her A2 examination recital.

Chamber groups also featured - the year 9 flute quartet delighted the audience with their Ragtime piece whilst the wind quartet brought back nostalgic feelings with an arrangement of The House of the Rising Sun.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

After completing Bronze D of E successfully, the ‘lucky’ thirteen set off aspiring for their Silver along the Sussex/Surrey/Hampshire boarders. After much hail and with clothes soaked in rain the groups arrived at Chase Farm for the first night camp. I will not lie. It was a sleepless night – very cold. The next day involved a long walk around the Devil’s Punchbowl, including some unplanned ‘diversions’. The hail was torrential and all were very happy to settle down for the second night in their tents. 13 extremely tired yet very content faces were beaming at the finish line, until we remembered that this was only the practice.

29 hours of intensive,uninterrupted rehearsal +
26 girls from forms I II and III in the Senior School +
1 producing company called Upstage Productions+
1 Drama Teacher from school+
1 Audience of 100 people+
1 set of costumes=
1 50 minute performance called 'The Dreamer'

A very jolly combination it was too, of people,acting, singing and dancing in the Marian Hall from 7to 11 April.The judgement of both the performers and the audience was that it had been an incredibly worthwhile experience and one that is worth repeating another year!

Well done to all who decided to use one week of their Easter holiday in focused creativity!

After completing Bronze D of E successfully, the ‘lucky’ thirteen set off aspiring for their Silver along the Sussex/Surrey/Hampshire boarders. After much hail and with clothes soaked in rain the groups arrived at Chase Farm for the first night camp. I will not lie. It was a sleepless night – very cold. The next day involved a long walk around the Devil’s Punchbowl, including some unplanned ‘diversions’. The hail was torrential and all were very happy to settle down for the second night in their tents. 13 extremely tired yet very content faces were beaming at the finish line, until we remembered that this was only the practice.

29 hours of intensive,uninterrupted rehearsal +
26 girls from forms I II and III in the Senior School +
1 producing company called Upstage Productions+
1 Drama Teacher from school+
1 Audience of 100 people+
1 set of costumes=
1 50 minute performance called 'The Dreamer'

A very jolly combination it was too, of people,acting, singing and dancing in the Marian Hall from 7to 11 April.The judgement of both the performers and the audience was that it had been an incredibly worthwhile experience and one that is worth repeating another year!

Well done to all who decided to use one week of their Easter holiday in focused creativity!

After completing Bronze D of E successfully, the ‘lucky’ thirteen set off aspiring for their Silver along the Sussex/Surrey/Hampshire boarders. After much hail and with clothes soaked in rain the groups arrived at Chase Farm for the first night camp. I will not lie. It was a sleepless night – very cold. The next day involved a long walk around the Devil’s Punchbowl, including some unplanned ‘diversions’. The hail was torrential and all were very happy to settle down for the second night in their tents. 13 extremely tired yet very content faces were beaming at the finish line, until we remembered that this was only the practice.

29 hours of intensive,uninterrupted rehearsal +
26 girls from forms I II and III in the Senior School +
1 producing company called Upstage Productions+
1 Drama Teacher from school+
1 Audience of 100 people+
1 set of costumes=
1 50 minute performance called 'The Dreamer'

A very jolly combination it was too, of people,acting, singing and dancing in the Marian Hall from 7to 11 April.The judgement of both the performers and the audience was that it had been an incredibly worthwhile experience and one that is worth repeating another year!

Well done to all who decided to use one week of their Easter holiday in focused creativity!

29 hours of intensive,uninterrupted rehearsal +
26 girls from forms I II and III in the Senior School +
1 producing company called Upstage Productions+
1 Drama Teacher from school+
1 Audience of 100 people+
1 set of costumes=
1 50 minute performance called 'The Dreamer'

A very jolly combination it was too, of people,acting, singing and dancing in the Marian Hall from 7to 11 April.The judgement of both the performers and the audience was that it had been an incredibly worthwhile experience and one that is worth repeating another year!

Well done to all who decided to use one week of their Easter holiday in focused creativity!

Emily told us: "I loved the facilities the château had. The grounds were brilliant and I especially loved the swing! I enjoyed all the visits but the one I liked the most was the caramel factory. We watched how the caramel was made then after sampling some we all went to the shop to buy more! I also enjoyed the trips to the markets because everyone was so friendly. I loved asking people questions because once you had asked one person you wanted to ask another. I was very excited on the day we went out to buy our own food and make a meal. It was great fun, the food tasted fantastic and we won second prize! It was really touching when we went to the American War Memorial Cemetery because so many people had given up their lives for us. It was so sad to see how many thousands of graves there were and to know how many more people were missing.

29 hours of intensive,uninterrupted rehearsal +
26 girls from forms I II and III in the Senior School +
1 producing company called Upstage Productions+
1 Drama Teacher from school+
1 Audience of 100 people+
1 set of costumes=
1 50 minute performance called 'The Dreamer'

A very jolly combination it was too, of people,acting, singing and dancing in the Marian Hall from 7to 11 April.The judgement of both the performers and the audience was that it had been an incredibly worthwhile experience and one that is worth repeating another year!

Well done to all who decided to use one week of their Easter holiday in focused creativity!

Emily told us: "I loved the facilities the château had. The grounds were brilliant and I especially loved the swing! I enjoyed all the visits but the one I liked the most was the caramel factory. We watched how the caramel was made then after sampling some we all went to the shop to buy more! I also enjoyed the trips to the markets because everyone was so friendly. I loved asking people questions because once you had asked one person you wanted to ask another. I was very excited on the day we went out to buy our own food and make a meal. It was great fun, the food tasted fantastic and we won second prize! It was really touching when we went to the American War Memorial Cemetery because so many people had given up their lives for us. It was so sad to see how many thousands of graves there were and to know how many more people were missing.

Emily told us: "I loved the facilities the château had. The grounds were brilliant and I especially loved the swing! I enjoyed all the visits but the one I liked the most was the caramel factory. We watched how the caramel was made then after sampling some we all went to the shop to buy more! I also enjoyed the trips to the markets because everyone was so friendly. I loved asking people questions because once you had asked one person you wanted to ask another. I was very excited on the day we went out to buy our own food and make a meal. It was great fun, the food tasted fantastic and we won second prize! It was really touching when we went to the American War Memorial Cemetery because so many people had given up their lives for us. It was so sad to see how many thousands of graves there were and to know how many more people were missing.

The under 11 rounders team had their first match of the season on the first day of term! It was a really good game and quite close between the two teams, Alton Convent and Dunhurst. The final score was 10½ to 14, to them. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Jessica, 6W

Emily told us: "I loved the facilities the château had. The grounds were brilliant and I especially loved the swing! I enjoyed all the visits but the one I liked the most was the caramel factory. We watched how the caramel was made then after sampling some we all went to the shop to buy more! I also enjoyed the trips to the markets because everyone was so friendly. I loved asking people questions because once you had asked one person you wanted to ask another. I was very excited on the day we went out to buy our own food and make a meal. It was great fun, the food tasted fantastic and we won second prize! It was really touching when we went to the American War Memorial Cemetery because so many people had given up their lives for us. It was so sad to see how many thousands of graves there were and to know how many more people were missing.

On Thursday 17th April the lower sixth geographers visited Guildford with Salesian College in order to define the boundary of the Central Business District and to determine whether Guildford fitted the standard model of core and frame areas.

The five girls and the boys from Salesian formed groups of twos and threes and each group took a different route. We investigated building height and age of building as well as the cleanliness and appearance of different sites along our route. We counted the numbers of pedestrians and cars in order to establish whether particular spots were busy or quiet. In addition each group were given particular areas to investigate the land use, some were primarily shops and others offices. It was then up to each individual group to describe where they felt the Central Business District of Guildford ended. At the end of the day, back at Salesian we each presented our findings and discussed what we had all found.

When we walked in to class after lunch on Thursday we were in for a shock: a lady dressed in 1940’s clothes was standing there! It turned out to be Mrs Denby, she was here to tell us about war time and the 1940’s. She had also brought a lot of objects from the time as well. I found out that girls would go a long way to look good.
She went on to talk about jobs during the war and how everything changed. It was really interesting learning about war time with Mrs Denby and at the end we got to try out some of the arefacts