Our fundraising for this year’s Good Shepherd Appeal on behalf of the Catholic Chidlren’s Society reached its climax on the last Friday of term. At lunchtime, the prep school joined the senior school for a simple, frugal lunch of bread, cheese and fruit. Later on in the day, the Welsford Hall was transformed as the Upper Prep set out the stalls for their businesses, which had been in preparation throughout Lent. Staff, parents and younger pupils were hugely impressed by the variety of business ideas that the children had come up with, with sweetie kebabs, cakes baked to order and chocolate fountains attracting particular interest.

Taking our seats in the Headquarters of the UN in New York was surreal. Being surrounded by the sandy brown paneling and microphones that light up when you talk only heightened the experience.

Peter Luff introduced an afternoon filled with speakers to debate the Security Council's use of the veto. Initially, we heard the history and possible future of the UN from the Indian UN representative, giving a necessary background to the veto and its initial purpose was. After this, there was an opportunity to ask questions, many of which broadened the topic discussed and made valid points. Questions of the UN's assistance in Zimbabwe and its stance on the Iraq war were asked.

This December, the II Form traveled to the Palace of Westminster to discover more about the role of Parliament within society and to meet with local MP Michael Mates. Mr Mates, who had spent that morning in talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister, discussed with the girls his role as an MP and gave lots of valuable advice for those girls wishing to follow in his footsteps.

After a tour of the Palace, during which the girls witnessed a discussion in the House of Lords and a debate in the House of Commons on the effects of cheap alcohol on society, they visited Westminster Abbey. In the Abbey, they got the opportunity to see many of the tombs of the Tudor monarchs which they had studied in their History lessons. All had an interesting and informative day, and the girls learned a little more more about the roles and responsibilities they will one day have as adults.

South West Surrey MP, Jeremy Hunt, visited us for our ‘Save the Earth’ Environment Day on Friday 9th November. As well as touring part of the senior school, Mr Hunt also inspected building work on our extensive new Creative Arts Centre, which will include a number of innovative design features to minimize environmental impact.

Mr Hunt concluded his visit by holding an intensive ‘question time’ debate with the Sixth Formers and members of the Blue Sky philosophy and literature group. The wide ranging discussion covered topics including tax policy, health care, education and immigration. Mr Hunt said how impressed he was by the students’ willingness to engage in debate and the level of their political awareness.

On 14th June, Mrs Bird took Alex, Joanna, Megan and Katherine to Portsmouth Cathedral, for the Good Sheppard Appeal Mass, celebrated by Bishop Crispian. Joanna and Alex took the banner down the isle with loads of other school banners. Megan and Katherine then did their job of walking up the isle. After Mass, we looked round at how beautiful it all was. Then we went to the park to have our picnic lunch and finished the day with an ice cream!

When asked to put my Lourdes experience into words many came to mind such as, life changing, amazing, emotional and exhausting! I went to France with an open mind, in truth I did not know what to expect and was a little apprehensive. I had heard so many good things from previous years that I couldn't imagine any school trip could realistically live up to those expectations.

Within the first 48 hours I had already laughed until I hurt, cried so much that I choked and almost became deliriously tired. But most importantly I was enjoying every single aspect of the day.

The school has, for a number of years now, raised money during Lent for the Catholic Children’s Society, to support their work in finding foster and adoptive families, offering counselling to children and young people and promoting inclusion within the life of the Church.

This year we’ve raised money through a number of activities, including ‘fruit baa baa’ boxes and a ‘money bunny’ for loose change, Easter egg hunts and egg rolling in the lower prep, sponsored running, skipping, basketball, netball and football relays in the upper prep and a Lenten lunch for the seniors and the staff.

The school has raised £702 for Comic Relief this year, through a variety of fundraising efforts on Red Nose Day.

The school's normal uniform, and indeed the teachers' wardrobes, were replaced for the day with a huge variety of red mufti, including some rather impressive hats in the law department and a splendid home-made t-shirt in the prep school. Lewis in 6W organised a jumble sale for prep school pupils at the end of the day, raising £62, and senior forms sold some rather delicious cakes at morning break and organized a collection. Prep school pupils had the chance to compete for four signed copies of Jamie Oliver's Little Book of Big Treats.

PC Beck from the Hampshire Constabulary visited the Lower Prep children at Alton Convent School. He talked about the very important role police officers play in our community, questioning people who have done wrong things and helping to fight crime. He made it clear that the police are there to look after us and keep us safe. The children delighted in listening to real conversations on the police radio and enjoyed trying various hats and jackets on; even the teachers joined in and Miss Burchfield really looked the part in a police lady's uniform!