The school Christmas Bazaar was once again a busy affair with many parents, grandparents and pupils eagerly trying their luck at the Bottle Tombola or purchasing the delicious homemade cakes and Christmas goodies that were on sale. There was a huge variety of stalls from a Traditional German Market Stall to Paint a Ceramic Tile. The Sixth Form helped paint faces and nails and also offered a badge making service which was extremely successful.

Father Christmas arrived and the children had the opportunity to meet him in his Grotto. The PTFA Pantry were busy supplying customers with scrumptious cakes and hot bacon sandwiches whilst the school orchestra's played in the background.

It was a delight to welcome Father Tim back to celebrate our Feast Day Mass. While he was here, he agreed to launch his latest book, his first foray into children’s literature. With the older members of the school, Freddie Freckles is a firm favourite and we are sure that in the coming months the exploits of Freddie will be equally loved by younger children. The book launch was a phenomenal success and Father Tim was kept busy most of the afternoon signing copies for the youngest members of our school, senior pupils, Sixth Form and members of staff.

In order to raise funds for their upcoming journey to India, the Sixth Form girls organised a Quiz night. The event was a sell out and a buzz filled the air as the teams eagerly waited for the questions to begin. All ten rounds brought new challenges, stretching team member's brains to consolidate their answers.

Supper was provided in the form of a delicious Indian Curry which was served by the girls whilst items were displayed for the silent auction and raffle tickets continued to be purchased. The Music round was a highlight for many and an excellent chance for teams to scratch together extra points. As the quiz masters Tara  and Olivia  drew the evening to a close, there was delight sounded by all on the winning team Mumbai who had managed to work themselves into the lead in the final rounds.

Dear Parents,

It is always a joy to welcome all our pupils back to school in September and this year has been no exception. The term has got off to a hectic start with the Prep School Curriculum Evening and the Year 7 Transition Evening already history. Apprehensive new pupils who only two weeks ago were tentatively taking their first steps to integrate themselves are now well established and ready to go! The recent Macmillan Coffee Morning and inaugural inter-house Tug of War event has left us aching and exhausted but proud to be members of such a dynamic community. Thank you all for making both events such a success. The PTFA raised over £350 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the girls over £850 for the same cause.

Alton Convent School had a record number of ten girls qualifying for the ISA National Athletics' Championships held on 24 June at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. The girls formed part of the London West Division team who then completed against all the other divisions in England. All of the school's athletes performed excellently but in particular Alicia in Year 7 threw a personal best of 7.36 metres to take a Silver medal in the shot put.

However the best performance went to the Year 5 girls relay team, consisting of Joanna, India, Abigail and Francesca. This was their second time of qualifying for the Nationals. Last year they were the runners up but this year they took first place on the podium having run their hearts out with some excellent changeovers helping them to maintain their speed throughout.

In the glorious surroundings of the Thames Valley Athletic Stadium in Eton, Alton Convent School took part in the Annual Regional Athletic ISA Championships. Alton Convent athletes produced some amazing performances, many finishing in the top three in their events and were awarded bronze, silver and gold medals.

Seven of Alton Convent's athletes performed exceptionally and as a result have qualified for the National ISA Finals in Birmingham on the 24^th June 2009. From over a 1000 competitors the following girls have achieved fantastic results with many personal bests.

Alton Convent School’s Summer Festival of Arts once again displayed the amazing breadth and inspiring quality of the pupil’s musical performances and artistic displays.

Parents and friends gathered at the school to enjoy group and solo musical performances, and to appreciate artistic offerings in such diverse media as sculpture, painting, dance and photography – all produced by children from Reception to A’ level.

Amy , who attends classes at the Royal College of Music, gave a tender and evocative performance of Gershwin’s The Man I Love. Kate , Charlotte , Laura and Rochelle  – members of the Farnham Youth Choir – presented a stunning a cappella version of Lynn Williams’s Alleluia.

It was a pleasure to see so many parents and children making the most of Saturday’s activity packed Open Day. Teachers had laid on an exciting programme of events, encompassing all aspects of the schools life, from maths and English through drama, music and art to cricket, netball and extra curricular activities like programming and cookery. Everyone who came seemed to enjoy all that they did, and many parents made the most of this opportunity to get some insights into the work of other classes too.

After one of the longer spring terms for some time, ending with blue skies, daffodils blooming and the sound of birdsong in our woods, it is hard to remember the briskly cold days that heralded fun in the snow in February. The school has once again completed an excellent term full of individual and community achievements and sporting, musical and dramatic success. Who among the audience could forget Daisy Pulls It Off or indeed not speculate on who might have been the role model for the headmistress? I hope you get at least a sense of the excitement that has permeated this term through the articles in this spring newsletter. I have been delighted to share in some of our many residential visits, enjoying Bath and Bristol with Year 10 in March, followed by a memorable ‘final fling’ with our Upper Sixth in Amsterdam. Our younger children not to be outdone had a reportedly ‘brilliant’ time at Marchant's Hill. As usual at this time of year my mind turns towards our annual Lower Sixth Form pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter, when students, who have fundraised so vigorously, and been supported so generously, since September, will build for themselves memories to last a lifetime.

To celebrate the culmination of Alton Convent School’s seventieth anniversary year past pupils and past and current staff were invited to a spectacular Jubilee Ball at the Frensham Pond Hotel. A splendid meal was followed by music and dancing, and it was a fi tting commemoration of the ongoing story of the school for members of the community throughout the years to come together and celebrate the jubilee in such style.