Senior Girls' Blog: 19 November

Before I start with the rundown on this week, I would like to reflect back to last weekends Remeberence Services in the Cathedral and in particular mention just how proud I am of Helena and Lowenna, our resident choristers. As you will know the boarding community attended the morning service and poppy drop on mass last Sunday and this week I received an email from Mr Chris Gray, Director of Music, Truro Cathedral. An extract from Mr Gray’s email is can be read below:

‘I wanted to put in writing just how extraordinary I felt Sunday’s services were – the choir’s performances stand out for me as some of the most poignant, emotionally powerful I’ve experienced and they clearly added much to the marking of this especially significant Remembrance Day for our community. The music was often demanding in terms of pitching, stamina and tessitura for all singers, but the choir sailed through those technical challenges to communicate vividly the profound sentiments of the music and words.’

Mr Gray went on to provide the following link, https://soundcloud.com/truro-cathedral/reconciliation-by-russell-pascoe, to a live recording of the introit from Sunday morning and I thought I would share this with you on this week’s blog. If you do have a moment please have a listen; it really is exceptional and a testament to how hard the girls work week in week out!

As so, onto this week’s news. As ever the Malvern girls have been busy.

On Tuesday, Helena, singing alongside her singing teacher Dr Barry Rose, delivered a lunchtime concert at the Methodist Church in town, Leanne returned from the North American Fencing Cup in Kanzas City and Tulip had a catch up meeting with her guardian agency.

After school, Meg and Codi joined other sixth form pupils and had fun at this year’s Sixth Form Winter Warmer; an annual event that enables the sixth form to mix and get to know each other. This year there was everything from games of twister, apple bobbing, sack races, sparklers, doughnut eating from a washing line and mummifying using toilet roll! It was great to see Meg and Codi joining in and hearing all about it upon their return!

Also on Tuesday, after supper and prep, the Two for Tuesday weekly Dominoes Pizza offer was made the most of and the girls were treated to a mid-week pizza fix. Having partaken as extra’s in a German film last term, the boarding community received payment and so the cash was split between the four boarding house. Cue pizza all round!

Thursday morning meant early starts our 5th Year and Upper Sixth artists who left for London at 5.30am. The early morning alarm was not greeted favourably by any of us but Cherry and Stephanie boarded the bus excited whilst I looked on, waving them off in my pyjamas and not at all jealous of their itinerary and plans…School of Rock in the West End!!!! Yes please!!!

On Thursday afternoon, the school’s maths department received news of the results of the UKMT Senior Mathematics Challenge that the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth mathematicians sat in the first week of this half term. Scanning through the results it was great to see so many of the Malvern girls receive certification.

At the top of the Lower Sixth leader board, I was delighted to see Leanne’s name. Leanne who achieved best in the year also qualified for a silver certificate whilst other results to mention include Anna W, Tung, Lisha and Winkie who all achieved a bronze award!

Friday quickly came about and the start of yet another weekend was upon us. With the weekly boarders departed for home, Leanne away at a European Fencing Cadets competition in Sofia, Bulgaria and Cherry and Stephanie travelling back from London, relative calm descended on the house.

The evening was spent completing prep and then the usual rounds of SBASC sporting action ensued before the girls settled into bed for a good nights sleep and a lie in.

Lie in’s were cut short for many of the girls on Saturday morning. For Tung, Tulip and Winkie, who were due to help Mrs Grigg with the year five activity morning, there was a particularly early start: well early for a Saturday anyway. Meanwhile, Sophie and Helena left the house for a slightly earlier brunch than normal as they were required in the Burrell Theatre for a full day of West Side Story rehearsals starting at 10am. For everyone else Saturday was to be a free day, lots of work and revision was completed, and the girls visited the gym, town and Tesco’s.

After a hearty evening meal of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Curly Fries or Macaroni Cheese the girls returned to the house for the usual Saturday evening social and treats. Amy headed out for a friends 16^th birthday meal at the Hub Box and Emma attend a friends 18^th in neighbouring village Probus. For those that remained I prepared a feast of nachos, chicken wings, garlic bread, chocolate fondue, fruit, ice cream and frozen yogurt and the girls settled in for the evening.This week and with an inter house chess competition playing out I ‘taught’ the girls the rules of the popular and traditional game that, it transpires, originated in India! The first game, between Winkie and Tung played out over the next couple of hours with both girls showing fierce competitiveness (or stubbornness) and determination to succeed; alas a draw was inevitable when both girls were left with only their kings!!! Hmmm….finding the Malvern House champion to pit against the best of the rest from Poltisco, Pentreve and Trennick may take a while!

On Sunday there was another crack of dawn alarm clock to be set, this time for Anna and Sophie who were representing Truro School at  Model United Nations event at Exeter School. The girls woke early for breakfast in the house before heading up the hill to meet Mr Chamberlain and Mrs Mitchell. For everyone else, lie ins were enjoyed and the house remained quiet until 10.45am roll call!

It was then up to brunch on mass. Full English breakfasts were enjoyed and then the girls headed back to the house for a couple of hours of free time. This weekends activity, sessions of well being and mindfulness, were due to kick off at midday but illness meant the full programme was not possible. The yoga session went ahead however and must have been successful as a very relaxed, at peace, group of girls returned to the house later in the afternoon.

Having enjoyed a roast lamb with all the trimmings supper the girls are now busy preparing themselves for the week ahead. Prep and revision is happening and I believe there is some more chess to come….

Looking ahead, we certainly have a packed four-week schedule.  On Wednesday of this week, Truro will host the annual City of Lights Parade when schools in the county will parade through the streets of the City Centre carrying their lantern projects. This Saturday we will go together as a house to watch the school play West Side Story and we are all looking forward to supporting the budding Malvern actresses and musicians’, Lowenna, Helena and Sophie. We just hope they are still going on Saturday; with a full days dress rehearsal tomorrow and then performances every evening from Tuesday, we are going to have some tired Malvern-eers come the weekend!

Other events to look forward to include: the small matter of Christmass-afying the house (see poster below), a weekend trip to Plymouth for Christmas Shopping and Ice Skating at the Eden Project. There is also the boarders’ Christmas Service, meal and party and the Sixth Form Party at the Alverton Hotel all scheduled for the final weekend/week of term! I am hoping we will be able to squeeze in some late night shopping and a trip to the cathedral to hear the girl choristers sing at some point too! Wow….it is exhausting just thinking about it all!

Stay tuned for further updates and look out for the blogs becoming gradually more festive…

Mrs Sarah Mulready (Housemistress, Girl’s Boarding)