As many are aware, the decision was made at the weekend to relieve Junior Consort of their Carol Service performance due to student and staff illness; however, this did not deter the LIV (Year 7) singers!
The school’s annual Carol Service was held on Sunday 11th December at St Mary’s Parish Church. For the first time since the pandemic, parents joined us for the Carol Service and it was very nice to see everyone gather together in the church to celebrate the festive season with traditional carols and Bible readings.
On Friday 9th December, LV and UV (Year 10 and 11) German students went to Radley for an immersive Christmas market experience.
Thank you to everyone who has made such an effort with their Christmas outfits in aid of Save the Children’s 11th annual Christmas Jumper Day!
A quartet of St Mary’s pupils will be representing their clubs at the County Swimming Championships in the New Year.
On a dark and frosty Thursday evening, the St Mary’s Calne English Literature A Level students met in Flo’s Bar (FD House) for the first English Society Meeting of the year; the theme was ‘Literary Villains and their Zodiac Signs’.
On Thursday evening, the Chamber Choir and newly-formed Alumnae Choir of St Mary's Calne performed in A Ceremony of Carols, a truly magical evening of festive music, readings and carols at St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington, London.
On Monday 5th December, we were delighted to present the very first public performance of the Major Minors Children’s Choir, a combined primary schools’ choir for children in Years 3 to 6 that was created in September as a community initiative of St Mary’s and St Margaret’s.
‘Es weihnachtet sehr’ (Christmas is coming!) in the German Department. The MIV and UIV (Year 8 and Year 9) German students got into the Christmas spirit this week!
In Chapel on Thursday 8th December, we celebrated the outstanding quality of entries to the 2022-23 Literalily creative writing competition and, with anticipation building, announced this year's winners!
On the evening of Friday 25th November, six girls participated in the internal preliminary round of the Coach House Piano Competition.
On Sunday 4th December, members of the LVI and UVI (Year 12 and Year 13) had the opportunity to start their tennis coaching qualifications. This course marks the start of coach education through the LTA and it allows successful participants to assist a lead tennis coach at an LTA accredited venue.
This year's Autumn Concert brought the festive magic of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker to St Mary’s, highlighting the phenomenal work that our instrumentalists do throughout the year as well as bringing a fantastic opportunity for a collaboration with pupils of St Margaret’s.
On Tuesday 29th November, Miss Cavanagh took four LVI (Year 12) Classicists to the annual GCA Reading Competition. The event was judged by Professor Claire Holleran from the University of Exeter and St Mary's had competitors entered into three of the seven categories.
The Calne Girls’ Association (CGA) hosted an informal evening with members of UVI (Year 13) on Friday evening – to introduce the CGA and what is to be a ‘Calne Alumnae’.
The PGSM Christmas Fair on Friday 18th November was a huge success. The PGSM Committee would like to thank everyone for their tremendous support of this event, through your donations to the stalls as well as by attending and purchasing items on the day.
On Tuesday 29th November, On Tuesday 29th November, we welcomed Hatta Byng (1995 Leaver) back to St Mary's to give a CGA Chapel Talk.
On the evening of Sunday 27th November, we saw the Delscey Burns Theatre subject to a riotous theatrical takeover as the five houses competed over the fabled Company Drama competition.
This year's St Mary's Horse Show saw almost 250 rounds entered from 34 different schools and the event hosting the NSEA Eventers Challenge Qualifiers.
On Wednesday 23rd of November, Miss Thomas and her lovely Catering Team provided us with a Nigerian themed supper.
On Thursday 24th November, students in the LVI (Year 12) and UVI (Year 13) spent their evening baking a multitude of cakes for the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service pop up shop in Marlborough.
This week in Chapel, we announced our new school charity partnership for the coming year will be with Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS).
Friday 18th November, just before we departed for exeat weekend, senior girls were treated to a showcase by the UVI (Year 13) of their independently researched academic presentations.
The much-anticipated fixture against Radley was played under the lights on Tuesday 22nd November creating a great atmosphere for players and spectators.
Over the past few weeks, we have been making Christmas presents out of shoe boxes for the Foundation for Social Change and Inclusion (FSCI) as part of their annual Christmas Box Appeal. These will help spread festive joy to thousands of people across Southeast Europe.
This was the first A Level History of Art study trip since the outbreak of Covid in 2020. Whilst Paris, like us, was clearly in recovery from the pandemic, new challenges were to be confronted.
On Tuesday 22nd November, the LVI Debate Team, recruited from the weekly Sixth Form Debating Club, achieved an impressive victory in the first round of the English Speaking Union’s Mace debating competition.
On Tuesday 8th November, the Music Exhibition holders and Music Scholars travelled to Cardiff’s Wales Millenium Centre to watch My Fair Lady.
After laying solid foundations with research and preparation throughout their LVI year (Year 12), the UVI (Year 13) are currently submitting their UCAS application forms in earnest for entry into UK universities next year.
We were delighted to welcome a wonderful group of enthusiastic Year 5 and 6 girls from a range of Prep and Primary Schools to the Delscey Burns Theatre on Tuesday 15th November for a day of musical theatre fun with our annual ‘Musical Mega-Mix’ Workshop.
We are delighted to receive the news that two of our Music Scholars have been chosen to take part in exceptional vocal opportunities with the National Youth Training Choirs of Great Britain.
On Thursday 10th November, Jo Kitching from Doorway, the Chippenham based charity which supports those who are homeless and moving on from homelessness, returned for our 'Wear a Hat' Mufti Day and to give us an update on their work.
This week's Sixth Form Lecture was The Creation of Number?, an entertaining overview of the origins of mathematics and numbers presented by mathematician Ben Sparks.
As the congregation took their seats, it was wonderful to see so many parents and the whole school community coming together for our Remembrance Day Service.
On Friday 4th November, we held our first Open Mic Night with performances from girls in LIV all the way to UVI!
St Mary’s hosted an exciting Swimming Gala against Stonar on the evening of Friday 11th November. It was a rather warm and busy poolside with exuberant competitors and a welcome amount of supporting parents.
It isn’t every day that you get the chance to see Stephen Daldry’s multi-award-winning National Theatre production of J B Priestley’s classic thriller, An Inspector Calls.
On Tuesday 8th November, an action-packed 'Fires, Burning and Oxygen' Chemistry Workshop took place with Year 6 pupils from four of our local primary schools (Fynamore, Heddington, Holy Trinity and Marden Vale).
Last Monday evening, St Mary’s hosted an Overseas Universities Information Evening for current parents and students and some students from our local partner state schools.
Chloe Barnes, a Bristol-based printmaker and artist, joined St Mary’s in September as this year’s Artist in Residence.
On Sunday 6th November, the U19, U16 and U14 Netball Teams had an early start at Marlborough College to compete in the County Netball Tournament.
On Tuesday 1st November, the CGA invited Flora Connell (2008 Leaver) and her father, Jon Connell, founder of The Week magazine, to talk about their digital title, The Knowledge, which they have launched along with Izzy Thomas (2008 Leaver).
In Donaldson Week, the MIV (Year 8) were lucky enough to take part in an interactive workshop on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, conducted by professional actor and coach, Aunty Jen, who works regularly with the ESU.
On Tuesday 11th October, the LIV (Year 7) were joined by Scott Ralston, a trainer for the English Speaking Union (ESU).
On Friday 14th October, the UIV (Year 9) learnt the art of a debate with the English Speaking Union.
On the 7th of October, we enjoyed a whole-school Mufti Day in aid of the Calne Food Bank.
In Chapel on Tuesday 1st November, we were delighted to welcome Rich Parsons from FSCI (Foundation for Social Change and Inclusion), an organisation that reaches out to vulnerable people, to talk about their work and their annual Christmas Box Appeal.
St Marys Fifth and Sixth Form performers took us into the darkest of mediaeval times, as half of the Delscey Burns Theatre was transformed ingeniously into Sherwood Forest and the other half became the palace of the father of the heroine of this year's senior production, The Heart of Robin Hood.
On Thursday the 13th of October, the MIV girls (Year 8) experienced an MFL Global Tour that involved a variety of cultural activities including craft, dancing, food tasting, and an introduction to Italian.
On Wednesday 12th October, the U16A, U14A and U14B netball teams travelled to Sheldon and Hardenhuish in Chippenham to take part in the All-England Area Netball Tournament.
On Thursday 13th of October, UIV pupils (Year 9) undertook a day of historical investigation and discovery, with a focus on the First World War.
Twelve girls from LV and UV (Year 10 and Year 11) enjoyed a thought-provoking three days away as part of their preparation for Confirmation.
St Mary's made a strong start in the first game against Sherborne but the shots were matched by the oppositions keeper.
Many of our current UVI have been busy finalising their UCAS applications, as the early submission deadlines for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry are at the end of this week.
On Tuesday 11th October, we were delighted to have Julian Sedgwick, award-winning author, come and give a talk to LIV and MIV during Donaldson Week.
2021 Leaver Belinda Harrison, now in her second year reading Engineering at Cambridge, has been awarded The Letitia Chitty Award, a scholarship from her Cambridge College, Newnham, for a top ability first year engineer.
'As I had never visited Shakespeare’s Globe before, I was quite apprehensive about watching Much Ado About Nothing on Sunday 9th October. However, it turned out to be a wonderful experience and really brought the play to life for me.'
On a beautiful autumn morning, the LIV, selected St Margaret’s pupils, and our Art Scholars set off to the bucolic idyll of the New Art Centre, Roche Court, Salisbury, to engage with a ‘Narratives of Sculpture’ Workshop.
As we enter October, we are reminded that all over the world people are making a special effort to focus on the historical experience of black people.
On Monday 10th October, 65 students from UIV and UV enjoyed a day of autumn sunshine and historical discovery at one of the birth places of the modern digital age, Bletchley Park.
On Monday 26th September the GCSE Geographers headed to Dartmoor, Devon, to study the River Dart and collect data on the Quality of Life in Bristol.
Many congratulations to UIV pupil Honor, who was recognised as the winner of the Calne in Bloom 'Queen's Platinum Jubilee Garden' art competition earlier this year, and received her winning certificate this week.
On 1st October, St Mary's Calne hosted local rivals, Marlborough College, for the first home fixture of the season with the u13, u14 and u15 Teams all playing.
A return to the ESSA Relays after three years of disruption was a fantastic opportunity for St Mary’s swimmers to experience an incredibly busy competition, attended by some of the best age-group swimmers in the country.
On 1st October, St Mary's Calne took three Senior Teams to compete in the South West Schools' Lacrosse Tournament at St Swinthun's in Winchester.
On Friday 30th September the annual Cecilia James Company Music Festival and Shout took place. It was adjudicated by Jason Chatwin (a television and film composer and pianist, who trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire).
Congratulations go to Annabel L.J. (LVI), Talitha (alumna), in addition to our former Artist In Residence, Rebecca Rezakhani-Hilton, for having their work selected for the Calne Music and Arts Festival.
On the evening of 27th September, our visiting guest speaker, James Shone, truly inspired us through his incredible determination and resilience as well as his engaging life philosophy!
We were really lucky to meet Louisa Reeve recently and hear about her experience of the historical costume world, her insights into hand sewing, fashion and the professional world of careers within this industry.
On Tuesday 27th September, the students gave a presentation in Chapel about Peer Support.
On 20th September, we welcomed back former Calne Girl, Julia Hailes MBE, who gave an informative and relevant talk about sustainability and preventing climate change.
Earlier this month, the Fifth and Sixth Form Drama Students went to the Theatre Royal, Bath, to watch the musical of Into the Woods.
The UV finished their GCSEs and some had a very quick turn around to get ready for their final Silver DofE expedition.
As part of the Sixth Form Donaldson Programme, Mrs Paddock is running some 'Cooking on a budget' workshops with the LVI in preparation for student life.
The LVI Art trip on Saturday 17th September was an opportunity to create art En Plein Air in different locations in Wiltshire.
On the evening of 21st September, members of the Head Girl’s Team and LIV pupils helped to pick apples from the orchard outside the Library.
On the afternoon of 19th September, after watching Her Majesty’s State Funeral, the students took part in a 9km charity walk for the Young Women's Trust, in memory of our late Queen.
On Wednesday 14th September, the Fourth Form took part in the annual Inter-Company Cross Country event in the sunshine.
On Saturday the new UV parents joined their daughters for the third event in a forward-looking week: Careers Aptitude Testing, a Careers Networking Evening and the Sixth Form Fair, to gain a real insight into all the opportunities available in the Sixth Form.
This week, Mr Waldron and Ms Palfreyman relaunched the 'Safe Space' - an LGBTQIA+ friendly social group which was very well received last year.
On the evening of 15th September, the UV students took part in a Careers Networking Evening.
West Wilts Equestrian Centre ran a selection of U18 classes on the weekend of 10th September, with Clemmie (LVI) winning the U18ON class on her horse, Lyjador.
On 6th September, after a busy day arriving back at school, we were fortunate to have a wonderful supper followed by a talk by Amy Williams MBE.
It is with great sadness that we learnt yesterday of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. This morning the whole school community gathered in Chapel for a special service led by Fr Jonathan.