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English Why Smiling Is Great I am not a smiler. At least to me it doesn’t come naturally. not only change other peoples’ perceptions of us but also As an introvert, I have come to learn that smiling helps our own body chemistry. All this means is that we have the make social situations easier. The simple expression not power to change our views on situations. only changes how I feel about something but also helps people in the room feel a similar way. But can someone Public speaking has never been something I particularly actually learn to smile more? enjoyed. Like many, my heart drums rapidly and I feel I’m going to do something terrible. This is just an irrational fear Smiling is a reflection of happiness. But if you’re not of mine that can hold me back from opportunities. How do constantly buzzing with excitement and joy how are you I overcome it though? Yes, you’ve guessed it… by smiling! supposed to produce a smile on demand? Fake it till you Suddenly things become less daunting, you feel in control make it; well that’s what I tell myself. Though it may sound and have the ability to make what you like of a situation. disingenuous, once you begin smiling, unbelievably you You may not be an excited puppy all the time but if you are able to trick your mind into believing you are enjoying pretend to be one, challenges are games: when you fall it’s a certain event. Even Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, is funny and your worries become memories. able to back this up; she explains that body language can60

You may be extremely confident but that doesn’t mean that chances of success and have motivation to live a healthieryou shouldn’t make an effort to smile. Have you ever had lifestyle.a stranger smile at you and you smile back without eventhinking? This is because smiles are contagious! It is said So whenever you’re having a bad day, you have athat 50 per cent of people smile back- it not only makes you tremendous workload or just feel down, smile. Whether itfeel great but the other person as well. Compliment people is to someone or into the mirror, just give it a try, whetherwithout ever saying a thing. it comes naturally or not. You may feel silly but give it a go! See what happens.Additionally, happier people are said to be happier. Thismay sounds far-fetched but Shawn Achor, author of ‘The By Sofia Lafontaine, Year 8Happiness Advantage’, tells us ‘if we scan the world fornegatives we will undercut creativity, raise our stress levelsand lower our motivation and the ability to accomplishgoals’. By smiling and being more positive we increase our 61

War Story How did I get in thisI was extremely naive to come here. A woman? On the position?battlefield? I wish I was at home, home sweet home, whereI could play with the new-born pups and make tea at four I take a glance down at my magazines. That same magazineo’clock. Where I could walk on the five south down’s hills had to be bought in town, then smuggled under my sweatywith little trees which look like over-cooked broccoli and dress. If Curley saw me take a single look at even one ofwith little streams with little stones and little splashes. I those men, I was done for. I see the actors, their gleamingwish I could ride my horse and gallop on for miles, like white teeth and their beautiful outfits, their pompous grinspoetry in motion, with the choice to turn around at any and their boisterous attitudes. I could have easily been oneminute, second, moment and just go home. Home. What is of them. Exasperated, I reach for my glass of water and inthat place like now? I believed it will be charred and burnt the process, I spill it on my magazine. I slowly begin toby licking flames, it will be a meagre silhouette of black lines realise that this magazine was starting to look like my lostat the top of Folly Hill, with no inhabitants, no love career.nor picturesque surroundings. Its family, lost. Itsbeauty, lost. The wind whistles a simple tune where I am It all began when I was younger, when every single day Inow, a melancholy, dead melody. No trees are left, for they had it imprinted and carved inch by inch into my brainare blown up. No people are left, for they are dead. I am the that I was a worthless person with no use in the world. Thelast woman standing. This thought fills me with sadness as only way I could become something, or someone, wouldthe depressing knowledge of the hole in my arm hits one - be to get married. From a very young age, I was taught byI may bleed to death, like all the other human beings here Feur that I must remain a virgin… I was shown countlessdid. Although, I should rephrase that. Like all the animals examples of aunts and women on the street who weredid here. Animals I say! Wives, bears, lions, all of them homeless, ‘filthy’. That is at least what my mum thought.tearing at each other’s hair and eyes, killing and maiming When I was 18, I went to the annual ranch ball, Curleyone another. stood out. There he was in the wind, hair flapping in locks and charming as ever. He enticed me. I knew as soon as weNow I see the true dark light in men’s black heart. The had met that something was wrong, but I let it slip by medead men that I gazed, motionless at, seemed as ugly as and we married a week later.the parasites that grew inside them. I look down as I situp, and looking at my black wounds, I see a glimmer. A My mum’s words were echoing in my brain when he kneltpure white pearl, on a silver ring lies on my bony finger. down. Curley changed. Every day that I was with him, IMy wedding ring is the most wonderful thing that has ever encountered a little more of his egotistic, hellacious self. Icome to me. The feeling of strength returns, I must go. Go kept quiet because I didn’t want to explain to my mum whyto find my family, go to find my home. i get up and limp I had a black eye over Christmas dinner.off, with a large stride and a determined smile. I am goinghome. Walking, limping, struggling across the choked, I feel like an object, a belonging. My own thoughts anddusty land, a glimmer catches my eye. I am intrigued by opinions drive me insane because no one listens to them.this light, for it seems so pure to me. My footsteps urge There they are, piling up, each of their forces pressingme on and the thing that I witness is a beautiful, sorrowful against the walls of my brain, bound to give me an outburstsight. A woman, a married woman, lies dead on the ground any day now.with a hole in her arm. This sight fills be with fear, a suddenrealisation hits me. There is a wide chance I will end up like I know what I could have been. I know what I shouldthis too. So might my family. I must go, I need to find my have been. I bet if I had just settled down with a bloke likefamily, need to find my home. I look up and limp off, with Lennie, we could have been famous, the two insane actorsa large stride and a determined smile. I am going home and with the best looks and the best skills. Instead, I’m stuck inhow naive of me to come here. this hell-hole with Curley until I die… By Kitty Kemp-Welch, Year 8 By Sara Galal Williams, Year 862

Feminism RomeoI want to talk about the F-word. Feminism. Feminism His face haunts me still. The disgusted expression lingeringshould not have to exist. In 2018, inequality between deep within his eye as I held out my hand to Tybalt. Thegenders should not be an issue, but it is. I believe it is pain in his look as he looked upon his wound.ridiculous that in the 21st century, women have to create amovement to fight for their equality. So, it’s really not a dream. Mercutio is actually dead. If only Tybalt hadn’t seen us and walked over. If only I had hadIn April 2017, a study was completed by the ONS to find the courage to push my anger and pride down, and sendout the gender pay gap in the UK. Shockingly, in the UK, him away. Mercutio would still be alive and well to see memen earned 18.4 per cent more than women. Why? Is it this very day. How could I have betrayed him like that? Justbecause women don’t work as hard as men or they don’t before he died, he believed that I had betrayed him. Howdo their jobs as well as their male counterparts? No. it is could I be such a fool?a consequence of the fundamental sexist ideology stillinstilled in our society today. Maybe I should just die. Sure, it would leave Juliet alone in this world, but wouldn’t that be better than exile from her?The blatant inequality does not stop in the workplace. I could float in death, all alone, with no worries. But yetAround the world, 62 million girls are denied an education. again, I hear his voice resounding ‘A plague on both yourConsequently, two thirds of the 774 million illiterate houses!’. It makes me shiver. Juliet might not even knowpeople in the world are female. Is this because women are yet, as the beautiful angel she is. Perhaps she would benot as intelligent as men? No. Again it comes down to the disgusted to know that her husband is a murderer. I killedfact that even in the 21st century, there is discrimination him with my own hands. It’s like when Mercutio died; thatagainst women. terrible, malicious look on his face remains imprinted on my mind. I have killed two men. One indirectly, one withMany people say that we have made progress. I agree. my own sword. Oh, I am fortune’s fool. Some hours earlier,However it has been 100 years since the suffragettes won I was floating above on clouds as Juliet was married tothe right to vote and I still don’t see complete gender me, heavenly eyes of stars gazing upon mine. Alas, I haveequality. I still don’t see the same opportunities being given wronged her. She should move on. Perhaps that marriageto men and women. And I still don’t see any change great to Paris would be better.enough to quash the need for feminism! Curse Paris for his good fortune. Lord Capulet truly wishesIt is up to us to change this. We are the lucky ones. We have him to make his daughter into a blushing bride. It disgustsan education and a voice and if we don’t use our voices, me. ‘Wherefore art thou Romeo?’ Her voice lingers in mythen those without voices will suffer. If you don’t use your mind. I can almost imagine dove’s wings spreading fromvoice, who will? Who will create the change? her back and making her into God’s messenger. Perhaps this is my punishment for killing Tybalt. Endless conflictionUntil we, as a society, modernise our ideas, women and in my heart. Oh Mercutio, dear Mercutio. He truly believedgirls will keep having to make this speech. We will keep that I was a traitor. Maybe I am... There’s no use in trying tohaving to be part of a movement that begs for equality dwell on past times. I must move on, for Juliet’s sake morebetween genders - a movement that shouldn’t have to exist. than mine. Oh God, dear God. Please let her forget me! I would truly pierce my heart with my own sharpened swordBy Isabella Steinmeyer, Year 9 if she remained broken-hearted, as I am now. My heart has shattered into tiny shards of delicate glass, and I long for slender, white fingers to take them up and bond them one by one. Her face alone would make me content. If I hadn’t killed Tybalt, none of this would have 63

happened, and i would be with Juliet. Oh broken heart and most of us abuse it to force our friends to share their where you should be whole! Oh dark sun! Something has food, but we don’t consider the subconscious effects of it. clouded my sun, and, mark my words, it is that devilish When someone is really hungry or unwell or sad we share fellow who goes by the name of… Paris. our food, company and napkins because we have been raised to show that we care through sharing. This crucial By Isabell Karlsson, Year 8 and valuable lesson wasn’t taught to us in our French or Spanish lessons but at home by friends and family. Education I still love school and enjoy completing assignments and Education. It is a word we hear all the time. We are told to tackling tricky questions but I know there is a lesson that prioritise it and value it above all else. We are told that our is far more valuable than anything that can be taught in education is what we learn in the classroom and the lab, a classroom. I might not end up with my dream job or but it is so much more than that. house but I can still know that I have made a positive difference in the world by showing kindness to others, as I believe that education is an all-encompassing word, not I have been taught to do. In a competitive world I want only referring to school life but also life in its entirety. Yes, you to remember to be caring towards other people, ensure I will admit that my knowledge of the nitrogen cycle and that you view them as friends and not your competition. the electromagnetic spectrum is impressive, and it is pretty What I imagine when I hear the word education is my four cool that I know how the heart functions, but my ability to year old self hugging a friend who has fallen over and cut differentiate the left ventricle from the right doesn’t define her knee, or negotiating with a peer over who gets to play me. Rather, the values and morals that I was raised to on the swings first. I want all of you to define the word follow and that have moulded my personality; these are the differently, because it is more precious and valuable than things that define me. These past few years, I have digested any of us realise. I’ll say it again and give you the chance to so much information that it is easy to forget the simple imagine yourself doing something selfless. Education. principles that influenced my young, impressionable mind and have led me to become the woman I am today standing By Maria Santos-Adeyeye, Year 11 in front on you. I would describe myself as a kind, caring and compassionate person and I wouldn’t thank my history Dystopic teacher for these traits as she wasn’t the one who bestowed them upon me. And yes I may be taking advantage of this It was a dark night and the moon and stars were nowhere to talk to blow my own horn but my message is still important. be found. The rows and rows of grey, government approved buildings stretched ahead like a maze in a lab rat’s cage. We have been conditioned to put everything into our school Thirty years ago, there would have been lights glowing lives out of a fear of being unwanted and unemployable. from open windows from down below. There would We imagine that we will end up working in a McDonald’s have been music playing. Tonight there was nothing. The or a KFC for the rest of our lives if we don’t live up to these windows shutters were closed and only the faint, hushed expectations we have set ourselves. We strive for our dream whispering of a small hunched figure would be heard in job, for our dream house and dream family but what is all the distance below. She had a frail, stooped frame with that worth if you are a bad person? A person who lacks wild, matted hair that had not been washed for weeks and empathy and sympathy. A person who throws away their long blackened nails. She sat, looking like a rejected puppet social life for their work life. A person who belittles people. with its strings cut off. She crouched, surrounded by the rats rifling through the trash, quietly muttering to herself. That is why the most important thing we can learn are to be No, she had to be quiet. She mustn’t be heard: she shouldn’t good people, then the others will follow. We all know the be heard. She had tried to contain her excitement as she phrase ‘sharing is caring’ from some time in our childhood found a dishevelled piece of bread and couldn’t stop herself eating it. She was heard: the government approved guard64

dogs barked, smelling her scent and hearing her excitement and everything looks so surreal and bluein the distance a cop car wailed, having been alerted to that it almost has to be a dream.this. As the sun rose in what was going to turn out a greyand chilly day, she was on the run again. The streets were fluffy blanketssuddenly awash with the cold blue light of the police carssurrounding her and she was blinded by it. The night vision when there’s thunder but no rain,goggles she had stolen from the police precinct were too and the air feels heavy and drysensitive - she only saw a flash, heard a shout, and suddenly as if the sky is pressing its hands down on you.she could see no more, there was no point fighting them,they always won. Always. As the clock struck seven, the pressing big red buttonsrain started, covering the streets in a grey sheet of water all the words that you haven’t saidand enveloping everything in a cold, suffocating blanket. but will one day.By the time the day was over, all traces of her had beenerased and the city coin tuned its monotonous, grey routine when it’s warm and rainsas if nothing had ever happened. As the crows cawed in the and everybody has to run inside,distance, she was sent into oblivion and never seen again. giddy and getting soaked raindropsBy Freja Hogsander, Year 9 on their eyelashes. A poem that when you see plants growing in cracks in the pavements beautiful cycling down a steep slope, people wrote, feeling the wind on your back unintentionally as your t-shirt billows; the air tickling your bare skinwhat makes life so full of pulchritude? wondering if aliens debate about whether we’re realwhen you watch the quiet streets early in the morningwhile it’s completely dark outside, walking past flowers every daythe roads full of hope and time that is yet to come. and watching them bloom slowly, petals stretching out bit by bit as if they’reThunderstorms reaching for the sun.when you discover a new song that you really like It is on days like theseand you can just picture yourself singing along from where my own name feels as if the letters don’t fit quitememory right in my mouthsome day, belting the words out twisting round my curled up tongue like a flowerand not caring when you get it wrong. blossoming in reverse,crying from laughter that I smile because wow. By Bella Gerber-Johnstone, Year 9when you’re outside and it’s darkand a little chilly... but in the best way 65

Philosophy and Religion Extended Options Day In June we had an extended options day where we explored Peter Vardy Lecture some of our subjects in further depth. For Philosophy and Religion we were visited by a Triratna Buddhist who talked to us for the majority of the morning and discussed Buddhism and what impact it had on her life. Triratna Buddhists are neither monastic nor lay, but instead simply Buddhists who focus their religion on the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Buddhist who came to speak to us was called Srivati (meaning she who is full of beauty and grace) and she gave us a very helpful insight into Buddhism and what it meant to her. Srivati began the morning by sharing with us the story of On 8 February, the Lower Sixth Philosophy and Religion her journey into Buddhism. She became a Buddhist in her students attended a series of lectures by the esteemed early twenties and described becoming a Buddhist as the Peter Vardy in central London. The day began with a thing she had been searching for in her life. It was extremely lecture on Natural Law, with a particular focus on John helpful for us to learn of her entrance into the Buddhist faith Finnis, Hugo Grotius and Grieser. This was followed by a as it helped us to relate what we read about in the textbook to lecture on situation ethics, which explored Bonhoeffer’s somebody who has actually experienced it. As the morning influence on the development of Fletcher’s 1960’s theory. went on, Srivati spoke more on the subject of enlightenment We then engaged in a riveting debate on whether murder and the questions we had surrounding it. Enlightenment is could ever be justified. The range of contributions offered quite a difficult idea to grasp, and although Srivati hasn’t illuminated our understanding of the complexity of the been enlightened herself, she has a good understanding of it issue. Godolphin and Latymer students helped to shape the and so was able to help us understand this further. debate with thoughtful remarks. After lunch, we regrouped Towards the end of the session Srivati led a short for a lecture on the existence of God and faith. We examined mindfulness practice where we focused on our breathing the cosmological and teleological argument. Peter Vardy and gained awareness of how we were feeling in that present demonstrated the continued relevance of medieval moment. This gave us a practical way in which we can use theological theories through the use of contemporary mindfulness to calm ourselves in the busy lives we lead. examples. This day greatly enriched our understanding of philosophy and theology, and we left brimming with ideas. By Lilibet Williams, Year 10 By Mr Wood66

The Year 7 Visit to theNational GalleryWe viewed many beautiful paintings and explored the paintings also reward people for their faith by portrayingrelationship between traditional Christian belief and the martyrs, who died for their belief in god.artwork that portrays it. We evaluated and explored the We also learned about how artists tended to add to theirdifferent ideas that the artists showed and took in their use art after it had been painted for example; in the Leonardoof artistic licence; in most paintings there was an interesting da Vinci painting ‘virgin on the rocks’, Mary is portrayedhierarchy that our guide showed to us. An example of that sitting in a mysterious cave with John the Baptist and Jesus.would be in the San Pier Maggiore Florence, where the Later on, another artist added to this painting by placinghierarchy is seen by how the saints are placed around the a cross in John arms. We also observed that many of thethrone of Christ; we can see St Paul on Christ’s immediate paintings on show were portraying parables, these wouldright. This is a great honour as it means that he is the most have gone up in churches to help illustrate the storiesimportant person in this painting (other than God and that the people would be hearing in their services. Lastlythe son). we also examined the signs in the painting named ‘theThis painting was an altarpiece, the area around the altar ambassadors’ we saw the interesting meanings behind thewould have been the more attractive and extravagant area items, seemingly scattered randomly around the table.of the Church, in order to draw attention to the altar, which For example; a crucifix was in the corner, in the lute, thewas the main place that the services would have been held. string was broken to represent discord and the book onLocal rich people would pay extravagant loans of money to the table was a symbol of division. These clever signs madeget paintings such as this to be in their church. They would this painting very interesting but also, when this painting isdo this to get public appreciation and to hold power in the looked at from a certain angle, a skull can be seen. This isChurch. In these paintings, they also often portrayed saints; called a memento mori; it is a reminder of human mortalitythey did this to remember them and to strengthen faith and that everything comes to an end.by communicating to the churchgoers that devoted holy By Year 7 Studentspeople get noticed by god and rewarded for their faith. The 67

History and Politics The Battlefields Visit to Ypres and Somme ‘We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw chance to wander around the beautiful memorial and look sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In at the graves. It commemorates the 72,000 men from the Flanders fields.’ John Mc Crae British and South African forces who died during the Battle No one could fail to be moved by the World War I memorials of the Somme and have no known graves. After that, we we visited; there were thousands and thousands of graves in proceeded to Newfoundland Memorial Park, one of the few memory and honour of all the soldiers that died, fighting in places where the ground had been undisturbed since the the bloodiest war in history. 2018 seemed the appropriate end of World War I. year to visit, given the centenary of the end of the First We finished by going to Vimy Ridge, the site where an World War. offensive was mounted primarily to draw the German’s The first stop of our jam-packed first day was to a memorial, attention away from a major French offensive which was Langemarck Cemetery, where German soldiers are buried. launched a week after. The planning before this assault well The Belgians had given the Germans a place to bury their thought through, and included the use of tunnels to bring dead which was magnanimous of the Belgians in view of troops safely up to the front line. We were given a tour the huge numbers of Belgian troops killed Byrne German around the web of tunnels, and it was interesting to find army. Even after World War II, after further destruction by out that this was one of the places where ‘tunnel warfare’ Germany, this memorial remained. It was different to ones occurred. This was because as both sides attempted to we saw later on the trip because it was simple; stark,stone tunnel under the other with explosives, they would often slabs in a quiet field. After this, we visited the Tyne Cot meet in the middle and have to fight below ground! By Cemetery, consisting of white, bright stones with beautiful coincidence, Martha had a relative whose name was on flowers all around them. The memorial commemorates panel 54 of the Menin Gate. His name was Private Edward 34,887 names of men from the UK and New Zealand forces J Reeve, Rifleman (555037) from Epping. We think he was who died here from 1916 and who have no known grave. around 30 years old. He was married, and possibly left Where the previous cemetery had roughly eight names per behind children. slab, these stones had one soldier per stone, and they were By Martha Vine and Morwenna Richards, Year 9 inscribed with: “A soldier known unto God”. The next stop was a personal favourite - the Sanctuary Wood trenches. We were able to walk through the trenches, which were muddy (but nowhere near as muddy and awful as they would have been 100 years ago), and we could even go through the tunnels, which were dark, long and damp. As we walked through them, we imagined how much scarier it would have been for the soldiers, who would have had to scramble through these tunnels with bombing and gunshots bombarding them overhead. On the second day we headed off to Thiepval Memorial and visitors centre. Luckily for us, it wasn’t too busy so we had a68

St Albans VisitThe first thing we did when we arrived at St AlbansCathedral was to split into groups and each go off and doa separate activity. My group firstly went to see a mosaica man had made of the Bayeux Tapestry! The mosaic wasincredible, the man who made it told us it took him years tomake and that he even added in some scenes that were notincluded in the original tapestry. There were lines and linesof this incredible mosaic along the wall, relating the entirestory. Such a feat was truly amazing.The next part was my favourite: everybody in my groupwas given a role that a particular monk would play, then weall got to dress up as monks and have a ‘meeting’ together,as if we were real monks from the Middle Ages! After ourimportant meeting, we made our way through the churchin a stately procession, trying not to giggle.Soon after our procession, a guide took us around theCathedral, explaining the history. Did you know that nobodyis 100% sure that Saint Alban actually existed? Supposedlyhe befriended and hid a priest from danger, then dressed upas the priest to save him and was martyred. Another thingwe saw were brasses, inlaid into the stone floor. Brasses area thin layer of brass, carved to look like a person or thing.They were covered up by rugs, to prevent them being dulledby people stepping on them. There were very few brasses inthe Cathedral, because most of them were stolen by KingHenry XIII when he tried to abolish all Catholic Churches.However, some were hidden to avoid them being taken.This strategy worked. Most of the brasses depicted famousmonks, priests or bishops, and they were all very close tothe altar, suggesting their importance. The biggest brass wesaw was on the tomb of an abbot. However, it did not looklike it was made of brass, because the material was black.Regardless, it was a beautiful and intricately detailed pieceof art.After we learnt a bit about the history of Saint Albans,all the girls ran to lunch excitedly. When lunch had beenwolfed down, my group went off to try something we hadnever done before. Brass rubbing, we soon learnt, was a funactivity involving a replica of a brass, black paper and somespecial crayons. The instructor told us to attach some paperfirmly onto the brass replica, then start rubbing on thepaper covering the brass with the crayons. Soon enough,the image of the brass came out! It was amazing and quitesatisfying to watch the picture come out slowly but surely,and I found this activity really fun. Overall, this trip wasreally informative and educational, and I think everyonelearnt a lot from it.By Miranda McLaughlan, Year 7 69

Winner of the Year 7 Historical Fiction Competition Thousands of Greek men, under the strong rule of my father that mother has vanished. This makes me slightly alarmed Agamemnon, are gathered on the shores of Aulis, ready to but I try not to think about it. In the distance, at the top set sail for Troy. The bloodthirsty army is headed for the land of the rock, I can see the sacrificial altar. At least some of Troy, as the Trojan prince, Paris, has stolen my uncle’s preparations have been made for my wedding which will wife, Helen. While the fleet waits for the winds to change in begin, of course, with an offering to the gods. Achilles and I their favour, my father has summoned my mother and me must have their blessing. to Aulis... A thin breeze washes over my flushed cheeks, as My father motions to me to climb and I begin to scramble we trot through the hills towards Aulis. The journey from up the rock. I rip my dress on the way and think of how Mycenae has been long and hot and the wind is comfortably angry mother will be when she sees it. I wonder again cool. The letter came two days ago telling of my betrothal where she is. It doesn’t feel right that she has disappeared to Achilles, the news ripping through our household like so suddenly, or that Father seems so melancholy. As soon one of Zeus’ thunderbolts. I was horrified at first. Achilles is as I reach the top I can see that there is nobody else here. handsome and strong and would take great care of me but Where is the wedding party, my mother, Achilles? As I hear he is almost twice my age and very scary sometimes. my father finish his climb behind me, I call out, ‘Where is Twelve, and soon to be married! It all seems awfully grand Achilles?’ He does not answer. I turn around. A knife is and exciting. If the choice were mine, I would not wish to gripped weakly in his shaking hand. Gasping in horror, a be married in an army camp, but the decision was Father’s single tear rolls down my cheek. ‘No father!’ I whisper. The and, as I am his, I must do as I am told. I will not be his for vicious wind whips my hair across my face. ‘Please! Don’t much longer. hurt me!’ ‘I must!’ Mother fusses with my clothes all the way to the coast, where My father weeps in agony. ‘I have angered Artemis and she my father is waiting. I desperately want her to stop and try has demanded that I give what I love or this war may never to move away in tiny shuffles; she is inescapable! She fiddles happen. If I don’t appease her, this weather will continue with my jewellery and adjusts my headdress about ten times and our ships will never leave this shore.’ before huddling in the corner of our open roof carriage and I stare at him in silence, shocked by his cruel thoughts. sniffing sadly. I smile sympathetically at her, as I knew this Where is Achilles? Surely my betrothed will rescue me. would happen. Now that the time has come for me to leave Suddenly, it dawns on me; there never was to be a wedding. her nest she’s become a nervous wreck; overjoyed, anxious We will not sacrifice a lamb to ask for happiness and fertility. and utterly miserable. Hugging her softly, I whisper that I will never have a husband or children. I am the sacrifice! she will see me most months and will never really lose me If I don’t die, then my father will never win this war. “But but she remains adamant that she will never truly hold me I am your daughter”, I whisper. He nods slowly, as his eyes again. I huff and look out over the plains of Greece. The overflow with tears and he sinks to his knees. My Father huge green trees shadow the sleeping animals and watch hesitates but I see more clearly than ever. I cannot be the over them as they doze in the hot sun. In the distance is the reason that they gave in, that they surrendered. I do not camp. As we get closer, I can see the spears, axes and shields want to be that person! To live with such dishonour would lined up against the walls of the tents. I will not have long be not to live at all. I grab the neck of my dress fiercely and to get to know my husband before he is off to war; my hero. yank it down. ‘Do it!’ I cry. Father wavers for a second. I At last we arrive and a muscular man helps me down from smile at him and touch his tearstained face, before letting go the carriage. He smiles at me (a two-toothed grin) and and closing my eyes. He brings the knife above is head and leads me towards Father who is sitting down, alone on a swishes it down in one quick swipe. bench. As I reach for his hand, he squints up at me and I see My father’s roar echoes around the camp. Silence follows. his eyes are glistening with tears. He has made this choice Dull pain stretches from my neck downwards and I slam to and yet cannot bear to give me away. He sniffs, wipes his the ground. Blood seeps from the deep wound and I watch eyes, and smiles brightly. I look around for Achilles but it trickling down towards the ocean. As soon as the first he is nowhere to be seen. There is a solemnity in the camp drop hits the water, the wind changes and the sea calms. I weighing down upon the shoulders of all the men I see. My smile. The war can begin. mother and I seem out of place with our fine clothes and By Charlotte Moore, Year 7 our eager anticipation. My father guides me gently towards a large rock with steps leading up to the sky. He seems nervous but that is to be expected I suppose. I snatch a look behind me and notice70

Hampton CourtFor our Year 8 visit this year we went to Hampton Court. The After lunch had ended, we walked to one of the courtyardsaim of the visit was to learn all about the different features where we met a guide dressed in a Tudor outfit. She wasof Hampton Court and the Tudor Kings and Queens who there to show us more of the palace and teach us things welived there. didn’t already know about the kings and queens. She tookWe started our visit by looking at the outside of the palace. us to many different rooms and explained what happenedWe had to decide whether it was more like a castle or a to each monarch. The talk was my favourite part of the trippalace by identifying the different features, and then we and we learnt about lots of small details that really fitted thedrew some of the decorations. This was quite hard but picture of the Tudors together. I enjoyed this trip becausefunny at the end to see how everyone’s had turned out. After Year 8 got to understand what the kings and queens werethat we went inside. Inside the palace, we walked around thinking and feeling while they stayed at the palace andand again attempted to draw each feature and answer built it. I felt like a real Tudor for the time I spent there.some questions about it. Some of the drawings turned By Maya Ristvedt, Year 8out well but others (like my own) ended up as a few bentlines on paper, not really representing the extravagance ofHampton Court! 71

Geography72

Margam: A WelshForayI so often write about the magnificence of the exotic creatures grip on the smooth surface. The quiet suddenly seemed tothat reside in distant lands. I talk about the great apes that intensify as the dark, damp muzzle of a deer poked throughinhabit the remote forests, I highlight the splendour of the foliage just across the lake. Her coral-pink ears twistedthe big cats and I describe the almost transcendent beasts independently, straining to catch the rolling waves of soundthat populate the deep depths of the ocean. However, before a predator could sense her first. Her brown eyes sweptalthough these creatures are breath-taking and sublime in across the landscape. Tree. Plant. Beetle. HUMAN. Uponan abundance of ways, you can just as easily be wowed by seeing us her dark gaze widened in unease, she lifted a longthe plethora of wildlife that resides right on your doorstep, graceful leg and took one step forwards; a bold movementor in this case, in the lush valleys of Wales. For the past five in a world brimming with danger and death for vulnerabledays I have been staying at the Margam Discovery Centre prey. However, logic soon prevailed and she bounded awayin South Wales for a geographical fieldwork project, whilst over the pitted landscape, hugging the perimeter of thethere encountering an opulence of natural wonders. trees.The Swift: With its aerial prowess, piercing screams and Whether it was the bejewelling beetles, graceful deer orcrescent shaped wings, the bird that looped between the nimble swifts, the wildlife that I encountered in Wales wastrees and circled above us could be nothing other than a once again a reminder to me that you do not always haveCommon Swift. I watched the swift weave between the to travel hundreds of miles to encounter natural beauty.branches with a raw exuberance and agility that only Sometimes the most awe-inspiring, exquisite wildlife canthese bubbly birds possess. They are the masters of the air be right on your doorstep.and this individual seemed particularly competent as he By Bella Lack, Year 11braided through the atmosphere. Although his grace was Published on Bella’s website www.callfromthewild.com.astounding and his speed was breath-taking, the reason Ifelt so honoured to witness such a dazzling spectacle wasbecause this bird had likely returned from somewhere asfar as Morocco or Algeria only weeks before. Whilst I wastrudging to school and completing homework during thebitter winter months, he was most probably traversingacross large swathes of Africa, flitting above herds ofelephants and distant cultures that I could only dreamof from the confines of a classroom. For five days in Maywhilst I penned papers and typed essays, he was embarkingon an epic 5,000 mile journey all the way back from thesultry lands of West Africa to the temperate UK. As I stoodthere watching this avian acrobat, I couldn’t help but feelremorse at the meagre duration of his fleeting stay - thiswonderful bird will be leaving us in only two months toreturn to the exoticism of distant lands.The Deer: After a day of investigating the River Ogmorefrom source to mouth, we sat on a wooden platformsuspended over a gently-rippling lake at Margam DiscoveryCentre. A group of ducks paddled through the silky water,the mother’s webbed feet stroking the depths, propelling heracross the lake with an admirable ease. Her ducklings chasedafter with anxious honks as their ungainly bodies and wispyfluff provided them with a much greater challenge thantheir mother had to face. Bead-like beetles balanced on theends of blades of grass, their heads prodding the air in analmost mammalian curiosity, whilst their legs paddled for a 73

Year 9 Visit to Walton- on-the-Naze In recent years, the Year 9 visit to the coast has been beset low tide meaning we were able to walk on the beach to get with snow, hail, scorching sunshine, thunderstorms, knee- a better look at the varied geology and slumping processes deep mud and everything in between. This year we arrived to that make Walton-on-the-Naze so unique. This trip was Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex with more hope: the forecast going fantastically, uncharacteristically well; right up until was excellent and the journey there went smoothly. The we had a mechanical fault with the coach on the way home! aim of the day was to compare an area of the coastline that Luckily the coach driver was also a mechanic and was able has been intensively managed with an area that has been to fix the problem. We arrived back at school without too left the sea (known as ‘managed retreat’). In the morning much of a delay. The students spent the next few lessons we walked along the managed coastline, examining the using the data they collected to thoroughly evaluate impact of groynes - wooden structures built to interrupt the the decisions taken by the coastal managers at Walton-on- movement of sediment down shore - by measuring beach the-Naze. profiles using clinometers and tape measures. The students By Mr Golland then had lunch in the sunshine and spent the afternoon looking at the unprotected cliffs. We were lucky to catch Upper Sixth Visit to the Lake District The Upper Sixth visited the Blencathra Field Studies Centre which really helped students appreciate the scale of these in the autumn of 2017 to investigate glaciation and rural landforms and better understand how they were carved, geography. It has been a few years since we have taken shaped or deposited by glaciers. A morning was spent in students to this centre but it remains as stunning as ever; Grasmere where students interviewed local residents, perched a little way up Blencathra, the centre offers views business owners and tourists to find out more about how over Helvellyn, a classic glaciation case study. The aim the place is represented. This was then compared to two of the trip was twofold: firstly to investigate glaciation in other settlements; Keswick and Stainton, just outside the the Borrowdale valley and secondly to compare villages national park. The students were exemplary and a credit to inside the Lake District with those on the outside. The the school. new school drone was given an outing and allowed us to By Mr Golland see glacial features like eskers and moraines from the air,74

The Future of PlasticRecently in the UK and in other countries worldwide the Another type of potentially more sustainable material is apromotion of organic, reusable bags over conventionally type of biodegradable plastic by Biome Bioplastics whichless sustainable plastic carriers has increased following a aims to remove the waterproof layer of polyethylene whichglobal rise in interest over environmental affairs. However prohibits the recycling of takeaway coffee cups. It is fullya recent study conducted by the Danish Environmental biodegradable and the first type of bioplastic made forProtection Agency compared the Life Cycle Assessment disposable cups and lids that is completely recyclable(LCA) figures between 14 different types of carrier bag and and provides an alternative and more sustainable useconcluded that the most sustainable type of bag was actually for plastics, since they are already used globally and stilllow density polyethylene (LDPE): thick, glossy bags often extremely useful.seen at department stores. On the other hand a major factor the LCA does not take intoThe LCA determines the sustainability of a product using account coastal areas and the impact of microplastics andfourteen different categories including manufacturing, general plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. Places likeshipping, disposal and its impact on factors such as California have noticed a beneficial decline in plastic bagsgreenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint), depletion on shores and in the oceans since it was banned, leadingand pollution of water bodies and production of potentially to less microplastics infiltrating major aquatic food chainsharmful by-products. Surprisingly, LDPE bags came and potentially reaching humans with sub-lethal effects.out ahead, despite it having a higher carbon footprint Plastics can have hidden devastating consequences on thethen organic bags (which is the basis for most current environment, and the most common type of microplasticsustainability studies); cotton and other organic bags require just happens to be polyethylene.more land and resources, also meaning that these types of To conclude, plastic bags may be more sustainable than wecarriers must be reused much more in order to make up for thought, however locational factors can augment alreadythe amount of resources required during manufacturing. severely polluted areas. As Ian Graber-Stiehl posed in hisTo match LDPE bags [in climate impact] being used twice- article on the LCA study, ‘if plastic bag bans can reduceonce for shopping and secondly as a trash bag-cotton bags pollution, but leave us with bags that are less sustainable inwould need to be reused at least 52 times, and 149 times if other categories, what are we to do?’it’s organic. And if you compare plastics to organic bags in By Amy Jiang and Aanya Arora, Year 11every LCA category, normal cotton bags would have to bereused 7,100 times and an astounding 20,000 more times ifit was organic.Year 7 Visit toStratfordDuring this visit the Year 7s look at issues of urban are low. A trip through Hackney Wick divided the students;sustainability and consider how places can be made more some thought the area fascinating and were interested tosustainable. The Olympic regeneration site is a fascinating see how canal-side factory units that once served industryarea to study the impact of large, top-down regeneration are now attracting restaurants and art galleries. What wasschemes. The students visit four sites in total and undertake clear to the students was the palpable sense of communitysome primary data collection, which is great preparation in Hackney Wick that is arguably lacking from otherfor more rigorous fieldwork in later years. At the first site, parts. The Athlete’s Village was the last site; here studentsthe students compare the older Stratford Centre with the learned about the innovative rainwater recycling systemnew Westfield Shopping centre. They undertook pedestrian that supplies water to the new residential towers. Back incounts and environmental quality surveys to determine the classroom, the students presented their environmentalwhether the regeneration has improved the overall feel of quality information as a radar graph and enjoyed assessingthe area. The second site was outside the Olympic Stadium, the overall sustainability of the redevelopment scheme.now home to West Ham. Wide boulevards, wildflower By Mr Gollandmeadows and pristine rivers and canals mean this sitealways scores relatively highly, though pedestrian counts 75

Modern Foreign Languages Normandy At 7am on the morning of Saturday 7 July a group of very Day three in the Chateau! The weather was still ideal and excited girls stood waiting to get on to the coach that was everyone was very excited for the famous visit to Mont about to whisk us off to France. Before we knew it we were Saint Michel. However, that had to wait until later, as, after under the English Channel and after a quick stop at a breakfast had been consumed, my group went to change for service station in France and an ice cream we arrived at our rock climbing. On arriving at the magnificent and slightly destination in the early evening. daunting climbing wall, we were told how to descend the The next morning we were sorted into two groups and wall safely and how to ask if we could climb the wall in our activities were explained in French. My group went French. The aim was to climb all the way to the top and ring to the dormitories after breakfast to change for the much the small bell. I didn’t manage to ring the bell (climbing is anticipated assault course. We met at the arranged time and not a strength of mine) most people did and even if you our instructor firstly gave us a quick lesson about all the didn’t reach the top, descending was really fun, bouncing of animals living at the Chateau. We were shocked to discover the wall in mid-air. When the climbing was over everyone that there were llamas and even a baby crocodile called went back to the dorms to change for the trip to Mont Saint Pikachu! We practised for the assault course by rolling Michel. We stopped on the way there for a picnic lunch round in the mud, slithering through it and crawling on of baguettes and special Mont Saint Michel biscuits. The our hands and knees. We all thoroughly enjoyed climbing huge monastery stood out against the blue backdrop, and through tyres, clambering over nets and ducking below logs the sun bounced off the gold statue at the top, making it in muddy water. Dripping wet, we squelched back to the glint and sparkle. Our guide told us a lot about the history dormitories to change and shower. Our next activity would of the picturesque island, how slaves had been taken there be archery. Before we could try it in practice, we were given in the war and that the statue was depicting Saint Michael. a quick lesson on how to hold the bow and how to name Everybody really loved this visit and I would absolutely go the equipment in French. When we were actually given our there again. bows, however, we found it was not as easy as it looked! When we got back to the Chateau we had a go at bread Afterwards, everyone was given a yummy hot dinner and making! The most fun part was when we were kneading it, we were all taken to a hockey court for evening games of banging on it to the tune of the song of the Chateau. That hockey and football. It had been a tiring, but wonderful, night we had a delicious barbecue with sausages, chicken, first day. and the bread we made that afternoon. A talent show The sun continued to shine for Tuesday morning. Our fun followed the barbecue, when songs were sung and there activities included aero ball and a huge rope spider web. In was a lot of giggling! It was the perfect way to end our stay. the evening, there was a French-themed dinner, with a lot of Thank you to Mrs Halls, Mrs Palmer and Miss Coto-Diaz people wearing berets, striped tops and garlic around their for putting up with us for three days and for being really neck! Snails were served, and although a lot of people didn’t fun and looking after us, we really appreciate it. I strongly find eating snails the most thrilling prospect on earth, I, and recommend going on this trip, it is most definitely worth it! a lot of other people, absolutely loved them! After dinner, By Miranda McLaughlan, Year 8 there was a big quiz on France and Normandy, and there was a sack race, and, to the amusement of everyone, a lot of people fell over!76

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Montpellier Montpellier was a fantastic school trip . Throughout the recommend this trip to any year nine because it really trip we learnt about the culture and language by going on improved my skills and I had a great time. exciting excursions and our stays with our host families. By Amy Cheal, Year 9 Although the trip was very educational we also enjoyed fun activities including a day at an aqua park, going to the beach and shopping. My host was a lovely lady named Madame Adrover, she was extremely hospitable and welcoming and I felt very comfortable there. Every night she cooked meals for us and another exchange student. The food was delicious and very French! She also had two cats called Bilou and Filou who were very friendly but enjoyed sitting in our suitcases. Our language school was called LSF Montpellier and was very close to the hosts house. We were able to learn a lot. Our teacher Yasmine was extremely nice and helped us when we did not understand. I enjoyed that at LSF all the lessons were spoken only in French which was very challenging but helped me to understand French better aurally as well as verbally. We were a small group of ten along with our French teachers who made sure we had a great time including celebrating my birthday.I thoroughly The German School in Richmond In June the IB and A-Level German classes visited the introduced us to their friends and we ended up meeting German School in Richmond for a one-day exchange. We lots of amazing people and making new friends. The classes were greeted by our friendly partners inside the auditorium, were very interesting, and the people were very inclusive, who spoke mostly in German to us but were more than which made the day a really enjoyable experience. My willing to say a few words in English if we were having a German definitely improved as a result and I would love to hard time understanding them. We split into two groups go back and see my exchange again in the future. I would for the day and were taken on a short tour of the school highly recommend this trip to anyone considering going. where we met friends of our exchange partners and got to By Elisabeth Rulke, Year 12 see different parts of their grounds, including a towering chunk of the Berlin Wall. My exchange partner explained the school system to me, which helped to give me an insight into the daily life of a student at a German school. I sat with my partner in her lessons, which were similar to my own subjects, allowing me to understand quite a lot in class since I already had some background knowledge. The fact that no one was alone in a class and there were always three or more girls that I knew from Godolphin helped make the classes more fun and allowed me to talk to other girls’ exchange partners as well as my own. My partner was very inclusive during lessons and made an effort to chat to me and help me if I didn’t understand something (luckily, the teachers didn’t pick on any of us to answer questions!). During breaktime we bought some snacks from the cafeteria, reuniting with all the other Godolphin girls in the process, and spent time with our exchange partners inside their classrooms. They78

Year 10 German Exchange Visit to HamburgOver the Easter holidays, a group of Year 10 German All our thanks go to the teachers involved in the exchange,students went on an exchange trip to the Northern German Frau Fenton and Miss Jones, whose hard work and boundlessport city of Hamburg. The exchange was organised by kindness made the exchange extremely enjoyable andGodolphin and Latymer and Latymer Upper with the successful. We are all grateful for the wonderful experience.well-known Johanneum School in Hamburg. This year By Claudia Reynolds, Year 10marked the 40th anniversary for our school and the 70thfor Latymer Upper, so a large celebration took place at theJohanneum with various dignitaries attending; Dr Ramsayand the two other heads were also there and spoke warmlyat the event.My German host family was wonderful. They accepted me asone of their own and took me around Hamburg, immersingme in German culture and family life. We celebratedEaster with a traditional Easter fire, egg hunt, friendsand enormous quantities of chocolate! Their kindnessencouraged me to become better at speaking German andbeing in an environment where German speaking wasubiquitous helped my German to become more proficient.My German consisted of a myriad of errors, but thanks tomy hosts’ patience it became so much better.Cologne Christmas MarketsWe arrived in Cologne early in the morning and made our After the tour of the cathedral we went to three differentway to 4711 Haus - a perfume shop and museum. This Christmas markets. The last one was the biggest andis the home of Cologne’s famous cologne. As soon as we there was a huge range of products, including Christmasapproached the building we could smell the perfume in the decorations. For dinner, we went to a restaurant thatair. Everyone took this opportunity to buy Christmas gifts served traditional delicious German meals such as Wurstfor family and friends, and there was even a cologne tap! und Pommes, which is sausage and fries, or the amazingOne of my favourite places we visited was Cologne Käsespätzle, which is a super yummy German version ofCathedral. I was overwhelmed by the enormity of it. It is the macaroni cheese. Then we compared our selfie competitionmost visited sight in Germany, and is a Gothic Church. We photos and our photos of the longest German words wewere lucky enough to be given a fantastic and informative could find during the day with the winners announced attour of it, and learned that the three wise men were buried the end of the meal.in a big gold coffin there. After this, we walked along the By Roxanna Fahid, Georgina Morrow, Hebe Dennison, AvaRhine, stopping off for a warming hot chocolate. Martin and Alexandra Kogan, Year 9 79

Salamanca Granada The Year 8 Spanish study visit to Salamanca began with a On arriving to Granada our host families welcomed us rather early flight to Madrid, one weekend at the end of warmly and let us settle into our Spanish households. June. We travelled by coach to Segovia, where we visited the Throughout the trip, they spoke to us in Spanish and told us beautiful Alcazar; apparently Walt Disney was so impressed a lot of interesting new things about their city. Moreover, we by it that he used it as the inspiration for Cinderella’s castle. all enjoyed having Spanish food every day and feeling like After our guided tour of the Alcazar, which also gave us true natives with the overall atmosphere. a good introduction to Spanish history, we walked back Every morning, we attended classes at a school very near to admire the enormous Roman aqueduct in the centre our houses. The lessons were especially engaging as we of Segovia. were also immersed in Spanish culture through songs, The next morning we attended classes at a language school. movies and stories about local history and traditions. In At first it was a bit daunting as the lessons were entirely addition, we were taken on many excursions that were in Spanish but we were surprised how much we could very interesting and allowed us to learn about the history understand and say. One afternoon we went on a tour of of Spain. We visited the Albaicin, an old region of Granada Salamanca, visiting the cathedrals, the university and an that is built in the old Gothic style and the Alhambra, the art deco museum. Salamanca has the oldest university in most visited monument of Spain that used to be one of the Spain and it was beautiful walking around the streets of the homes of the Catholic Kings and that took our breath away historic centre. with its size and beauty. To let us find out even more about On the way back to Madrid airport on the last day, we the Catholic Kings, our teachers took us to a Cathedral in stopped at Avila, another historic city, where we had a Granada where you can find many interesting relics like picnic lunch, a guided tour and walked around the medieval the Queen of Castile’s crown. On one of the days, we even city walls. travelled to Cordoba, another Andalusian city, where we We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It was very interesting were told all about the religious history of Spain, which to see a part of Spain none of us had visited before. We saw was demonstrated by the combination of different styles of three different cities, learnt a great deal of Spanish and had architecture in the famous Mosque of Cordoba. plenty of opportunities to practise our language. We also The last key highlight of our trip was a Flamenco dancing had the chance to eat lots of delicious Spanish food! show, which is typical of Spain and which we enjoyed as By Year 8 Students it was so different to any type of dancing most of us have ever seen. By Maria Baranova, Year 880

Spanish HighlightsSpanish Debating: Soraya Daya and Margot Worsley in theLower Sixth took part in the annual inter-schools SpanishDebating Competition at Christ’s Hospital, accompaniedby their teacher and debating coach María José Coto Díaz.They prepared for challenging motions on international aidspending, private education and the role of the monarchyand thoroughly enjoyed the experience of meeting similarlyenthusiastic Hispanists.Theatre Visit to La casa de Bernarda Alba: We werefortunate to secure tickets to take our Sixth Form Spanishstudents to see La casa de Bernarda Alba at the CervantesTheatre in Southwark. A set text for both the IB and A Levelpathways, it was a fantastic opportunity to see an intimateand emotionally-charged production in Spanish of Lorca’smasterpiece.Spanish Films at the BFT: Year 9 Spanish students attendedthe KS3 Film Study Day at the BFI, Southbank in February.They took part in an interactive lecture (in a mixture ofSpanish and English) about three very different short films,learning a great deal of vocabulary about film techniques.In the afternoon, they thoroughly enjoyed a screeningof Zipi y Zape y el club de la canica. Using authentic andcontemporary film is a brilliant way to bring languagelearning to life.Oxford University Flash Fiction Competition: Year 9Spanish students entered the Oxford University FlashFiction Competition as part of Challenge Your Limits Week.They were challenged to write a short story of no more than100 words and Libby McDonald was named joint runnerup! The judges were very impressed by the overall standardof entries but felt that Libby’s story showed an “excellentcommand of Spanish and true literary sensitivity”.Flamenco Lesson: All Year 7 Spanish students took partin a fun Flamenco lesson as part of MFL week, learningthe basic principles of escobilla (footwork) and palmas(hand claps) and mastering a whole dance routine. We lookforward to repeating this activity next year.By Miss Matthews, Head of Spanish 81

Physical Education Athletics Once again, athletics this year at Godolphin and Latymer has been a great success! The season started with a successful track and field competition by the junior team, a mixture of girls from Year 7 and 8. The whole team performed very well in their various events and, finishing with 358 points, qualified for the regional round. There were some strong performances especially from the Year 7s with Sasha Mueller in the 1500m and Leila Savant in the sprint distances. Throughout the season there have also been opportunities to compete against other schools including St Augustine and NHEHS where the girls once again were all outstanding in their individual events. Outside of school events, a number of girls represented Hammersmith and Fulham at the track and field championship including Lucy Davidson, Alice McQueen, Delilah Wilson, Arabella Zeir and Lily Howell who achieved a personal best in high jump of 1.44m. In the 1500m, Kate Price qualified for London Schools achieving a time of 4.44 at the finals. Well done to all the girls who competed in events this season and on their outstanding achievements! By Marguax Couffon, Lower Sixth Extra Curricular Display Once again we held our annual extra curricular display, which allows the students to demonstrate the skills they have been learning over the course of the year. This year trampolining was included, along with the old favourites of dance, gymnastics, karate and kickboxing. The students always perform beautifully and it is so nice to see such a variety of different activities on display. By Ellen Elfick, Director of Sport82

Girls Go Gold CricketThis year’s Girls Go Gold conference focused on the growing It has been another great year of cricket at Godolphin andstrength of girls sport and girls being the vehicle for social Latymer. To start the year off two teams were entered intochange. Our day started with a keynote talk from Olympic the Lady Taverner’s indoor tournament. Both teams didgold medallist Helen Glover who spoke of her journey into amazingly well and went through to the regional roundrowing - starting at 21 by standing on her tiptoes to reach of the competition. Unfortunately we were unsuccessfulthe height criteria for the Sporting Giants programme. in proceeding to the national round but everyone playedHer passion for girls sport and the dedication to sport was excellently, with plenty of wickets and sixes scored. Ourevident and inspiring throughout. next big adventure was taking the plunge into the worldWe then moved into our individual sessions, throughout the of hardball cricket. The team was entered into the Schoolday the girls participated in cricket, hockey, rowing, tennis, Sport Magazine T20 tournament for practice and incrediblynetball, football and a psychology lecture. The psychology won our area match, meaning we went through to the nextlecture built on developing the students confidence and round of the competition and were one of the top sixteenunderstanding of the need for failure in order to succeed. girls’ schools in England!All students also had the opportunity to attend a sports fair Then it was time for the tour to Holland. We sailed throughand a nutrition lecture, which they all thoroughly enjoyed our first match against a Dutch club called Bloemendaaland sparked lots of conversation. In addition to this the and Sophie Griffith scored her first half century. The nextstaff attended a workshop on how best to support athletes day was our first match against the U15 Dutch Lionesses.at school. In true Godolphin style we put all our effort into the gameAt the end of the day the students were given the opportunity but due to them having a bit more experience they beat usfor a question and answer session with famous sports stars, marginally in the last over. The day after we played a gameincluding Gillian Lindsay, Crista Cullen, Graham Thorpe, of softball cricket and mixed the teams so that they wereFrank Lampard and Karen Pickering. The repeated message half Dutch, half English. We all enjoyed this match so muchfrom all was don’t give up, it takes a lot of work and failure as afterwards both teams did a massive slip and slide on theis part of success - key messages that everyone took away wet, muddy pitch! We have all had so much fun this yearfrom the day. and learnt a great deal. We would like to say a special thankBy Ellen Elfick, Director of Sport you to Buddy, Mark, Adam and Miss Elfick for all their hard work. By Millie Dodd, Year 9 83

Netball U12 Netball: This was a great season, with the A to C squads season, their biggest achievement being a strong victory finishing almost undefeated. The first taste of Godolphin against Latymer Upper, winning 27-8! The C team had a and Latymer netball was at the Ibstock tournament. At full- fabulous season, winning ten matches and only losing time we were drawing 5-5 and after sudden-death it ended three! The B team had a good season as well, they were very 6-6. This meant golden goal was the only thing between us unlucky as to only win 3 matches as they played so well in and the winner’s medal. After a nail-biting finish we were all their games. They managed to beat Highgate and Lady the team to score that crucial goal and we were victorious! Eleanor Holles, who are some of our toughest opponents. We also had a wonderful end to our season by leaving as The A team had an extremely successful season, winning Middlesex County champions after a hard final against St. fifteen matches, three tournaments and only losing two Paul’s. The B and C teams had an incredible season too. The matches! We finished the season being crowned Middlesex Bs only lost four times and when they won, they won with a Champions, which was a fantastic way to celebrate all huge goal difference. The C team only lost two matches and the hard work. Thank you to Miss Joseph for all her hard won eight and our D and E squads only lost four matches work and commitment from Lavinia Moro and Ella Keane, between them! Our F squad did even better winning seven Captain and Vice-Captain and all the teams. out of eight matches! Thank you from Charlotte Moore and U16 Netball: This year our U16 squads have all had a great Eliza Currie, Captain and Vice-Captain to all the teams and season with several successes across the board. The A team’s our fantastic coaches. season started off with the annual Ibstock tournament, U13 Netball: It has been an incredible season for U13 where we ended up placing 3rd. Despite a couple losses to Netball. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to play St. Paul’s Girls School early in the term, in our final game in the GSA tournament this year and won our first nine against them we managed to turn the tables, beating them matches! This meant facing St. Catherine’s Bramley for the 16-9 in a friendly as well as at the Middlesex Tournament. trophy. They were a very strong team, and even though we The B team won many matches with a huge goal difference. played really well and turned over lots of balls, they beat us They started off the season very well too, winning against 13-9. Overall, this season has been fantastic and all the U13 St. Pauls 17-4. The C team’s first match was against St. teams from A to F have had some amazing wins. The B team Augustine’s B team, in which they won 11-7, a great victory developed tactically over season with scoring a huge 140 against a higher team! Unfortunately, they lost their final goals. The C, D and E teams similarly improved throughout fixture in the New Year when they faced St. Augustine’s but the season working on more tactical play and developing as nonetheless feel their netball has developed throughout teams. The F team worked exceptionally hard throughout the year. All teams have worked very hard this season and the season, working on developing their consistency during thanks to Miss Brennan and Miss Bird, we feel we have matchplay. They only lost one game in the season by one improved greatly! goal! Thank you from Captain and Vice-Captain Sophie U19 Netball: All the teams have improved significantly and Griffith and Beth Redhead. have played great netball. The 1st team in particular have U14 Netball: This year we have seen an amazing quality improved remarkably. The season began with a friendly of play. With a mixture of teamwork and training we have fixture against our local rivals St. Paul’s Girls School where received some very positive results. This year the As won we narrowly lost, encouraging the team to work hard the Middlesex and South-West England region and came for the rest of the season, vastly improving and winning 4th at Nationals just narrowly missing out in a closely 28-5 against Wimbledon High School and 25-12 against fought battle for third place. We did very well considering Notting Hill and Ealing! Highlights of the tournament it was snowing! This season has been incredible for the B included beating Highgate and Latymer Upper who ended team with so many committed players. The C team has also up being first and second place. This 2nds’ season was an had a great season, winning the majority of their matches extremely successful one as well. The teams’ hard work and and learning lots along the way and the D team didn’t consistency carried them through, repeatedly beating our lose a single match. The E and F teams also had a very toughest competitors Highgate and Latymer Upper. At the successful season and overall everyone showed outstanding end of the season the 2nds took part in a tournament held dedication, improvement. at St. Paul’s. Unfortunately, their rewarding season was not U15 Netball: It was an amazing season for the whole of the reflected in their matches after losing to Latymer Upper and U15s. The D team played with relentless determination this St. Paul’s. The 2nds should be very proud of themselves for a great season and highly improving their netball skills. The84

3rds achieved three wins out of the five matches, therefore wonderful season and thank you to Miss Joseph for beingover a fifty percent success rate! With the only two matches such a great coach.lost being against Latymer Upper, this demonstrates a high Thank you to all our supporters and coaches from thedegree of success, especially when considering the fact that captains, vice-captains and players!the matches were only lost by one goal each time. Overall a 85

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HockeyU12 Hockey: The A team had a great first season, winning into school to coach us: Amy Tennant and Ellie Rayer.nine of our eleven matches. We only lost one match (against It was an incredible way to get back into hockey and beSurbiton) and drew one (against Wimbledon) and we won inspired. The A team won their first match which put usthe Middlesex tournament without conceding a single goal! in a really good position and mind-set for the MiddlesexWe reached the semifinals of the South Region tournament tournament, which we won! During October half term,where we came up against Reigate Grammar. They were an the A team went to Worcester on the annual sports touramazing team (who went on to win the tournament) and and they won all of their matches so congratulations tounfortunately we lost to them and finished in 3rd place, them. After the holidays, we played against St Edward’swhich was a great achievement and team effort. The B and C School and lost, however, everyone played really well asteams had a very good season and between them they only a team and it was good practise. The As then went to thelost 5 matches. The B team went on to represent Godolphin south hockey tournament, but unfortunately they didn’t getat the Ibstock tournament at the end of the season. They had through to the next round. However, everyone improved aa great day and after a wonderful team effort they finished lot throughout the day. Before the Christmas holidays, the4th. There was some real improvement during the season, As won their final two matches 4-0 and 7-0 before comingand some of the players from both teams have moved up to back in January and winning all their remaining matchesthe A team. The D team had a great season, not losing any except one 0-2 loss against Surbiton. The last match of theof their matches, but winning four and drawing three. They season was an Ibstock tournament in which they wereworked well as a team and were very successful. The E and crowned champions. The whole team played incrediblyF teams showed great improvement and played a number well, scoring seventeen goals in total and not concedingof internal matches to develop their skills. We have had a any! It was an amazing way to finish a great season. The Bsreally good season of hockey this year, thank you from all also had a great season, with many of them playing up in thethe team and from Emmie Gilbert, Team Captain. A team. Before Christmas, they drew to Surbiton, howeverU13 Hockey: This season was outstanding with the teams they came back after the holidays to win against JAGS 3-0.enjoying challenging matches, demonstrating excellent It was a great result and they definitely deserved it! Thanksportsmanship and taking part in early morning training you from Jess Gilbert, Team Captain, and all the teams tosessions. The A team played 22 matches, winning all but our wonderful coaches.three; two friendly matches against Surbiton (who we 1XI Hockey: We kicked off the season with coaching bycan all agree is one of our tougher opponents) and then England Commonwealth Games medallists, Ellie RayerRedmaids in the ISHC quarter finals. The B team played and Amy Tennant, in the hope to try and match the season24 matches, losing only four over the season. There were that had come before us. We began in stellar style, winningalso some amazing wins from the C, D and E teams. The C our first four matches, including both the first and secondteam beat our local rivals Latymer 4-2 and the D team came round of the National Cup, as well as becoming Middlesexaway from a match against Harodian with an incredible Champions. However we underperformed at the Regionalscore of 9-0. In total the U13 squad has played a staggering round, an unfortunate repeat of last season. A week after77 matches over the season. As we neared the end of the a stunning 9-0 win, we were faced with the third roundseason, there was a nervous excitement as we all were of the National Cup. It was a tricky game especially withanxious for the Middlesex County Tournament. Both the A our captain not being able to play due to a universityand B teams performed amazingly making it into the semi interview. We ultimately let the pressure get the better offinals but it was the A team who won gold medal in the us, resulting in a 3-0 loss. In the New Year, with lessonsfinal against Highgate. We then went on to play in the South learnt from untoward losses, we upped our game. WhilstRegional finals, coming second in our pool and proceeding we could have obtained a better result in the Ibstock seven-into the cup quarterfinals. However after a long gruelling a-side tournament, we did not lose any of our eleven-a-sidematch against St. George’s Weybridge it was a draw of 2-2 matches, as well defeating teams who had beaten us at theas they grabbed a late equalizer from a well rehearsed short beginning of the season, proving our development. Misscorner. St George’s just had the edge so unfortunately we lost Gordon deserves endless credit for instilling confidenceon penalties but it was still a great way to end the season. By and faith in our ability to excel and it goes without sayingGrace Kaprielian, Year 8 that we have advanced both as a team and as individuals.U14 Hockey: The season started with a pre-season training The next few years promise to be full of excitement! Thankday where two commonwealth bronze medallists came you from all the team and from Sophia Free, 1XI Hockey and Games Captain. 87

International Baccalaureate IB Birthday As the IB blows its 50 candles this year we thought it would be they know?’) and Year 7s were encouraged to reflect on fit to have a celebration in school for the occasion. We started what it meant to be a lifelong and inspired learner. There off the day with a festive assembly led by the Upper Sixth IB was a truly positive and inspiring atmosphere around the students that included stories of remarkable IB alumni, the school. The celebration continued at lunchtime with the history of the IB and provided reflection on what the IB has Birthday House Event where house points could be won brought over the last year and a half. Later in the day there for creativity, activity and service (CAS). A day of festivities was a variety of activities provided for all year groups in the could not of course end with a slice of cake and a glass of Lower School and the Middle School, including sessions (elderflower) bubbly and a picture of the IB cohort! Thank led by the Lower Sixth IB students on Visible Thinking, you very much to all students and staff who have helped tasters in subjects celebrating international-mindedness make this day a true success! (for example the Art Department provided an exhibition By Ms Dubois, IB Coordinator of western versus non-western perspectives and Chemistry ran sessions on ‘The Ozone: How do scientists know what88

How Studying the IB Led us to our LocalFood BankAn important part of the school ethos is to encourage us Being part of the project and learning about the hardships“to learn about local, national and global issues and in so faced by members of our local community every day hasdoing… become considerate, compassionate and courageous been a humbling and eye-opening experience. We wantedyoung women who fully expect to take active responsibility to share this learning experience with the school and earlierfor the community and the environment in which they live”… this year, we delivered an assembly on the reality of food insecurity in the United Kingdom.As IB students, we take part in the CAS programme, It could feel far removed from Godolphin and Latymer, butmeaning we choose a programme of creative, active and the food bank we donate to is just a 10 minute walk away and,service experiences to commit to alongside our studies. Our up and down the country, we are witnessing an increasingCAS programme provides us with added incentive to look number of food banks. The Trussell Trust is a large networkout into the world and demonstrate the compassion that of foodbanks that regularly releases information about howschool seeks to develop in us. their network is being used. Between April 2016 – 2017, the Trust distributed over one million emergency food suppliesA group of us decided to turn to the issue of hunger and and they are set to surpass this for the 2017-2018 year.homelessness in the capital and set up our London Street Because of the difference we have seen our donations make,Food Bank Project. The aim of the project was to establish as well as giving our assembly, we decided to hold a Foodrelationships with businesses so that they would donate Bank Drive. There was a great response from everyonesurplus food produce to us; then we could organise the and we definitely delivered a bumper load of muchdistribution of this to food banks operating in the area. needed items!In short, our job was to get what was needed to where it Due to the success of our Food Bank Drive, we are hopingwas needed! that another one can be organised next year, and we are hopeful that future IB students will carry on our project. ByIt sounds simple enough but the project was not without giving some of our time each and every week to the projectits challenges. It took real persistence to forge relationships as part of our IB Diploma, we have learnt so much, not leastwith local cafes but eventually we established regular about the power of true service.collections from some willing businesses. Reaching By Sophia Dyvik Henke and Miss Morrisout to organisations looking for donations was less of achallenge and we began visiting the Streetlytes food bankat St Stephen’s church in Shepherds’ Bush every week. Aswell as providing meals and food to hundreds of visitors,Streetlytes also provides access to medical care, free clothesand advice every month. 89

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Houses House Photography October saw the House Photography competition return with the theme ‘Our Community.’ There was a wide range of creative entries across all year groups. Many of us worked together in our House meetings to put together a great photo encompassing ‘Our Community’ within the school. Others took inspiration from outside the school to get their take on the theme, including a photo from a Geography field trip and from a Justice for Grenfell march. Congratulations to Bryony Streets of Quinn Brown who came third, Sylvie Lovegrove of Bassi who came second and finally Amy Jiang from Naidu with the winning photo. By Sarah Goodhart, Lovelace 91

House Fete On the final Wednesday of term, with the sun shining and exam stress gone, the House Fete proved to be an enjoyable and busy festivity. Each House had their own stall, such as Quinn Brown’s photo booth, enjoyed by all the years, and Lovelace’s confectionary tombola which was run by the captains and members of each of the Houses. Sponge the teacher run by Maathai was very popular and all the stalls created a fun and lively atmosphere. The fete was raising money for the Tongabezi Trust School called the Tujatane School, with which Ms Adams has been organising a virtual cultural exchange for the past two years. With the fete being one of the busiest and most exciting yet, it is safe to say that everyone who attended had a great time. By Amy Roberts, Lovelace92

House SportsThis year’s House sports were a demonstration of great team first in rounders. The things that stood out most on thework and enjoyment. They are some of the most enjoyed playing fields were the smiles and the sound of laughterhouse events, involving weird and wonderful tactical and excitement from each and every teammate. We wouldmethods and inventive defensive skills. A huge well done also like to that the PE department and House leaders forto all the teams involved, especially Lovelace in the Lower organising these events each year!School for winning first place in hockey and Quinn Brown By Jessie Pitsillides, Quinn Brownin the senior hockey competition for winning the overalltournament. Congratulations to Sheppard for coming 93

Copper Trail: In November of the Autumn Term, every to showcase their skills and to practice performing. house got together to create a design using copper coins at Performances are split into several categories, for each the annual House Copper Trail. All the money used for the instrument and different types of songs and musicians created models went to Children in Need. Everyone had a audition throughout the day for the chance to play or fantastic time, and Houses’ creativity came out. In the end, sing in front of an external judge in the final. The entire Lovelace were victorious, with a dragon design orchestrated experience is very friendly and supportive and there is by Tatiana Dickens. Well done and thank you to everyone always an impressive selection of music. This year, Naidu who came along and donated their coppers. came first, with winners in several categories, and Quinn By Sarah Goodhart and Amy Roberts, Lovelace Brown and Sheppard followed closely behind in joint Lipsync Battle: The House Lip Sync Battle took place in the second. The event was really fun for both the audience and Autumn Term just before Christmas. The hall was packed the musicians involved! with plenty of girls all crowding in waiting to get a good By Molly Mantle, Naidu view of the much-anticipated event. Girls got involved with Junior House Music: Auditions took place earlier in the entries ranging from ‘Wannabe’ to ‘Highway to Hell’, each day as well as the day before, while Miss Reid and Ms choreographing one minute of lip-syncing. A favourite McAdam filtered through many eager, young musicians a was a group from Quinn Brown with their rendition of willing to contribute their musical expertise for the sake of Wrecking Ball in which one of the girls leapt into the arms their houses. Unfortunately, only three from each category of another. Overall, it was a really fun event to watch and were able to proceed to the Grand Final. The judges the performers seemed to hugely enjoy themselves as well. faced an immensely difficult task, with only a five minute By Susanna Freudenheim and Hannah O’Keeffe, Bassi discussion while students waited in apprehension, hoping House Sining: This year the theme was songs from Disney, their names would be called. Later in the day Mr Henwood with each house being given a specific song from the likes — our wonderful special judge — arrived and for the next of The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and High School two hours the room was filled with tuneful performances Musical, as well as others. All Houses rehearsed rigorously from string quartets, jazz groups and unusual duos, with coming up with harmonies and choreography, all in the composers ranging from Bach to Oasis. Quinn Brown days leading up to the performance. The event itself took ended in third place, with Sheppard in second and finally place in an assembly in front of the whole school. In the Maathai winning over all! end it was a triumph for Bassi, with their rendition of ‘Love By Honor Wiggins, Naidu is an Open Door’. Both Miss Frayling, the House leader, Senior House Music: The senior house music festival and Mr Mahoney took part alongside the girls making the is a great opportunity for musicians in the older years performance all the more entertaining. to showcase their skills and to practice performing. By Susanna Freudenheim and Hannah O’Keeffe, Bassi Performances are split into several categories, for each House Karaoke: Girls from across all year groups and instrument and different types of songs and musicians houses participated. They could sign up in groups or as a audition throughout the day for the chance to play or solo and each chose a song to perform. To the delight of sing in front of an external judge in the final. The entire those watching, a staff performance was also included; experience is very friendly and supportive and there is for Lovelace, Mr McGrath gave a resounding rendition of always an impressive selection of music. This year, Naidu Wonderwall! It was hard to get him off the stage...This was came first, with winners in several categories, and Quinn such a fun event and it was great to see how much effort Brown and Sheppard followed closely behind in joint and time went into each performance. Well done to Aimee second. The event was really fun for both the audience and Wilmot from Bassi for winning the event overall, with Mr the musicians involved! McGrath hot on her heels in 2nd place. By Molly Mantle, Naidu By Susanna Freudenheim and Hannah O’Keeffe, Bassi Junior House Music: Auditions took place earlier in the Senior House Music: The senior house music festival day as well as the day before, while Miss Reid and Ms is a great opportunity for musicians in the older years McAdam filtered through many eager, young musicians willing to contribute their musical expertise for the sake of their houses. Unfortunately, only three from each category94

were able to proceed to the Grand Final. The judges faced an all year groups. Maathai kick-started the evening with aimmensely difficult task, with only a five minute discussion mildly inappropriate yet comical adaptation of The Goosewhile students waited in apprehension, hoping their names that Laid the Golden Eggs. Bassi brought an enhancedwould be called. Later in the day Mr Henwood, our judge, Black Mirror vibe to the evening with their stimulatingarrived and for the next two hours the room was filled with and creative rendition of The Ant and the Grasshopper.tuneful performances from string quartets, jazz groups Naidu used physical theatre and incorporated the audienceand unusual duos, with composers ranging from Bach to with their captivating performance of The Fox and theOasis. Quinn Brown ended in third place, with Sheppard in Stalk. Lovelace used their creative voice to show the harshsecond and finally Maathai winning over all! brutality of the business world in their adaptation of TheBy Honor Wiggins, Naidu Lion and the Mouse. Quinn Brown were able to put on anMFL Quiz: The MFL quiz tested a variety of different emotional performance that was realistic to modern societylanguages, from Mandarin to German. The hall filled with in The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Sheppard won with a comicallinguists who were tested with surprising facts, including and spirited delivery of ‘The Town Mouse and the Countrythat by 2020 there would be more Spanish speakers than Mouse.’English speakers in America. The teams were even quizzed By Lizzie Railton, Sheppardon their French cheese knowledge when asked to guess House Debating: The House Debating Competition ranwhich cheese was which as the final question. Maathai from September to March this year and was extremelyfinished first with 21 points closely followed with Quinn- enjoyable for all involved. The finals took place shortlyBrown one point behind and Sheppard finishing in 3rd. before the Easter break, with separate competitions forBy Margaux Couffon, Naidu Lower, Middle and Upper School. Competing for bothHouse Puzzler Challenge: The Puzzler Challenge in March Lower and Upper School titles were Sheppard and Bassi,was an excellent event. Each house had a puzzle to complete whilst the Middle School competition was between Lovelaceover break and lunchtime. The hardest part was definitely and Sheppard. After winning all three debates, Sheppardtrying to place the pieces that were very similar colours in were crowned the overall winners. Congratulations to Rubythe right place in the background. Everyone who took part Alexander and Issy Warren of Lower School, Avni Sharmareally enjoyed the brain-stimulating challenge. and Caroline Mirza from Middle School and Rosie LowitBy Louise Bonnor-Moris, Sheppard and Ella Von Baeyer of the Sixth Form for their success.House Drama: All the Houses put on a fabulous Rosie and Ella were undefeated throughout the entireperformance and it was marvellous to see participants from competition. By Rosie Lowit, Sheppard 95

House Debating: The House Debating Competition ran House Ergo: Twelve girls and two teachers from each house from September to March this year and was extremely gathered in the sports hall for an intense ergo competition. enjoyable for all involved. The finals took place shortly Each house had to race 3500m as fast as they could, with each before the Easter break, with separate competitions for member of the team taking on a 250m stint. The support Lower, Middle and Upper School. Competing for both for each house was fantastic, a huge roar could be heard as Lower and Upper School titles were Sheppard and Bassi, teammates cheered each other on. Rowers and non-rowers whilst the Middle School competition was between Lovelace alike raced hard throughout, but it was Maathai who took and Sheppard. After winning all three debates, Sheppard the win, with Naidu coming in 2nd and Bassi taking 3rd. It were crowned the overall winners. Congratulations to Ruby was the first time having staff involved in the competition as Alexander and Issy Warren of Lower School, Avni Sharma well, which added an even greater sense of competition and and Caroline Mirza from Middle School and Rosie Lowit rivalry. Well done to everyone who took part! and Ella Von Baeyer of the Sixth Form for their success. By Libby Bryant, Maathai Rosie and Ella were undefeated throughout the entire Junior House Public Speaking : Junior House Public competition. Speaking was a great event that ran during the Spring Term By Rosie Lowit, Sheppard this year, involving girls from the Lower School. Girls spoke House Quoits: On 15 September, girls took part in the on a wide range of topics, it was nice to see how broad their renowned, exhilarating sport known as quoits. The tension range of interests was! A huge congratulations goes to Amelia as girls threw their ring onto the poles was incredible and Hodgson from Year 9 who won the overall competition for everyone held their breath, eyeing the ring as it soared Naidu. She spoke convincingly on the practices of Canada through the air. Four houses achieved top scores of 70 with Goose and the exploitation of dogs for their fur. 2nd place their precise and expert throwing, and onlookers from the went to Lula Johnson from Lovelace who talked about sidelines were astounded by how perfectly aimed their immigration, refugees and societal attitudes towards them. throws were. The winners were Maathai and Lovelace, who Finally, 3rd place went to Serena Jabre from Bassi who gave won nine points for the house points table, closely followed a speech on the use of plastic cups. by Naidi and Bassi and then Quinn Brown and Sheppard. By Libby Bryant, Maathai By Flo Scavazza-Murphy and Arielle Cina Rabin, Maathai House Colours: For the first time, house colours were awarded to girls in the Lower School and Year 10 to acknowledge excellent contribution to their house in their school career thus far. The following colours were awarded: Bassi Year 10: Susanna Freudenheim, Nimi Warner Year 9: Alison Roberts Maathai Year 10: Issey Dodd, Coco Kemp-Welsh Naidu Year 9: Honor Wiggins Quinn Brown Year 10: Violette Chereau, Jessie Pitsillides, Tatiana Richardson Sheppard Year 10: Ines Elliot Granger, Jessica Lowit, Eden Poynton, Charlotte Wan House Cup Winners Bassi 240pts Quinn Brown 232pts 1st Sheppard 213pts 2nd 3rd96

HouseCreative WritingThe Day I Went ToSchoolI woke up blurry-eyed, the sun streaming through the lined with wrinkles. I looked up look up at Papa who smiledcurtains of our rented home. With a jolt of sickness, Iremembered. I was going to school for the first time in at me. ‘Papa, what’s wrong?’ I asked. ‘Oh, politics Yana,England. Recently my family and I had fled war-torn Syria,but we had been granted permission to stay in England. nothing you need to worry about.’ ‘Papa’ I said insistently.My room was still filled to the brim with Syrian artefacts:scarves, helmets and trunks. ‘Oh alright ! England are making immigrationI craned my head slightly when I heard the soft pit pat harder. They are stopping many people coming in. Hopefullyof my Mama’s feet on the carpet floor. ‘Wake up Yama.’ Inodded sleepily as Mama gently supported and helped me we will be alright but others...’get dressed into my crisp white uniform. Walking down thecreaky stairs, I saw Papa at the kitchen table, reading the I sighed. I knew he was thinking of his Mama and Papa, andnewspaper with a grave expression on his face. As he saw all our other Syrian relatives. I thought of Amena and Aya,me though, he tried to cover it with his plate. ‘Ready for stuck in their war-torn town. Would I see them again? Hotschool, young lady?’ he asked me. Mama nodded. I watched tears bubbled up to my eyes. I blinked them back quickly.as their eyes met and Papa’s flickered down to the newspaper ‘Be strong Yana. Be brave. You have it in you’ were myand back again. A moment of perfect understanding passed Grandmama’s parting words. ‘Papa, do you think we willbetween them until Papa noticed me standing there. ‘We see Grandpapa and..’ But it was too late to ask, because asneed to get going otherwise she’ll be late.’ we rounded the corner, I saw a huge, iron gate, embellished with the words ‘victoria et fortis’. Papa squeezed my handMama pulled me into a tight embrace and kissed my and signalled that I should walk in. I passed through theforehead. As we stepped through the door into the bitter gates, feeling more alone than ever. Suddenly an out-of-London streets I turned around to wave goodbye to Mama. breath teacher had come up to me and said, ‘You must beShe looked old as she stood in the doorway; the grey Yana, the refugee. Welcome!’ I felt annoyed that she felt thestrands of hair seemed to stand more than ever, her face need to say I was a refugee, but I could see she meant no harm, ‘You are in my form. Would you like to follow me?’ I nodded shyly. Here goes, I thought. By Hebe Dennison, Maathai 97

Debating The International Competition for Young Debaters at Oxford Union The International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD) is an international debating tournament for secondary school students in Year 10 or below, wherein all debates are in the British Parliamentary format. The hosting of the finals alternates between Oxford University and Cambridge University at their Debate Unions. Prior to the finals at Oxford, there were numerous regional rounds during the year worldwide. The highest scoring ten teams from each round qualified to the final. The regional competitions consisted of three preliminary debates, where the teams had fifteen minutes to prepare their speeches, once the motions and their positions had been announced. Three teams from Godolphin and Latymer were selected to take part in the South England regional round, hosted by St Paul’s Girl’s School, where we debated some very controversial and interesting topics. After heated battles, my team mate Ruby Alexander and I qualified for Finals’ Day, coming in fifth place out of the 50 teams of the round. So in April we found ourselves at the Oxford Union, under the pictures of so many former prime ministers and politicians. The four rounds brought forward excellent motions: “This house would ban religious primary and secondary schools”, which we had to oppose. “This house believes that celebrity leadership in social movements has done more harm than good”, which we had to oppose. “This house believes that MEDCs should pay LEDCs not to exploit their natural resources in areas of environmental significance”, which we had to propose. “This house would give all citizens under the age of 30 two votes in all elections”, which we had to oppose. We battled fiercely all day in shark infested waters and carried the Godolphin flag with some dexterity. Sadly, we just missed out on the final round and the title went to a pair from Hong Kong, from GSIS HK. Nevertheless, it was an invaluable experience. The ICYD gave us a chance to debate against other international students, most of whom were older than us, and to do so in a prestigious and famous venue. We would like to thank Mr Bell and Natalia Hildebrand for coaching us extensively and, once again, invite everyone to our debate program, it’s fabulous! Dilia Thovez, Year 998

Debating andPublic SpeakingWhat’s true? What’s fake? Who can you trust any more? As Britain is split down the middle byBrexit, Europe is menaced by the rise of the xenophobic far right, and the President of the UnitedStates makes world changing decisions via his Twitter account, we need the skills of critical thinking,clarity of thought and an ability to see both sides of the question – skills which debating teaches betterthan anything else – more than ever. And Godolphin girls are debating more than ever.As ever, the House competitions were keenly fought, with three debates taking place every week throughoutthe Autumn and Spring Terms. It was a year to rewrite the record books; for the first time in the history ofthe competition, one house won all three competitions. The Sheppard Grand Slam was achieved by Ruby Alexanderand Issy Warren in the Lower School, Caroline Mirza and Avni Sharma in the Middle School, and Rosie Lowit andElla Von Baeyer in the Sixth Form.The London Junior Debating League was bigger than ever, with 24 schools taking part from November to April, a thirdof them maintained schools. Godolphin made it to the final, though sadly not to the trophy. However, there was muchpromise and expertise in our squad of Sophie Blake, Isabella Boas, Malika Kumar, Valentina Lesmes, Charlotte Long, IngridLoynes, Sofia Tyler and Hannah Wilson, expertly coached by Emily De Vegvar and Sorcha Gorman.The London Middle School Competition was also well attended, with Catherine Coggan, Leo Gafsi, Lily Heathcoat-Amory,Linnea Hult, Holly Keen, Caroline Mirza, Alex Riddell-Webster and Avni Sharma representing Godolphin. First place went toSt Mark’s, Hounslow, the first time the competition has been won by a state school.We had much success in the two English Speaking Union competitions. In the Mace, Catherine Coggan and Lily Heathcoat-Amory progressed to the second round. In the Public Speaking Competition, we were represented in the first round byLily Heathcoat-Amory and Tea Chatila (speakers), Catherine Coggan and Holly Keen (questioners) and Avni Sharma andLinnea Hult (chairs). Lily, Catherine and Avni progressed to the second round in the elegant Georgian setting of DartmouthHouse. Lily was awarded Outstanding Personality and Linnea Best Chair in the first round, and Catherine was awarded BestQuestioner in the second round.In the two ‘university’ competitions, Emily De Vegvar, Natalia Hildebrand, Natalie Korhonen Cuestas, and Phoebe Simons-Evans were unlucky not to progress to the second round. We only just missed the break, and in any other year we wouldhave gone to the finals, but the decision to halve the number of teams going through from this size of round meant wemissed out. We were the hosts for the first round of the Oxford Union competition, with Ella Hastings, Natalie KorhonenCuestas, Sylvie Lovegrove, Natalia Hildebrand, Mila Prest and Issy Roberts representing the school. Ella and Sylvie werein one of the top two rooms in the last debate, suggesting that they were very close to qualifying for the finals.One competition for which we did make it to the finals was the International Competition for Young Debaters.After a very competitive first round at St Paul’s Girls, where we were represented by Ruby Alexander, CeciliaColao, Claudia Reynolds, Isabelle Steinmeyer, Daisy Studd and Dilia Thovez, Ruby and Dilia progressed to theFinal at the Oxford Union itself, the training ground of so many future politicians. They had a great dayin its magnificent Gothic chambers, under the watchful gaze of portraits and photos of the great and the good.None of this could have happened without the tireless work of the wonderful Debating Captains andVice-Captains, Emily de Vegvar, Natalia Hildebrand, Issy Roberts, Sorcha Gorman, Isabelle Halland Mila Prest, and my ever generous colleagues, Ms Afifi, Mrs Allan, Ms Halifax, Mrs Kellie, MrMahoney and Mr Renshaw. My thanks to all of them. A world where complex and vital issuesare reduced to 144 character bursts could lead one to despair; but the subtlety, thethoroughness, the passion and above all the openness to doubt, the willingness tolisten, that I see week after week in debating give me hope.Mr Bell 99

Rowing The 2017/18 rowing season has been filled with many fine crew made the final. The WJ15 double raced hard, as did performances that rowers, coaches and supporters can the WJ15 scullers, one of whom, Delilah Wilson, won a all be very proud of. We had our best ever placing at the bronze medal. Our two WJ15 crews lined up in the final prestigious Fours Head of the River Race in November of the WJ18 fours, and did very well to come away with the 2017, with our senior rowers finishing second in category, silver and bronze. The last race of the day saw our WJ15 against some very strong school crews. We also had two quad have a strong row in a fast race, to come away with a new Hudson fours delivered in February, with a coxed and a silver medal. coxless boat supplied. These new boats will help our rowers Putney Town Regatta, where we won our first ever Victrix compete at the highest level, as this is the first time we have Ludorum last year, saw our WJ15s narrowly lose out in the had new women-specific fours to row in. final of the Women’s Novice eights to an adult aged crew The Schools’ Head of the River Race in March is one of the from Thames Rowing Club. Our WJ18 coxless four finished highlights of the school rowing calendar. Here the senior runners up in their category final, and our WJ18 coxed four fours placed 4th and 11th, the WJ15 VIII placed 15th, stormed to the win, with a great performance. The day was despite a bent fin slowing them down, and the WJ16 VIII nicely capped off with the Boat Club WJ14 octos facing off finishing fourth in category, a fantastic effort! The following against each other in the final, with a Boat Club win, our day two WJ14 octuples travelled to Dorney to compete at first here since 2012. the Scullery. This was our WJ14s first ever race, and they The National Schools’ Regatta 2018, saw many fine certainly did learn a lot about racing against some very well performances. On Friday the two WJ14 octos came off the drilled crews! water glowing, after having their best rows of the year. The The Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club dinner on WJ15 fours had strong rows, and one made the A final. 23 March was an outstanding success, with funds raised Here there was some controversy, as we initially won gold, for rowing equipment. Jess Eddie, a member of the silver until a protest (not about us) forced four of the six crews in medal winning GB women’s eight at the Rio Olympics, the final into a re-row, after the last race of the day. Picking gave an inspirational speech, and India Colegrave, Captain themselves up, after the elation of winning gold followed of Boats, had the audience in stitches, with her stories of the desolation of having this snatched away, our crew rowed rowing at the Boat Club, 2013 - 2018. The Godolphin and brilliantly to gain the bronze, in a super close race that saw Latymer School Boat Club Supporter’s Association can be gold and bronze separated by 0.7 of a second! This was very proud of this dinner, which they worked so hard to a gutsy performance, and it was brilliant to gain an NSR organise, as it was a fantastic evening! bronze! Other crews racing at this huge event were the Six days later, the largest ever contingent of Boat Club WJ15 VIII, the WJ16 pair, WJ18 pair and Championship rowers travelled to Portugal for the annual Easter Rowing Girls Coxless four, who all represented the Boat Club with Camp. The WJ15, WJ16s and Seniors all made massive performances we can all be proud of. The WJ16 squad had improvements, as crews trained for the summer racing demonstrated a lot of potential over the year, and at NSR season. Balanced with four to five hours of supervised 2018 they didn’t disappoint, gaining a bronze medal in the revision each day, and some fun excursions to play beach WJ16 fours. This was a fantastic performance watched by volleyball, the most fun was had with the Easter egg hunt, many Godolphin and Latymer Boat Club supporters. A organised by the Captain of Boats and her senior helpers. bronze medal at WJ16 level is exceptionally hard to achieve, The weather wasn’t the best we had ever experienced in so our crew did absolutely brilliantly! Portugal, but characters were built, and resilience was learnt, A week after NSR our seniors had a great performance at and the rowers all shone through with their dedication the prestigious London Metropolitan Regatta, winning and application. Women’s Tier Two quads, a top performance. This race was The Hammersmith Regatta in April saw the hard work on our last before the Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers. Despite camp pay off, with wins in the Women’s Coxless Fours, our best efforts, we couldn’t qualify for the first round Women’s Coxed fours, and WJ18 coxed fours! The Ball this year, but the rowers can all be proud of the effort and Cup in May saw our younger squads travel to Dorney for a dedication they have shown over the course of the season. full day’s racing. The two WJ14 quads raced well, and one 2017-18 has been another strong year for Godolphin and100