Star of the Term: Maxine

Maxine is kind, helpful, friendly and caring despite the difficulties you face in your personal life.   She was voted for Star of the Term by the whole house and was a clear winner.   Well done Maxine and our thoughts and prayers are with you this Easter.

Bronze Certificate Winners

All these young ladies have obtained over 20 Merits this term and many are very close to getting their Silver.

It is no wonder that we have won the Academic Cup again.   Well done.

Spring Concert

These lovely young ladies played in the Spring concert.

Netball Superstars

At the recent Netball presentations these lovely young ladies were presented with either Most Improved Player or Most Valuable Player.   Well done.

We have triplets!

Amber , Rachel  and Eva share the same birthday.   Eva has already flown home to Russia, but Aberdeen wish their triplets a very Happy Birthday on Saturday.

Happy Birthday Ellie

Happy birthday Ellie.   Have a wonderful day from us all in Aberdeen.

House Netball

The Sun broke through and the girls played in the House Netball.   We put out three teams and the girls played with remendous House spirit.   Michaela was sad because she wasn't very well and not really up to playing, although she really wanted to.

Anabels's Gates of Avalon

The Gates of Avalon


I enter the city. Lights, sounds, tastes, scenes..... But no emotions. No feelings. As human as I may seem, this is the one thing I am incapable of doing. Feeling.

My new apartment is noticeably better then my old one back in London. No traces of the turbulent past, no scars shown. I leave my bag on the mattress and look out of my balcony. A huge expanse of tiny little lights, like flames that are very far away, look back at me. The sky is showered by millions of twinkling stars. It’s a beautiful view, but to me it has no effect. No trace of nostalgia or overwhelming nervousness, not even relief of completing my journey. I leave the blinds open, and turn to the empty mattress lying in the floor. My exhaustion is becoming heavier as I walk towards it, so I let myself fall. I lay there, not caring that there are no bed sheets on it. I close my eyes and let this new city taste me. I soon fall asleep, knowing that, when I wake up, everything is going to be different. Change. But for now, I let go. The silent city embraces me.

I woke up, a stream of light shining through the window. I remembered faintly what happened last night. The silence, the lights, the magic of it... Now it was just a lost memory. The daylight made the city more arid and unwelcoming, if that was possible. It was nothing like the previous night. The brightness taunted me, and I wished I could go back in time.
I got off the mattress and walked to the balcony. The coolness of the early morning struck me, but I didn't care. You could see the city was alive, but in with a slight air of confusion, desperation, impatience...I preferred it before. At night all you could sense was a vibrancy, a fantasy, a mystery.
I went back inside...
"Good morning" I said to myself

Creative writing

The College are encouraged to develop their creative writing talents by entering a writing competition this term.   Miss Ward and Mrs Newson challenged our tutor groups to write a piece for this competition.   I have posted some examples for their work for you all to read.   Well done to them.

The Arrival by Imogen Pierpoint

The dark night closes in on me

Rattling tree leaves

Hooting owls

Car light looming in the distance

He was coming home

My heart leapt every time a car drove by

But sank again when it zoomed past

He’d been gone four months

He was coming home

He’d been out saving us

Protecting our country

Everyone respected him

I had missed him so much

It had seemed like forever

But,

He was coming home

County Hockey Player of Aberdeen

Rebecca, Aubrie, Alex and Charlotte have all been playing hockey for Sussex just recently.   We are proud of them all.  Well done.

Comic Relief Fun Run

The girls braved the elements to do the fun run, before which they had to join in the Irish Dancing Competition.

Prize Winners and Jessica's Speech

Below are photographs of the prize winners from the Aberdeen Dinner and I thought it would be nice for you all to see a copy of Jessica's Speech.   She really does embody the essence of what it means to be in Aberdeen.   Thank you Jess.

Jess with the Aberdeen Dragon

Michaela with the Crystal Aberdeen Award

Harriet and Caitlin with the Cup of Friendship

Ashleigh with the Housemistress Cup

Maxine with the Aberdeen Diamond

Sarah with the Aberdeen Sapphire

Jess Van-Droogenbroeck's Speech: 2013

Good evening ladies.

Standing here I am reminded of the first time I came to Ardingly and Aberdeen House.

I had never attended any other school apart from my school in Uganda and off course never been to boarding school. I was apprehensive, anxious and nervous. However, I thought to myself, if I can handle Africa surely I can handle this!!

From the moment I walked into House, the fifth and sixth formers warmly welcomed me and I have since felt that Aberdeen is my home away from home as well as Micki’s house. I remember doing shell activities and immediately making life long friends.

But it is not just the modern swanky facilities that make Aberdeen our home away from home; it’s the people in it.

Firstly, the students here present and those who left for 6th Form here or elsewhere that make this house the way it is they make us all feel like one family, older girls mentoring younger ones and and all the girls having elder sister, younger sister relationship. Aberdeen girls look out for each other and look after each other. It’s this spirit of family that makes it special being an Aberdonian.

Tutors, I’d like to thank you on behalf of the house for always taking care of us and listening to us rant about how much homework we have. Although we can be under appreciative and a burden at times it seems appropriate to formally thank you.

Our matron and her support staffs who make our lives in this “home” comfortable and allow us to pass our days at ease. Let me tell you a little story. When my parents dropped me off the first time, with all my clothes and belongings neatly labelled, my mother said that perhaps now I will learn how to sew on buttons and nametapes for any new uniforms that I will get in the course of the year. She said I might even get to learn how to iron, clean and cook. I don’t what gave her that idea I would learn any of them because am in my third year in Aberdeen and I still cannot sew on buttons or nametapes. To be honest I can barely make my bed without help. Thank you Matron. We really do appreciate every little thing you do for us.

Another big thank you we owe is to Miss Ward. Some of your efforts also go under appreciated and we take for granted your tremendous leadership, effort and patience you have for us. As amazing as she is, Miss Newson can’t deal with us 7 days a week and we therefore couldn’t get by without you.

Lastly but by no means least, our brilliant Housemistress Mrs Newson, I think really, she should be called housemother because for us, she is our second mother. She supports us and looks after every girl making each feel special and cared for. Thank you especially from our boarders and me personally for your care, support and advice for school and personal concerns.

I have grown and matured as a member of this house. I will look back on my years in Aberdeen as one of the best periods of my life where lifetime memories and lifetime friends have been made, and I hope you all do the same.

I am sure this is where I am expected to pass on age-old wisdom to my fellow housemates.

Thank you all.

I leave you with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt wife of American President Roosevelt

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."- Eleanor Roosevelt

Happy Birthday Alex

Alex has spent the weekend with her parents in London.   Happy Birthday Alex.

Aberdeen Dinner Slide Show part 2

Aberdeen House Dinner slide show part 1

Lovely Picture from Josie

Matron, Mrs N, Josie and Miss Ward

Star of the Week: Svenja

Svenja has been working very hard academically and  she has also worked her way into the Netball team.   This is a little something to say 'well done' to her, and that her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Pictures from the Dinner

House Dinner

An amazing evening, as can be seen by the pictures that follow.  The Awards were given ...

House Colours:

Jess Van-Droogenbroeck, Michaela Green, Sammi Jackman, Josie Lau, Harriet McGilvray, Aubrie Willifer, Caitlin Bateman-Champain, Rebecca Thorne, Queenie Ng, Ashleigh John

House Colours are intended to be recognition of success and application in a girl’s life at Ardingly.  All girls are eligible to receive their House Colours and they are worked towards over time. They are awarded at the discretion of the Housemistress, in consultation with House Staff. They can be awarded for a variety of reasons – academic, sporting, dramatic, musical and for demonstrating maturity, generosity and responsibility in the House. Those awarded House Colours are given a distinctive silver compact and their achievement would naturally be noted in their records and references to universities and employers.

The Housemistress Cup: Ashleigh John

This is an annual award for presented to the Fifth Form student who has contributed most to the House and/or has set an example to the other students during their time in Aberdeen. The recipient’s name is engraved on the cup, a most beautiful, ornamental silver cup which was originally presented by the first Housemistress of Aberdeen.

The Aberdeen Award: Michaela Green

This is an annual award in the form of a Crystal perfume bottle which is made to the girl from Shell to Fifth who has best exemplified the values of the House.

The Aberdeen Dragon: Jess Van-Droogenbroeck

This is an annual award which is made to the girl who has best exemplified the values of the House (usually a Fifth Former). Her name will be put on the board in the House’s entrance hall. It recognises the values of integrity, commitment, giving ones best whatever one’s ability, being loyal to the House, its staff and members, making the most of opportunities and thereby setting an example to others.  It is intended that the recipient reflects the example of what it means to be an ‘Aberdonian ‘.

The Cup of friendship: Caitlin Bateman-Champain and Harriet McGilvray

This is an annual award in the form of a trophy which is made to the girl who has shown the most sense of fun and friendship in the House.

     Aberdeen Diamond: Maxine Hegenyi

An award to be given to any Fifth Former who has made the biggest impact on the House Atmosphere,  being friendly to all years and who has integrated totally.  This person will have taken the opportunities on offer at Ardingly College, getting involved in numerous areas of College life.

      Aberdeen Sapphire: Sarah Pagel

An award given that recognises a Fifth Former who is a non-native speaker who has endeavoured to make an effort to mix with everyone within the House regardless of language.

Hockey Super Stars

Rebecca and Charlotte kept the Aberdeen Banner flying high when they played for the U16 and U15 Sussex County Hockey teams respectively on the weekend.   They have both trained hard and deserve their place on the teams.   We also wish Charlotte the best of luck when she plays with the Ardingly U15 Hockey team in the Final of the Sussex Cup next week against Eastbourne.  Hockey really is going from strength to strength at Ardingly.

Academic Excellence: Ashleigh, a History Scholar

Ashleigh is awarded the prestigious History Scholar Award.   Congratulations Ashleigh.

Chillax Weekend

The girls have been very busy over the past week and were in need of a quiet weekend relaxing and chilling out.
They opted to watch Disney films on Saturday night, although some went to Merten's Italian evening.

Some others performing in the Cabaret Evening - singing and entertaining paying guests - hopefully pictures to follow.

Dates for the Diary

Remove and Shell Parents Evenings
Thank you to all the parents who made are drinks and nibbles after parents evenings.  It was lovely to see so many of you and catch up with your news.  

A Date to pencil in you diary:

Friday 24th May - 11.30am - 2.00pm House BBQ for all the family on the Burse (- Weather permitting)

and looking ahead to the Michaelmas term: A Categories Evening with Table Top Magician

Star of the Week: Antonia

Our Olympic Champion, who took part in numerous activities during the inter house Olympics in the Under last weekend.   Well done Antonia.

Congratulations to Maxine and Sammi

Sammi was basptised and confirmed and Maxine was confirmed on Wednesday in the front of the whole College.   I was very proud to be Maxine's sponsor.   Congratulations both of you.

Maths Stars: All the girls got A*

Well done to all the girls that took their resit Maths.   They all attained a wonderful A*.

Immi and Emilie

Aberdeen's House Charity: The Magogo Foundation

    

The Aberdeen house 2012-2013 charity is called The Magogo Foundation. It is a fundraising education charity based in the UK supporting projects in and around Uganda's capital city, Kampala. We chose it to be this year’s charity because all the house representatives agreed it is a worthy cause, especially as it is that is near to where three of our house members are from. It is a recently formed charity set up by our Deputy Head of Charity (Harriet McGilvray)’s older sister. 

     In Uganda, education is the most important thing for a child to have. Sadly this privilege comes at a price, which many of the poverty stricken families cannot afford to pay and so their children cannot attend school. The Magogo Foundation was founded in order to provide the children from a small village (Magogo) just outside Kampala with a new better-equipped school, because their old ‘school’ collapsed when a wall caved in after a heavy rainfall. Luckily no people were injured, however it was incredibly hard for the school to cope with, as money was very short and rebuilding would have been impossible without any help with funding.

     Progress has been excellent over the last year and the new school has been built. Finishing touches are now taking place, but the charity is still making use of donations by helping buy other elements such as schoolbooks and pens – necessities that are a must in all schools, which many Ugandan primary schools go without.

      We have had a very successful bake sale and raised a solid amount of money so far  - hopefully with more to come!

   

     Any further donations will be hugely appreciated and will make a big difference to the lives of many African children and adults linked to The Magogo Foundation. For any other information and links to donating sites click on http://magogofoundation.weebly.com/index.html !

Thehttp://magogo-foundation.weebly.com/index.html !