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July 6th 2023
On Wednesday 5 July, we celebrated a joyful Junior Prize Giving with Year 7 and 9 pupils and parents. The annual Prize Giving is a special date in the Farnborough Hill calendar, when we gather in the beautiful Chapel and publicly and joyfully recognise the pupils' God-given gifts and talents.
Our Deputy Head Girl, Hannah Friend, and JLT member, Giorgia Peddell, reminded the girls that they have all accomplished a huge amount this academic year and have much to be proud of. Given Hannah’s and Giorgia’s own incredible talents, their accolades of praise filled the hearts of the gathered girls.
Mrs Zoe Ireland then addressed the girls, taking them through her journey to discovering her own passion and talent for History, from her early love of Ladybird books and the characters within, to an appetite for the Romans and, later, Boudica. She revealed that, for her dissertation, she interviewed 40 local women who had been part of the WW2 effort, relishing in their first-hand accounts of their extraordinary efforts in their seemingly ordinary lives. The thread running through her passions, Mrs Ireland revealed, was strong women; women who stepped up, were leaders and rebels, pushed themselves beyond the bounds of society’s expectations to really, valuably, contribute to the community, and world, around them. Her message for the gathered girls was to be extra-ordinary: 'It is entirely possible to live an ordinary life and be an extra-ordinary individual, who can make a powerful contribution to the world'.
Mr Emanuele Maccherini (Head of Year 7) and Mrs Joanne Brereton (Assistant Head of Year 9) spoke of the great privilege it is to be a part of the lives of the girls, relishing in their spirit and gusto. Mrs Brereton read some words from Mr Scott Temple (who is currently in the Borneo jungle!), who echoed the sentiments of Mr Mac and Mrs B: the girls are incredible young women, full of talent and courage and tenacity, and they could not be prouder to be part of their journey.
The prize winners received their awards from Mr Gerry McCormack, our Chair of Governors, and conducted themselves with great confidence and poise. The afternoon was punctuated by beautiful song from the Choir and concluded with delicious refreshments on the Cloister Lawn.
