Alton Convent School

After a long struggle, Beth was in third place with just a few yards to go, but a determined effort by Becki  saw the latter overhaul her and take the treasured bronze, leaving Beth in fourth place.  With Charlotte coming 9^th, this was a most satisfying race for the school considering there were ninety runners.

Alton Convent School pupils had once again travelled up to Rugby to take part in the ISA National Finals, the climax to the cross country season.

read more

After arriving very early at school the children in Year 6 were delighted to be on the coach and heading for a day in London.  Our first stop was the Winston Churchill Britain at War Experience.  Everyone piled into an old lift which trundled down to a replica of an underground station where people would shelter from air raids during London's Blitz.  The whole museum was full of interesting artefacts and displays as well as hands on experiences such an Anderson Shelter to sit in and plenty of wartime clothing to dress up in. 

read more

On Thursday 4 March two A Level music pupils, Kate and Olivia gave their final recital performances in front of a small but appreciative audience of family, friends and teachers.  The wonderful acoustics and architecture of St Lawrence's church in Alton provided a perfect ambience for the girls' performances and the audience was treated to a wide range of vocal repertoire.

Both girls will be furthering their musical studies next year and we will be following their progress with keen interest!

read more

This February  Year 9 travelled to the First World War Battlefields of Ypres and the Somme in connection to their History studies. The girls had  guided tours of the Battlefields and viewed preserved trenches and memorials to the fallen of both sides.

They were visibly moved by participating in the Last Post Memorial ceremony at the Menin Gate by laying a wreath on behalf of the school and gained a better understanding of the lives and suffering of those who fought and died in the horrific trench conditions of World War I.

The children in the Preparatory school gave their parents and grandparents a most enjoyable concert which included a great variety of music played on many different instruments. Year 3 gave their first recorder performance as did the newly formed Prep School Brass Ensemble. There were duets on the piano, clarinet and flute and, some very impressive solos from many other instruments including the harp and guitar. At the end of the concert Mrs Ongley thanked all the children and their teachers for all their hard work and wonderful playing; parents and performers then enjoyed chatting over coffee. Thanks must be given to the peripatetic teachers who prepared the children so well for their performances.

read more

Have you ever wondered how electricity is created and how that pollutes our planet? Did you know how acid rain is produced and how that affects plants and trees? Did you ever just want to sit, look, listen and smell at what your garden provides? These were some of the fantastic things the prep school did during their environmental week just before half term.The week was an opportunity for the school to raise awareness about our environment and what it has to offer us. 

I have been thrilled to hear and read about so many of the wonderful things each Year did during that week.  The most enjoyed activity was the gardening. Despite snow and cold weather the prep school planted, weeded, hoed and prepared the school garden ready for the spring. 

read more

On Saturday 6 February, Jasmine Year 9 and two pupils from Year 11, Natasha and Sarah, participated in the Petersfield Young Composers Competition. The competition was sponsored by the Michael Hurd Memorial Fund. To their great delight, Natasha and Sarah were awarded first and second prize in their category - 16 years and under - and Jasmine was awarded third prize in her category - 14 years and under.

The adjudicator gave very positive comments on the girls' work and also provided some ideas for future development.

read more

Bin liners, violin virtuosos, corsets and shopping: what have these four things got in common? These were some of the many highlights of the Year 10 trip to Bath and Bristol.

At nine o'clock on a cold February Sunday, fifty-two Year 10 students set off for their annual residential to Bath and Bristol. Docking first at SS Great Britain, we were transported back to the age of the Industrial Revolution for a voyage of discovery to the other side of the world. ‘I found the restored cabins interesting and the stories of the passengers on the audio guide really brought everything to life,' said Sophie. ‘It's incredible how small the bunks were; we struggled to get into them.'

read more

The annual second term concert in the Senior School this year was a charity concert, where the proceeds in the region of £600.00 went towards the school’s outreach programme in India. The chamber choir from the Prep school – Chanteurs –were also invited to participate in this event. The concert opened with the Senior Orchestra playing Handel, Dvorak and Burwell. The audience were then treated to wide variety of items ranging from a drum solo, oboe and violin concerto and a charming interpretation of the contemporary song ‘Travellin’ Soldier.

Chanteurs entertained with the traditional Tallis canon and Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing whilst the Senior Chamber Choir closed the first half with a contemporary Latin setting and music by Britten. The second half opened with a traditional Ghanaian folk song and ‘There must be another way’ sung poignantly by Chanteurs. Audience also heard the Convent’s newly formed brass quintet. The evening closed with two thought-provoking items by the Chamber Choir.

read more

The children in Year 4 enjoyed attending a concert given by the Southern Pro Music Orchestra at the Petersfield Festival Hall on Wednesday morning. This was a good introduction to the instruments of the orchestra which the children had been learning about in their music lessons this term.

The concert began with a performance of the "Thieving Magpie Overture" by Rossini followed by a clever composition by our conductor Jonathan Willcocks called "Meet the Orchestra". These favourites were thoroughly enjoyed by the children who were then given a lively performance of "The Parade of the Tin Soldiers", "Winter" from Vivaldi`s Seasons and a musical story of "The Theatre Ghost" narrated by our compere William Godfree .

read more