Swimming Gala 2019
Report by Clare Ryan and photos by Marina Burns
Friday 8th March 2019 saw St Mary's School swimming gala. The children overcame trying weather conditions with a cool breeze to swim fantastically. The older children competed in freestyle and breaststroke races. As usual, the house team relay was hotly contested with Inaccessible taking the win. The younger children in Class 1 and 2 took part in a running race, a kicking with a float race and a toy dive. They all did fantastically well and the children were well-cheered on from the poolside by parents, friends and family. It was a great success and a lovely way to end the half-term.
The gala was held in association with Queen's Day, held two days previously. See: Queen's Day 2019.
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| House team relay race | Diving |
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| Kicking with a float race | Diving |
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| Girls freestyle | Class 1 & 2 running race |
Caves Beach Clean Up
Report and photos by Richard Lockwood
At 7:45am on Wednesday 30th January 2019, a total of 13 secondary students from St Mary's School, accompanied by two members of staff, assembled at Calshot Harbour.
Students gather at the harbour for their trip to Cave Point
The students were met there by Kirsty, Cedric, George, Julian and Trevor from Tristan da Cunha's Conservation Department with their two RIBs, Arctic Tern and the as yet unnamed Blue Belt funded RIB. After boarding, the party travelled westwards around the island to Seal Bay, passing many of the island men fishing from their boats. With Julian at the dinghy's helm, the students and Conservation Department staff were ferried ashore, skillfully aided during the landing by Cedric and Nathan so that most people remained dry.
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| Landing at Seal Bay | Pulling the dinghy away from the waves. |
Following the landing, the dinghy was hauled high up the rocky beach, into a safe zone above the lapping waves, and left under the watchful eyes of a pair of moulting penguins.
There was then a short amble over to The Pool side of Cave Point to the beach that required cleaning. Working in teams of three, the St Mary's students quickly filled ten large black sacks with plastic rubbish that had washed ashore.
Students collecting rubbish from the shore.
There were bottle-tops and brush heads, flip-flops and fenders, crates and children's toys, lighters and lengths of rope, pipes and plastic pieces of all colours and shapes. Lunch for most of the group was eagerly downed in the shadow of the radio antenna, sat amongst the huts, whilst watching the grazing cattle.
The students with their haul of cleared rubbish.
The return journey to the RIBs saw every member of the party wet to some degree and then the journey continued. We travelled eastward this time, passing Sailshardy Rocks, Trypot, Lyon Point and Sandy Point. All too soon the circumnavigation of the island was completed and as we arrived back in Calshot Harbour, thankyous and goodbyes were said.
Homeward bound in a Conservation Department RIB.
St Mary's School Christmas Concert 2018
Photos and report by Shirley Squibb
The school's Christmas play, entitled "Tristan Love Island", was performed by Classes 2-5 on the 10th December 2018. It was based on two island families preparing for a wedding whilst going about their everyday chores - working in the patches, knitting, etc - and the wedding day followed by a dance. It was very entertaining and had the audience laughing throughout.
Playgroup and Class 1 performed two carols with actions which were also very enjoyable.
Playgroup and Class 1 singing (along with actions) to a Christmas carol
Bride to be working in the patches with her family
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| The Proposal | Groom-to-be chatting with his family |
Discussing the Wedding
Wedding Day
St Mary's School closing the play with a song
Chief Islander visits islanders in Hampshire |
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| Ian Lavarello meets Tristan students at Peter Symonds College 20-Nov-2018 |
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School Book Week 2018 |
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| St Mary's School celebrated Book for the first time in March 2018. 12-Jun-2018 |
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Anne Green's Retirement Assembly |
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| Occasion celebrates 42 years of teaching in St Mary's School 12-Jun-2018 |
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- St Mary's School Sports Day 2018 (11-Jun-2018) >>
- Christmas Concert 2017 (21-Dec-2017) >>
- Children in Need Fundraising 2017 (20-Dec-2017) >>
- Tristan students begin studies in UK (12-Nov-2017) >>
- Tristan's Past and Future Meet for a Key Anniversary (10-Nov-2017) >>
- School's Hospital Artwork (12-Jul-2017) >>