At assembly today, Head Girls Grace Johnson and Julia Wedmore offered a great chance to JAGS pupils in Year 10 and above who have aspirations to become a youth voice in local authority projects. This is the time to volunteer to represent JAGS on a new Youth Community Council in Dulwich. Each school will send 2 students and eventually 2 will be chosen to represent Dulwich to work closely with Southwark Council, creating strong links with the authority. What a hands-on way to engage in issues affecting youth, to be involved in allocating capital, to run youth projects, and to develop political skills. JAGS Form Captains already have good experience of contributing to whole school council meetings at which decisions affecting them are discussed and practical issues can be resolved. The Head Girls also alerted the senior school to get their acts together – literally – for the Foundation Schools’ Talent Show. Watch this space after half-term!

There have been some stunning sports results this past week. Congratulations to the Junior and Intermediate cross country teams who both won the 1St round of the English Schools Cup; they now go on to the Regional finals in November. Special congratulations to the following girls who achieved the following places: Juniors – Natasha Sinha 1st, Fiona Basham 2nd, Greta Sharp 3rd & Georgie Hay 4th; Intermediates – Sophie Parkes 1st.  (For photos and a full report, see separate news item: English Schools Cross Country).

Congratulations to the 1st X1 hockey team for their excellent play in the Surrey Tournament. They won 3 games in their section and went on to win the semi finals, so they now go onto the finals later this term.

Other results:
Swimming v Charter U12, U13 & U14 teams -  won
Hockey v Bromley High U12 A & B teams -  won
Netball v Bromley High U13 A – won; U13 B – lost
Hockey v Alleyn’s U14 – won
Netball v Streatham & Clapham U12 A, B, C & D teams – all won
Congratulations to all players.

Molly Mittelman was congratulated on achieving a Distinction in her Grade 3 Drum exam. Headmistress  Marion Gibbs also commended the 5 girls who worked hard at a charity champagne reception at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The event raised over £50,000 for St Christopher’s Hospice.

As half-term approaches there’s plenty to keep us busy; in addition to clubs, rehearsals and the Senior House Music Competition, there’s a Japanese  film showing, an art trip, a touring production about Anne Frank in our theatre, an Amnesty International meeting, and an English seminar with Dulwich College. Good luck to those on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award practice expedition to the South Downs, and on trips to Montpellier and Barcelona.