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FSM News

It was standing room only in the end of year service as Richard J. Moore; headmaster, divested himself of his educational regalia to the mischievous tune made famous in the film ‘The Full Monty'.

The mortar and robes went as Dick said his last good-byes the staff, students and parents that had been his and Sheena's first priority over 17 years... As John Wallis, Head of Govenors, pointed out, that is 17 F.O.S.M. Nights, 51 start of term staff meetings, masses of letters and all the thousands hours of competent and professional concern that have made F.S.M. into such a special and successful place for children.

No one can help but admire the way that Sheena and Dick transformed the education and boarding to meet the needs of today's children and parents... with love and humour and skill.

It has been a wonderful ride.Thanks!

 

Posted on:12/07/2010

FSM took nine budding athletes to the National Athletics championships in Birmingham. This was the most FSM children ever to make it to the finals and therefore makes it the most succesful year to date. All of our pupils managed to get through their heats and into the final races. T.C. MacKean came 3rd in her 800m race after a storming win in her heats. James Page managed 7th overall in the 200m race. Hannah Sherborne had an amazing finish to her 800m. Rosie Tabor flew through her heat and achieved 5th in the final. The girls relay race (O.Pittman, T.C. Mackean, R.Tabor, H. Lowth) came in 4th overall after a very strong heat. In the field events we also achieved some very strong finishes. Charlie Niekirk came seventh in the Triple Jump. Lucy O'Connor achieved Fourth in the Shot and Fifth in the Discus. Henny Lowth also did very well in her Triple Jump and Long Jump. What a fantastic season of Athletics it has been this term and well done to everyone.

Posted on:06/07/2010

Nail-Biting Finale for Girls                       

Last Saturday saw the U13s engage in their closest contest all season as the final of the Hampshire Collegiate School U13 Tournament went to the rounders’ equivalent of extra time not once, but twice!

FSM qualified top of their group and beat King Edward’s School 19 – 4 in the semi-final, to meet Portsmouth Grammar School in the final. We had beaten them 16 – 9 at the group stage, but they had clearly ‘warmed up’ by this time and had our deep fielders in trouble. Our second innings saw us facing a target of 9½ rounders to tie; not easy in just 18 balls. From somewhere, FSM’s girls found the wherewithal to fight – and made it... on ball 18, to the detriment of supporters’ and coach’s nerves! The tie-break was one delivery each. We tied again. A second tiebreak. 9 balls. PGS batted first and scored 5. A challenging target. FSM’s 9 balls: Henny – 1 rounder; Hannah – 1 rounder; Maddy – 1 rounder; Olivia – ½ rounder; Lizzy – 1 rounder; Julia – ½ rounder. Tied, 3 balls to go. TC – ½ rounder; Rebecca – ½ rounder; Ella – ½ rounder. Final result: FSM 25½ , PGS 24. VICTORY!

Henny scored a whopping 20 rounders during the afternoon, with Maddy and Lizzy taking 6 and 7 catches respectively. FSM put out 20 opposition batters at 1st post. Truly spectacular.

 

Meanwhile, on the neighbouring pitch FSM’s U12 team had reached the final of their tournament, having won their group and beaten Ryde in the semi-final. Their opposition? PGS U12s! This was again a tight game, with cracking hits from both teams bringing out the best in the fielders. FSM were behind at half time. Their response: dig deep and up the ante. The score crept ever closer as the balls were counted down. Heart rates accelerated; adrenalin pumped – and that was just our parents! Agonisingly, we ran out of balls just ½ a rounder shy of our target, to collect the Runners-Up Shield. But a fantastic performance from FSM’s Year 7 girls.

Thank you to our many supporters, both on Saturday and throughout the season – and sorry for the tense finish!

 

Posted on:30/06/2010

It is hard to believe we are only three days into our amazing adventure. We have covered a lot of ground, The Blue Lagoon, whale watching and a visit to the Puffin colony, a hike around Þingvellir, onto the Geysir and Gullfoss before finding ourselves spending the night surrounded by 100 wild horses (one of whom had the good grace to give birth while we were there!). Today we headed toward that unpronouncable volcano and, because of a strong, northerly wind, quickly found ourselves shrounded in smoke. We visited some of Icelandś most spectacular waterfalls before spending a few happy hours with the 90 year old curator of the famous Skogar Museum. Now we find ourselves in the shadow of the volcano in the middle of nowhere but in the most charming, newly refurbished guest house. Tomorrow brings us more adventures on the glacier. We will report back whenever we have access to the web.  All well!

All change here in Iceland with their ever changing weather! The rain and wind moved in during the night and the advisory service has proclaimed it unsafe for travel. Luckily, our hostess has been more than accommodating even making a special lamb soup/stew for our lunch. This special Icelandic dish, normally saved for a Christmas treat, is made from lamb from their farm. The children adored it! We are all safe and warm and the time has proved a useful time for photo editing and instruction. We were hoping to move on tonight if the winds die down but we may be forced to spend a second night. As the children feel this is the coolest place we have found we have had no complaints!

 Despite the weather, our brave explorers carried on! We crossed a blck spit of land on the back of a tractor to reach an isolated nature reserve at the top of a cliff. Many rare SKUA took against us and lots of giggling could be heard as they dive bombed us. The naturalist showed us their nests and we even saw a baby! The weather cleared enough for us to admire the spectacular view and even see a few puffins! We ventured off to the glacier lagoon where the high winds had stock piled the glaciers and we are able to touch a taste a piece of ice estimated to be over 1000 years old as one of the floating glaciers had flipped during the storm. Today we're off to hike across the glacier at Skatafell National park before we head back across the south coast. All children are happy, heathy and brave!

 

We saved the best for last! The glacier hike was, for many, the high point of the trip! Equipped with crampons and ice axes (very exciting), our little group set off across the Vatnajokull Glacier (Europe's largest!). Our guide was able to give us a lot of information about glaciers, we crossed some lovely blue crevasses and learned all about the rare 'mouse'...a special type of glacier moss. Afterwards we headed acroos the plain to our next guesthouse which, in fact was converted schoolhouse complete with gym, stage and dress up box. The children set to work producing a series of short plays based on our Icelandic experiences! The West End couldn't have done better!

By popular demand, we were able to fit in another hour at the Blue Lagoon before our flight home.

It was the most spectacular adventure. The children were the best team imaginable...flexible, polite, funny, thoughtful and engaged. Throughout our journey, everyone around us remarked on their exemplary behaviour, good manners and enthusiasm. Well done l'equipe!

 

Parents! We will be holding a parents' and children's Iceland evening on Sunday, September 19 5:30-7pm in the Library.

Posted on:30/06/2010

The Last Cub Meeting

For weeks they have been asking.
"Is the next meeting the one where we get to look in the bag?"
Finally, we were there.
The big Union Jack was flying and the sun was glorious as Mrs. C faced the languid half circle of Cubs, armed only with millions of badges to present. She had an eye on the little gate to the front of the school. Skip was late and the troops were restless.

At 17.45 there was a cheery wave and Skip was there. The Cubs relaxed. The Year Sixes would be able to look in the bag.

Badges done, Skip faced the anxious line of Year Sixes, all destined to move on, closing that door of boyhood that was Cubs. The younger boys watched, restive, curious. Boys like tribal rituals.

Skip put the unassuming grey plastic kit bag down. The Cubs were finally quiet and the sound of the zip was audible. Skip knelt and motoned the first Cub forward. Mr. Ed looked on. He didn't know what was in the bag. Mr. Fairfield had the pot of green paint. It was his last meeting too! He will be missed. So will Mr. Mitchell.

Skip unstoppered the glass bottle with ash from the last campfire and asked the boy:
"Do you want to look in the bag?"
There was silence, and then a quiet ‘Yes'.
Are you prepared to keep the secret of the 1st Forres Sandle Manor?"
"Yes"
"Look in the bag."
The head dips, the mystery revealed. For some, a wry smile, for others, wonder, and some, complete mystification.
"Do you know what it is?"
"Yes"
"Will you keep the secret?"
"Yes"
A green mark is daubed on the boy's forehead along with ash from the last campfire.
There is a last hand shake with the left hand, and a salute.
"Keep the brotherhood of Scouting alive in your heart"
And then the next acolyte.
Finally all the departing boys know the secret. There is the last Grand Howl and then the big Union Jack is lowered.
For some a door slides closed. The magic of campfires, tents, Scouting and boyhood safely passed on....and another door opens.

 

Posted on:26/06/2010