We welcomed Presdales alumna Polly Watson back to school this week to share her experiences of learning languages at university. Students from Year 10 upwards attended her lunchtime talk and found it very useful and interesting. Polly described her journey from Presdales to the University of Bristol, where she is studying French and Italian in her fourth and final year. As well as explaining some of the differences between language learning at school and university, she told us all about her year abroad, where she studied in Toulouse, France, and Palermo, Sicily. Polly is really passionate about promoting languages and inspired our students to consider where their language learning might take them. Year 12 Italian students also enjoyed a presentation given by Polly about festivals in Sicily, to link in with the A Level curriculum. We are so grateful to Polly for giving her time and sharing her experiences with us.
At the start of November, a group of Sixth Form Senior Students launched their community project to support the Welwyn and Hatfield Women’s Refuge. The project involved asking the Presdales community to donate items that would benefit those who were linked to the refuge. Items such as toiletries, non-perishable foods and games were donated.
On Wednesday 9th December, two people from the refuge came to collect the items and they have invited Presdales to visit the refuge to see how the donations will benefit women and children.
If you would like more information, please do click on the link: https://whwr.org.uk/. A big thank you and special mention to Maeve, Abbie, Nefeli, Lizzie and Clara in Year 13 for organising the collection and for liaising with the refuge.
On Tuesday 16th December, Mrs Schillaci-Rowland and 10 Year 12 students volunteered to support our local community and visited the Riverside Care Home in Ware. The students entertained the residents by hosting games of Bingo which brought much excitement.
The students took it in turns to call out the numbers, help fill in bingo cards and to ensure that everyone was enjoying themselves. Chocolate treats were given to those who were the first to get a line, and then a full house.
At the end of the session, the residents asked the students to come back as they really enjoyed the afternoon. One of the ladies who works in the Care Home’s Activities Team went to Presdales as a student, and said it was a pleasure to have a strong link with the school, which has been going now for the last two years. We are planning another visit in the Spring Term to play some more games and entertain the residents.
On Friday 7th November, we were fortunate to be visited by an ex-student who wanted to return to Presdales to share her experiences of language learning. Since Katie Curtis left Presdales in 2017, she has completed her undergraduate degree in Italian and Spanish from the University of Manchester and a masters’ degree in Madrid.
Katie talked about her year abroad, which she spent studying in Bergamo, northern Italy, before working as a trading assistant in Madrid. She described the highs and lows of her year, including taking the Prince of Libya’s pet chihuahua for walks and cutting off her finger on a tin of tuna all while navigating the challenge of learning the language.
“I attended Katie’s talk on Friday lunchtime, and I was absolutely inspired by her story. I actually reached out to her afterwards to tell her what an amazing job she did. I want to become a language teacher, and it’s so lovely to see other people who are as passionate as I am- it’s great to know that your dreams are achievable and there is always someone with you at every step of the way. I couldn’t have made a better decision than to continue studying languages, and Katie only confirmed that for me.” Sophie, Year 12
“I really did enjoy Katie’s talk last week because I think those of us who are interested in a similar path and spending time abroad, want to hear about life there disregarding school work and how fun the social side would actually be, as that really would be what would make it such a great experience. It was also interesting to hear about where her degree and fluency in Italian and Spanish have taken her in her career to work at Warner Bros!” Willow, Year 11
“It was very inspiring and I found it very eye opening as to what my future could look like if I continue with languages. The path Katie has taken seems like something I would love to do, especially considering the year abroad in a degree in languages as it’s not just work but social and life skills.” Ronnie, Year 11
At the end of September, members of Years 10, 11, and 12 visited Harrow School one Saturday for a ‘Day at the Dacha’ event. Students of Russian at Harrow School delivered presentations on life at the ‘Dacha’ over the last 100 years, and our students were entertained by a balalaika-playing singer who taught them some simple folk songs and games. This drummed up quite an appetite for traditional Pirozhki (pies) of all shapes and fillings.
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w/c Monday 12th
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Thursday 22nd
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Friday 23rd
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Contact Us
Presdales School
Hoe Lane
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 9NX
Tel: 01920 462210
admin@presdales.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher:
Mr Warren
