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NEWSLETTER – 6 December 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians
It seems slightly surprising that it is already December and we are now in the winter season. It has been a long term but it has flown by. It feels as if everyone is now looking forward to the break having put so much energy into the term. However, we are not there yet and the final weeks of the Autumn term are amongst the best.
By the time you read this, the production may be over, but as I write we have just had a wonderful matinee and opening night. The production this year has more dramatic content and real world themes than in recent years, as well as some great songs. It can only be pulled off through complete commitment on stage by the cast and this is exactly what they are doing. It’s a wonderful swan song for Mrs McCallum in her retirement year and I know she is very proud of your children’s efforts.
Looking back over the term we have moved forward in several ways. The Junior School’s relocation to Browhead campus is now well underway. We expect now to move in February and I am delighted with the way the project is progressing. As it physically takes shape it becomes easier to imagine our new era as an all-through school on a single site. I am confident that the decisions being made are for the benefit of all parties, with the needs of our pupils at the heart of it all. There are too many people to thank here, but I have been deeply impressed by the passion and love shown for our school. If you would like to know more details about the move and the progress being made, you can access the parent information webpage and FAQ document which contains the answers to many questions which have been emailed or asked at our Parent Forums.
The Lower and Middle School are completing their first term on the new Merit System, championed by Mrs Cooke, which is built around our Round Square values. Mrs Holmes has also produced a Round Square Logbook which assists pupils in actively tracking their progress through the Round Square Discovery Framework, remembering that each day presents an opportunity to learn, question and explore.
We have welcomed many new staff to the school who are completing their first term, and I would like to thank them for the energy they have brought to their roles. Our termly full staff meeting focused on the sharing on professional practices and ideas, ensuring that our teaching community continues to develop their expertise as they guide our pupils to achieve their dreams.
I would like to thank the Friends on Windermere School for their support this term, which culminated in the Town Head Drinks Party last Friday. This fundraising event raised an exceptional sum through ticket sales, donations and action bids which the Friends will see put towards projects that support the whole school community.
Finally, Mrs Gaskin is coming to the end of her first term as our Head of Alumni and Community Relations. I know she would be keen for me to tell you that we are all members of the Stannite community and would encourage you to sign up to our Stannite portal where news and events are regularly shared.
Please take note of the ‘Dates for your Diary’ section below, as we have many Christmas and end of term celebrations coming up, at which I hope to see many of you.
In the meantime, I wish you a happy and restful weekend.
Kind regards,
Frank Thompson
Head of Windermere School
LATEST NEWS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Friday 6 December – Fiddler on the Roof Production, Crampton Hall, 7pm
Saturday 7 December – Fiddler on the Roof Production, Crampton Hall, 7pm
Sunday 8 December – Trafford Centre Trip, 9am – 6pm
Tuesday 10 December – Junior School Nativity, 2pm – 3pm
Tuesday 10 December – Year 7, 11 & 13 Parents Evening (remote – for non-local parents & guardians), 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Thursday 12 December – Year 5 & 6 Christmas Meal, 4pm – 7pm
Saturday 14 December – Snowball, 6:30pm – 10pm
Sunday 15 December – Candlelit Service, Jesus Church Troutbeck, 4pm
Tuesday 17 December – Junior School & Senior School Christmas Lunch
Tuesday 17 December – Junior School Carols around the Christmas tree, 3:30pm – 4pm
Wednesday 18 December – Carol Service at Cartmel Priory, 2:30pm – 4pm
Wednesday 18 December – Christmas Holidays begin!
STANNITE NEWS
School Days – How Do They Influence the Rest of Your Life? Julie’s Story:
Did my years at St. Anne’s help me achieve my goals? Did our motto, “Vincit qui se vincit” (“One who conquers himself”), truly come into play when I faced challenges throughout the years? These are questions I find myself reflecting on now as I write my story.
I joined St. Anne’s at the age of 13 in 1969. I was a day girl living in Troutbeck, though I boarded for a year, and I left in 1974 after completing Sixth Form. My father, Gerhard Ploder, had been a physics teacher at the school years before when I attended Troutbeck Primary School. I started at St. Anne’s after my parents divorced, and my mother, Kathrine Ploder, worked as a violin teacher for many years.
This is where I will never forget the kindness of the school. Due to my difficult home situation, a place and kitted out with a second-hand uniform for my five years there. Think of what that incredible opportunity did for me—not only did it provide a great foundation for my education, but it also gave me friends for life. I hope I worked hard to repay this generosity. Although living in Norway for the past 41 years hasn’t improved my written English much, so please excuse me!
Life works in mysterious ways. During my time at St. Anne’s, I did years of voluntary work at Holehird, the Cheshire Home next to the school. In Sixth Form, I took charge of a project to bring the residents over to join us for coffee in the Sixth Form room and weekend lectures. It took a lot of persuasion to convince Mr. Jenkins, the Headmaster, and Mr. King, the Director of the Cheshire Home, but I was determined to make it happen. The residents enjoyed their time with us, and I was happy to hear that this became an ongoing project for the school. It was during this time I realised I had a knack for being the ‘middle man’—helping those who needed it.
After St. Anne’s, I went to teacher training college at Bretton Hall, University of Leeds. I was there during the miners’ strikes, living in that community and learning so much about life. My first teaching job was in a special needs school in which I received fantastic support as a new teacher. After five years, I felt it was time to teach mainstream students, and that’s when my adventure truly began.
One day, I happened to buy The Times newspaper, and I saw a job advertisement for the British School in Stavanger, Norway. I’d barely heard of Norway, but I applied, got the job for one year—and that was 41 years ago! I’ve never looked back. Norway is such a beautiful country, and I feel so lucky to live here. That said, I visit England every year to stay connected to my roots—wearing pearls and drinking tea!
I moved to Norway at 27 years old in 1983, married a Norwegian man, Kristian, and we have a daughter, Kjersti. Learning the language was a major challenge, especially as everyone speaks excellent English. But I persevered, taking many courses over the years, and felt proud when I finally achieved my goal—remembering our school motto.
I’ve held many roles in education, ultimately spending 28 years in a special needs unit. During this time, I developed a teaching programme called Learning English with Teddy (www.teddylanguage.no). It’s designed to teach young children and those with special needs functional English. English is Norway’s second language, but there were no suitable materials to teach it. It took five years to write, from the Norwegian government, I published it. The programme has gained significant publicity and taken me to places like Ghana and Nepal, where I piloted it in schools.
Sitting in a remote school in Nepal, gazing at the Himalayas, I realised I had conquered myself and succeeded. The challenges I faced along the way only made the achievement sweeter.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I’m certain the years at St. Anne’s laid the foundation for my personal and professional growth. The motto remains: think positively, never give up, and always remember “Vincit qui se vincit”— but don’t forget to have fun along the way!
Julie Monsen (Ploder)
1969–1974
We were thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Daniella Draper back to Windermere:
A renowned jeweller and designer (and proud Stannite!), Daniella shared her inspiring journey from her school days to building her successful business. Daniella, who left Windermere School after sixth form, has built a name for herself as a celebrated jeweller whose work is a testament to handcrafted excellence, hard work, and skill. After completing a degree in jewellery design at the prestigious Central St Martins in London, Daniella launched her business in 2009 and has been perfecting her craft ever since.
Now living in the stunning Lake District, Daniella finds inspiration in the English countryside and the rugged beauty of the British coastline. Her jewellery reflects the untamed splendour of wind-swept walks, sunlit days, and the wild British seas.
During her visit, a group of pupils had the privilege to hear Daniella’s story first-hand. She shared invaluable insights into her creative process, her career highlights, and the resilience required to succeed. The pupils left feeling inspired, motivated, and excited to explore their own creative journeys. We are so proud to celebrate Daniella’s incredible achievements and the inspiring role model she has become for our students.