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Chavagnes International College
 
Newsletter
"Educating Catholic leaders for tomorrow."September 2010
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Hello, parents and friends of Chavagnes International College, the Catholic boarding school for boys!


We're delighted to report that the new school year here in the Vendee comes to us with a full measure of sun and fine weather - as well as a number of other exciting new developments.

 

Our exam results in June were pleasing, although I am never fully satisfied with them. All Fifth Form leavers (eleves de seconde) obtained A*-C in Mathematics, which was a particular target for us.

  All boys taking six or more GCSEs and going on to A-level study (four boys in total) obtained at least 5 passes at A*-C including English, French and Maths and another language. All but one of these boys were taking the examinations early, which means we have a 13-year-old and a 15-year old now beginning AS-levels ('Premiere') in 4 or 5 subjects!

fencing Fencing Comes to CIC
 

We are pleased to announce that all of our students are now learning to fence. Through a partnership with the Les Herbiers Club d'Escrime, the boys are now receiving lessons in the College every Monday from Mr Andre van Linthout, Maitre d'Armes. We feel that this opportunity will greatly enhance the boys' educational and, of course, athletic development, as well as providing another strong tie to our cultural heritage:  many of the modern rules of fencing developed in France in the nineteenth century, and, earlier still, Britain was the home of James Crichton, known as "the Admirable Crichton", one of the most skilled swordsmen and finest minds of the sixteenth century.

 

We will provide you over the next few months with more updates on the boys' progress in this new addition to the athletic curriculum.

 
Other sporting news ...
 
Colonel JFR Leroux, Equerry of the 'Cadre Noir de Saumur' is giving riding lessons four times a week this year. All boys will have the chance to experience riding in the first term.
 
We are beginning an association with Rugby clubs of Les Herbiers and Montaigu this year. From September, boys in Year 10 (3eme) and above will be training with the Les Herbiers Club on Friday nights.
Bro Stephen at ChavagnesOld Friends ...

 

Brother Stephen Morrison O. Praem., an old boy of the College, very gracefully stepped into the role of substitute teacher during his recent stay with us, handling his sudden appointment with characteristic grace. Brother Stephen, in his first year of Simple Vows with the Norbertines, is one of the family that gives its name to the Morrison Prize. This impressive silver cup is annually awarded to the boy who is deemed to have demonstrated the most ardent devotion to the Catholic cause and the Chavagnes spirit.
 
Alex Morrison, as he was when a pupil here, studied at Chavagnes from 2002-2005, then read French at Oriel College, Oxford, before entering religious life in 2009.
 
 Arts Update
Mrs April Boyles has started teaching Art and Design, assisted by Father Talbot. Mrs Boyles is teaching drawing and painting to boys from 11-14, while the older boys have the opportunity to study for GCSE Art and Design, Illustration option. Mrs Boyles is an illustrator of children's books and has assisted us for the last two years with set design for our theatrcial productions.
 
In addition, Father Talbot is working on the same syllabus of GCSE Art and Design with a small group of boys, specialising in two different options: woodwork and photography. Father is also working on a book of photos of College life. We hope to have this book ready for Christmas. The photos in this email may well feature in the book, including the one shown here, of two pupils helping in the vegetable garden.
 Dictionaries and Days Off
Scout ChavagnesOur French and English teachers wish to note that students should be provided with dictionaries from home. English-speaking boys need English dictionaries and French-speaking boys need French dictionaries.  
 
All boys need English-to-French translation dictionaries.
 
EXEAT:  Our scoutmaster, Mr. Crawford, has announced that students involved in scouting will be going for a weekend excursion the weekend of 24-26 September. For more information about Chavagnes Scouts, visit their site.  For all other students, this will be an Exeat weekend, where boys may leave the College between Friday 12.15pm and Monday 8.35am. Please take the time to make appropriate arrangements for your sons.
Thank-you for your support!
We will be in touch again before Christmas. We plan to offer for sale copies of a new CD, plus the book of Fr Talbot's photography. These would make ideal Christmas presents. Our original CD, from 2004, has been out of stock for some time, but we are hoping also to re-issue this shortly.
 
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We remember our benefactors daily at Mass.
 
God bless you.
Yours sincerely,
Ferdi McDermott, Principal.
 
ALL PHOTOS IN THIS EMAIL ARE COPYRIGHT OF FATHER ANTHONY TALBOT
(click his name to visit his photographic site.) All rights reserved.