I am very pleased to announce that Evie Vennix will be our new Head Girl from April. Highly creative, admirably well-rounded and yet unassuming, Evie has gained in confidence throughout her time at Challoner’s and is characterised by her generous contribution to the school and by doing what she feels is right.
Evie’s five minute speech to 300 girls during the election hustings was exceptional. Bravely presenting without using notes, Evie spoke from the heart. Evie is not hampered by what she thinks she ought to say, which allows her own unique style to pour out, and with it, great sense, balance and some sharp humour.
Several staff have said that Evie wouldn’t say boo to a goose in Year 7. With geese having always been a rare sight at Challoner’s, it seems unlikely that this would have been necessary! However, staff have also commented that year on year they have seen Evie blossom and grow in confidence to the person she has become. Intrigued by this, and wishing to get to know her better, I spent some time with Evie earlier in the week and discovered an uplifting story.
Evie confirmed that she was relatively shy when she joined Challoner’s but that she nervously put herself forward to organise her Year 7 class scrapbook and she said, “This gave me a bit of confidence – I felt I could do this.” By year 9, Evie became involved in the Student Voice Programme which included doing assemblies for Year 7s right through to Year 13. This was “really scary” but her friends and teachers identified that she was a good public speaker. And so it went on, with one bold yet often hesitant step after another, both in and out of school, and by Year 11 Evie led a charity campaign successfully and started to look ahead to lead-ership opportunities in the Sixth Form.
Evie’s story reveals her innate drive and courage and also gives an insight into one of Challoner’s most significant strengths. Our school helps girls to grow in confidence, and gives them the room and inspiration to discover who they are and gain the courage to be ambitious. Can we develop this strength further? We must. As Evie said in her speech, “I intend to give every single student in this school a loud voice (as if we weren’t loud enough already!) and my plan to do this is through my Student Choice Campaign.” We will do everything we can to support Evie and her Head Girl Team with this ambition.
Alan Roe
Headteacher
Evie Vennix—Head Girl of Dr Challoner’s High School from April 2016
Head Girl Team will be Freya Barnetson; Mimi Bullivant; Laura Chen; Freya Crispin; Ellen Gamble; Phoebe Hills; Lucy King; Mausam Mistri; Kizzy Mussenden; Sarah Platts and Christie Stott
