Top of the class ...

Although we always miss pupils who move on, we are always delighted to hear their news. Along with their Christmas greetings one family has just sent us these encouraging words:

"We often talk of Chavagnes life and are sorry we are no longer on the scene. Dominic seems now to be star pupil in all his subjects, thanks to his two years at Chavagnes. We hope you are flourishing and remember you all in our prayers."

Buy your Catholic books and films online

You can now buy your Catholic books and films online at the new Saint Austin Press Amazon store. This site donates its amazon royalties to Chavagnes and includes a growing selection of books on various Catholic themes, plus a selection of dvds.

Check out the new online store today. Whether you live in the USA or in Europe, the weak dollar and Amazon's reasonable delivery prices mean that this is a great way to buy books for everyone.

Mrs Asch's new poetry book available from Amazon

Chavagnes photographers capture crocodiles (on film)

Some interesting pictures from a Photographic Society excursion during our October exeat weekend.

Website popularity Chavagnes

The Chavagnes International College official website is getting approx 1,000 unique visitors per month. From 1st to 12th December we received 388 new visitors, with 71% of them adding our site to their favourites.

Woodworking Chaplain

In addition to being our resident school chaplain Fr Talbot also teaches photography and woodwork. Here he is with a mule chest he has just finished.

Chavagnes' Choir at the Maison du Clerge Le Landreau

Today our choir sang for the retired priests in Les Herbiers, a town not far from Chavagnes. We performed in the chapel there and were invited for a snack. We first visited them eight years ago, when the school opened its doors, and they always seem delighted to greet us. We now look forward to revisiting them in concert once again next year.

Boy bishop

On Sunday the 6th December, we celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas with the traditional boy bishop. His Lordship Paul de Guibert having been installed as our bishop, he presided at pontifical Vespers for the feast. After our evening prayer, Bishop Paul was the guest of honour at the feast in the refectory.

The feast commenced with the presentation of the boar's head accompanied by a traditional song: "The Boar's Head in hand, bear I".

At the end of the festivities, Bishop Paul decreed that the teachers should do the washing-up, while the boys could watch a film and go to bed late. For more photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/ferdimcdermott/BoyBishop2009Chavagnes#

Macbeth theatre dress rehearsals ...

Some previews of our production of Macbeth (scheduled for 13th and 14th December at Chavagnes).

Lady Macbeth (Maggie Boyles) : "Out, damn spot ..."

Lady Macduff (Anna Boyles) and son (Bernard Lloyd.)

Chavagnes' Choir at the old peoples' home.

Our choir went this afternoon to the old people's home down the street in Chavagnes. We wished them a merry Christmas and sang in French with them. We were then invited to a small collation. While we were enjoying our snacks, three of the residents sang songs of their own.

Chavagnes' Choir at the Clinic Saint Charles.

This afternoon our choir went to sing for the convalescents in La Roche sur Yon. A small audience of twenty people came to listen our music. We were then invited for a small snack with the patients and the staff.

Chavagnes Photographic Society

Chavagnes' Photographic Society is comprised of three boys from Chavagnes International College and one girl from the College Notre Dame de la Bonne Nouvelle, meets every week and is currently working for the GCSE in photography.

The above photograph was taken last year, and shows a combination of long shutter speed, flash and a sparkler. All combined to show the magic of photography.

Watch this space for more pictures/news!

Mrs Asch's new poetry collection

Mrs Asch's first collection of poems is just about to published but will, alas, probably not be on time for Christmas presents. It could make a good Epiphany offering, however.

She has a blog about her book, Reflections, on which she is posting some of her poems.

Visit Mrs Asch's blog: http://ruthasch.blogspot.com

Group effort

I have just invited a few pupils and staff to become contributors to this blog, under my supervision. My hope in doing this is to ensure that it becomes a bit more lively so as to reflect more fully our life at Chavagnes. You can expect contributions from the Photographic Society, the Literary Club, updates about the play, the choir, sports, local visits, etc ...

Watch this space.