The New Chalet School
Key Facts (Possible Spoilers):
School Facts:
St Scholastika's has closed and its pupils have joined the Chalet School.
Mademoiselle Lepattre will not be returning to the school due to her continuing illness.
Headmistress: Miss Annersley had been appointed to the position permanently.
The School is in the Austrian Tirol
Series Character Whereabouts:
Jo Bettany - is living with the Russells and writing a new book, 'The Rose Patrol in the Alps'
Robin Humphries - is living with the Russells
Cornelia Flower - is a Senior at the Chalet School
Peggy Bettany - is living with the Russells
Bride Bettany - is living with the Russells
Biddy O'Ryan - is a Middle at the Chalet School
Daisy Venables - is living with the Russells
Dr Jem Russell buys the old St Scholastika school building , and Joey and Madge relocate themselves to the building in order to prepare it as their summer home. While at lunch with Robin, they are both attacked by a smally boy with a catapult. The boy, Mario and his twin sister, Maria, are the only children of Princess Balbini who is dying at the Sanatorium. Joey later offends the pair and they vow revenge against her and Madge. When they discover that the Chalet School belongs to Madge, they pay a visit with snuff, sending many of the girls into a sneezing fit. On the first day of lessons, the Seniors discover that someone has covered the door to their boathouse with chewing gum! Some time later a box hand-delivered to Mademoiselle Lachenais is found to contain dozens of tiny frogs. A Prefects meeting is interrupted by stink-bombs thrown in the open window and the school experiences a power-cut.
All of these pranks have one positive effect - at last the Saints and the Chaletians were united in their attitude of disgust! They also have another far-reaching effect - Prince Balbini, once informed of the situation, requests that Maria be accepted at the Chalet School as a pupil, whilst Mario is sent to school in England. Distraught at the prospect of being separated, the twins disappear, taking little Sybil Russell with them. At the same time, a summons comes for them from the Sonnalpe, as their mother is close to death and wishes to see them. When they are finally found in Spartz, Princess Balbini is dead and Dr Jem breaks the news to Maria and Mario.
contributed by Lorraine O'Donnell, Sligo, Ireland__ working from a paperback edition