Dear parents,
I have to start this week’s newsletter by sharing with you the outstanding performance from our U11 girl’s hockey team. On Friday, they travelled to Haileybury for the IAPS National hockey final, where the girls performed brilliantly throughout the day, winning their pool (without conceding a goal!) to progress to the knockout stages. They finished 3rd overall, in a national competition that saw 168 schools take part. They represented the school superbly and we are all incredibly proud of their efforts. I am so proud of the team and a huge thank you to Mr Dutch and Mrs Wopshott for taking the girls and being such wonderful supporters and coaches.
Tinsel has taken over and the junior school is bursting with Christmas cheer; the tree and lights are up, carols are being sung, elves are being naughty, and I just need to dig out my turkey hat ready for Wednesday…only in a junior school would you read this. The house captains are doing a sterling job with handing out the Christmas cards and I know that everyone is very much looking forward to Christmas lunch and jumper day next Wednesday, with donations going to NSPCC. The junior choir performed in front of a packed Cathedral on Wednesday as part of the Hospiscare ‘Light up a life’ service. They performed beautifully and should be proud of their performance. Congratulations to Noa and Kitty for their wonderful solos and to Sienna, James, Tessa and Toby H for their readings.
On Thursday, the whole school took part in a History Expedition Day, organised by our Head of History, Mr Evans. I joined Form One (Year 3) at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) to deepen their studies of Ancient Egypt. Upper One (Year 4) travelled to Tiverton Museum to investigate the Anglo-Saxon period and its influence on Devon. Lower Two (Year 5) headed to Buckland Abbey to learn about the dissolution of the monasteries and discover the home of Sir Francis Drake, whilst Upper Two (Year 6) enjoyed a visit to Powderham Castle, always a special place at Christmas time. It was an enriching, fun-filled day for all, and staff at every venue praised our pupils for their enthusiasm and excellent behaviour.
This evening, I’m off to watch the senior school production of Grease! One of the joys of being part of a through-school is seeing our former junior school pupils shine on stage, flourishing and growing into such confident young people. It’s moments like these that remind me why education is so special, watching their journey from “Summer Days” to centre stage! Looks like tonight is going to be the one that I want!
20 sleeps till Santa!!!!!
Enjoy the weekend.
