Senior Reflections Week 12 December 2024
Dear parents,
Now that December is here, we are starting to look with positivity towards the holiday season and the end of term. This inevitably brings slight changes to the normal routine, and for the teaching staff, the completion of reports and the collation of grades which look back on the progress made over the term. I am enjoying reviewing the Lower Fifth reports at the moment and am particularly struck by how well the 27 new pupils who joined into the year group in September have settled and integrated. They have certainly made their mark, both in the classroom and in wider school life. Yesterdayโs Lower Sixth parentsโ evening was a great opportunity to catch up with parents and to hear how your sons and daughters are progressing. It was a very positive evening and I hope that you feel well informed about your childrenโs progress.
Taster day
This week we have welcomed lots more prospective pupils to the school. On Monday, the junior school taster day was a resounding success and we have had ongoing scholarship assessments throughout the week for senior school entry. On Thursday, we welcomed current Year 8 pupils for taster sessions and preparation for their assessments in January. It was lovely to see them and I hope that they had a good day. Your children are always such welcoming hosts for our visitors and they were certainly smiling whenever I saw them around the school yesterday. Last weekend, we also hosted sixth form interviewees and 11+ candidates for assessment in the new year. It was a busy day and there were lots of smiling faces. The conversations I was able to have when interviewing the prospective sixth formers were both fascinating and fun and again your children, acting as hosts on the day, were wonderful ambassadors for the school. Please pass my thanks on to them. They really do make a difference.
Blue Stockings
The final performance of the play, Blue Stockings, was wonderful on Saturday. The two casts were interesting in their different interpretations of the characters, and it was heartening to see such strength and charisma on stage from all the roles โ made more striking by the audienceโs proximity to the cast in the Butterfield Hall. Well done again to all involved and my grateful thanks to the drama team; Mr Brough, Mr Harknett and Miss Smith, for their inspirational leadership in making it happen.
Music
The music department have been busy again this week and it was a joy to be in St Michaelโs Church, Heavitree to share such wonderful talents at the WaterAid concert on Tuesday evening. With everything from impressive solos from Dominic, Emily, Lucia, and Tom to large scale orchestral pieces from the symphony orchestra and congregational singing for all of us; it was a feast of wonderful music. Many thanks to all the performers and to Mr Tamblyn and the music team for their hard work in staging such a fantastic event. On Wednesday evening we were in the cathedral for the Hospiscare Light up a Life service, featuring the junior school choir and Young Voices, our lower school vocal group. The cathedral was packed and it was a real pleasure to hear our younger musicians singing so confidently in this impressive venue. Huge thanks to Mr Titchin for his oversight of this event, and to our wonderful singers. We hope that this will become a regular feature in our musical calendar each year.
Mobile phones
The school council has been meeting this week in its sections, to take forward our review of the use of mobile phones in school. The survey results are fascinating; thank you to the over 570 parents who completed this, and the pupils who, of course, have their own views. Listening to their voices in the debate is really important and will help to inform our decisions as the review continues. Unfortunately, the snowy weather a couple of weeks ago postponed the parent forum on the topic but this has now been reorganised for Thursday 12 December. We hope that you will be interested to come along and add your thoughts to the discussion. Many thanks to Mr Glanville and Mr Woods for their leadership of this important review process.
Time to find that Christmas jumper or Christmas hat
On Wednesday 11 December, pupils in both the junior and senior schools are invited to wear a Christmas jumper or Christmas hat, along with their normal school uniform. To take part, we suggest a voluntary donation of ยฃ2. The money raised will be split between Blue Cross and funding the Community Service famous Christmas tea party; where we invite older residents from the community to enjoy some much-needed festive cheer: afternoon tea, carols and the like.
Staff news
This week we said goodbye (temporarily) to Mrs Hetty Hayden as she commences her maternity leave. Mrs Haydenโs fourth child is due very soon ad we wish her and the growing family every happiness as the new arrival settles in over the holidays.
Sadly, also, we will be saying goodbye to our school nurse, Mrs Lisa Barlass at the end of the term. Mrs Barlass has looked after your childrenโs medical needs for seven years and is a wonderful colleague. We are very sorry to lose her, but delighted that she has secured a senior mental health lead role in the community, something which she is absolutely passionate about. We will be saying goodbye to her formally at the end of term. Mrs Barlass will be in touch with some families whose children have particular medical needs to ensure a smooth handover with the newly appointed nurse in the new year.
With Storm Darragh poised to bring another weekend of challenging weather like last, I hope that you are able to remain safe, warm and dry this weekend.
