8 February 2007

 

Dear Parents/Guardians

 

I cannot believe that the end of this half term has arrived already.  At the time of writing we have been warned to expect snow and yet I am planning to pack my summer clothes as I am at about to fly out to Hong Kong.  Mrs Worth and I will attend the British Council Exhibition this weekend.  We will also use the occasion to meet with former students and current parents of some of our boarders.  This half term also sees students from our Senior Department visiting Washington as a combined History and Art trip.  I hope all enjoy a fabulous holiday and find the experience worthwhile.  FIZ Club will be operating throughout half term.  Please contact Mrs Rimmer direct if you wish your child to attend any day next week. 

 

A reminder to Senior students that as we are about to enter the coldest spell of the year, they should bring their blazers to school and wear them in and around the buildings.

 

This term has seen our usual round of activities ranging from participating in the National Birdwatch Scheme, visits to theatres plus extra lectures and presentations on a variety of subjects.  We began the term with a very successful Debate where our Sixth Form team competed with teams from three other local schools.  I am grateful to Miss Mann for enabling the students to have the opportunity of developing these skills.  The Senior Department is looking forward to the Balloon Debate planned for the last week of term. 

 

This term the Parents’ Association have held a very successful Quiz Night, where over £1000 was raised.  Next half term the Association will be holding its first Pamper Evening on 8 March.  Senior girls are welcome to attend if they are accompanied by an adult.  Please see the leaflet attached to this letter.  Next term we will once again be holding our Annual Ball in May, with live music from ‘The Average White Band’. This always proves to be a very popular event so I encourage everyone to book their tickets early.

 

Many students from Year 7 – Sixth Form were involved in a very successful and polished performance of ‘Candide’.  Congratulations to all involved and thanks to Miss Bliss who worked so hard to make it such a success. Choirs from across the Methodist group of schools are meeting in London on 3 March for a joint Concert.  We will be providing accommodation to students from Truro School over that weekend.  Should any parent or student wish to attend the Concert, please contact either of the school offices for tickets. 

 

Sixth Form students should be working hard during the forthcoming week as Mock Examinations take place as soon as we come back after the break.  I remind all Year 11 and Sixth Form students that the Justin Craig Revision Centre will once again be based at Farringtons during Easter and the May half term.  Should you wish for your daughter to avail herself of this more formal approach to revision, please book the place on the relevant course as soon as possible as I am aware that some courses fill up very quickly. 

 

Several parents have asked me about the proposed building project, because of the temporary buildings in front of the Junior Gym.  At present these provide a staff area for Junior Department staff, as their former staff room has been used to provide increased space for Foundation Stage children.  We are hoping to replace this in the summer holiday with a permanent building which will link up with our Infant Department.  This would also involve a slight remodelling of the interior of the current building to provide a Reception with an external canopy area outside the main entrance to the Junior Department, offering some shelter from the rain when it is required for waiting parents.

 

Applications have been received for a lead professional for the Junior Department and interviews will be held in the second half of this term.  At present Mrs York will continue in her role of supporting the Junior Department.  This holiday sees us saying goodbye to Dr Galer, who has decided to spend more time with her nine month old son, Joseph.  We thank her for her work in the Science Department and hope that she and her husband enjoy these early years of their son’s development.  A new Estates Manager, Mr Davis, will begin work next week – we hope he will soon feel at home and get to grips with all the idiosyncrasies of our various buildings.

 

School re-opens after half term on Monday 19 February and boarders should return the evening before. I remind all parents that this term finishes on Thursday 29 March – the same day the senior ski trip leaves for the slopes. 

 

 At the end of this half term many of our Chinese students will be celebrating New Year so I take this opportunity to wish everyone a good year and all blessings.  

 

With every good wish.

 

Yours sincerely

Headmistress