Posted May 3 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: May 8th 2020
Head's Blog
Dear Parent,
YEAR 13 LEAVERS’ DAY
Yesterday was the day we had scheduled for our leavers’ assembly for Year 13 students and their parents. This is always a wonderful occasion, marking the end of a student’s career not just at CGS but at school. In my view, this is as much a rite of passage for parents as for students. Parents will be able to remember their child’s very first day at school and I am sure cannot quite believe how quickly the time has passed. I am sure that the day they handed their four year old over to his or her Reception teacher was an emotional one; starting school is such a milestone in the life of both child and parent. Our leavers’ assembly is an emotional affair too, as we recollect the last seven years at CGS and mark the end of an era before the students walk out of our gates for the last time, accompanied by their parents as they were when they first walked into school which for this Year 13 would have been in September 2006. We are absolutely determined to hold our leavers’ assembly for Year 13 as soon as we can so that none of us miss out on the opportunity to say a proper farewell.
At the moment of course, we do not know when we might get to hold our leavers’ assembly but we are all awaiting the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday. Whether this includes any details of when schools will reopen is at this stage anyone’s guess but we are already planning for a range of eventualities. As I have said before, the over-riding factor must be the safety of everyone in the school community and this will be at the forefront of any decision making in the weeks and months ahead.
STUDENT FUNDRAISING
Last week, I mentioned Roisin and Eimear who, along with their sisters, are raising money for Cancer Research by running 165 miles in four weeks in memory of their Mum, Mary. A number of parents asked for details of how they could make a donation. Well done to the girls.
YEAR 9 GCSE COURSES
The May half term holiday is just two weeks away now. A reminder to Year 9 parents that Year 9s will be starting their GCSE courses in their four options subjects after this break. English, maths and the three sciences will continue as they are at present but the subjects they have not opted for will finish at half term. This involves a good deal of retimetabling and I would like to thank Mr Patteson who has done all the hard work here, supported by Mrs McKenzie. There will be some minor timetable changes for students in other year groups as a result and they will be notified of this nearer the time.
LOCKDOWN LEARNING
Today sees the end of the fifth week of lockdown learning. Before I finish can I thank you all for your continued support and remind you not to be too hard on yourselves during this difficult period! We do not expect you to be your child’s teacher and if you have any worries or concerns please let us know. If your child gets stuck with anything, please tell them to get in touch with their teacher which they can do via their Office 365 account or via Canvas. We are still very much learning as we go and if you find that the work set is taking your child longer than the timetabled lesson of an hour, please tell them to stop at that point...they have permission from me to do so! They certainly should not be working harder during this period than they would be were we in school and as you know, I feel most strongly that they must have plenty of time to do things which help to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing. Some of you will know that we are contacting home if work teachers have asked for has not been submitted. Please be assured that this is not about any sort of punishment and not something students should be worried about - nor parents. We have asked teachers to note when work is not submitted simply so that pastoral staff can spot any patterns, using this to identify which students to check in with (rather than check up on), to see if all is ok and to offer support if it is not. Finally, we know that a number of students are starting to finish their exercise books in some subjects. I think the most sensible suggestion to avoid unnecessary travel is for students to complete any further work on paper but if you would like to come and collect a new book, please let us know and we can arrange this.
I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable bank holiday weekend.
Best wishes,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
