Posted May 3 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: May 20th 2022
Head's Blog
Dear parent,
GCSE EXAMS RETURN TO CGS
For the first time since 2019, we have a public exams series underway! The first week of exams - all GCSEs - is now behind us. They run right through until the end of June. The students have conducted themselves impeccably and generally seem glad to have made a start. Conversations with them across the week indicate that by and large, they feel exams have gone well so far. Long may that continue! A level exams begin on Monday. Running an exam series in a school of this size is a huge logistical undertaking and I would like to thank the exams team, led by Fiona Robinson, our Exams Officer, for all their hard work.
RELAUNCHING VERTICAL TUTORING
Over a decade ago, Chesham Grammar School introduced vertical tutoring and this gives the school a distinct 'family' feel and enables students across the school to build relationships with those in other year groups. I always say to prospective parents that life is co-ed and that attending a mixed school is excellent preparation for life. It is also the case that life is vertical and that our students will spend their future lives working alongside those who are older or younger than them so we believe this is also good preparation for life. When we returned to school in September 2020 after the first lockdown, we had to suspend vertical tutoring due to the operation of year group ‘bubbles’. We are excited to be in a position to now relaunch vertical tutoring and over the next few weeks, we will be preparing for this. Further information will follow in due course.
75th ANNIVERSARY WHOLE SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY
The whole school photograph we had taken as part of our 75th anniversary celebrations is now available to view and to purchase if you wish. We have these taken every five years or so, so for some students, this will be the only one in which they will appear. Here are the details you need to access it:
Website: www.gillmanandsoame.co.uk
Proof card login: 408858
Proof card password: 183504
75th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
A reminder that tickets, priced at £45, are available for purchase on ParentPay for our 75th anniversary party on Friday July 8th. I am very much looking forward to being able to celebrate this milestone in the school’s history with our parents, especially since we have been unable to hold any social events for the last two years.
CGS VISION AND VALUES
Every few years, we review our vision and values to ensure that they continue to accurately reflect the school as it evolves and changes. Our 75th anniversary year is a good opportunity to undertake this. We have asked students for their views and would also value those of parents. We are using a programme called Mentimeter which allows us to gather your views quickly and easily. I know we have asked parents for lots of feedback across the year but I can guarantee that this will take no more than a couple of minutes to complete so if you can find those minutes, I would be most grateful. The code is valid for today and tomorrow. Please go tohttps://www.menti.com/ and enter the following code: 99160288. Thank you.
WELL DONE TO...
...Sam in year 9 who has passed grade 5 Music Theory with Merit and to Lochlann in year 7 who recently competed in the Swim England South East Regional Championships where he made the final in three events, winning a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley. Well done and good luck to Emily in year 9 who has been selected to represent Marlow Rowing Club at the National Schools Regatta at Dorney Lake next Friday. I was delighted to meet with the Senior Netball A team, having won their league this year. Well done to: Megan, Esme, Natasha, Lucy, Becca, Holly, Poppy and Tijana.
SPORT AT CGS
As always we have had a number of fixtures across the week. The highlights included the year 8s impressive win by 134 runs in cricket v Thorpe House School. Tegan's 34 runs and 4 wickets were impressive as was Daksh's 50 not out. On Thursday, our year 9s took part in a mixed rounders tournament, winning all six of their games. Well done! The Sport and PE schedule for next week is here.
HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY TO...
...those in year 7 with whom I met for birthday tea this week: Ahmed, Scarlett, Violet, Johan, William and Gabriel.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
Last week was Mental Health Awareness week. We have invited students to take part in our annual student wellbeing survey which has been sent to their school email address. We encourage all students to take part in order to help further inform our school approach. Mr Bradbury has also asked me to share with you details of an online evening being hosted by the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health entitled - "How to cope when you child can't: How parents can help themselves and each other". The evening includes a range of specialist psychologists providing practical help and strategies which may be of interest. It is a free livestream event taking place on 4th July from 5pm to 6pm. You can register for this here: https://www.acamh.org/event/how-to-cope-when-your-child-cant/
You will be delighted to know that Rachel, my PA, is back from her holiday on Monday so normal newsletter service - with pictures and links - will resume next week!
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
