Posted May 3 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: October 14th 2022
Head's Blog
VISITS ABROAD
This week, we have had our first visit abroad since February 2020! A group of students from years 11 and 13 studying either GCSE or A level French travelled to Lyon on Monday and they are spending the week immersing themselves in French culture and language. There has been a mixture of intensive lessons and visits to the local area and judging by the photos on the CGS Languages Twitter feed, a good time is being had by all. We are truly delighted to be introducing visits abroad again and during the half term break, a group of year 11 artists will be travelling to Amsterdam with some of our art teachers, visiting art galleries and museums in the city, including the Van Gogh Museum. As always, my thanks to the staff for making these experiences possible for our students.
FUNDRAISING INSPIRED BY MR PONTIN
Next week is Mr Pontin's birthday. As you are all aware, he is currently in hospital following emergency surgery to remove a brain tumour at the start of August. I am in regular contact with his family and went to visit him in hospital a couple of weeks ago. In true Mr Pontin style, the first thing he asked me was "how are all the kids?" We had a long conversation about what has been going on in the school this term and I am under strict instructions to update him on our sporting results on a regular basis! Each House in the school leads some charity fundraising during the year and Austen House has chosen to support a brain tumour charity this year for obvious reasons. I am hoping that the whole school community will get behind this next week and show support for Mr Pontin in this way. A range of activities is taking place throughout the week to raise money including staff football and netball matches which students can pay to watch, cake sales and a mufti day. Please note a change of date for this. Austen House originally went for Wednesday as this is Mr Pontin's birthday but we have moved this to Thursday which makes more sense as it is the last day of this half term. The undoubted highlight of the week will be the waxing of Mr Hayes's legs on Monday lunchtime in our school hall! FRIDAY 7th October 2022 He has bravely offered to do this to raise money for this charity which is so close to our hearts. Donations can be made via ParentPay as can payment for mufti day and wrist bands, should students wish to buy one. Thank you for supporting us - and Mr Pontin - in this way. I know that some members of our school community want to send Mr Pontin a birthday card. These can be dropped off at the main school office and I will ensure they are delivered to him.
YEAR 7 AND 8 HALLOWEEN DISCO
It was good to meet some of our new parents at the FoCGS meeting on Tuesday evening. Thank you to those who attended. Just a reminder that the Friends are holding a Halloween silent disco next Thursday evening for years 7 and 8. This was very popular and successful last year and I am sure the same will be true of this one. Many thanks to parents who have offered to help. I know the Friends still need some more parent helpers so if you can spare an hour or two on the evening, please get in touch with the FoCGS via email: friends@cheshamgrammar.org
WINTER HOUSE SPORTS AND SPORT THIS WEEK
Next week students will take place in our Winter House Sports Competition. The House system is a strength of the school and any House competititons are always fiercely competitive. Good luck to everyone! There have been lots of fixtures this week. On Tuesday after school, I watched two home football fixtures, with our year 7 boys playing Homer Green and our year 11Bs playing DCGS. A senior rugby fixture had just finished when I arrived and there were various netball practices going on. It was a gloriously sunny afternoon and the sight of so many students involved in extra curricular sport was a joy. We take for granted how lucky we are to have so much space on our sports fields. Visitors from other schools invariably comment on this. Well done to everyone who has represented the school this week and thank you to the staff. Congratulations to the U18 girls' football team. The team won their National Cup fixture this week and progress to the next round. Two of our year 7 netball teams played fixtures v Amersham School, winning both while our year 8 boys won their football match v The Grange. The County Cup game for the year 10 boys in football was a thriller, with Sam scoring the winning goal for CGS in extra time! Well done also to all those who represented the school in the county round of the Cross Country Schools Cup this week. We entered six teams (Junior, Intermediate and Senior Girls and Junior, Intermediate and Senior Boys). All the teams did really well with the Junior Girls, Intermediate Girls and Senior Boys qualifying for the regional round. Congratulations to them. Thanks to Mr Stoddern who inspires the students doing cross country and to Miss Day-Haynes, also a keen runner, who is working alongside him this year. The extra curricular sport and PE schedule for next week can be found here
BIRTHDAY TEAS THIS WEEK
Happy 12th birthday to Elsie, Aarav and Dylan in year 7 and congratulations to Daisy, Rohan, Leheam, Joscelyn and Harman who have celebrated their 18th this week. Birthday teas are always a lovely opportunity to meet with students informally and aside from hearing about various birthday celebrations, there is invariably a wide ranging discussion covering a range of issues. With year 7s, this usually centres on what they are enjoying about the school so far and with year 13s, I love hearing about their plans for life beyond CGS. Happy birthday to them all.
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Lucy in year 11, Eva-May in year 12 and Kitty who left year 13 in the summer all entered the Bucks Young Artist Competition and are three of eight entries across the county to have been shortlisted for the award. The ceremony is taking place soon and I wish them all the best. Ryan in year 12 played in a singles tennis competition recently, Tennis UK Men's FAST4 even, finishing 3rd. Well done! Finally, well done to the Eco Club who have raised £270.00 today from their cake sale.
SCHOOL COUNSELLOR RECRUITMENT
We are currently recruiting for a School Counsellor. Anyone who is interested can find details on our website. Finally, a reminder that we finish for the half term break next Thursday and return for the second half of term on Tuesday, November 1st.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend.
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
