Posted Nov 15 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: October 2nd 2020
Head's Blog
Dear Parent,
As we start October, we move into Black History Month and I would like to thank Mr Hayes, Subject Leader for History and his colleagues in the department who have planned a range of activities to mark this. To coincide with National Poetry Day which was yesterday, students have been invited to submit an entry to our poetry competition and Mr Hayes is encouraging students to write on the theme of Black Lives Matter. There is also a BHM essay competition, one for each key stage, details of which have been shared with students in tutor time. We were not in school during the Black Lives Matter protests and it is important that we provide a framework for students to be able to discuss many of the issues it aimed to address as well as take the opportunity to promote and raise awareness of black history. My thanks to Mrs Hill, our Librarian, for leading our National Poetry Day events.
I am delighted to be able to congratulate a number of students on their recent achievements. Well done to Anna in Year 8 who recently passed her grade 5 musical theatre singing exam with Distinction and to Poppy in Year 9 who was awarded a Merit in her grade 5 music theory exam. We were pleased to hear from Berkhamsted and Hemel Hockey Club that Oscar in Year 7 and Megan in Year 8 have been selected for the Hertfordshire County hockey squads. They will be training with the U13 squads in preparation for regional tournaments. Finally for this week, Siobhan in Year 12 has just been awarded a prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. Many congratulations to them all.
Year 7 parents will have received information today about training sessions in netball and football which start next week. Training for other year groups will recommence in the next couple of weeks. I am delighted that we are able to get some extra-curricular activities up and running and we ask for parents' support in following the protocols in place for collecting their child at the end of any sessions. We dearly hope that at some point, fixtures will be able to resume but this is unlikely to be the case this term. We are currently discussing ways in which we can run some of our usual whole school events this term such as Christmas in Words and Music and House competitions. While we are sad not to be able to hold these as we usually do, we are looking at the current situation not just as a challenge but as an exciting opportunity to do things differently.
Those of you with a child moving up to secondary school next year may want to know that our virtual open event will go live towards the end of next week. We would much rather be able to welcome prospective parents and students to the school in person but are obviously unable to do this at present.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
