Posted Nov 29 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: November 27th 2020
Head's Blog
Dear parent,
Looking ahead
Three weeks today, we will have finished for the term and just under 40% of the school year will have been completed. We emerge from the national lockdown on Wednesday and as you will know, Buckinghamshire will be under Tier 2 restrictions. The Department for Education has released updated guidance on what schools in each of the national tiers need to do and I will read this over the weekend and update you if, as a result, there need to be any changes to how the school will operate moving forward. It is quite clear from my conversations with students that they have really valued being in school during this lockdown. "It doesn't feel like we are in lockdown," is how many students have articulated this, though one did add, "until I go home and remember that I can't meet up with the friends I have spent all day in school with". All I could say in response was, "this too will pass". "Not soon enough," he replied. I couldn't disagree!
Student success and The One Show comes to CGS!
We heard this week of the success of Suri in Year 8 who passed her grade 4 violin exam with Merit. Well done. You may recall mention a couple of weeks ago of Grace in Year 8 who submitted a poem to the BUPA Foundation's 'Beyond Words', project for World Mental Health Day. If you do, you will recall that her poem, 'My 2020' was picked as one of the winners. Mrs Rasekh, who encouraged Grace to submit this, has very proudly told me that BBC's 'The One Show' wants to interview Grace about her poem and will be coming to CGS to film this in a couple of weeks which is very exciting. When we know the date on which this will be broadcast, I will let you know.
Scholastic Book Fair
Mrs Hill, our Librarian, has asked me to remind parents that the Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the School Library next week and will be open to students in years 7-9. Given the current situation, each year group has been allocated specific days to visit this. Students can make cash purchases but there is also the option to use Parentpay. The book title information can be found on the school website here:
https://www.cheshamgrammar.org/3909/scholastic-book-fair
Outstanding Outdoors Appeal...and thank you
We have just launched an appeal to raise funds to enable us to improve our outside facilities for students to use during social times. The covered seating area we developed in the quad last year is hugely popular and has quickly become a real 'hub' of the school but at present, we can only let one year group 'bubble' use it at a time. This has left some year groups feeling rather neglected and I dearly want to change this. We know that outside is the safest place to be at present and we want all the students to have a pleasant area in which to sit, eat and talk to their friends before school, at break and lunchtimes. Thank you to those parents who have already made a donation this afternoon. Anyone else who wants to do so can go to: https://localgiving.org/CGS_Outside. I know that many parents already make a regular contribution to our Development Fund for which I am also most grateful and this will also be used to develop our outdoor spaces this year. I would like to thank all our parents for the superb support we receive in so many ways. I would also like to thank our fantastic Friends of CGS for fundraising for this for us. These improvements will make such a huge difference to CGS students not just during this pandemic but also in many years to come.
Saracens and Chesham Stags Rugby Camp
I have been asked to make you aware that Saracens and Chesham Stags are running a Rugby Camp for students in Years 7-11 on 29th and 30th December details of which can be found here: www.saracens.com/rugbycamps. I know that many of the students have found not being able to play sport over the last few weeks really difficult so I am sure that some of them will be interested in this.
Christmas in Words and Music
Existing CGS parents will know that our autumn term always ends with Christmas in Words and Music, a truly magical evening of carols, readings, song and instrumental music. For me, this is when I start to feel that Christmas really is coming. Sadly, this cannot happen in the usual beautiful church setting this year and instead we are holding a virtual event which will be accessible to members of the school community. Details will follow in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, a reminder that biscuits, chocolates and gift bags which have been requested by our Head Girl and Head Boy to enable them to make Christmas hampers for the elderly residents of Chesham, can be brought to school during next week. The students will be making and delivering the hampers in the last couple of weeks of term.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
