Posted Nov 29 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: January 29th 2021
Head's Blog
Dear parent,
Early anecdotal feedback on the revised timings of the day suggests that students and staff are valuing the earlier finish and the opportunity to get out in the fresh air while there is still plenty of daylight. We will formally request feedback about this at the end of next week. Staff have been delighted to receive the general and, where relevant, the specific positive feedback from the first survey sent out a couple of weeks ago. As one member of staff put it, 'After a very long day spent in front of a screen yesterday [last night was Year 12 Parents' Evening], receiving this is a lovely way to end the week. I can go home with a spring in my step, knowing that what we are all doing is appreciated.'
Year 12 Parents' Evening
As I mentioned, last night was Parents' Evening for those with a child in Year 12. Thank you for the messages about this today, most of which were very positive. The remaining Parents' Evenings of the year (for Years 10, 8 and 7, in that order) take place next half term.
Holocaust Memorial Day
We are trying as far as possible to mirror the experiences students would have in school while they are learning from home and this week, Year 9 students, who learn about the Holocaust in history, heard from Eve Kugler, who lived through the Holocaust. Her family was split up for much of the duration of World War Two. Eve and one of her sisters were evacuated to America while her other sister was hidden in a Catholic convent by the French Resistance. Her parents spent most of the war years in French concentration camps, before finally being reunited with their daughters in New York where Eve lived until moving to London in 1990. Thank you to Mrs Dax who organised this event and who also delivered an assembly on Holocaust Memorial Day to the whole school this week.
Well done to...
...William in Year 9 who came second in the age 12-15 category of the National Python Competition. Congratulations, Will!
Rotary Young Photographer Competition
Every year, a number of our students enter this competition. The theme this year is 'Wild Nature' and photographs can be taken on a camera or a phone. The deadline for entries is 15th February and further details can be found at: https://www.rotarygbi.org/projects/young-people/competitions/. I know that we have lots of budding photographers and Mr Biddle was delighted with the photos taken in the snow last weekend which were sent in by our students which I am very much looking forward to seeing.
Amazon Smile
With everyone stuck at home, I am sure I am not the only one who seems to be making more Amazon purchases than usual! Just a reminder that you can raise money for the school very easily with each purchase by using AmazonSmile, details of which are here: https://smile.amazon.co.uk
SIMS Parent Lite App
At regular intervals, we have to update the parental information we hold in SIMS and next week, we will be rolling out our Parent Lite App which will give parents a much quicker way of ensuring that we have up to date contact details. We will launch it year by year starting with Year 13s next week. You will receive an activation email from SIMS and details of how to login from us at school. In time the functionality of this App will increase but initially it will act as an electronic Data Collection Sheet. Please look out for the instructions and the onboarding invitation.
Training day
Finally, a reminder that we have a training day scheduled for Friday, 12th February, which is the last day of this half term so lessons for the students will end on Thursday 11th.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
