Headteacher's Newsletter

what's happening at Chesham Grammar

Posted on: March 11th 2022

Head's Blog

MAGISTRATES MOCK TRIAL

Last Saturday, a team of thirteen students from year 9 took part in the Magistrates Mock Trial Competition at Wycombe Crown Court. We have entered a team for this for many years now and the students gain a huge amount from the experience and really enjoy it. Miss Lindsay who prepared the students and accompanied them on the day, was delighted to tell me that the team came away as overall winners, beating some very tough competition. This is an excellent achievement and I would like to congratulate the students involved: Erin, Esther, Niamh, Amelie, Kayal, Finlay, Dana, Emily, Alice, Idan, Skye, Leila and Elizabeth. Thank you to Miss Lindsay for inspiring them to take part.

FUNDRAISING/COLLECTION

As you know, earlier this week, we supported a local scout group’s collection of items urgently needed by those who have become refugees due to the war in Ukraine. I would like to thank those parents who donated items. I know that many of you took things direct to Ley Hill on Tuesday evening and we also had lots of items dropped off at school which were collected on Wednesday. I was overwhelmed by your generosity. Tina in year 9 was invited to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they visited the Ukranian Centre in Holland Park earlier this week, as a result of the work she is involved in to support those in Ukraine, which was an honour. On a related note, Mrs Rasekh is currently raising money for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine fund by running 5k every day for a month. Should any parents wish to sponsor her, the JustGiving page can be found here.

STAFF NEWS

Today, we have said goodbye to Miss Marii-Metuarii who has been with us since September, working with students in science and maths to help address any knowledge gaps after the lockdown periods. It is not easy joining the staff of a school you have just left yourself - she was a student here until last year. She has done an excellent job not just in her tutoring role but also in PE where she has been coaching netball at lunchtime and after school. She is setting off on her gap year travels next month, much delayed due to Covid, before heading off to university in the autumn to study Biological Sciences. We give her our thanks and our best wishes.

CGS EQUESTRIAN CLUB

Ponies 1 Ponies 2 This month, Chesham Grammar School Equestrian Club is 50 years old so it, like the school, is celebrating a significant birthday. Members, former members, families and friends are invited to a reunion on Saturday April 2nd. Further information will follow but please save the date if you are interested in attending.

WELL DONE TO...

Well done to James in year 9 who has being awarded a distinction in his grade 2 drum exam. Congratulations also to Samuel in year 10 who has been selected to represent Hertfordshire at the World Scout Jamboree next summer. Libby in year 7 entered a poetry competition run by Chiltern Arts and her poem, 'Tendrils of Gold' has been selected as one of the U12 category winners. Congratulations! Finally, well done to Richard, also in year 7, who took part in Endurance40 last weekend. His team beat 30 other team, completing the 40km in 9 hours, 23 minutes. Congratulations to Anna, Izzy, Eden and Sachin in year 13 who have recently celebrated their 18th birthday.

SPORT

CGS swimming On Wednesday, our U16 girls travelled to Essex for their semi final National Cup football match. Sadly, they lost. While we are very disappointed for them, we are incredibly proud of their journey. To be one of the last 4 teams in the competition is an excellent achievement. Well done to them all. In other sports news, we had a superb inter House swimming gala on Monday, won by Austen House. We have also had numerous fixtures in football, basketball, hockey and netball. Our year 8 A and B teams both won last night while our 7 A, B and C teams played well but were beaten. In hockey, both A and B teams in year 8 beat Beaconsfield High School and the year 10 basketball team beat both St Michael's School and Amersham School. Finally, our year 7 boys played football v Chiltern Hills Academy, winning very comfortably, while the U15 girls eased to the County Cup football final with a 5-1 win over Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. Our U16 girls are playing their County Cup semi final game as I write. Well done everyone. Next week’s fixture list can be found here.

75TH ANNIVERSARY BALL

As you know, we are organising a 75th anniversary ball to celebrate the school's birthday. Thank you to those parents who have expressed an interest in helping with this. Any other parents who would like to find out more about this event are most welcome to come to the meeting being held at CGS next Thursday 17th at 9am. Please let Martha Ware, our Development Director, know if you would like to come: martha.ware@cheshamgrammar.org.

FINALLY

Finally, Franklin House is organising our charity day to support Red Nose Day next Red Nose Day 1024x538 Friday. Students can come in mufti with donations via ParentPay and there will be a range of activities taking place during the week to raise money. Well done to the House Captains who are leading this and to Mr Pierce for overseeing it.