Posted Nov 29 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: November 11th 2022
Head's Blog
CGS REMEMBERS
The weather was kind to us today as the whole school gathered outside just before 11am for our annual act of Remembrance. With students and staff together, we number over 1400 and there is obviously no indoor venue large enough for us all to gather at the same time so this is the only time in the school year when we hold an assembly attended by everybody. The sight of the whole school together taking part in this event which culminated in a two-minutes silence at 11am was very moving. As always, this was impeccably observed and I would like to thank our two Head 
Students Mollie and Rohan and Deputy Head Student Alice who led this with me. On Sunday, Mollie and Alice will represent CGS at the Remembrance event in Chesham, laying a wreath at the town's War Memorial on behalf of our school community. Thanks to Noah, Tom, Sam, Matthew and Gethin who played The Last Post and Abide With Me so beautifully for us this morning.
Today, our year 11s have finished their mock examinations. Well done to the students and I hope they have a revision-free weekend ahead! Next Thursday, we look forward to welcoming year 11 students and their parents to our Sixth Form Open Evening, details of which have been sent home. Just as a reminder, mock results will be released via GO4Schools on Tuesday 29th November ahead of the Year 11 Progress Evening on Thursday 1st December. Information about how to book appointments will be sent home next week. As you will be aware, our Progress Evenings have been online for the last two years. Most will remain so this year though those for years 7, 10 and 12 will be held in person which we feel will give parents and teachers the opportunity to meet face-to-face at key points of transition during a child's school career. We will review this in the summer term with staff and parents.
SIXTH FORM EVENTS
On Tuesday, all those in year 12 attended Safe Drive, Stay Alive in Wycombe and year 13s have been today. I know from talking to some of the year 12s that they found this a thought provoking and valuable experience. Next week, some of our year 13s who are studying A level history are giving a talk to the local U3A on revisioninst perspectives of Tudor England. The topics include black Tudors, feminism in Tudor England and Henry VII's consolidation of power. These are topics students would normally encounter at undergraduate level, and the History Department staff have been really impressed by the individual research the students have undertaken to prepare. Talks by our students are always very well received by the U3A members and I have no doubt that the same will be true this year. On Wednesday, some of those in year 12 studying A level French will be representing CGS in a French Debating Competition being held this year at DCGS. We wish them all the best.
FOCGS QUIZ 18TH NOVEMBER
There is just one week to go until the FoCGS quiz. This is always a sociable and very enjoyable evening and is a great way to feel part of the school community. Ticket sales close on Monday. The Friends will be serving anti-pasta platters and there will be a cash bar as well as a pudding auction. The ultimate aim is to raise funds for the school - this year specifically for new toilet facilities in maths and languages which our students need. The FoCGS can put teams together from classes/year groups or parents can sign up as a team of 8. Tickets are just £15 and are available on ParentPay. You can fill in this form with your details. If you would prefer not to participate but can help out on the evening with the catering and bar or by making a pudding, the Friends would be delighted to work with you! You can sign up here.
RUGBY FOR GIRLS
Our girls' rugby club has restarted and it has been good to see the students who took part last year returning to this. The coach would love to see year 7 girls getting involved too. The club takes place on Thursday lunchtimes. Some of our girls who play outside school for Chesham Stags
are pictured here with Helena Rowland who is in the England squad preparing for the World Cup Final v New Zealand tomorrow. Between this and the cricket T20 Final on Sunday, also involving England, there is a busy weekend ahead for anyone who enjoys watching sport. As someone who taught Alex Hales when he was at CGS, I felt very proud watching his superb performance for England yesterday. Let's hope that by the end of the day on Sunday, he is a World Champion!
WELL DONE AND YEAR 7 BIRTHDAY TEA
Well done to Mikhail in year 11 who swims for Chesham Swimming Club. He became the Winter Regional Junior Champion in the 200m Butterfly last weekend. Happy 12th birthday to Kunwarjot, Arnav, Sam and Thushara in year 7 with whom I met for birthday tea this week.
SPORT THIS WEEK
Tomorrow, three CGS teams will be taking part in the regional round of the National Cross Country Cup at Stowe School. Good luck to our Junior and Inter Girls and our Senior Boys. Last Friday, our U16 girls football made it through to the next round of the National Cup while our U19 netball team suffered a narrow defeat in their Sisters in Sport match but demonstrated excellent team spirit and determination. In netball this week, year 8 fixtures v Beaconsfield High School saw one win and one loss for CGS, with the same outcome in matches v Burnham Grammar School. In that fixture, the year 9s won and the Seniors lost, again narrowly. The year 7C team lost in netball to Chalfonts Community College while the Senior boys' football team drew 1-1 v John Hampden Grammar School on Wednesday. As always, well done to everyone who has represented the school this week and thank you to the staff for making all these fixtures possible. The PE schedule for next week can be found here.
Finally, please note that the date of the flu vaccinations for years 7-9 administered by the Bucks Immunisation Team has been moved from November 17th to December 12th.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
