I can hardly believe that we have already reached the end of Term 1. We are now in Week 8 of the academic year, and the October half-term break is just around the corner. It has been a busy and rewarding first term, with so much happening across the school, and it is wonderful to see our students embracing the many opportunities available to them, both in and beyond the classroom.
Firstly, I would like to
extend a huge thank you to our Performing Arts Department for last week’s
fantastic 777 event. At 7pm in Week 7, our Year 7 students took to the stage to
deliver a delightful evening of music and drama for an appreciative audience.
From the School Song to Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,
the evening showcased the enthusiasm, confidence and emerging talents of our
youngest students. Events such as these are a wonderful reminder of the
creativity and courage our students demonstrate when given the opportunity to
perform, and I am sure that everyone who attended left with a smile. My thanks
go to all the staff and students who worked so hard to make the evening such a
success.
This week, the final Year 7 learning groups
will continue to make their much-anticipated visit to Waterstones to choose a
book of their own. This lovely initiative, generously supported by our Parents’
Association, helps to nurture a love of reading and gives every student the
opportunity to discover a book that captures their imagination. We are very
grateful to the Parents’ Association for making this possible and for their
continued support of opportunities that enrich our students’ experience of
school.
As the week draws to a
close, we will also be looking forward to a special sporting occasion: our
first Friday Night Lights fixture, with the 1st XV Rugby Squad welcoming The
Judd School. Friday Night Lights is an exciting new school tradition, with the floodlights
switched on for a handful of Friday evening fixtures throughout the year. These
occasions bring our community together, as students, staff and supporters stay
after school to enjoy a game of rugby or football against local schools. There
is something special about the atmosphere of an evening fixture, and I hope
that as many members of our school community as possible will come along to
support the team. Best of luck to the players, and a heartfelt thank you to the
staff whose time, commitment and enthusiasm make these events possible.
Speaking of rugby, I am
delighted to report that our 1st XV has progressed to the next round of the
National Vase competition following last week’s match against Sir Joseph
Williamson’s School. The game finished in a closely fought 14–14 draw, with MGS
progressing under the competition’s away-team rule. It was a tense encounter,
and while we can certainly appreciate the disappointment this result may bring
to Sir Joseph Williamson’s, there will be considerable relief and excitement on
the MGS side. Congratulations to the squad on their determination and
resilience. The competition continues, and, as the saying goes, we go again. We
wish the team every success in the next round.
There was further
sporting success last week, with our 2nd XI Football Squad securing a 2–1
victory over local grammar school Oakwood Park. Fixtures between MGS and
Oakwood Park are always keenly contested, making this a particularly pleasing
result for the team. Well done to all the players for their effort and
commitment, and thank you to the staff who continue to support our students in
representing the school with pride. It is always encouraging to see the
competitive spirit, teamwork and sportsmanship that school sport can bring out
in our young people.
Finally, I am particularly pleased to share
some exciting news from our Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Lt. Col. Highway and a
small group of our CCF cadets have been invited to Whitehall to represent the
CCF at a Remembrance event. This is a tremendous honour and a wonderful
opportunity for our cadets to represent both the school and the wider CCF
community on such an important occasion. Remembrance provides an opportunity to
reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country, and
I am sure our students will approach this responsibility with great pride and
maturity. My congratulations go to the cadets and Lt. Col. Highway on this well-deserved
invitation