Tuesday 16 July 2019

Well here it is, the final blog of the academic year.  I am sure many of you are looking forward to the summer holiday and having a well-deserved break.  It has been a busy year, but it is not over yet!

 

Firstly, congratulations to Merrick Scott of Corpus Christi House who won a gold medal in Karate for England in a tournament held in Japan at the weekend, at the same time achieving his black belt grading.  Well done Merrick.  And congratulations to William Watson of Tonbridge House who recently has been attending the Italia Conti School of Performing Arts in Tunbridge Wells.  At the weekend he took part in their bi-annual show at the Assembly Hall and was awarded the Italia Conti Prize for Upper Junior Acting.  Well done William.

 

Last night many members of staff enjoyed the company of Year 13 at the Leavers’ Prom, which was held this year at Leeds Castle.  The weather stayed dry which added to a pleasant evening, and Year 13 looked the part in their dinner jackets and evening dresses.  Thank you Year 13 for being a special year, and thank you to the staff who supervised the event until the early hours of the morning.

 

Today is Sports Day.  This annual event sees the entire school community come together to compete in houses for the Sports Cup.  Last year Corpus Christi House dominated the day, but will the other three houses want to see a different name on the cup this year.  

 

Tomorrow is a new event in the school calendar, but an important one.  We are inviting the many supporters of the school who volunteer their time for free to join us in school for us to say thank you.  Representatives from the Governing Body, the Parents’ Association, the Old Maidstonian Society and the MGS Development Fund will be attending as well as referees who have supported our sporting fixtures, volunteers who support the CCF, and representatives from Maidstone Mind and CAST.

 

Thursday evening is the end of year staff party where we say goodbye to those members of staff who are leaving the MGS Community.  This year we are saying goodbye to 10 of our colleagues, who have collectively given 70 years’ service to the school.  We wish them all well in their new ventures.

 

And Friday is the last day of term and the last day of the academic year.  It will end in the usual way with the final assembly where we look back on the year and give out some more awards to recognise a variety of achievements.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

 

Tuesday 9 July 2019

Firstly, I would like to thank the entire staffing body for another excellent Extended Learning Week.  While Year 10 and Year 12 were completing a week of work experience, years 7 to 9 enjoyed a week of fun activities.  The weather stayed fine, which added to the success of the week, and the hard work in preparation for the week paid off.  Thank you.

 

On return to normality yesterday we held a very special event in the school.  Ben Babington-Browne, an Old Maidstonian who left in 2000, died tragically in Afghanistan exactly 10 years ago.  He was the last Old Maidstonian to have lost his life whilst serving in the armed forces, and so it was befitting to commemorate the occasion with a small memorial service.  In attendance was Ben’s family; Mr Turrell, Ben’s Headmaster as well as Governors.  Ben’s name, and all other names of Old Maidstonians who have lost their lives whilst serving since the 2^nd World War, will be remembered on a new memorial board that will hang in the new library. 

 

Also yesterday we welcomed parents of Year 10 into school to attend the Year 10 Parents’ Evening.  Even though we are nearing the end of the academic year it is vital at this stage to prepare the boys for the next 12 months, particularly as they are going to end that time with their GCSE examinations.

 

Today we welcome pupils from our local primary schools into school to enjoy two events: The Kent Music Primary Orchestra and Concert Day and our own Primary Outreach Brazil Event.  And then on Thursday we welcome our newest Maidstonians into school to enjoy the Year 6 Induction Day. Over 200 boys will spend the day with us getting to know each other and learning a bit more about the school they will be spending the next seven years in.  We hope they enjoy the day.

 

And on Friday we celebrate the founding of the School at the Founders’ Day Service and congratulate our youngest students in their achievements at the annual Lower School Speech Day.  The Rt Hon Helen Grant, MP is the Guest of Honour.

 

Tuesday 2 July 2019

Congratulations to the boys who took part in the Big Bang South East STEM Competition.  All of the boys performed very well following months of hard work at the weekly STEM club. Their projects made impressive displays and presentations.  Well done to Ali Shelley and Daniel Gray who both won a sponsor’s prize which consisted of a £50 amazon gift voucher, cup and certificate.

 

This week is probably the best week of the school year: Extended Learning Week.  Years 10 and 12 are enjoying a week of work experience and years 7 to 9 are collectively taking part in nearly 30 different activities, both in and out of school.  A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes in preparation for the week, and so I would like to thank all of those staff who have contributed.  I hope everyone enjoys themselves.  The School Facebook page will be updated daily so you can follow what is going on.