Tuesday 17 December 2019

Welcome to my last blog of 2019.  I cannot believe we have reached the end of the first term of the academic year let alone the end of 2019.  It has been another demanding and rewarding year, and we are now looking forward to a well-deserved holiday.  Before we do though, there are a number of things to acknowledge.

 

Firstly, I would like to thank both the staff and students for organising last week’s Barton House charity day in support of the NSPCC.  The day had a joyful feel with the wearing of festive jumpers and a hotly contested mince pie eating competition.  The total amount raised was just under £1,750.  Well done all.

 

Congratulations to Tom Fryer of College House who represented the UKIP Party who won last week’s MGS Mock Election.  The outcome of the Election was unprecedented as both Tom Fryer and Liam Turner, who represented The Brexit Party, both received the same number of votes, but after consulting electoral rules, the final outcome was decided with a coin toss!  Well done Tom, and thank you to all other candidates who took part in the election.

 

Continuing the Christmas theme, today and tomorrow the catering team serve the students and staff their Christmas lunch; Barton and College students today and Corpus Christi and Tonbridge houses tomorrow.  Do enjoy the lunch and let us hope the students eat their sprouts!

 

Tonight after school we invite Old Maidstonians who left last year to return to their school to receive their A Level certificates.  A number of the year group are returning to receive applause for their achievements but also to see each other again and to catch up.  The occasion is always an enjoyable one.

 

Tomorrow is the MGS Carol Service which takes place at All Saints Church at 7pm.  The Service will follow a traditional format: hearing lessons and singing carols, before we all enjoy a mince pie and glass of mulled wine.  If you are free then please do come along.

 

And Thursday is the end of term before we break up to enjoy a couple of weeks with our friends and family.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Tuesday 10 December 2019

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the 1^st XV rugby squad for beating Windsor Boys School last Wednesday 55 – 0 in the quarter-final of the National Bowl competition.  The semi-final is now not until March, and we wait to see who we will be playing.  The players should be incredibly proud of themselves to have reached the last four. 

 

Congratulations and thank you to the entire cast, band, crew, prefects, refreshment sellers and staff for three wonderful nights of Little Shop of Horrors.  It was one of the best school productions I have seen, and I certainly went home singing the songs in my car.  Well done all and thank you to everyone who supported.

 

A big thank you to everyone who has supported this year’s Salvation Toy Appeal.  Once again we have been amazed by the generosity of our parents and staff who have donated so many gifts and toys for the children of Maidstone.  Thank you ever so much. 

 

The end of term is nearly upon us, but there are still two busy weeks ahead.  Tonight we welcome parents of year 12 students to attend the Year 12 Parents’ Evening.  This will be the first opportunity that parents hear from their child’s subject teachers about how their child has progressed with their A Levels at the start of the sixth form.

 

Tomorrow and Thursday, boys from Year 8 will be taking part in two careers days.  These days are to get the boys thinking about what their interests are and what they possible might wish to do in the future.  These days will also help with the important decisions the boys will be making after Christmas about their GCSE options.

 

On Thursday MGS will be holding its own Mock Election.  Sixth form students have, for the last three weeks, been campaigning for their parties and encouraging us all to vote for them.  We now can have our say.  The Election will be preceded with a Hustings where all the candidates will be grilled by a hall full of students.  Good luck to all candidates.

 

On Friday Barton House will be leading on their charity day to raise money for the NSPCC.  The usual non-uniform day will be the main fundraiser, with students being encouraged to wear a festive Christmas jumper.  Throughout the day there will be of course stalls and events to further raise money.

 

And congratulations to Max Cardosi of Barton House who successful won a boxing competition on Saturday. The competition was part of a boxing event held in Maidstone at the weekend involving a number of clubs in the SE region. Max represents West Tree Boxing Club and he defeated a boxer from a club in Essex.

 

 

Tuesday 3 December 2019

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the 1^st XV rugby squad for beating King John School, Benfleet last Wednesday 24 – 17 in the last regional round of the National Bowl competition.  We are now in the last eight of the competition and are due to play Windsor Boys School on Wednesday.  The players should be incredibly proud of themselves to have reached the last eight.  Good luck boys for Wednesday’s match.

 

Sticking with sporting news, the 1^st and 2^nd XI football squads also respectively won their matches last week.  The 1^st XI beat Harvey Grammar 2 - 1 and the 2^nd XI- beat Kent College, Canterbury 8 - 1.  Well done boys.    Last week was a good one for senior sport!

 

Congratulations must also go to the CCF RAF cadets who, at the weekend, achieved 2^nd place in the regional division of the RAF Air Squadron Trophy.  On the way to achieve 2^nd place they came 1^st in the shooting part of the competition.  They now progress on to the national final.  Well done all and thank you to Mr Moores for accompanying them. 

 

This week is one to look forward to as our budding actors and musicians will enjoy putting on this year’s school production Little Shop of Horrors.  The first performance is Wednesday evening and will run for three nights finishing on Friday.  Tickets are available from the Bursary or on the door, with the show starting at 7pm.  Do come along.

 

And on Friday a group of Year 7 and Year 8 students travel to Cologne for a long weekend to experience the culture, try out their language skills and to enjoy the festivities of the famous Christmas market.  I hope the boys, and the staff, enjoy the occasion.  Safe journey to them all.