Welcome back to a new academic year; I hope you have all had a wonderful summer break and an opportunity to rest and relax. This week, as we start the new year, we welcome many new Maidstonians who are joining the MGS community. The 216 young year 7 students, the 50+ year 12 students and the 17 new members of staff all began their MGS journey today, and I hope that their time at MGS is a good one. Tomorrow I will be welcoming them all, as well as the rest of the school, at the first whole-school assembly in the Quad. Having over 1500 Maidstonians sat in front of me reminds me how we are all connected, and it is those connections that make MGS a special place. I hope everyone has a good start to the year.
Contrast this to the end of the week where we will be welcoming back some of the outgoing students who left in the summer to receive prizes at the Upper School Speech Day. At the start of every academic year we award prizes to a number of senior students from the previous years’ 11, 12 and 13 as well as reflect on the year that has passed. This year’s guest of honour is Old Maidstonian Dan Abnet who attended MGS back in the 1980s and who went on to write for Marvel and DC Comics. Let us hope the weather is good so as we can host the event in the Quad – something we have not been able to do since 2019. Also on Friday the new year 7 students will be enjoying a morning of team building activities to encourage them get to know more of their fellow Maidstonians as they transition from their smaller primary schools to the much bigger school of MGS. I am sure they will make new friends in the process.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to an upcoming art exhibition featuring the work of MGS art teachers. From Saturday 21 September for three months, work by Mr Ashenfelter, Mr Hanratty, Mr Jones and Mr Martin will be on display at the Maidstone Museum. Please go to www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk for more details. Admission is free.
