HT Blog - Tuesday 12 November 2024
Firstly, can I thank the staff and
student helpers as well as Mrs Hudson and the MGS Parents’ Association for
Saturday’s firework display. This annual
event has grown into one of the biggest community events MGS puts on, and it is
with the help from everyone that allows it to go ahead. The weather conditions were ideal for a November
day, and with the food, music, and of course the fireworks themselves, it made
for an enjoyable evening. Thank you
again, and thank you to everyone who came along to enjoy.
Also, I wish to acknowledge and
congratulate both the 1st and 2nd XV rugby squads who
played under the floodlights on Friday evening against Sutton Valence School. Due to the fireworks and the need to set
things up on the Saturday morning, it has become customary to play the annual fixture
on the Friday night instead of the usual Saturday morning. Both squads won their respective matches, and
what made it more of an occasion, there was a large crowd of spectators who
came along to watch. Thank you to those spectators and to the staff who made
the evening a success. As for the
Saturday morning fixture, the U15 rugby squad also beat Sutton Valence School
17 – 14, which means we won all home matches against one of our closest
schools. Well done all.
This week the year 11 mock exams
begin in earnest. Over the next two
weeks year 11 students will complete examinations in all of their subjects to
provide them with a clear indication of how they have progressed and what they
need to do in the coming months. Good
luck to them all.
Yesterday the MGS community came
together to acknowledge the two-minutes silence at 11 o’clock to remember those
fallen Old Maidstonians who lost their lives in conflict or who died during
military service. The theme for this
year’s Remembrance Service was to remember those former students who died during
WWII in Asia, particularly recognising Lieutenant Giovanni Arrigoni, who died
in February 1944 serving in Burma.
Associated with this, I also wish to thank the 50 or so cadets and staff
volunteers who represented MGS at the Remembrance Parade in Maidstone on
Sunday.
Also, yesterday four year 13
students took part in the south east regional heat
of the English Speaking Union Schools Mace. The students competed against St Edmunds
School, Sutton Valence School and Dover Grammar School for Girls, and over four
debates across the afternoon the MGS students successfully progressed to the
next round. Well done, and thank you Mr
Andrews for accompanying them.
Today and Thursday, Year 7 and a few
students from Year 12 are visiting Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire to understand
more about what work went on there during the WWII. This trip has been taking place for almost 10
years now, and it not only has an educational purpose, it
also forms another occasion when our newest Maidstonians can get to know more
of each other. A huge thank you to Mr
Gokool and Mrs Ridgeway for leading the trip.
