This week in our school community: 23 May 2025

I wish to thank everyone at Colegio Arenas for being so hospitable during my brief visit and for our continued partnership.

 

Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to visit one of our International Partner schools. Colegio Arenas has several campuses in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and I got to visit all schools over my two-day visit. It was fantastic to see their wonderful facilities, meet many Spanish students who have attend St Gregory's as part of the Sulis Manor language immersion programme and meet prospective families to explain why coming to St Greg's for either the three month or two-week programme is beneficial. 

This partnership has now been running for almost 30 years and has enormous benefits for both the Spanish students who fully immerse themselves in the language and culture of the UK, as well as our students who make lasting friendships and develop their understanding of what it means to be global citizens. I met one young teacher in Gran Canaria who had come to study at St Greg's for a few months when she was 12 years old as part of the Sulis immersion programme; the experience had such a profound impact that she decided to study her undergraduate degree at The University of Bath rather than in her native Spain. From there, she went to Aberdeen to continue her postgraduate studies before returning to Gran Canaria to take up teaching at Colegio Arenas where she went to school as a student! She is now inspiring the next generation of budding language learners and it was delightful to spend time with her on my visit. I wish to thank everyone at Colegio Arenas for being so hospitable during my brief visit and for our continued partnership, as well as Mr Nordberg, our International Placement Co-ordinator, for his oversight of this important aspect of our educational provision.

I am also in the process of visiting some of our partner primary schools; I enjoyed a lovely tour with two outstanding Year 5 ambassadors and got to meet the rest of Year 5 and their teachers (and ducklings!) at Peasedown St John Primary while, at St Mary's Bath, I got to tour the school, see the forest school area and meet some of their youngest pupils at play. My visit to St John's Bath was equally enjoyable; Year 5 had just had a Celebration assembly so I went to speak to them about how wonderful St Gregory's is and how much I am looking forward to welcoming them into school soon for their Taster Day.

In school this week, we have reflected on empowering and inspirational women by looking at the impressive figure of Edith Stein. Not only is she one of our House saints, but Miss Hollywood illuminated her early life for us and her great vocation to become a lecturer, which was sadly cut short due to the outbreak of war. Being a Jew was dangerous at this time; despite her conversion to Catholicism Edith Stein died in the concentration camps. Her remarkable strength, composure and kindness live on today in our students who display their House values around school and who, like Stein, know the value of equality, faith and education.

Miss Thomas-Stone has had a busy week: she delivered brilliant staff training on how to support students, especially girls, with autism, as well as launching the Prefect application process to our Year 10 students. Now that Year 11 are taking their GCSEs, we are looking for new role models and leaders to take on Prefect roles. Please take time to read through the PowerPoint sent to Year 10s on Class Charts for full details of the roles and responsibilities, with application letters due Monday 2 June and interviews the first week back after half term. Good luck Year 10 - let your gifts and talents shine in this process!

Talking about gifts and talents, congratulations to the Year 10 Girls’ Rounders team for their triumphant victory at the BANES Rounders tournament - we are so proud of this excellent achievement.

Year 12 have been looking ahead as we prepare them for their next steps in 'Progression Week' with sessions from experts on revision skills, writing personal statements and financial management post-18 to team building activities and a social BBQ to end the week. Year 12 have stepped into the demands of sixth form life with great gusto and we are delighted with how they have taken on the challenges of A level learning and life in the New Sixth.

We continue to pray for Pope Leo XIV in his ministry to bring justice and peace to the world, as well as all students across the country sitting public examinations, most especially our Year 11 and Year 13 cohorts.

Enjoy a wonderful half term break, safe travels if you are venturing near or far and do look at the website for reading lists to guide your half term reading. I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready to learn in Term 6 on Monday 2nd June.

Mrs Melissa George (BA Hons, MA, PGCE) 

Headteacher