This week in our school community: 4 July 2025

Nothing Gold Can Stay

 

 

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaf's a flower

but only so an hour

Then leaf subsides to leaf

So Eden sank to grief

So dawn goes down to day

Nothing gold can stay

Robert Frost

This time of year is bittersweet and the Frost poem captures this essence perfectly; nothing gold can stay - this is a season of great change. We have absolutely loved welcoming our new Year 7 students at our Transition Evening and Day events but we have also said a fond farewell to our Year 11 students at the Year 11 Prom this week. Year 11 arrived in style and looked simply fabulous; huge thanks to Miss Newton, Mrs Whitelock and the Year 11 tutor team for decorating the venue and for all the organisation to make the event so enjoyable. The Prom Committee should also be commended for their excellent fundraising initiatives and vision for the celebration. So as one group move on, another one joins and this is the nature of our academic year. We look forward to welcoming back many of our Year 11s into the New Sixth to start preparing for their powerful futures.

I wish to thank the Art Department for the beautifully curated Art Exhibition that our new Year 7 families had the pleasure of visiting in The Gateway at our Transition Event; they were excited to see the quality of GCSE and A level work on display which is highly aspirational and something for their Year 6 children to aspire towards. All are invited to The Gateway this evening between 4 - 6pm to see the incredible talent on display in our Art Exhibition - we hope to see you there.

Over the hottest days of the year, it has been a hive of activity in Food Technology with KS3 Bake Off competitions taking place this week. I have sampled many sweet and savoury delights and have loved watching the pure joy of our students cooking or baking a dish of their choice. In Design Technology, Year 9 have been honing their woodwork skills by creating their own accessory stands to hold their handmade pendants, bracelets and necklaces. The creativity on display in both subjects is wonderful to see.

Last Friday, the Performing Arts department showcased a KS3 production of The Tempest which was glorious and magical in equal measure. Thank you to Mr Singh for his directorial debut - a great success!

This Friday, we have 40 students and four members of staff (plus a special guest volunteer, Mr Bird, who left last year but can't resist spending time in our family!) heading off to Lasallian Camp for a weekend of fun, prayer and celebration with other schools in our district. We pray that this encounter may be all our students hope it to be and that they come back personally and spiritually nourished.

Next week I hope to see many of you on Tuesday 8 July at our 8am Parent/Carer Prayer. We will close the term by praying together as a school community for all the blessings bestowed on us this academic year. We also look forward to Sports Day on Wednesday 9 July and our Open Garden for families on Thursday 10 July from 3.15-4.15pm - come on down to see the Horticultural Group's work in full bloom. Finally, next Friday our Cambodia volunteer group are hosting a Family Quiz night and BBQ in the main school hall at 6.30pm - brush up on your general knowledge with rounds suitable for the whole family. See you there!

Mrs Melissa George (BA Hons, MA, PGCE) 

Headteacher