January 2020
Headteacher’s Letter to Parents January 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope you all had a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and I would like to belatedly wish you all a Happy New Year!
2020 promises to be no less busy and productive at St Mary’s and our term is now in full swing. The children all returned on Tuesday, 7th January looking refreshed, smart and ready to learn, which is great. My early lesson visits and drop-ins suggest the same, and I look forward to charting the progress our pupils are making in the coming weeks and months. The new term started a little earlier for the teaching staff at St Mary’s with a day’s training and development focusing on the spiritual life of our school community held at Belmont Abbey.
In terms of updates, I am delighted to report that we are hoping to shortly take delivery of a new school mini-bus which will undoubtedly be of great benefit to all of our pupils over the next few years. You may remember that we did a whole school sponsored walk in July 2019 to raise much-needed funds, and this, coupled with the incredibly generous support of the PTFA, has enabled us to purchase a new minibus. I can’t emphasise enough how grateful we are for your support and the support of the PTFA. You will be aware that school budgets are incredibly tight and such a purchase would not be possible without fundraising and PTFA contributions.
It goes without saying that this term will be a very important one for our current Year 11s. They are in the process of getting their mock grades back and should now be acting on the feedback from their teachers. Forthcoming Y11 Parents’ Evening on the 15th January (A-J) and 23rd January (K-Z) will be great opportunities to discuss strengths and areas for development for them to work on in the remaining months, and we will continue to support them with a range of additional after school sessions.
Later on this month, can I remind all parents that our Drama Department are putting on two further performances of ‘Journey’s End’. The second cast have been rehearsing after school and at weekends, and it would be great for them to have a full hall to perform to. Do come along on either the 28th or 29th January at 7pm, tickets are available from the school’s reception or on the door.
Our Y11 residential retreat returned from Kintbury at the weekend and I understand all in attendance found it to be a thoroughly enriching experience. I look forward to catching up with the pupils on their return and finding out what they got up to.
Parents of children in Year 8 will by now be aware that Mr Coyne has taken up the Head of Year post for the rest of this year. Mr Coyne takes over from Miss Roberts and I am sure he will do an excellent job.
Thank you for your continued support with all that we do here at St Mary’s and I look forward to working with you and your children in this spring term.
Yours faithfully
S Wetson
Headteacher