Spring has certainly sprung and it is wonderful to see the snowdrops appearing around the estate and in particular around our beautiful lake; we have encouraged all staff to take their children for a wellbeing walk down there at some point over the next few days to see the vernal magic.
Thank you to the 31 staff and parents who visited the Nursery last week to celebrate and support National Storytelling Week – I loved seeing our youngest pupils engaging so strongly with A Squash and A Squeeze even doing a ‘jig’ halfway through! Congratulations to the ever-energetic and passionate Mrs Broadis, who inspired us all with her wonderful Lexathon finals at the start of last week; the Pre Prep children certainly enjoyed the game show format and put their reading and ‘smelling’ to the test along the way. It was great to see Gills surge from last place at the end of the Pre Prep finals to emerge victorious by the end of the whole competition. Well done, Gills!
Thank you to Miss O’Sullivan for an excellent Linguistic Olympiad on Friday afternoon, to Miss Saville for her lovely music platforms at the beginning and the end of the week and to the many parents who came to support; what a lovely way to finish a week! Please read on to discover quite how magnificently your children performed in their Rugby and Netball fixtures last week. I witnessed a 40-0 Edge Grove win for the first time and was impressed by the U12 Rugby team’s shock and awe tactics; England, Italy and Wales could have learnt a thing or two from them this weekend!
This week is National Children's Mental Health Week and the theme for this year is Let's Connect, encouraging children (and adults) to consider how we can make meaningful connections that support mental health. Assemblies across the school will provide an opportunity for the children to learn what true connection means, and understand its benefits in the context of mental health and wellbeing. They will think about ways in which they currently connect and to consider additional ways of building and maintaining relationships with those around them, or with those further afield.
Just a reminder that our Nursery Open Morning is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9.45am and our School in Action morning is on Friday at 9.30am, so please do encourage your friends and acquaintances to come and visit and experience for themselves the energy and creativity of this place. It would be wonderful to have a full Nursery in September and to enable as many pupils as possible to benefit from the amazing experiences that our Nursery pupils enjoy. Please do help us to promote these two important events. Your recommendations and enthusiasm make a huge difference, thank you. Let’s all get out there, bang the Edge Grove drum and welcome them to the Pride!
Good luck to Year 7 in their internal examinations this week and my thanks to the Year 7 and 8 parents who are attending the partnership meeting today. Good luck to our swimmers who are competing in the IAPS Swimming Regional Qualifying Rounds on Tuesday.
I hope to see you at the many events that are taking place this week, whether it be the FoEG Committee meeting at 8.30am on Wednesday, the Rugby, Netball and Dodgeball matches this week, A Starry Night at Nursery on Wednesday evening, the Year 5 Future Schools Evening for parents on Thursday or…another drum roll…the Edge Grove's Got Talent Final Friday, about which I am ridiculously excited!
Finally, may I point you in the direction of our Awards section of the newsletter where you can read about our pupils’ recent Scholarship successes. Miss Leighton shares the news of a raft of scholarship awards and may I reiterate our congratulations to all pupils for the hard work and dedication that has resulted in these impressive achievements.
If I don’t get the chance to see you prior to half term, may I wish you a very happy break with your amazing children and thank you for your kindness and welcome in my first thirty days in office!
With best wishes,Yours,
Ed BalfourHead
