February 2010
Dear Parents,
Please forgive the size of the mailing to you this half-term, but I hope
you will agree that it is all either helpful or necessary.
Please find enclosed therefore:
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A list of 13+ senior school awards over the past 10 year
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An updated pack of our Key Parental Information and Key Policies,
all for your information and reassurance - (please note that the
Child Protection policy has been posted on the school website for
some time now and is being reviewed by the Governing Body in March)
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A letter regarding Clarion Call – our parental messaging service
that will be tested on Monday 22nd February
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A letter and power point presentation from Mr Singh (Head of ICT)
relating to the key issue of the safety of our children when
using the interne
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A GDPA newsletter informing us about future events and past
fundraising successes
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A letter to all parents about the GDPA move towards joining the
National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations
13+ Senior School Awards
Parents may find it interesting and impressive to see the enclosed list
of 13+ awards that 25 Year 8 pupils have won over the past 10 years.
These are awards that are made over and above the mere offering of a
place at the school in question.
Like me, you may find the list impressive in a) the sheer number of
award winners and b) the variety of criteria, ranging from Academic
Awards to the Loughborough Endowed Schools and other schools, to awards
for Sport, ICT, Art and, as of this year, Music as well. Two All-Rounder
awards to Stonyhurst College also feature strongly.
May I reiterate our pleasure that 3 Year 8 pupils have received musical
awards this year, and this is the first time that any Grace Dieu pupil
has received such recognition in this important area. Many
congratulations not only to the pupils concerned but also to Mrs
Burrough and her excellent team of instrumental teachers.
In terms of numbers of overall awards in 2010, this exceeds anything
that we have achieved in one year in the past, and we are extremely
proud of the various successes of our pupils, and it certainly shows how
keen senior schools are to recruit Grace Dieu pupils:
AWARDS 2010
Hannah Cork-Keeling – ICT – Repton School
Marcus Cork-Keeling – Choral Award – Repton School
Billy Fieldhouse – Sport – Trent College
Sebastien Gundry – Academic – Loughborough GS
Alexander Jasper – Music – Loughborough GS
Lauren Potter – Sport – Repton School
Marina Slee – Music – Loughborough HS
Many congratulations to all the above on their splendid achievements!
Minibus Service
As you know, we are still very keen to offer and even increase the
facility of our minibus service in the mornings. Inevitably, however, we
have to consider the financial viability of such a service. If you are
not currently using it, do think about taking advantage of the offer. It
is good value and helps both the environment and any congestion on
campus at Grace Dieu in the mornings.
Do contact Mrs Bivins on
bursar@gracedieu.com if you
had any queries about what is currently on offer. Information is also to
be found on the website.
Internal Academic Scholarships
I am very pleased to announce that, after demanding tests took place in
November, academic awards have been made to the following Year 6 pupils
and the benefit of this will accompany them throughout their final two
years at Grace Dieu. Many congratulations, therefore, to:
Olivia Harrison (General Scholarship)
Jamie Lee (General Scholarship)
Francesca Massarella (English Award)
Year 6 Key Stage Tests
It will be very good to meet up with all our Year 6 parents straight
after half-term so that we can discuss the pupils’ latest “Mock
Examination” results. Thanks to Mrs Potter’s full analysis of the
results in Maths and English, they and their children will be fully up
to date with which areas need focus and attention over the coming months
between now and May. There is no doubt that the huge successes of our
current Year 8 pupils have been based on the secure foundations of good
KS2 results in Year 6.
To Year 6 pupils, I always say, “the tests in May are not designed to
catch you out. If you have worked hard and consistently, then you will
be rewarded. The way in which you work in class and on your prep between
now and May will have a great influence on the outcome of the KS2 tests
– good luck!”
NB: Future Important Dates for the Diary!
GDPA Summer Ball:
Saturday 12th June
Prize Day:
Sunday 20th June
Year 8 Leavers’ Mass and Dinner:
Friday 25th June
Regarding the second half of this current term, please note the
following:
Ø
Much enthusiastic work is going on at the moment to prepare for the
school musical, “Oliver” –
please check your diaries to note the performance dates. Letters will be
coming to you before long regarding this great event
Ø
We are looking forward to further
Parent/Teacher evenings in the second half of term, and you will
hear from the school in relation to those in due course
Ø
An information sheet will come to you early after half-term regarding
holiday activities that are available over the Easter vacation.
By the time that we see your children again, on Monday 22nd
February, the Season of Lent will have begun. This time of renewal will
be marked in all sorts of ways in school:
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The opportunity will
exist for Years 5-8 pupils to opt to have Bread and Soup lunch on
Fridays in Lent – any money saved will be sent to help our chosen
charity for the year, the de Paul Trust UK
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Our Morning Prayers and
various displays around the school will focus upon our preparation
for Easter
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On the first Thursday
back after half-term (25th February), Fr David Tobin,
President of Ratcliffe, will be saying Mass for the whole school
(excluding Cygnets) here, at 9am. Do come if you can, and
could I please request that Pre-Prep children are in school by 8.45am
that day so that they can be in the Arts Hall in good time – very
many thanks!
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This Mass will be a good
chance for us to begin our Lenten journey together. The children
will have prepared their Lenten promises by then, small ways in
which they hope to follow in the steps of Jesus more closely over
these coming weeks leading up to the great joy of Easter. As the
late Cardinal Hume wrote, “So, during Lent, there is always that
process of turning more to God and therefore away from those things
that separate us from Him or interrupt our service of Him, or indeed
interrupt our love of Him”.
With every good wish to you and your families as always,
Charles Foulds
Headmaster
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