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About St Mary’s

Headmistress’s Letter: 9 February 2005

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Easter is early this year so we have to pack in a great deal into a short term. This half term we have two trips to Paris, the girls in year 9 will be going on their French exchange and some sixth formers will be on a History and History of Art visit. 65 girls studying History in year 10 visited the Holocaust Exhibition in London on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This was a very moving and appropriate way to spend that day.

Insight Into Industry

The year 9 Insight into Industry day on Monday was considered by Mrs Goy to be the most successful ever. She was thrilled by the girls’ interest and response to the challenges presented to them.

Entrance Examination

We were grateful for the help provided by the sixth formers for our annual entrance examination. There were lots of young, nervous girls to look after and our students were kind and efficient in their role as helpers. We were very pleased by the calibre of entrants and also by the talent shown by those girls who have been awarded music scholarships.

Tsunami Appeal

At the start of term, we responded like many other schools, to the Tsunami Appeal. The mother of one of our old girls, Serena Sinnatamby, was organising fund raising to be sent to her cousin who is the Archdeacon in Galle, Sri Lanka, for the rebuilding of a school. I asked the girls to contribute their own pocket money to the appeal and we raised £725 in two days. Thank you to the girls for their generosity.

PTA Quiz

Please support our PTA Quiz being held on Friday 25 February at 7pm. This is always great fun and Mr Dalwood is coming back by popular request to be the Quizmaster.

Sporting Achievements Spring term 2005

Netball
The Under 16 Netball Squad represented Cambridgeshire in the Eastern Counties round of The Daily Telegraph National Schools Championship — Izzy Edmundson, Pippi Brereton, Sophie Davidson, Ellie Herbert, Philippa Markley, Harriet Arbuckle, Cathy Oates, Caroline Haines, Abi Erian.

Gym and Dance Display
The Girls School Association Annual Gym and Dance Display, was as usual, hosted by St Mary’s. The evening was a great success with girls from the Perse and Peterborough High joining the St Mary’s team. The quality of the performances by all schools was very high and reflected the commitment and dedication of both the girls and their teachers. The evening was enjoyed by both girls and guests.

County Cross Country Championships
On Saturday 22nd January Helen Mather (upper sixth), Julia Slack (year 9), Marie McHugh (year 8), Storm Baxter (year7) and Anna McHugh (year 7) ran in the County Cross Country Championship. All of the girls ran very well. Helen Mather and Anna McHugh did particularly well and were selected to run in the Anglian Cross Country Championship. Harriet Arbuckle was also selected to run at this level.

Anglian Cross Country Championship 2005
On Saturday 5th February Anna McHugh, Harriet Arbuckle and Helen Mather represented Cambridgeshire at the Anglian Cross Country Championship which was held at Hinchingbrooke Park. The girls were very determined and are to be congratulated on their efforts and achievements. Harriet Arbuckle finished in 10th place and has been selected to run for the second year at the National Cross Country Championship. This is a fantastic achievement and we wish her well at this next level.

Dance
Belated ‘Congratulations’ to Charlotte Murray (year 10): Last term Charlotte competed in the Under 21 National Team Dance Competition, known as the Mardi Gras, which took place in Sadlers Wells, London. Charlotte is the youngest member of the seventeen members of the elite Jazz dance group from the Bodywork Dance Company in Cambridge. Bodyworks won the award for ‘Best Technique’ and finished overall within the top five positions out of 150 different dance schools from across Britain. (Top prize was to fly to New York to perform the dance on Broadway): Well Done.

Carriage Driving
A big congratulations to Claire McCarthy (Year 9) who was awarded the British junior Carriage Driving Scholarship 2004–2005. The presentation of this award took place at the Horse of the Year show.

Drop–In Surgery

My ‘drop–in’ surgery from 8.45 until 9.15am is proving worthwhile. Please do use this time to talk to me in person or on the telephone if you have any concerns or queries about your daughters or any aspect of the life of the school.

Parents’ Survey

During March, all parents will receive a Parents’ Survey sent on behalf of the School by RS Academics — a respected research company within the independent schools’ sector. We would be most grateful if you would take the time to fill it in as it will help us with our medium and long term planning for the School’s development and as well informing us about the current state of the School. I would like to take this opportunity of saying thank you to Mrs Sian Jones, our Marketing Officer, who will be leaving us at half term, for all her work in this department and with feeder schools.

With best wishes for a restful half term.
Yours sincerely,

Jayne Triffitt
Headmistress