home > about > headmistress > letters to parents and guardians > letter may 2006

About St Mary’s

Headmistress’s Letter: 24 May 2006

Dear Parents,

This is the time of the year when we say goodbye to the upper sixth and to some members of Year 11. Last week the girls in Year 11 enjoyed a Breakfast Party to mark the end of their lessons and the start of examination leave. Apart from a rather brief take–over of the staff room, an extra fire practice and an even briefer ‘sit–in’ in the garden, lessons continued as normal. The girls are to be congratulated for making this such a happy event for themselves and the rest of the school. On Friday we will enjoy the Leavers’ Mass and Lunch for the U6th. We wish all the girls taking public examinations every success over the next few weeks.

Cabbages and Kings

Last week, St Mary’s enjoyed three captivating performances of Cabbages and Kings, written and directed by Quintus Benziger, our Director of Music, who will be retiring in July. This musical was first performed in 1972. It was great to see the confidence of the girls as they acted and sang. Congratulations too to the instrumentalists.

Celia Rees

Celia Rees, children’s novelist best known for Witch Child, Pirates! and The Wish House, came to speak to Years 7 and 8 on May 2nd — this was a great success. She spoke about her novels and about research and inspiration. After school she came to the Parents’ Reading Group where conversation continued, particularly on the topic of having strong, active female characters at the centre of the novels. Beverley Naidoo, author of The Other Side of Truth, will be coming to speak to the Year 9s at the end of June.

Trips and Expeditions

There have also been two theatre trips: two Year 10 groups went to Much Ado About Nothing at the Swan Theatre, Stratford on Monday 15 May and L6 English group are going to Antony and Cleopatra today.

The Year 8 trip to Wicksteed Park on Saturday was much enjoyed by the girls although they were not blessed with good weather.

47 girls took part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition last weekend. My admiration for them and the staff that train and accompany them has grown since I spent Saturday night under canvas as the extra female member of staff. It is wonderful to see the girls cope with the challenges of tiredness, weather, sore feet and not very exciting food!

Prizegiving

This year our Annual Prizegiving will take place on Tuesday 4 July at 2pm. We are delighted that Mrs Hoti has agreed to give the speech and award the prizes. Mrs Hoti is a parent of Mina in year 5 and is based at Lucy Cavendish College. She is a speaker for the Society for Interfaith Dialogue and Action. I hope as many parents as possible will come and join us.

Sports Day

Our Annual Sports Day will take place on Friday 23 June at the University Sports Ground. This is always a very happy day, so please come and join us and support your daughter’s sporting endeavours.

PTA BBQ

On Saturday 24 June, the PTA are holding their BBQ at 6pm. St Mary’s girls and staff will provide background musical entertainment. Please come and enjoy both the food and the music.

Concert

On Tuesday 27 June at 7.30pm, Mr Benziger and Mrs Hall will be hosting a farewell concert — I hope as many of you as possible will come to share in this special occasion.

Information about uniform for September 2006

You may remember from my last mailing that we will be introducing a new uniform for the Junior School and year 7 from September. I have been visiting each form in years 7, 8, 9 and 10 to talk to them about the new uniform and find out whether or not they might like to adopt certain parts of the new uniform when their current uniform wears out. The new V–neck jumpers are popular and best worn over the V–neck shirts. The blazer is particularly popular with the older girls. Parents will have the opportunity to buy the new jumpers and shirts if they wish when replacing the current school uniform jumpers. Parents will also be able to purchase the blazer as an optional item. We are keen to improve the standard of school uniform generally and from September we will carry spare new uniform so that we can replace such items as torn jumpers and tights in school. These items will then be put on the bill at the end of term.

Uniform for year 11 from September

I have now consulted all the year 10 forms and we have decided to retain the school uniform throughout year 11 until the examination period. If you have any concerns about this, please e–mail me or write to me as soon as possible.

Uniform for year 10 from September

In the last few years we have allowed sweatshirts in year 10 and 11 as well as jumpers. From this September we would like the girls in year 10 to wear either the current jumper or the new jumper. Again, if you have any concerns, please e–mail me or write to me.

Sixth form dress code

Please could I take this opportunity to remind girls and parents that we expect the sixth formers to dress as smartly as possible in their own clothes. We would be grateful if the girls wore smart jeans and trousers (ie not torn and frayed), plain respectable jumpers and tops (i.e. not showing midriffs or minimal vest tops) and smart skirts which are not too short.

With best wishes to you all for a restful half term. I hope the weather will improve!

Yours sincerely,

Jayne Triffitt
Headmistress