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About St Mary’s

Headmistress’s Letter: 22 September 2006

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Open Morning on 14 October

Our Open Morning for prospective parents is being held at both the Junior and Senior Schools on Saturday 14 October from 9.30am until 12 noon. We would be happy for current parents to join us to look around the school and see the activities the girls will be participating in. All girls from Year 7 to the U6th will be expected to be in school on that morning (with years 7 to 11 in full winter school uniform and the 6th form in smart dress code). If your daughter is unable to attend for any reason, please could you send a letter or e–mail confirming this to me (headmistress@ stmaryscambridge.co.uk). Last year we had over 400 visitors and it was a very happy occasion.

To enable the teaching staff to prepare for the Open Morning, we will be closing the school early on Friday 13 October at 1.45pm. The girls will have six short lessons on that day. Please let us know if that causes any difficulties for you so that we can arrange to look after your daughters until 4pm.

Uniform

You will remember that we have some variations in uniform at present with the introduction of new uniform for year 7 and the Junior School. Girls in years 8 to 11 may purchase new jumpers, blazers and shirts if they wish from the School Uniform Shop. However, this is not an opportunity for the girls to wear any white shirt. I would be grateful if they could either wear the long–sleeved white shirt tucked in (plain style, no darts, from stores such as John Lewis) or buy a school short–sleeved white shirt.

Sports news

Congratulations must go to our athletics teams. At the end of the summer term our athletes competed at the annual Cambridge & District Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (Olympic Cup). In spite of the year 10 team being depleted in numbers they finished in 4th place. However, it is with great pride that the PE Department can announce that the Year 7, Year 8 AND Year 9 teams WON their respective age–groups. This is the first time that 3 out of the 4 teams have won the Championships: Well done!

During the last few years 6th form rowing has grown in popularity. This year’s U6th crew decided to row in the 50km Boston Marathon on Sunday to raise money for a set of eight rowing blades for the new St Mary’s boat. The money raised in the marathon will also go towards other St Mary’s charities. The girls completed the marathon in a time of 4 hours and 56 minutes (the record for junior girls is 4 hours and 47 minutes) so this is an excellent time. They are all proud of their blisters and there is enthusiasm to return to do it again next year!! The crew are trained by Mrs Susan Brown who completed the marathon herself in 4 hours and 15 minutes. Mrs Brown also won two events in Princeton USA at the World Masters Regatta at the beginning of this month. Congratulations to all our rowers!

Parents’ Surgery

New parents may not be aware that I run a Parents’ Surgery every morning from 8.45 until 9.15am. Parents are welcome to drop in to discuss any issue however small concerning their daughter’s education. This was a very successful initiative started last year which helps us to deal with problems at a very early stage.

For the benefit of new parents you will find my speech reporting on last year here on the school web site. I look forward to meeting the parents of new pupils at the Social Evening tonight at 6.30–8pm.

Fun Run

Last year St Mary’s School raised in the region of £20,000 for charity. You will see details in the mailing about our annual Fun Run on Friday 20 October at 1.30pm at Coe Fen. This is the biggest single event in our fund raising calendar and we are always delighted to welcome parents to watch us look ridiculous for the sake of several good causes.

Yours sincerely,

Jayne Triffitt
Headmistress