Fortunately wherever they have been - at home or away, they have returned refreshed and rejuvenated, including my colleagues!

Our assembly on Monday focused on National Heart Month. Pupils learned about how to help someone who is having a heart attack, common symptoms and twenty five other amazing facts about the heart.  

This week our top mathematicians from Year 10 were off to compete in the local Maths Feast Competition at John Hampden School in High Wycombe. They had to compete in four different rounds including ‘What no words?’ where they had to interpret mathematical pictures, and creating and rolling a cube in the ‘dice cycle’ round.

Our Year 10 Food Studies group were invited by Giancarlo Caldesi to his restaurant in Bray for a pasta masterclass followed by parents and guests enjoying a cibo delizioso lunch prepared by the girls. Many thanks Giancarlo!

Year 10s are now applying for Head and Deputy Head Girl positions for next year, along with a host of other Senior Prefect posts. The early parts of the process require the hopeful candidates to write a letter of application setting out why they think they should be appointed, and what they would bring to the role. That is followed by a group debate activity and then a shortlist emerges for final interview with the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team.

We are looking forward to our assembly on Monday to kick start next week and to celebrate ‘World Book Day’ on Thursday 1 March and we are delighted to be celebrating as part of the Accelerated Reader Scheme our first Gold Star Award to Elicia Mercer G9. This is a huge challenge, requiring consistent, daily reading time over the course of a single term. It also rewards the level of books read, as extra points are received for more challenging texts.

Please note that the upcoming PTA Second Hand Uniform Sale is taking place on Tuesday 27 February (3pm-5pm in the Dining Hall) and G9 Parents Evening on Thursday 1 March when subject teachers and senior staff will be available for a full consultation between 6.00 and 8.00pm.

With best wishes for the weekend.