The good news is we have completed our first week and the timetable works!

The Arts department has been very busy this last week. Congratulations to all the boys in Years 7 and 8 who performed in their Drama and Music Festivals, they were both entertaining evenings with several excellent performances. Well done also to the boys who performed in the House Music competitions, please remind your sons to vote for their favourite.

Congratulations to the U16 Quadruple Scull that raced in Nottingham last week to gain selection for the U16 Great Britain v France Regatta. They are also the youngest quad we have ever had qualify for the Fawley Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, they won their first round beating The Tideway Sculling School on Wednesday but lost to Henley Rowing Club on Thursday. Good luck in Paris.

The Sailing Club have just returned from a successful outing at the British Schools Dinghy Finals, all our competitors enjoyed the trip.

A reminder to follow the advice that has been given out for Activity week, the hot weather is set to continue so sun cream, drinking water and sun hats are all important.

"I’m always doing things I can’t do. That’s how I get to do them." Pablo Picasso

Summer has certainly taken hold and that has been reflected with the sporting activities. Well done to the U14 crews who won at Marlow Town, the athletes who performed so well at the National ISA Championships in Birmingham and the U12 cricketers who won their semi-final of the County Cup (all details in the sports results).

I look forward to watching the Tug of War House competition at the Fete tomorrow, the weather looks very good so we are hoping for a great turn out, I hope to see you there. Good luck to all involved in the Sailing Championship next week at Itchenor and for the thespians performing in the Year 7 productions at the end of the week.

It was great to see the Year 11 boys as they left for their day at Thorpe Park, for well earned rest and relaxation, the day was a great success.

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” 

In my assemblies this week I have asked the boys to commit two hours of work towards making the Fete a great success, this could be in preparation, on the day or helping with clearing up; remember many hands make light work.

Please check the sporting results that show how well the boys did at the London West ISA Athletics championship, well done to all involved and please check on the Cricket efforts of Messrs Chopra, Dempster, Hepworth and Stewart of Year 7, their bowling figures are amazing!

A reminder that Healthy Eating week starts on Monday, the boys know that if they approve of any of the dishes they can be added to our regular menu.

Good luck to the Year 10 Artists for their exam next week.

"Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.”  Roy T Bennett – The Light in the Heart.

With the weekend focusing on a certain wedding and the FA cup, you can escape by supporting our Cricket fixtures on Saturday or watch our new rowers race at Maidenhead Junior Regatta, the weather promises to be very good for all the events.

Over the weekend our Head of Maths Juliana Myers suffered a close family bereavement, presently she has family commitments that have kept her away from school, we have re-organised some Maths groups to ensure continuity of their education during this absence. Our thoughts are with Juliana and her family at this very difficult time.

The exams for Years 7 to 10 are now completed and we look forward to our normal routines beginning next week.  My thanks to all who helped to ensure that the PTA Ball was a great success. The Year 11 Final Assembly was a brilliant send off for the boys, staff and parents, well done to all involved with making the evening work so well.

"It's always too early to quit" Norman Vincent Peale.

The new GCSE PE moderation that was held at Altwood School was a success and congratulations to the boys who attended. Walking around the Art room on Thursday afternoon I was delighted by the standard of the work produced in the GCSE exam, the ideas and execution were outstanding, well done to all involved!

The Year 7 Parents Evening was very positive and we all reflected on how quickly the year has gone. Year 10 are busy working through their exams and appear to be working well.

Good luck to the rowers who will be racing at Dorney and Marlow this weekend, the weather promises to be warm, so hats, sunscreen and plenty of water will be required.

I am looking forward to the Year 11 Final Assembly next Friday, before they start their study leave and wish all attending the PTA Ball a pleasant evening next Saturday.

"It is by acts and not by ideas that people live." Anatole France