Weekly Words from Mr Rayer

Every week the Bulletin newsletter is sent home from the School Office highlighting important forthcoming dates and events, along with comments from Mr Rayer about the week gone by. Read below recent messages from the Head's desk.

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Archive

Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 12
Published 08/12/17, by Miranda Whetton
Today the boys have been very excited as we have had the first flakes of snow, it is Christmas Jumper and Lunch day so very helpful for the atmosphere.

Year 11 have almost completed their Mock Exams but spare a thought for the Artists who have two days work still ahead of them. Looking in the school diary we have the Lions coming in over the weekend to use our Sports hall to help them pack their Hampers to be distributed across Maidenhead, these along with our own hampers drive home the message of giving at this time of the year and my thanks to all who have sent in donations.

Our Carol Services are held next Friday at St Luke's and all are welcome, please note that there are two so check for the correct time if attending.

As this is the last bulletin of the year I will take the opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year, I hope the holiday is restful.

Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store. Dr Seuss

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 11
Published 01/12/17, by Miranda Whetton
This week I spoke with the boys at Assembly about the importance of being good neighbours and I would ask that we all practice this in our actions around the school.

Maz Butt also performed his winning number from the House Music competition, well done.

It was good to see a large turnout at the Sixth Form Open Evening, it proved to be a very popular event. If you would like to arrange a one-to-one appointment to meet Mr Giles Head of Sixth Form, our Registrar Mrs Heidi Leigh will be happy to arrange this for you 01628 327710.

I hope as many parents as possible will support our last Saturday morning rugby fixtures versus Latymer, I will be travelling away with the U12s and it promises to be an exciting set of matches.

Good luck to Year 11 as they continue with their Mock GCSE examinations, a very important set of challenges for the boys.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 10
Published 24/11/17, by Miranda Whetton
On Monday I continued the strong message we are giving to the boys concerning bullying, a key word for us is Respect and I expect every boy to engage with this ideal.

Congratulations the Unforgettables performance was certainly that, well done to all involved in this production and my thanks to all who helped to make this possible.

I hope parents of Year 9 has spoken with their sons concerning their Study Skills work, watching their presentations clearly reflected the good work they had completed.

The performers for the House Music competition on Thursday were all impressive, we will announce a winner when the voting closes but they all deserve great praise.

I look forward to welcoming you to our Sixth Form Open Evening next Tuesday 28 November, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm Head of Sixth Form Talk at 6.45pm. Good luck for Year 11 with their Mock exams that start next Thursday.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. Zig Ziglar

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 9
Published 17/11/17, by Miranda Whetton
It's the opening night, I wish all involved in The Unforgettables good luck and I look forward to watching the performance.

After missing last year I'm delighted to say that Desborough College were able to field opposition for the David Course Memorial Rugby Cup, a solid performance saw us level the series five wins each and we now look forward to next year's fixture.

Congratulations to the U12 A side who won the Berkshire Rugby Festival held at Reading Blue Coats on Thursday, unbeaten they maintain our record from last year. Well done to all involved.

The Year 11 Parents Evening proved to be a positive event with much discussion and target setting for the forthcoming examinations.

Year 9 have their Study Skills work next week, please talk to your son's on what they have done.

Advance notice of our Sixth Form Evening on the 28 November for Year 11 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm with the Head’s talk at 6.45pm.

In line with National Anti Bullying Week.

You can't be against bullying without actually doing something about it. Randi Weingarten

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 8
Published 10/11/17, by Miranda Whetton
Welcome back to the second half of the Autumn Term, the number and variety of the trips that went out over the holidays was incredible and good to report that they were all very successful.

The start of this term has been focussed on being your best self, and I must thank Rachel Williams our counsellor, who gave an excellent assembly on Thursday concentrating on Kindness.

A huge Thank You to all the pupils, academic and administrative staff who ensured that Thursday's Open Evening was a great success, the feedback from our visitors was very impressive.

Next week I look forward to meeting my Year 11 Parents on Tuesday and I hope to see a good turn out for the Dave Course Memorial game verses Desborough on the Wednesday.

The Unforgettables is running at the Town Hall on Friday 17and Saturday 18 November it promises to be a great show. Tickets available on line now via our website.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 7
Published 20/10/17, by Miranda Whetton
Half term already, I hope all pupils, parents and staff have a restful holiday, my thoughts are also with our School Nurse who has travelled to Nepal to help Action Aid rebuild schools in the Himalayas.

A huge thanks to all who were involved in the Fireworks Extravaganza, the event was a huge success and this comes from the preparation before the event and the work of volunteers on the evening and the following day. I trust the Year 10 Parents Evening went well, unfortunately I was unable to attend due to a knee operation,

I look forward to seeing the Rowing Parents at the Sponsored Row and Boat Naming on Saturday 21 October, all are welcome.

We have trips going to Hamburg, Grenada, Normandy, Portsmouth (Sailing), Wimbleball (Rowing), Iceland (Geography), and Longridge (Rowing), a very busy Half Term that promises a great variety of experience for the boys.

First week back Year 9 are to visit the Black Country Museum on Wednesday and I thank in advance all the boys who will help us on Thursday at the Open Evening Event.

The Half Term grade cards will be posted home in the holiday. With attitude to learning in mind.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. Og Mandino

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 6
Published 13/10/17, by Miranda Whetton
The weather forecast for tomorrow is good and I hope to see you at The Fireworks Extravaganza, I know it will be better than the event in Holyport.

I am very disappointed that I have to share the news with you that Mr Moran has handed his resignation in with immediate effect, this is due to Ill Health and we wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he will be able to return to work. We have Mr Aggar taking on his Junior Science and Mr Greenstreet covering his older groups whilst we look for a suitable replacement.

It was good to meet with the Year 7 parents this week where we had a very positive meeting, I hope to be at the Year 10 next week to discuss the boy's progress.

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 5
Published 06/10/17, by Miranda Whetton
Congratulations to Matthew Allen who was awarded first place at the ISA London West Art Competition for his, “My World” sketchbook.

On Saturday, congratulations to all the sides who played against Reading School a clean sweep, I was with the U16 who played extremely well, unfortunately one of our boys broke his collarbone in the first minute which was the only negative, I wish him a swift recovery.

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 4
Published 29/09/17, by Miranda Whetton
It is good to see our Year 8 back after their trip to Osmington Bay and Lulworth Cove, the boys (and staff) were tired but all have been positive in their feedback.

My thanks to the boys who helped with the International Foreign Language Day Assembly on Monday, a good start to the week and to Mr Wespieser who entertained us on National Poetry Day, the boys have a competition to enter, please encourage them to write a poem on Freedom.

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 3
Published 22/09/17, by Miranda Whetton
My thanks to the Year 11 Boys who ran the Jeans for Genes assembly yesterday, they were very professional even if it is worrying to find out that I share 50% of my genes with Leeks.

A very good set of Results versus Gordon's on the weekend ,well done to all involved.

The Year 7 Team Building Day proved to be a great success as was the Year 11 Academic Mentoring, my thanks to all involved.

Year 8 are preparing for their Geography/ Team building trip to Lulworth /Osmington Bay, it promises to be a challenging three days.

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 2
Published 15/09/17, by Miranda Whetton
It is always good to complete the first week successfully and I thank my Academic and Administrative Staff for helping to ensure such a smooth start.

Today, Friday 15 September, in conjunction with the National Trust at Cliveden, we created a unique educational experience for our Year 7 pupils. The two banks of the River at Cliveden were once connected by a small chain ferry, which last operated in 1956. Today, with the support of the Maidenhead Sea Cadets, the ferry was temporarily reopened by the Claires Court Outdoor Education Department, carrying our pupils across the River Thames. Other activities during the day included soldier history tales in the WWI war cemetery , creative art in the Long Garden, ‘visiteering’ with the Trust’s gardeners and team building together up and around the water garden and maze. We hope the boys and girls have enjoyed meeting up, learning more about each other, making friends and winning points for their Houses.

I wish all teams good luck tomorrow against Gordon's school.

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Mr Rayer's Words Autumn 1
Published 08/09/17, by Miranda Whetton
A huge welcome back to school as we face the challenges of the term as ever there are many and they are varied.

We have started the year running with very good reports from the Sailing Camp in Portland and the various Pre-Season Rugby Training Sessions, it was excellent to see the numbers involved and the positive approach from the boys.

Year 7 had a very successful induction day and I look forward to seeing both Parents and Boys at the Rugby Club this weekend.

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