Thankfully, sailing competition is back on the Claires Court calendar and our Sixth Form currently boasts the largest and strongest crew we have had in some time. Last weekend, the RYA and the Eric Twiname Trust were finally able to host the country's biggest team racing event for young sailors, the iconic Eric Twiname Youth & Junior Team Racing Championships at Oxford Sailing Club.

Claires Court Team Red (U19 Youth), Sam, Jonny, Elicia, Ollie, Jonathan and Alistair performed fantastically well throughout the first competitive event they have entered in two years. Due to various challenges with the weather which affected the racing programme, they found themselves in a complicated multi-way tie-break situation which left them in 8th place. One single extra point earned in any of the races they had sailed would have seen them in the final four and the playoffs with an optimistic shot for a podium finish. Many congratulations to one and all - next stop... Cardiff Bay!

The entire Sixth Form came together to support World Mental Health Day, wearing something yellow to show solidarity with those facing mental health issues. The gesture is to highlight that no young person is alone in the mental health challenges they may be facing, or have overcome and that those around them will be supportive and helpful in any way possible. Mark Rothko struggled with depression and art students this week studied some of his work, including this piece, a much sunnier work than many of his darker pieces:

Green is covered too. Claires Court is planting 100 large trees, thanks to parent donations, and also a double width hedgerow as part of the Queen's Green Canopy, a unique tree planting initiative to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. And blue, well blue is how I will feel for the next 2 weeks, missing the students as we break for half term!

I do hope you get the opportunity to relax and recharge too.