February 14, 2020

Weekly News – Friday 14th February

Message from the Headmistress

Dear Parents,

What a week this has been! Some of you deserve a medal for just getting your sons and daughters to school this week. The traffic has been horrendous from every direction but more especially for those from the South of the city. This was compounded by the unexpected snow fall on Monday afternoon. Rest assured at times of such difficult conditions, your children will be safe in school until you are able to arrive.

At the end of this busy half term, we have completed our Parents’ Evenings in the Senior School and we are now evaluating whether there is a better way of doing these. Any ideas you have for a slicker operation, we would gladly hear.

We have also completed our series of year group Conference Days, with the last one, Year 9, this week. On Tuesday, a group of Year 9 pupils represented Hollygirt at a a Super Physics Competition in Leicester. [Photographs on our website]. On Wednesday, many pupils from Year 10 and Year 11 had a positive experience at Science Live in Sheffield and the Year 9 to 11 theatre trip to An Inspector Calls on Thursday was amazing. What a fabulous and visually spectacular production, with so much to think about. (GCSE Drama students – I hope you have made your fulsome notes ready for the big essay after half term). To those present who witnessed the secrets coming out about the entire Birling family, they must surely take away a key message: that all must take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

I have sent by separate email some advice for travellers, and those staying more closely to home, on the spread of the coronavirus and preventative strategies to keep all healthy and safe.

Can I remind senior parents to return slips for the school outing on 1st April to watch Private Peaceful at Nottingham Playhouse by MONDAY 24th FEBRUARY. This is an absolute deadline and tickets have to be confirmed on this day. [Letter can be viewed on our website].

In school time on Thursday 27th we are continuing to forge our community links by visiting Trinity Church at the end of Villa Road for an assembly.

We are starting our preparations for our next Open Day on Wednesday 11th March . Please let people you know who might be interested in having a look around. Remember your Reward Cards, too!

Today, on Valentine’s Day, Senior School is awash with kindness and love. And we have cake….

The works will be commencing on the Junior School roof and related high level areas during half term. We are making arrangements for additional safety measures so that the children can remain in the building whilst the works are going on. Any changes necessitated for collection or dropping off at specific points will be notified to parents.

Now we have left the greyness of the year’s beginning behind, we are ready for our break and we will return refreshed on Monday 24th February. Have a great half term.

Mrs Hutley
Headmistress

Message from the Head of Juniors

Click here to view this week’s Stars of the Week

The children were all delighted that the snow fell a little unexpectedly on Monday. This, in addition to road closures, made journeys to and from school extremely difficult and we appreciate travelling has not been easy all week.

On Tuesday, it was Safer Internet Day and Mrs Wand delivered an assembly to the juniors to remind them about keeping safe online.  It was very informative, and when I spoke with some of the children afterwards, they had remembered the key points and understood the importance of this.

Year 6 enjoyed a day at Wollaton Park orienteering on Wednesday. [Photographs on FacebookTwitterInstagram and our website].  Although cold, they were lucky with the weather and all had a fantastic time. In the afternoon, it was a pleasure to welcome Year 3 parents into school. They certainly got involved, helping the children to write poems and perform them. It was a great afternoon.

Yesterday, we took some of the Year 4 and 5 children for a gifted and talented STEM day hosted by Nottingham Girls’ High School. The children worked together to design a device to catapult a ping pong ball over the net, with much success they tell me! [Photographs on our website].

Today the library is full of cakes and other wonderful goodies! Thank you so much for the effort you have gone to in making these; they look delicious.

Have a wonderful half term break.

Mrs Wright
Head of Juniors