Monday 13 February 2012

Heads Letter 10th February 2012

Dear Parents

I do hope you have secured your tickets for the Prep School’s production of ‘Pearl and the Pirates of the Curry Bean’, it is going to be such an entertaining evening. In our whole school assembly today, we laughed out loud at some of the lines and were really impressed by the props and costumes. Can’t wait for Tuesday!

The Reception Class also ‘wowed’ us with their first assembly on penguins; they had clearly learnt much about these loveable birds and particularly enjoyed the penguin biscuits. I am pleased that Lucy and Millie saved one for me, too!

Thank you for your support at both our GCSE and Sixth Form Information Evenings over the last two weeks; the teaching staff and I were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss choices and future education with pupils and parents at these key decision making times.

We’ve enjoyed fantastic success this week on the netball courts and hockey pitches. The U13 and Senior netball teams played against Woodhouse Grove, the U13 team won 9-2 and the Senior team won 19-2. In the Black Prince Cup, the U16 team won their semi final match against Prince Henry’s School 10-9 and deservedly take their place in the Black Prince final. This follows the success of the U14 netball team in the Benfield Cup. The U11 and U10 teams played their first hockey fixtures against Westville House; the U11 team lost 9-4 and the U10 team drew 5-5.
On January 31st Gateways hosted a Candle Conference for Sixth Form students with Dr Peter Vardy as the guest speaker, the eminent academic, Theologian and Philosopher. The conference, one of a series running in schools around the UK throughout January and February, was aimed at A level students of Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics. Topics covered included Utilitarianism: Justice and Violence, The Problem of Evil and Suffering, and Islam and Ethics. The conference was attended by groups of students and teachers from high schools in the Yorkshire area. Our girls from Upper 5 and Sixth Form, who attended the conference found it challenging, thought provoking and inspiring. Dr Vardy was very impressed with the Gateways community.

On the 2nd February, we enjoyed an Enterprise evening for prospective High School girls. Their project was to make soap and market it, including logo design, creating a TV advertisement and identifying target groups for sales. They particularly enjoyed designing the packaging and didn’t seem to want the event to end!
Parents and friends enjoyed a wonderful evening, organised by FOG, of beauty and bubbles at Harvey Nicholls last night. The event proved to be a huge success with tickets selling out very quickly. We are very grateful for the huge support and enthusiasm that members of FOG give to the School; the pupils benefit from their generosity at all levels.

May I ask for the support of Prep School parents please? To allow assembly to proceed without interruption should you arrive at Youngers, after morning assembly has begun, please sign in at Reception and ask your child to wait there until assembly has finished. Thank you for your support.

Our Upper 5 Young Enterprise company, ‘Embrace’ were proudly awarded the ‘Best Retail Trade Stand’ award in last weekend’s LEAP Valentine’s Fayre in the Merrion Centre. It is such an achievement for a team that is competing with Sixth Formers. Good luck with the remainder of the competition!

I am delighted to inform you that Mrs Fiona Wilson, Teacher of Spanish and French, and Dr Sara Newton, have been appointed as Leaders of Teaching and Learning at Gateways. They will support colleagues and pupils to develop further the high quality of our teaching and learning.

The collaboration of art and history, with a World War II theme, was the focus of our primary schools Master Class yesterday; 26 pupils from local schools joined us and a great day was had by all!

Safer Internet Day last Tuesday provided a useful opportunity to both Prep and High School girls to reflect on, and be reminded of, the constant need to use social websites carefully and wisely. Mrs Titman’s excellent assembly certainly gave us much to think about.

We wish our Upper 5 debaters every success as they compete in the Oxford Union Debate at GSAL this evening, the ability of Gateways girls to articulate and to think on their feet will surely shine through.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Y Wilkinson

Headmistress