Posted on 7th November 2016
Our amazing production of “West Side Story”
Our last half term ended in a really extraordinary fashion with an amazing production of “West Side Story”. This was another truly superb production involving a huge cast and a considerable team of helpers. The quality of singing, acting, musicianship, staging, directing and overall production was exceptional. We are extremely grateful to all the students who were involved, and to their parents for all their help. We are also grateful to the Friends of Caistor Grammar School and the many parents who helped to support the production in many ways. Such an undertaking is the work of many hands and many of my colleagues gave many hours too. I am extremely grateful to them all, especially Mrs Rachel Porter, Mrs Kathleen Watson, Mrs Anna Sharp, Mr Michael Robinson, Miss Rebecca Jex (our Performing Arts Technician), Mrs Katherine Jago (Producer), Mr Robert Harris (Director) and Mrs Frances Thompson (Musical Director). It was a tremendously joyous production of which we can all be very proud: teamwork and kindness combining to best effect to produce creative excellence.
The election of two new Parent Governors
We are grateful to two parents who have come forward to fill the two vacancies for Parent Governors. They are duly elected unopposed. We have printed overleaf their nominating statements so that you will know a little more about them.
Stewart Davey
“I am a 45 year old farmer/director of our family arable farming enterprise locally, member of Caistor and District lions and Rothwell Parish Councillor. My wife, Lindsey, is Head of Languages and leads 1st Caistor Rainbows and Caistor Twinning. Our children are Zara (6), at Caistor Primary and Charlotte (11) at Caistor Grammar. Like other parents I strive for my children to be happy, confident and to become the best they can be. I believe that clear direction is key for an effective school governing body. As parents we should support the school any way we can but also put it under tough scrutiny when necessary, to maintain excellent standards, even if tough challenges lie ahead. I would be approachable and accessible and it would be a privilege to be elected.”
Sharon Stenton
“I have three children currently studying at Caistor Grammar School, one in Year 11, one in Year 10 and one who has just started in Year 7.
I work part-time at Franklin College, and have gained an insight into the governor role and a good knowledge of the education sector. Caistor Grammar School is currently undergoing a period of change. The retirement of its’ much respected and admired Headmaster, the Government’s shifting policies and priorities and the new Ofsted inspection regime make this a challenging but exciting time for the school. As a parent governor, I would hope to use my knowledge and experience to ensure the best for our children’s education and to help CGS maintain its position as Lincolnshire’s leading school.”
You should also be aware that Mr Chris Hewis is now the Chair of our Governors’ Finance Committee and Mrs Fiona Jex is now Chair of our Governors’ Personnel committee. The Governors’ third main committee is our Curriculum and Pupil Welfare Committee and this is still Chaired by Mrs Lucy Jackson who remains Vice Chair of Governors. Whilst our Chair of Governors continues to be Mr John Colley.
Welcome to Mrs Kim Hitchcock
We are very pleased to welcome Mrs Kim Hitchcock as our new Catering Manager. We think we have made a brilliant appointment and that she will do a great job for us. The recently distributed letter from Mrs Buck, Deputy Head, about our new four weekly menu cycle (which will be updated on a seasonal basis) provides good evidence of this and I can report that the School Council was delighted with the new menus at its most recent meeting. We also welcome Mrs Donna Hinch as a Catering Assistant. She is replacing Mrs Sue Twidale, who has recently moved from the area. We thank Mrs Twidale very much for her service to the School.
Recent events and activities
Our annual Year 9/10 Outdoor Pursuits trip to the Hope Valley in Derbyshire recently took place and was another considerable success. I am very grateful to Mr Chris Frost for organising the trip for 59 students
Congratulations go to 26 Year 12 students who have recently completed the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award assessed expedition. We are grateful to Mrs Jo Hoare who runs the Scheme at Caistor Grammar School and her assistants, Mrs Anna Sharp and Mr Kristian Smy and to their intrepid team of helpers and especially to Dr Dan Wilton and Mr Lawrence Brown, who acted as Assessors.
Newly Elected School Council and Sixth Form Council
We have recently had elections for the School Council and Sixth Form Council. I am very grateful to every student who put themselves forward to be elected by their peers and I list overleaf those students who have been elected to the School Council and which form they are representing. Our Senior Prefect Team and Secretaries to the School Council sit on the Council and I list them as well.
7X Evie Chappell 7Y Eva Phillips 7Z Harry Giles
8X Omar Aabed 8Y Alistair Brookes 8Z Rojel Varghese
9X James Hare 9Y Lewis Stevens 9Z Saffat Hossain
10X Abigail Bower 10Y Matthew Fieldsend 10Z Ethan Dolby
11X Charlie Maxson 11Y Sophie McCulloch 11Z Callum Connor
12AHO Adam Pountney 12RDH Sallie Kaczmarek 12GJ Alex Tees 12DS Zara Hussain
Senior Prefect Team: Head Boy – Michael Trueman; Head Girl – Ellie Hill; Deputy Head Boy – Paul Clark; Deputy Head Girl – Eve Simmons; Secretaries to the School Council – James Smith and Megan Harding.
Sixth Form Council: Christel Bazoua (12AHO), Erin Shepherd (12GJ), Powly Wijayaratna (12DS), Chris Durham (12RDH), Matthew Reed (13SM), Jak Pickerden (13C), Luke Wakeman (13JK) and Melanie Nash (13DW).
Supporting “Children in Need”
We will be supporting “Children in Need” day which is on Friday 18 November by once again having a fancy dress day. We have done this for some years now and a very large number of students and staff were dressed in fancy dress last year. I do very much hope that we can surpass that good total this year and that everyone will enter into the spirit of the day and dress in some style. We charge £1 for the privilege so we hope to raise a substantial amount on the day. Please do support your children’s efforts for this event.
Term Dates 2017/18
I am happy to enclose the term dates for the next 18 months. I very much hope that you will be able to respect them and to take any planned holiday or trips outside all term time. The School has an Attendance Policy which can be accessed on the School website. If you do need to request to remove your child from School at any time, there is a special form for this, “Request for Absence” which can be obtained from the School Office and which must be returned to me at the School in good time. The form can also be downloaded from the School website.
There have been issues recently whereby a few students have been signing out for medical appointments without completing a “Request for absence” form. This is a requirement for all absences, including medical, and not just for holiday requests.
With very best wishes
Yours sincerely
Headmaster