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The weekly newsletter of St Mary’s School
Edition No. 30 24th May 2019
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES/EVENTS
Monday 27th May
Assessments for Forms 3 - 5
Athletics Club – Forms 4 – 5
Debating
Tennis lessons 5/5
Tuesday 28th May
SMT Meeting 8:30am
Assessments for Forms 3 - 5,
Scottish Borders P7 Chess competition
Senior Choir – lunchtime
Last cycling activity 6pm
Science Clinic for Form 8, 6:00 – 6:45pm
Wednesday 29th May
Orchestra 8am
Assessments for Forms 3 – 5
Board of Governors Sub Group Meeting 10am
1st Cricket v Belhaven (H) 2:15pm
U11A Cricket v Belhaven (A) 2:15pm
Wednesday 29th May (cont’d)
U11B Kwik Cricket v Belhaven (A) 2:15pm
U9A Kwik Cricket v Belhaven (A) 2:15pm
1st Rounders v Belhaven (H) 2:30pm
2nd Rounders v Belhaven (H) 2:30pm
U11 Rounders v Belhaven (H) 2:30pm
U10 Rounders v Belhaven (A) 2:30pm
U9 Rounders v Belhaven (A) 2:30pm
U8 Rounders v Belhaven (A) 2:30pm
Thursday 30th May
Assessments for Forms 3 - 5
Whole School Photograph 11:00am
Swimming lessons
Tennis lessons have finished
Senior Chess Club 5.05pm
Friday 31st May
Reception Class Assembly 8:30am; parents welcome
Athletics Club Forms 6 – 8
Junior Choir – lunchtime
NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
On Sunday evening I am sure, like many viewers, my attention was grabbed by BBC Sports Journalist
Dan Walker’s introduction to the documentary “A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health.
Throughout the accounts given by footballing celebrities such as Gareth Southgate, Peter Crouch,
Jermaine Jenas and Danny Rose, and the thought provoking contribution of the Duke of Cambridge, I
found myself thinking of how their experiences would and could relate, in particular to our senior
boys.
In Monday morning’s assembly, I recounted a couple of the stories told during the programme and
emphasised the main message coming from all involved in the documentary - ‘Don’t bottle things up,
talk about your fears and anxieties with non-judgemental people you trust.’
Jermaine Jenas referred to the negative, critical and abusive twitter comments he invariably receives
after his Match of the Day analysis on a Saturday evening. He highlighted how some weeks he feels
strong enough to let this vitriol go over his head, and he has even replied from time to time. However,
like all of us, there are days when he despairingly asks himself ‘what is wrong with these people?’
This led in to me being able to congratulate two St. Mary’s boys, whose names were not known by the
parent who notified me of a recent incident in a Borders play park. Two girls from another school had
been witnessed “confronting” the boys and the parent was shocked by the school related insults being
levelled at them. The St. Mary’s boys had offered “an extremely measured and mature response”
including “that they were proud of their education and wanted to be “smart”. The boys returned no
insults, were not critical of the girls, but had the strength of character to stand up for their school and
the education they receive. I am sure Jermaine Jenas and the rest of the participants in the
documentary would be very proud of the boys. Nearly as proud as the boys’ Headmaster.
Then into the week we all flew. Form 4 visited the Countryside Day at Springwood Park with Mrs
Runciman, Mrs Redmond and Stefan. The exhibitors made the day fun, interesting and informative for
all concerned. Our pupils with farming connections impressed with their own extensive knowledge
and came across as just as enthusiastically as those unfamiliar to this type of environment. Thanks to
Mrs R, Mrs R and Stefan for taking the groups https://bit.ly/2VPaumS .
Mrs Stuart ran her science clinic for many of the senior boarders whilst several of the younger
boarders and some other took part in this week’s biking activity being run by students from Borders
College.
Fixtures on Wednesday included some narrow wins, decisive victories, defeats and heavy defeats, but
each of the St. Mary’s sides made progress. Match reports available on the website provide much
more detail.
Miss McRae has proudly highlighted the 37 ABRSM music exams being sat by 31 pupils as I write.
This is a reflection of how popular playing at least on musical instrument is, here at St. Mary’s.
During a visit to Oundle School earlier in the week, as Headmaster’s gathered to recognise Registrar
Gary Phillips’ nineteen year tenure, and to wish him well in retirement, entertainment was put on by
the Oundle Jazz group. One particularly talented pupil who has won a place at Bristol Conservatoire,
played a splendid piece on the trumpet. The audience was aghast to hear this instrument was in fact
his second or third choice, as he is also an extremely accomplished violinist and guitarist. I would
have paid a lot of money to listen to him and the Jazz Band play. However, one of the benefits of
being a feeder prep school head meant I had the privilege of being an invited guest! On behalf of St.
Mary’s I wished Gary Phillips a splendid and restful retirement, and we look forward to working
closely with his replacement, Mr Antony Bounds https://www.oundleschool.org.uk/
This morning, Form 7 delivered a very informative and entertaining assembly on Captain James Cook.
We learned that his father was born in Ednam, near Kelso, before marrying a Yorkshire woman and
moving to that part of the United Kingdom. Captain Cook’s story is fascinating, and we all left the
assembly hall far better informed thanks to the amusing and informative presentation.
I congratulated our UK Maths Challenge award winners, with particular mention of Mhairi and Eliza
who achieved this year’s Gold standard. Mhairi moves through to the next stage, known as the
‘Kangaroo’. I also distributed John Muir Awards to Form 5, who have been working through various
tasks, challenges and projects to gain them this most worthwhile recognition. As we departed from the
assembly hall, Form 2 headed off to Gunsgreen House in Eyemouth, as part of their studies on
smugglers and pirates. We look forward to hearing of their discoveries on their return.
The very full schedule throughout the week and for our boarders and boarding staff into each evening,
leads to rest and recuperation opportunities being increasingly valuable at this time of year. Whilst
Form 8 may be indulging in light revision over the weekend, as Common Entrance appears on the
horizon, I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.
HM
PRE-PREP
Learning their lines for End of Term Production!
Miss McRae
BOARDING NEWS Mountain biking, BBQ, tennis and washi tape crafts..... https://bit.ly/2W1rDi7
PRE-PREP PARENTS CONSULTATION MEETINGS
Advance notice: These will take place on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th June. Time slots will be
available in due course. There will no prep for Pre-Prep children on these days. Sign-up sheets are
now on display in the classrooms.
2018 – 2019 SCHOOL MAGAZINE
We would like pictures of your children, in CLUB KIT/UNIFORM representing Clubs out with St.
Mary’s; these may be local, district or national. Please email DIRECTLY to Mrs Bell
[email protected] . Please ensure I know what club/team your child is part of.
NEWS FROM KINDERGARTEN
Blowing bubbles in
Kindergarten!
Mrs L Berni
FORM 7 FRENCH CAFÉ
On Friday 7th June Form 7 will be holding their
annual French Café for Kith’n’Kin Day. Coffee,
tea and home baking will be served in the dining
room by the Form 7 French waiters and visitors
to the café will be entertained with a selection of
French chansons.
This year Form 7 pupils have chosen to support
the BORDERS CHILDREN’S CHARITY, a
local charity which provides financial assistance
for children in desperate situations. The charity
is run entirely by volunteers, and with minimal
overheads, 99% of all donations can be given
directly to the cause.
Please come and help to support our charity.
Merci!
Madame Syme et classe 7
CALENDAR MISPRINT
Please note that the PRE-PREP and
Kindergarten SPORTS DAY takes place on
Wednesday 3rd July after lunch and not on
Thursday 4th July .
EXAM PENCILS/PENS
Exam information: Forms 6, 7 and 8
Please ensure that you arrive with the correct equipment for your exams. You will need to bring the
following items to every exam:
2 black pens, spare cartridges (if fountain pen is used), 2 pencils, a ruler, a rubber, a protractor, a
selection of coloured pencils, pencil sharpener, handkerchief/tissues
The above items can be held together with a rubber band. These are the only items that you should
take to your desk in the examination room.
Please do not bring pencil cases into the examination room.
Please do not bring lucky charms and good luck cards into the examination room. You will need
the space on your desk for your work.
Please remember to wear your school jumper for the exams. It is easy to take it off if you are too
warm, but you might feel cold when sitting still for a long time.
If you finish before the end of the exam, spend the remainder of the time checking through your
work. Read the questions again to make sure that you have covered everything.
You are allowed to bring a reading book which you may read once you have checked your paper
thoroughly. Remember that it is always best to spend as much time as possible checking your
paper
ABRSM EXAMS
Some sibling comfort – guess who had sat their music exam and who was about to sit it!
FRIENDS OF ST. MARY’S
Summer Fair - Friday, 28th June
Time is racing by and our next big event is the ever popular Summer Fair. The Fair cannot run and be
a success without your support. We need your help....
Volunteers: Please volunteer to help. We need people to:
a) help with the set up (9am-1pm);
b) help supervise a stall during the fair (2-5pm); and
c) help with the clear up.
Please contact Frances on 07970 273614 if you are able to help on the day.
We would also appreciate help with the following before the day:
Tombola: prizes are needed for the tombola, which is always a popular stall!
Produce: Home baking (cakes, biscuits, cupcakes, tablet) jams, chutneys etc are needed for the
produce stall. Please schedule some baking time in your diaries.
Jumble: Form 8 will again be running the Jumble Stall. Please donate all those outgrown or unloved
children’s clothes and accessories that are in your cupboards.
Baskets for all donations will be in the entrance to the Hamilton building.
Thank you
FOSM
MISSING
Alek’s school jumper; Bea E’s skort; Angus C’s PE top; Abigail’s shorts
FOUND
Brand new 11-12 hoodie unnamed, Kukri sports top aged 7-8 unnamed, Kukri slightly thicker sports
top aged 7-8 unnamed.
SCHOOL SHOP
Please ensure that you have settled your school shop bill. The annual pay out to parents will be made
in June.
GIRLS CRICKET
In conjunction with the school’s drive to promote girls’ cricket, on Friday 31st May at Galashiels
Cricket Club are having a girls ‘come and try session’ from 6 – 7pm. There is more information on the
Gala Cricket Club FB page