As we finally move towards the end of November, I think many of us are looking forward to stepping out of the dark, damp days and into the lead-up to Christmas. Preparations seem to have started earlier than ever this year, but I must say the lights around Alsager are looking wonderful, even if it still feels a little early for Christmas trees to be appearing!
Our school show, High School Musical, is coming along very well. The children have been working hard, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic performance. There are still some tickets available, so please do secure yours if you haven’t already. Performances are on Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th December.
You may have noticed that there are plenty of seasonal bugs circulating at the moment. Despite this, attendance has generally been very good across the school, and I’d like to thank you for your support. A gentle reminder that, unless a child is genuinely too unwell to attend, we do encourage coming into school, even with a sniffle, to maintain good routines and learning continuity.
Uniform continues to look really smart across the school, so thank you for helping us maintain our high standards. With the colder weather now settling in, it is definitely the time for thermal vests, thick tights, and those extra layers to keep everyone warm.
I’m also pleased to share a few upcoming events and celebrations. Our next Tea, Toast and Talk session will take place on 17th December, and we would be delighted to see as many of you there as possible. It’s always a lovely opportunity to catch up informally and hear your thoughts. We are celebrating the achievements of our former Year 11 students at the GCSE Celebration Awards on Wednesday 3rd December. It is a great opportunity to recognise their hard work and accomplishments.
Last week we proudly received the Young Carers Gold Award, recognising the support we provide for the young carers in our school community. This is a significant achievement, and I’d like to thank the staff, students, and families who contributed to this success.
As I mention regularly, I love to hear about the out of school successes of our students. I have to say the achievement of Bernard and Bernice in Y12 is one of the best I’ve heard for a while. They competed in the World Harmonica Festival 2025 in Trossingen, Germany. They competed in the duet category and came 8th internationally. How amazing! Please continue to share achievements.
Thank you to all pupils and staff who took part on the fun run last Friday, in memory of our former colleague and friend, Pat Arnott. Funds were raised for Pancreatic Cancer.
Year 11 parents evening went well, yesterday. Our Y11 seem very focused at the moment which is great as they head to the end of term, with mocks in January to look forward to. Please do contact us if you feel your child is struggling with getting started with revision. We will be sending out a parental questionnaire to all Y11 parents. Please do take the time to complete it; we welcome all feedback. All respondents will be entered into a prize draw to win a Costa voucher.
With the start of Advent on Sunday, I feel we are now fully justified to tuck into mince pies and mulled wine, this weekend. As always, thank you for your continued support, and whatever your plans have a lovely weekend.
“To cherish peace and goodwill… is to have the real spirit of the season.”
(Calvin Coolidge)
