Welcome from the Headmaster

5 March 2010

Where can we begin but ‘Rubbish and Rhyme’, the Year 4 production on Wednesday night? It started with each of the four tutor groups presenting one of the four elements through a poem with appropriate mime, dance, petals, thunderous cymbals, water pistols etc etc, and concluded with the Rubbish Cantata and its narrative about how the Master of the Queen’s Music was commissioned to write a ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ national anthem to tag on to the National Anthem at all public occasions by gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen. Then we all sang it – indeed I was so much moved by the whole thing that I insisted on an encore. Very well done to Year 4 for combining our interest in things ecological and sustainable and environmental with our delight in things musical and dramatic and elemental, and many thanks to tutors, assistants and to Ms Morris, the kind mother who ran workshops for the children to help launch the poetry work.
The Eco breakfast on Tuesday, at which the Eco committee continued its work (of consuming ‘pain au chocolat’ while considering how to advance the cause of environmental friendliness at St Faith’s), integrated very nicely with this subsequent evening.

On Monday I went to the Music Scholars’ Concert at The Leys and much enjoyed hearing fine performances by a number of Old Fidelians.

On Tuesday there was a ‘first’, in that the Modern Language Department hosted a half-hour presentation to showcase the progress made in French by children in Year 7 since the beginning of the year, and we were able to enjoy the variety of the work that they had done. There was a grossly libellous description (in French) of her big sister by Julia Davies, and many other such remarkable aperçus.

On Wednesday I enjoyed the U11 netball and Colts hockey teams, all of whom played extremely well together and secured some swashing victories at St John’s College School. It didn't all go our way but quit a lot of it did on Tuesday and Wednesday against the scarlet pimpernels.

Very many thanks to those who baked and bought in aid of the Bentley Brownie Sale, which raised over £300, the proceeds divided between the Haiti earthquake appeal and E.A.C.H. Since the dreadful earthquake in Haiti there has, of course, been another dreadful earthquake in Chile. Dr Martin has sent a Parentmail to the parents of children in Years 3 – 8 about a sponsored Spanish spellings challenge to enable our school to be represented in the international commitment of aid to the unfortunate people who have lost their homes and their livelihoods in Chile. I hope that you will feel able to gather a little support for your child’s efforts with this project.

Please may I urge parents to book children into Late Stay through the proper channels? Last night there were very many children who had not been booked in which made catering for them extremely challenging for our kitchen staff.

Please may I remind parents of the importance of naming children's clothes? The kit list specifies that a nametape with the surname in large letters be sewn on the left side of the garment above the crest (track suits tops, polo shirts, rugby shirts etc) and on the left leg (track suit trousers, PE shorts, black shorts / skirts). This is really helpful in avoiding losses and, when kit checks take place, in ensuring that children are wearing their own kit and not someone else's.

Hot on the news of my retirement in August 2011 I must give you news of the retirement of the Chairman of the Governors of The Leys and St Faith’s Foundation, Professor Evelyn Ebsworth. Professor Ebsworth has maintained a warm interest in St Faith’s since taking office and has presided over some important developments at both schools as well as effecting valuable improvements in the schools’ structures of governance. We are fortunate to have benefited from his wisdom and perspicacity over his years in office.

We are further fortunate that a distinguished successor has been found in the person of Sir Tony Brenton, who will succeed Professor Ebsworth during the summer. Sir Tony spent 33 years serving as a British Diplomat in Cairo, Brussels, Washington and Moscow. One of his daughters attended The Leys in the 6th Form and he has now settled back in Cambridge to write a book on Russian history – and, happily, to chair the Governing Body of The Leys and St Faith’s Foundation.

Stephen Drew
Headmaster