Autumn Term
23rd NOVEMBER 2020 Issue 1 : 4th September 2020
Dear Parents, We come to the end of another busy week, in which mock examinations were held for Years 11 and 13 in English and Art, teachers continued to field the challenges of blended learning, and preparations are underway for the Carol Service (directed by Cecil B DeMille and Deacon Simon). The latter will be held via Teams, live, from various different locations within the school at 6pm on Tuesday 8th December. A number of girls will be contributing, and details will be circulated soon. Drs Wedlake, Poffley and myself also held mock interviews for the girls who are preparing for Oxbridge: so far we have heard that Grace G, Ellie J and Isabelle H have all received interviews for Cambridge, and I extend my huge congratulations on this splendid achievement. We were struck by the composure, articulacy and cogency of those whom we have seen this week, despite the naturally high-pressure environment of such a situation. Topics ranged across Marx, Plato, women leaders and their handling of the coronavirus outbreak, the Elgin Marbles, free speech and cancel culture, and Thatcherism. We await news of the three students who have applied to Oxford; fingers crossed. All will be interviewed remotely in the second week of December and we wish them huge luck. It is that time of year: please do support FOST and their wonderful online Christmas Fair; details below. A huge amount of work has gone into this, and all proceeds will go towards the second-hand uniform hut. We remain hugely grateful for everything FOST does to support the school, particularly in these circumstances. I was also lucky enough to have a sneak preview of this year's school Christmas card, painted by Libby C in Year 13. What a belter - well done, Libby! Oh, to be talented - it is exquisite. Next week, we look forward to seeing our 42 Year 8 girls back in school on Tuesday 1st December. They have been a credit in their approach to online learning, and my thanks to them, their teachers and parents. The challenge of having thirteen girls online and four girls physically present in my own Classical Civilisation class on Wednesday reminds us that, despite the relative normality of all the activities that continue, we are living in anything but normal times. However, it is the small things that always help us through: in another difficult week, I came back to my office yesterday to find two Tupperware boxes of potato, cheese and leek bake on my desk - my all-time St T's favourite. Thank you to the kind soul who put them there, and for reminding me, yet again, what a special place this is. Kind regards, Claire McShane.