This week in our school community: 10 May

Year 13 left us this week to start their study leave before their final public exams in what was an emotional and also joyous celebration of their journey with us. Many of our Year 13 students feature on our school website and, looking back at the photos of them when they were in Year 7 or Year 8, it is incredible to see just how far they have come. We are so proud of each and every one of them and know that they have collected some very special memories from their time with us. I wish to extend a very special thanks to Year 13 parents and carers for all of your support over the years; you and your child will always be part of our St Greg's family and we always love to hear from our alumni to find out the exciting things they go on to do, so please do stay in touch. 

We have welcomed a group of 23 students from Beijing, China, as part of a cultural integration programme and it has been delightful to see their St Greg's 'International Buddies' helping them settle into life in a British school - they have also given our students a run for their money on the basketball courts! Talking of sport, we held the much-anticipated Staff v Year 13 rounders match just before we said goodbye to the cohort earlier this week; it was a very exciting match with staff leading the way to victory - well played all! 

On a different note, Mrs Sarbatta organised for all of Year 9 and the Year 10 historians to have a very special visit via video link from a Holocaust/Shoah survivor as part of our commitment to educating our young people about the horrors of genocide, so that our students could hear first-hand the stories of courage and survival. Thank you to Mrs Sarbatta and the History Department for organising such a poignant and important event. 

This week, I have been busy in the community: I represented St Gregory's at our new Bishop's ordination on Wednesday at Clifton Cathedral and everyone at St Gregory's wishes Bishop Bosco much joy and happiness in his new role. 

The event was deeply joyous and moving, and it was lovely to see members of our community in the congregation. I am also attending the Year 9 annual retreat to the St Cassian's Centre, Kintbury, this weekend where I will accompany some of our Year 9s as they enjoy spending time with others to explore their faith and spiritual identities, while deepening their friendships, in a beautiful peaceful setting. We also enjoyed our whole school Masses for the Feast of Christ's Ascension and we thank Fr Martin from Stratton-on-the-Fosse and Fr Bill OSM for celebrating with us. 

A reminder that we have our next Coffee and Cake PTFA event on Tuesday 14 May at 9.15am in the Reading Room. All are welcome and this time we will have a focus on SEND and Inclusion - it is a great opportunity to meet other parents and carers and speak to St Gregory's staff who always welcome parent/carer feedback. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend when it comes and please do keep our Year 11 and Year 13 students in your prayers as they begin their public exams - I know they will appreciate it. I will leave you with this beautiful message taken from Bishop Bosco's Ordination order of service: 

Let us Love. Let our lives be a perpetual song of love for God first of all, and for all human beings who suffer, love and mourn. Let deep joy live in us. 

Let us be like the lark, enemy of the night, who always announces the dawn and awakens in each creature the love of light and life. 

Let us awaken others to the spiritual life.

- Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur. 

Mrs Melissa George (BA Hons, MA, PGCE) 

Headteacher