This week in our school community: 17 January 2025

"At St Gregory's we continue to champion literacy and oracy skills because we know that having the ability to communicate opens up opportunities "  

It was Winston Churchill who said “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, and to sit down and listen.” At St Gregory's we continue to champion literacy and oracy skills because we know that having the ability to communicate opens up opportunities - and then the world really is your oyster.

This week O tutor groups have given presentations to their peers in collective worship assemblies on some of our House saints. We heard the stories of two inspirational female saints, St Josephine Bakhita and St Edith Stein, who put their faith into action during their lives. Both women suffered extraordinary traumas but used their faith as a vehicle for good. We can learn so much from these powerful women and they remind us of how we can live out our school principles and Lasallian principles on a daily basis. Well done to all tutor groups and sixth form students who stood up, presented confidently and engaged their audience with inspiring tales.

We know that literacy and oracy are now at the heart of our school because this week I had some animated Year 9 students come up to speak to me about the plans for World Book day in March. We all talked excitedly about the annual dress up day and it is fantastic to see students engaging with our important events and planning their costumes as early as January! With 2025 marking the 250^th birthday of Jane Austen, I wonder how many Mr Darcys and Elizabeth Bennets we'll see this year? St Gregory's has exciting plans to be part of the Austen celebrations in Bath this year - watch this space.

It's been a busy week for Year 9 with their retreats to explore vocations and pathways before attending our Options Evening in school yesterday. Thank you to all staff for making the evening so informative and successful - we pray for our Year 9 students as they embark on the important decisions of choosing the subjects they will study for the next two years and we know God is accompanying them in this process. The stars of the retreats were Sam T on Monday, Sofia M on Tuesday and Claudia F on Wednesday, for their positive engagement and contributions to our retreat days.

Unfortunately we have had to postponed our next PTFA meeting on Thursday 23 January.  A revised date will be arranged as soon as possible.

As some of our community continue with their social media detox, let's turn instead to a good book on these dark evenings. Jane Austen herself reminds us of the power of literature in Pride and Prejudice: "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!" Enjoy your weekend.

Mrs Melissa George (BA Hons, MA, PGCE) 

Headteacher