Message from the Head
Dear Parents,
I hope that you all had a relaxing break, albeit some of our families and students may have had more revision activities going on at home than others. The Summer term is always one for lots of outdoor activities, outdoor learning, residentials and performances, but it is equally the term for exam time at Secondary.
Our older students are already well prepared and will continue their last preparations for GCSE/IGCSE exams as well as AS exams (for those in the first year of A Levels) until they enter the exam rooms. This makes for an exciting, but also an especially purposeful atmosphere at Secondary.
In order to show you a little more of the great teaching & learning inside the Secondary classroom, we have created a new Twitter account under @GesSecondary. I encourage you to follow it for regular insights into what and how we teach.
At the other end of the school, we have had the chance to enlarge and remodel the Early Years outside area, which is now larger than ever and features even more opportunities for play and the wonderful learning that goes on in Early Years.
The Early Years team, together with KS1, are excited to be able to run the first in-person Open Morning in a long while – this will take place next Friday, 6 May from 9:00–11:00. Please help us share the information with your friends and work colleagues.
Sign up is via the website or by emailing Alice Priestley at [email protected]. Virtual sessions for the other sections of the school are available on the same day as well and are all bookable via the website.
I wanted to thank Siân Humphreys who organised a high energy start to the term with some professional body percussion workshops for students and parents (thanks to those who participated), which we would love to see back in the future.
The term promises to be exciting and busy – please find all our confirmed events on My School Portal calendar, with more to added as we confirm final details.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Matt Williams
Head
FROM YOUR SECONDARY TEACHERS
Y12 Geography Field Trip to Barcelona
Just before Easter, our Geography A Level students were in Barcelona for a four-day residential field trip.
As their current topic sees them studying changing places, they looked at different geographical sites, mostly urban and river, collecting a large variety of data.
According to the students, the trip was challenging with a high workload. Having a full week allowed them to go into more depth in their enquiries, focus on specific areas of study, and use the local professionals in the study centre for as many questions as needed.
Junior Mathematics Challenge
Yesterday our Year 8 students participated in the Junior Mathematics Challenge, and we’re all very much looking forward to seeing how they did – so watch this space.
We are very proud of how enthusiastically our pupils have engaged with the Maths challenge opportunities they’ve had this year, both in lessons and in the extension clubs.
FROM YOUR MUSIC TEACHERS
Beat Goes On / Body Percussion workshops
We have had a fantastic few days enjoying body percussion workshops from a former member of the STOMP performance group, Alua Nascimiento; we are thrilled that once again we can welcome such talented visitors back to GES to work with our children.
Alua worked with all GES children, from Nursery up to Key Stage 4. Each group came away inspired, motivated and full of energy!
Alua also led two parent sessions which gave you an insight into what the children have been experiencing. It was lovely to welcome the parents on site once again, one even said, “After the short workshop, I felt great all day.”
Pupil music success
Congratulations to Gaia (5AW) who passed her piano exam (Grade 1) with Distinction.
As always we are happy to share our students’ individual successes outside of school in this section of the newsletter.
Please email Stephanie Pillot at [email protected] if you would like a shout-out for your child(ren).
Marketing and Admissions events
Holiday Camps
After our first Easter holiday camps, it is now time to look ahead to the Summer Holiday camps on offer (thanks to everyone who has already secured their places):
- STEAM
- Theatre
- Mandarin
- CrossFit by FitsPro Versoix
- Robotics by TechLabs
For Secondary students who would like to practise their French for GCSE and AS Level exams, Mme Rifflard will be leading some free revision sessions next 26 and 27 May, during the half-term break.
For any questions, please reach out to Mme Rifflard.
Register via the section on the website.
Open events
For the first time in two years, we are able to run an in-person Open Morning.
This will take place next Friday, 6 May from 9:00–11:00, and is aimed at families with children for Early Years and Lower Primary.
Please help us share the information with your friends and work colleagues.
Sign up via the website or by emailing Alice Priestley at [email protected].
For anyone who cannot physically join us or is interested in another section of the school, we are also running virtual sessions:
Friday 6 May
- 11:00 – 12:00: Primary session (virtual)
- 12:00 – 13:00: Pre-School session (virtual)
- 14:00 – 15:00: Secondary session (virtual)
Monday 9 May
- 19:00 – 20:00: A Levels / post-16 Programme session (virtual)
Sign up via the website or by emailing Alice Priestley at [email protected].
