THE LORD GREY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

THE LORD GREY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
A weekly newsletter for students, parents, staff, governors and friends of the school.
No. 173 Friday 11th March 2005
This newsletter will be distributed each Friday and will be published on www.lordgrey.org.uk.
Staff, students, parents or governors are welcome to contribute items of news or information.
These should reach Jo Moloney by 10.00 am on Wednesday.
GETTING READY FOR SEPTEMBER 2005….
Specialist Schools Trust
Excellence and Diversity
As our new building becomes three dimensional, it serves as a visible sign that we are getting ready for our
additional intake for September 2005.
Visit from Sir Bob Reid
Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome Sir Bob Reid who is Chairman of Milton Keynes Partnership. The
Milton Keynes Partnership Committee consists of Milton Keynes Council, English Partnership and representatives
from Health, Community and the business sectors. Its work is to design the master plan for the future expansion
of Milton Keynes, which will determine the look, shape and feel of Milton Keynes over the next thirty years.
Accompanying Sir Bob was Elizabeth Gifford, the Secretary to English Partnerships.
School Achievement Award
Sir Bob’s work is to accelerate the decision making on the infrastructure and substantial growth in Milton Keynes. The purpose
of his visit to us was to consider how the fabric of The Lord Grey School could be brought up to the same specification as newly
built schools. Lord Grey, which is fast approaching its 31st birthday, is one of the oldest schools in Milton Keynes and in need of
refurbishment and maintenance. Following on from our roof and boiler projects, we are now preparing for some essential repairs
to the windows.
Although the visit was quite short, I was able to escort Sir Bob Reid and Mrs Gifford to several areas of the site, including
Science, English and Humanities, where we saw classes in progress. I was delighted at the variety of activities. We saw
Shamima Ahmed’s science lesson on plant life centred on several different cacti; Toby Reid’s geography lesson focussed on
the humble rain drop; Andi Oakley’s focus on Italian grammatical verbs; and, lively Sixth Form groups in English and
Humanities. As we walked around, we were all struck by the juxtaposition of our tired and worn out site, with the energetic and
engaging learning happening between our students and staff in our classrooms.
Milton Keynes Partnership Committee, like the LEA, is now investigating ways in which they can help Lord Grey’s
refurbishment. One of our long-standing goals for improving the aesthetics to our adopted front entrance is to demolish the
water tower by Reception. I was delighted by Sir Bob’s enthusiasm to assist in this project by razing the water tower to the
ground! I was even more delighted by the arrival today, of Mr Gibbons, a man sent by Sir Bob, to do it!
Staffing for September
In order to ensure that we are fully and appropriately staffed in September 2005, over half term, Jo Moloney, Personnel and
Resources Manager, and I travelled to Australia and New Zealand to interview over forty prospective teachers. Milton Keynes is
growing at such a fast rate that with Lord Grey’s expansion, it is currently difficult to recruit. The criteria for choosing
applicants for interview was simple. Preference was given to qualified and experienced teachers who were familiar with the
British educational system. I was delighted at the calibre of the teachers and I have appointed 18 teachers offering a variety of
subjects to Lord Grey. The majority of the new staff will begin in September, a few will join us next term and the remainder will
join us in 2006.
With a new building, the planned refurbishments and a committed and talented staff, never before will our students have had so
many opportunities to succeed.
Despina Pavlou, Headteacher
EXAMINATION INVIGILATORS – SUMMER 2005
We require Examination Invigilators to join our busy team to help with the summer examination period, from mid May to the
end of June. Successful applicants must be extremely reliable and flexible, be able to relate to and work with teachers and
students and have effective oral communication skills.
Experience is desirable, but training will be provided. Hours will be variable and dependent upon external examination dates.
The main task is quietly supervising, ensuring that the examinations are correctly carried out. You can give as little or as much
time as you like and the examinations will be started and finished by our staff. You will never be on your own and you will be
insured. If you are a parent of a student sitting examinations this summer, we will still be able to use your services in
examinations they do not sit. Hourly rate: £7.00.
To find out more and to receive an application form, please contact Jo Moloney, Personnel and Resources Manager, on 01908
626 110. The closing date for applications is Monday 21st March 2005.
Michele O’Donnell, Assistant Headteacher
GYMNASTICS COMPETITION
A very big congratulations to our Year 8 girls gymnastics team of Alex Brogan (8H), Jo Armitage (8J),
Lauren Watson (8H), Nikki Vincent (8K), Jessica Holden (8L) and Emily Foster (8G).
In a very tough competition, with students ranging from Year 7 to Year 11, our girls
finished fourth at the Milton Keynes Gymnastics Competition held at Thornton
College. For a young team, this is an excellent result. A special thank you goes to
Sam Gavrovski (9F) for giving up her time to help coach the girls with their floor
routines. The girls have only been training for the last few weeks and have improved
tremendously in that time.
The girls faced the pressure of being the first to perform for the judges, but they all held their nerve to produce
excellent performances. Alex led the girls off and Nikki managed the team’s best single result. On the vaulting
apparatus, it was Jo who performed the best single result. All girls again produced excellent performances for
this apparatus. Congratulations!
Jeff Rieniets, Head of PE: Sports
UNIFORM
Students are reminded that they must wear correct school uniform. Training shoes other than for PE,
denim/leather clothing, leggings, club football regalia, make-up, polished nails are not allowed. No headgear,
such as baseball caps should be worn. Hoodies are also not allowed.
Catherine Russell, Head of Lower School and Carole Jones, Head of Upper School
SCIENCE SATs
Year 9 students are reminded that they must be in school for their Science SAT examinations on Tuesday 3rd
May 2005, which is an Inset day, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Tracey Jones, Deputy Headteacher
PE REVISION GUIDE
A comprehensive PE Revision Guide is available
from the PE Department at £3.50 per copy. Students
who would like to buy a copy should see their PE
teacher.
Cawton Wright, Head of PE
SEE THE DEVIL AT WORK….
For two nights only, The Lord Grey School is
presenting the classic Christopher Marlowe tale of
“Dr Faustus”, the man who sells his soul to the
Devil. This unique interpretation combines humour
with tragedy and brings to life the turmoil of a man
whose thirst for knowledge results in his damnation.
See the Devil at work on Tuesday 22nd and
Wednesday 23rd March at 7.30pm. Tickets are
currently available from Jo McBride, Amanda
Dickinson and Jo Trevenna at £3 for adults and
£1.50 for children. Alternatively, all remaining tickets
will be available on the door.
Jo Trevenna, Head of Expressive Arts
FRENCH EXCHANGE 2005
Last month, twenty three students went to Cluses for ten days as part of our French Exchange.
The students have been corresponding with French students at Cluses School for some time, so to
finally meet up was great. During the trip, we spent some time in school attending various lessons
including IT and English. Students also had the opportunity to go ice-skating in Les Carroz and
also spent most of one day going for an 8km walk in snow shoes! It was exhausting but
exhilarating as the scenery is breathtaking. The families were extremely hospitable and the
students were pleased at how friendly and kind their exchange partners were. Also pleasing was
the improvement in their French speaking skills! Our French counterparts will be visiting Lord
Grey after Easter, and we are looking forward to welcoming them.
Sarah Fogerty, Teacher of French
2/2/5
Je me suis levé a sept heures moins quart pour le
avion. En le avion, c’était cool parce que c’est un
différent transport. Puis nous sommes allées en un
bus pour un heure. Nous sommes arrives a la
collège en Cluses a quarts heure. Je suis allée avec
ma correspondent a sa maison, elle habite dans le
secours pompiers.
Nous sommes alles a la
supermarché avec sa sœur et son petit copain pour le
déjeuner pique-nique. Apres nous sommes allées a
son apartament. Elle habite ave son père et sa bellemère qui est très gentil. Pour dîner j’ai mange un
pizza- c’était très, très bon! C’était un jour fatigant.
5/2/5
Aujourd’hui nous sommes alle en ville.
J’ai achète un souvenir. Nous sommes
alles dans la demeure de la tante de
Lucie pur manger de la fondue
savoyarde.
6/2/5
Nous sommes alles a la maison de ses
grands-parents. Nous avons joue dans
la neige avec Sylviah et Jon. Nous
avons joue a puissance, nous mange
des pates. A midi nous avons mange
du gratin de pommes de terre et rôti de
veau.
Elizabeth Dachtler (9D)
Lisa Blomfield (10H)
6/2/5
Aujourd’hui, je suis allée a Samoens avec Sabrina, sa sœur Karima, sa mère, et la copine de
sa mère, Ourid Samoens, est une ville dans la montagne. Nous sommes retournes a la
maison après s’être promenés dans la ville. Le soir, Karima, Farrah, Belinda, Mourad,
Chadnl, et moi sommes alles an restaurant. J’ai parle avec Chadnl an départ et il est très
cool. C’était très amusant.
7/2/5
Je me suis réveille a 7h00 et pris la bus a 7h40. On est allés a les Carroz pour patinoire,
10h00 – 12h00. On mange la déjeune a 12h30. Apres midi, on est partie en promenade a
Carroz. On retourne la collège a 4h30. Le soir, je mange la pizza avec Chadnl, Mourad,
Karima, Farrah, Belinda, Sabrina et Ouria.
Kyoko Rathwell (10H)
4/2/5
Je me suis réveille a
6h15. J’ai mange de
crêpes pour mon petit
dejeuner. Peio et moi
sommes halles a l’école
avec le bus. A 10h00,
vous avons visites le
muse du Décolletage
puis nous sommes alles a
la gare pour pendre le de
sallanches. Nous avons
visites la ville a pied et
j’ai vu le Mont-Blanc et
une rivière Lav. Nous
sommes a Cluses a 4h30.
Peio et moi nous
sommes rentres a la
maison. A 6h00 nous
allons a l’école pour
soirée dansante et a 9h00
nous allons a la maison.
Je suis all ou lit.
Quinton Cane (9D)