News
Headmaster's Christmas Letter
16-12-2011
Dear Parents,
We have enjoyed an Autumn Term of immense activity, at the centre of which have been sustained teaching, learning and growing in the light of the Gospel, drawing upon our inspirational Mission Statement. The various carol services and nativity plays have been of a particularly high standard and an absolute delight to attend, providing a most fitting and uplifting conclusion to the season. I would like to thank all the parents, guardians, students, staff and governors for their continued support.
The Ratcliffian summarises admirably the breadth and depth of school life this term. For a school of our size, Ratcliffe College can be truly proud of offering such diversity in the academic arena, and within small class sizes. Such teaching and learning across the whole School are, of course, complemented by the sporting, musical and dramatic opportunities available to all of our students, not to mention the many clubs and societies which thrive throughout the School. (May I draw your attention to an important letter within this mailing from Mr Gilchrist, regarding students’ participation in fixtures.) We have enjoyed success across all age groups in rugby and hockey, excellent musical concerts, including the memorable performance of the Junior School Choir at the Young Voices Concert in Birmingham, superb Year 10 GCSE Drama productions of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations” and, of course, the splendid weekly Thursday Junior School Assembly performances. That all of these occur within such a caring, nurturing, family-focused community which celebrates the achievements of everyone and which welcomes all without prejudice, should fill us all with pride. We live and work in a vibrant and loving environment which is blessed by everyone who contributes to it.
Many Sixth Formers and GCSE students in both Years 10 and 11 have important public examinations to take early in the Spring Term. The marks gained in these papers will have a significant impact upon their eventual grades and, in the case of Year 13, help secure the coveted university places that many have already been offered. As a consequence, it is absolutely essential that diligent and sustained revision takes place during the Christmas vacation; your unequivocal support as parents in encouraging your son/daughter on this will pay dividends.
Other Year groups may also have holiday tasks to do, and Years 7, 8 and 9 all have end of term targets to begin to address over the Christmas break and to develop yet further next term. Years 9 and 12 have recently received their tudies Cards, with Years 7 and 10 receiving theirs shortly; an interim report for ear 8, and full reports for Years 11 and 13 are included within this mailing.
Looking ahead to next term, a programme of staff in-service training will be taking place all day on Friday 6th January 2012, in preparation for the new term. Boarding students should return to School between 4.30 and 7.00pm on Sunday 8th January. Classes will begin for all students on Monday 9th January.
Since we introduced Weekly Boarding at the start of this academic year, several of our ‘day’ students have taken the opportunity to experience life as a member of our boarding community. In almost all cases, this has worked well: parents who lead busy lives have suddenly had more time at the start and end of each weekday – and smaller weekly food bills! – and their children have benefited from the company of peers, the mentoring and support of staff during the mid-week evenings, and immediate access to the learning and recreational facilities which the School has to offer during the week. The additional cost of Weekly Boarding is around £1,600 per term (details of all School fees may be found on the School website) which, we suggest, does represent extremely good value.
If you would like your son/daughter to experience boarding life before deciding whether to weekly board, please contact Mrs Jo Leite (Senior Housemistress: jleite@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk) or Mr Paul Michel (Senior Housemaster: pmichel@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk) who will be pleased to arrange with you a ‘taster session’, involving two consecutive weekday evenings and nights spent here as a boarder. There will be no extra charge for these sessions.
Important Routine Matters
Drop off and Collection
Please may I appeal to parents to ask you to refrain from dropping off and picking up your children from the Sports Hall car park or indeed the area adjacent to the Year 7 teaching area. This is for the safely of all of our children.
Dogs on Site
Please can any parents who bring dogs onto the School site when supporting School events ensure that they are always on a lead and that they clear up any mess before leaving the site. There have been a number of occasions this term where dogs have fouled the playing fields and this has caused difficulties for the students when playing fixtures, which can be very dangerous as well as unpleasant and embarrassing.
Medical Centre Request
If your child is suffering any pain and needs paracetamol before leaving for School, please can you ensure that this is administered at home under your control prior to your child arriving at School. We have, on a number of recent occasions, experienced a small queue of students forming outside the Medical Centre first thing in the morning requesting paracetamol for various aches and pains.
Year 13 donation
As in previous years, I am asking parents of Year 13 students to consider donating your deposit (paid before your son/daughter first joined the School) towards a “Year 13 legacy” project. Our superb fitness suite was partially funded from such donations. The students were recently invited to suggest suitable projects, and their joint favourites were making a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the construction of ‘dugouts’ next to the all-weather pitch. We are impressed with these suggestions, which reflect the great generosity of spirit so evident among the Year group, and their love of sport and wish to further enhance its facilities. Please let me and Mr Robson, Director of Finance, know if you feel able to help with this initiative, by Monday 9th January 2012, thank you.
Thank you for your assistance in these important matters.
Staffing
I am delighted to confirm that Mr Gilchrist has been appointed as Director of Sport as from 1st January 2012, following a successful term of excellent leadership of the PE and Games Department. Mrs Eldridge will not be continuing in her post as English/Drama teacher at Ratcliffe College owing to personal reasons. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her contributions to our School community, and to wish her well for the future. We shall be welcoming back Mrs Ackerley to assist us until a permanent replacement may be found.
I would be delighted to welcome parents and students to Carol Singing in the Chapel at 6.00pm on Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th December, followed by a Family Mass for Christmas at 6.30pm, to which everyone is warmly invited, regardless of denominational background. Seasonal refreshments will be served afterwards in the Old Library. Midnight Mass will also be celebrated.
My colleagues – teaching and support staff – join me in wishing you and your families a blessed, restful and very happy Christmas, and a joyful New Year of good health and happiness.
With my very best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mr Gareth P. Lloyd,
Headmaster.
