Miss Bailey's Blog - Week 2, 2023

Dear Parents,

What a terrific start to term and welcome back to our new look Newsletter, which has been compiled by Mrs Radburn. This is always an exciting time of year but somehow, September 2023 has felt quite special. Touring the classrooms, courts, pitches and assemblies, post- return, I have been pleased to see everyone settling back to old, yet refreshed routines and new faces finding their feet and making friends. Godstowe is a special place and giving out the Form Captain and Deputy Head Form Captain badges, alongside our new Hymn Helpers and Pupil Council badges makes me realise what a rewarding place Godstowe is and how many girls we have here who are keen to represent our community and strive for more. 

It has been good to stop and chat with so many of you since we came back and thank you to all of you who came to our highly successful Welcome Back Drinks! Blessed with a hot summer evening, myself and the team thoroughly enjoyed catching up on your news and summer exploits. Those sorts of evenings are ones for the memory bank and ones to enjoy. It took me back to the fun we all enjoyed at our Summer Ball in July. Reminding ourselves to stop and enjoy each other's company is so key as we look to the new school year ahead.

Those of you may have seen my 'godstowehead' Instagram page, but one of my favourite photographs has to be one taken on the very first day. In the quest to be ever more eco-friendly in the years to come, we must all find alternative ways to make a difference to the planet. Roller skating was one mode of transport I had never considered before and our Godstowe Parents are certainly ahead of the curve!

It reminded me of the 'Rollerama' Saturday discos I used to go to very close to here at Thame Sports and Arts Centre, when I was about 10. It was the place-to-be at the weekends, and a whole group of Kingston Blount friends would go along with our roller skates and endlessly circle the gym to Michael Jackson and other latest tunes. I had a pair of hand-me-down Captain America roller skates with wings, which I loved. They had red wheels and I quite literally thought I could fly when I wore them. They were rather large and cumbersome but much loved. Funnily enough, when I headed off to boarding at Cheltenham, they went mysteriously missing from my wardrobe (think parents having a good spring clean did it….) I have often wondered where they ended up, but know I probably wouldn't be as daring in them as I was, when I was 10!

Despite not winning the final Innovation Award from Talk Education, we were so pleased to be nominated with six other schools in the Performing and Creative Arts Category. Well done, everyone for being shortlisted and may this be the springboard to even further school success, now the momentum has been set in motion!

We look forward to seeing our Form I, Form II and Lowers' families on Monday 18th at 9.05am, to meet the St. Edward's Roadshow Team. The Warden, Alastair Chirnside, does a good tour with his senior team and let's fill the Sports Hall Gallery for this special visit. We then welcome all Main School families for our Induction event from 3.15pm on Friday 22nd, ahead of the exeat weekend! It's been lovely to spend time with Nursery and Lodge in the first week and to see so many smiling faces in the mornings!

As you can see, Mrs Radburn has launched a new section for the Newsletter, called 'In the Spotlight', designed to showcase your children's hobbies, successes and achievements outside school. Please do send your photographs and wording to the [email protected] inbox and they will be gratefully received. We have already had a few entries!

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sun. Good luck to our U12 and U13 A-D Teams who are off to St George's Ascot tomorrow!

Best wishes,

Miss Bailey