We are looking forward to welcoming some students in Year 10 and Year 12 back to MGGS from Monday, 15th June in small groups and within social distancing guidelines. Please ensure you read the relevant ParentMails sent out today which contain all the details.
I trust you and your family remain safe and well and continue to do so.
Miss Deborah Stanley
Headteacher
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MidKent College are operating a Family FoodBank distribution centre from the Maidstone Campus of MidKent College – based in the Oaks Restaurant at the front of the UCM building
Our team can be contacted on foodbank@midkent.ac.uk or 01622 625818
No referral forms are required but families will need to make contact to arrange a time to collect or we can offer a delivery service if needed.
They are open on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-2pm.
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We left this history of the MGGS site in the 1600s when Robert Cecil 1st Earl of Salisbury owned the MGGS site. On Robert’s death his son William inherited the Buckland estate and in 1618 sold it off in three separate parts: Great Buckland, Little Buckland and South Buckland. The school being on the Great Buckland site.
Great Buckland is sold to William Horsepoole. His wife was the daughter of Lawrence Washington. This Washington was the first cousin three times removed of the Founding Father of the United States of America, George Washington. William Horsepoole sold off the land to Sir John Banks. On his death his son inherited Great Buckland.
The land then passed through the Earl of Aylesford family line until it reached Charles Heneage Finch-Knightley, 12th Earl of Aylesford. It was during his life that he sold the land and Great Buckland House which stood where some of our current buildings are, was demolished.
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This week saw the launch of the UCAS process in school, preparing our Year 12 students for making applications to university. Mrs Ransom shared two videos and a range of bespoke guides to help students to set up their application online and compose the first full draft of their personal statement. We have also discussed the importance of the applicant statement for those applying to apprenticeships and employment and challenges all students to have compiled this before Friday, 10th July.
Over the course of Term 5 and 6 students have and will continue to have opportunities to explore different post 18 options virtually. Obviously, students would love to be walking this journey together and visiting various campuses and institutions in person, but times dictate that this is not possible, and the wealth of information available is very impressive.
Universities are working very hard to support Year 12 in their decision making (decisions related to apprenticeships and employment tend to come later) and Miss Hodges and the Sixth Form Management Team will continue to share these with students via the Year 12 Google Classroom. Universities are also keen to support you, as parents and carers! Cardiff University writes:
Many parents will want to do all they can to support their sons and daughters as they take their next steps following school or college. More, now than ever, students will be looking to their parents/guardians for advice and guidance. This can be a challenge – particularly for those who are unfamiliar with the higher education process.
This presentation (https://prezi.com/view/ht4NofX39dEHOCMfL4Te/) provides advice on how to support students from the initial research stage through to enrolment and beyond. From key UCAS deadlines and student finance to accommodation and budgeting considerations, our Prezi aims to provide an insight we hope parents/guardians will find useful when supporting their child throughout the process.
The University of Kent are also offering a range of online workshops and webinars as part of their ‘Online Roadshow’, including a parent advice session next week that you can register for here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3406197270242810895.
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Over the last few weeks students have been taking photos and entering these to the latest House Challenge. The brief was to take photos that were colourful or based in nature or both and the response was wonderful. The House Leaders chose the three best photos from each house which have been celebrated in a video shared with all the students. Here are the 18 best photos from each house. Thank you to everyone who contributed, in a challenging time, these have helped to brighten our spirits.
The third House Challenge is an Inter-House Bake-Off and the House leaders and Head students cannot wait to see what exciting dishes are going to be entered.
Britons: from left to right. Maddie C. (Year 8), Harriet C. (Year 8), Chloe W. (Year 7)
Danes: from left to right: Lucy J. (Year 8), Weronika S. (Year 12), Eleanor H. (Year 8)
Normans: from left to right: Caitlynne S. (Year 7), Matilda W. (Year 7), Crystal L (Year 10)
Saxons: from left to right: Tanzie H. (Year 10), Eva P-H. (Year 7), Francesca S. (Year 9)
Romans: from left to right: Vivienne R. (Year 10), Molly T. (Year 12), Imogen E. (Year 8)
Vikings: from left to right: Isabella H. (Year 8), Shefali C. (Year 13), Francesca W. (Year 10)
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“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and its thought has found words” – Robert Frost
This week some Year 9 students took part in poetry writing in their English lessons. They chose their own topics and wrote their poem in the style of ‘Island Man’ by Grace Nichols. We are so impressed by the quality of their writing and their readiness to engage in current affairs through their poems.
Morning
An old lady wakes up
to a ray of light piercing through the glass
and the sound of children’s laughter
The smell of fresh baked bread and pastry filling the air
Chirping Crickets in the long grass
Seagulls squawking
Waves crashing and crawling up the beach
Fishing boats sailing off into the distance
the sun beaming off the water making it glisten
palm tree leaves rustling groggily groggily
Empty,
Toilet paper, pasta, beans,
Everything has gone,
Queues snaking out of the doors.
People shouting and fighting over the last supplies,
Fear engulfing the surroundings,
Sprinting down the aisles,
Laying in the atmosphere a sense of panic.
Everyone being selfish and acting like clowns,
Complete mayhem all around,
People clearing out the shop shelves,
They struggle to think about anyone but themselves
– Freya F
Back to Normal
(for a person about to enter the shop during a pandemic)
I lay on the hot, golden sand
Soaking in the sun, in hope of catching a well overdue tan
The salty waves crash onto the shore with a soft hiss
My friends and family surround me
As they continue to chatter away
The sky is a bright azure, matching with the sea
The scorched sand beneath me,
Glimmers as the sun shines on it
Blissful music blasting from the speaker of the neighbouring group
As I breathe in the smell of the warm summer air,
That I had missed so much
I can’t help but smile
Everything is perfect once again
Please put your mask back on
The guard says to me before giving me the nod to enter the shop
It feels abandoned
The once over-filled shelves
Now scarce and empty
The workers keep their distance
While wearing their masks and gloves
It feels quiet and dismal
Misery and gloom spread across everyone’s face
I meet eyes with another customer
I can tell we are wondering the same thing
When will everything go back to normal again?
– Amritha S
(This poem is from the point of view of the mother in America who lost her unborn baby due to police brutality)
I feel him when I breathe
He pushes tight on me
I feel everything his future holds
I feel his life, so free
I hear his little footsteps
Running close to me
I hear him shouting in the park
And smiling tenderly
I see him loving everyone
No matter what their skin
I see him holding everyone
And loving from within bleeding, bleeding
I felt him when he left me
The touch that felt so close
I felt his soul fly in the clouds
And greeting as a ghost
I heard it when it happened
My heart slicing into two
I didn’t need them to say it
It already felt too true
We can not carry on like this
I see it everyday
When we will judge by what’s within
No more lives will be torn away
– Amelia L
Innocent man
(for a simple man craving for a would that is truly free)
Community
and warmth is felt in his soul
the feeling of safety and acceptance
and how he is judged by his character
and how he acts towards others
he wears his skin as skin
and feels the golden sun not beating him
and feels like he is living
really living
in a world where his voice
is a statement not a suggestion
the dew soaked grass displaces
over his tense back
Finally loosening from stress of
the world and tomorrow Newsflash
The painful blue light penetrates
His eyes from the tv.
It’s nothing new he thinks pressing down
the off button .
Leaving his home, parents pull their children aside
Away from the black man.
His eyes hit the cold, dry pavement as he passes the police.
After what happened to George
And countless others, doing as they say isn’t enough,
Being innocent isn’t enough
Until you are behind the steel bars of injustice.
In his car, his wheels drag on the world that doesn’t
Favour him.
He is stopped by a white man in uniform and told to
Get out of the car.
He reaches for the seatbelt and is pulled from his away.
He is knelt upon
And whispers “I can’t breathe”. Another is gone and
Another murderer is uncovered .
What a life it is to be in the land of the free.
-Amelia R
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Over the past few months as we have adapted to life in lockdown, the popularity of cooking meals from scratch at home has increased considerably across the country. It has been amazing to see such a range of imaginative, creative and beautifully presented dishes created by our students both as part of their learning for Food and Nutrition and in their spare time.
Over the past three weeks, Year 7 students had the challenge of creating a ‘seasonal’ dish and here are some of our favourite submissions:
(Left to right- Ruth B’s Pavlova, Katie G’s seasonal fruit tarts, Freya J’s raspberry sorbet, Isla W’s strawberry cheesecake)
Similarly, Year 8’s focus for their most recent Food and Nutrition lesson was ‘baking and roasting’:
(Left to right- Rebekah B’s Giant Pretzels, Darcy H’s chocolate traybake, Katie H’s treacle tart, Tilly D’s lemon drizzle cake)
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The MGGS Development Trust has been approached by Emily, who is part of the MGGS Alumni Community. She is organising this fantastic fundraiser to help support the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Staff. We would love to get behind this campaign, so please get involved if you can.
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It has been good this week to see many staff in school preparing for the return of Year 10 and Year 12 next week. We are very much looking forward to welcoming students back to school. It is important that students in Year 10 and Year 12 have checked the days they are due in school, know the time they must arrive at school and know exactly which room they need to go to. Students will have 2 lessons, followed by break and then another 2 lessons. Students will then leave school at the beginning of lunch.
Year 7, 8 and 9 have continued to impress me with the work they have been continuing to do at home. A very sample is shared with you in this week’s News and Blog.
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We are very pleased to tell you that our new website is now live! We are running it alongside the old website initially so that in case of any teething problems, customers can also access the old website.
The new website has a few flaws, one of which is the voucher codes. We are currently only able to add codes for % discount. If any parent has ordered uniform and added a code that was not quoted as a % discount, we will refund the discount.
We have also added a 10% discount code for all parents, “Grammar10” (expires on 25th July).
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You can help raise funds for the school without having to donate anything yourself! Over 4,100 shops and sites will donate to us every time you use #easyfundraising to shop with them, at no extra cost to yourself.
This means you can raise money for us every time you buy clothes, groceries, takeaways, insurance, school supplies and more. It’s easy, completely FREE and will make a BIG difference to the school. Plus, you could WIN a £500 donation for MGGS in the easyfundraising Refer to Win competition. To get a free entry, all you need to do is sign up at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/maidstonegrammarschoolforgirls/?invite=J799FL&referral-campaign=c2s before 14th July.
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We have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Year 12 back to school this week. Despite long and intensive learning sessions, students have been outstanding in their focus, behaviour and support of one another. Both teachers and students have commented on how nice it is to be back in the classroom and the Sixth Form Team and Miss Hodges have also enjoyed there being a buzz around Buckland House again. We are so proud of our students, the resilience and commitment they have demonstrated throughout this unusual and challenging period, and the positive and responsible attitude they have shown this week. Well done Year 12 and welcome back! We have missed you! SFMT
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This week has seen the return of Year 10 to MGGS. It has been so lovely to see you coming into school with smiles on your faces and a willingness to knuckle down and get on with your work. You have all made me extremely proud to be your Head of Study. I look forward to seeing you more often over the next four weeks. Well done Year 10!
Mrs Shave, Head of Study Year 10
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It has been lovely to see students back in school this week and our SEND & Medical Needs Co-ordinator has been able to use the Woodland Garden as an outside space to meet safely with students for mentoring sessions.
Doesn’t the garden look wonderful?!
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We were delighted last week to welcome, by staggered appointments, our Year 13 students into Reception to return vital textbooks, so that they can be passed onto our Year 12 students in due course.
We have been overwhelmed by their enthusiasm to revisit MGGS with their textbooks and delighted to learn of their plans for September. The students’ maturity in arriving promptly and behaving with the utmost respect for social distancing and our new procedures in school is to be commended; we are extremely proud of you all.
A big thank you to Year 13 for your great response in returning these textbooks! Year 11 book return starts next week (week beginning 22nd June). We hope to have an equally outstanding response, and look forward to seeing you all.
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It has been good to welcome Year 10 and Year 12 students and many staff into school this week, although it still seems very quiet compared with normal. In talking to students it is clear how well so many have worked on their academic studies during this time, and yet have realised how beneficial it is to be in the same room as a teacher to answer questions. Students I have spoken to have stated how useful they have found the sessions in school, which have enabled them to refocus and redirect their efforts.
The number of key worker students has slowly increased in recent weeks. We are aware that particularly for those involved in shift work, it is difficult to know work patterns far in advance. However, we would ask that you ensure you have informed us by the Friday of the preceding week what days your daughter is required to be in school. This is to enable us to ensure we have sufficient staffing available to supervise all students and ensure we are adhering to the current social distancing guidelines.
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The MGGS Development Trust are due to send out their summer newsletter soon, if you would like to subscribe and stay connected to the school, please join the community database here.
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On Wednesday 24th June, many of our students participated in a fun #247challenge; celebrating the importance of writing to express ourselves and unite with others.
The challenge had three simple rules:
1. Write a story or poem in 24 words.
2. Start with the words ‘One day…’
3. You only have 7 minutes to write!
The rules were simple but the results were inspiring and wonderfully creative! We will publish some of them next week and are thankful to everyone who took just 7 minutes to join with thousands of others to celebrate writing and creativity.
Why not have a go yourself?
Mrs Hill, Learning Resources Coordinator, wrote “One day, as the sun dips below the houses, I will sit with you on the warm grass and we will toast our togetherness.”
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Mrs Ransom, Assistant Headteacher for Key Stage 5, has written to both Year 12 and 13 parents this week; please ensure you’ve received and read the important information shared. We’re very conscious that this is an unsettling time for all students, and as parents and carers, we share the burden of that uncertainty. Understandably, many of the questions we have been asked in recent weeks relate to Post-18 options. The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) have a parent newsletter and have been running online information events for parents and carers in recent months; details can be found at https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/ucas-undergraduate-advice-parents-and-guardians and via the UCAS Facebook page. UCAS also provides some information related to apprenticeship programmes and gap years. Universities are also offering support to students and parents and carers via their individual websites.
We know many students may be debating deferring entry (taking a gap year). This article was shared by Unifrog this week and may be of interest: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/may/27/students-like-the-flexibility-why-online-universities-are-here-to-stay. Unifrog have also published a Q&A with Mike Nicholson, the Director of Admissions for Bath on their blog, which answers key questions that you may be pondering from the perspective of Higher Education (HE): https://www.unifrog.org/blog/case-study-director-of-admissions-at-the-university-of-bath Mike has been involved in our Post-18 Options Evening in the past; he is a very well respected figure in HE and gives good, honest advice.
If you have any other questions related to Year 12 or Year 13, whether they be about Post-18 options or anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Sixth Form Management Team via central@mggs.org.
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We have very much enjoyed seeing the focus and progress of Year 12 this week, both online and in school. We have, this week, appointed our Subject Prefects and we want to congratulate them and welcome them to the role! There are a number of other student leadership positions also being appointed at this time, and we are very excited to see how the team will serve the school in the coming year. We’re especially impressed because the majority of student leadership selection has been done online this year, and yet Year 12 have risen to this challenge brilliantly. Well done Year 12 – we think you’re fantastic!
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