28th April 2022

A Message from the Head...

Readers will be forgiven for any surprise caused by a Thursday edition of this publication but, with the gift to schools from the Government of an additional Bank Holiday to mark the occasion of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we are of course not in school tomorrow for the usual Friday edition!

A shorter week does not mean that school has been any less busy of course and last weekend, our intrepid Bronze Duke of Edinburgh candidates successfully completed their expedition under the supervision of Capt Davies, Mr Boyle, Miss Adamson and Mr Dixon. Well done to all involved!

Congratulations also go to Mr Dixon who recently applied for the role of CCF School Staff Instructor and Duke of Edinburgh co-ordinator following the departure of Mrs Sockett from Gateways. I am pleased to report that, against some stiff external competition, Mr Dixon was successful in his application and he will assume these responsibilities soon.

Trips are back!

Prep have also had 2 information sessions this week, the first for our largest ever residential trip to Peat Rigg and the second for the eagerly anticipated Lower 3 London Trip. It is great to be planning residentials again after COVID and I’m sure all of the pupils (and staff) will have an amazing time on their respective trips.

Lower 1 also enjoyed a visit to Skipton Castle this week and you can read all about this by clicking the Articles From EYFS and Prep button at the bottom of this newsletter.

Finally, apart from wishing everyone a relaxing long weekend, I would just remind parents with children in Upper 1 and Lower 2 that their production, Go for Gold, takes place on Wednesday and Thursday next week. A small number of tickets can still be purchased for these performances by clicking the button below.

Go For Gold tickets

See you all on TUESDAY!

- Dr Tracy Johnson -

'Bolton' up and down the Dales for D of E Bronze

Last weekend, as the culmination of many months of extended effort, our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh teams took on their assessed expedition in the Yorkshire Dales around Bolton Abbey.

Carrying forward a huge amount of learning and experience from the practice expedition undertaken before Easter in the local area of the school, our four teams ventured further afield to make the trek from Addingham to Conistone through an overnight camping stop at Appletreewick. Everything the students needed from tents to sleeping bags, food to sun cream needed to be carried, and while temperatures were cold overnight some fantastic April sunshine made for great conditions for the teams to focus on their project work as they completed their expeditions. Campcraft, navigation and teamwork as well as grit and effort were all vital skills exhibited as all teams successfully completed the expedition and passed the last stage of their assessments.

Time now to think about the progression to silver and gold..

- Mr Stewart Boyle -

Pupil news

Lydia's success with the Wigton Wolves

Congratulations to Upper 4 pupil Lydia Marsh for her success with the Wigton Wolves football team last weekend. Lydia plays in the U14 team and they won 4-1 to win the West Yorkshire Cup!

Emily and Summer perform in Coppelia

Lower 3 pupils Emily Pheasey and Summer Bell took part in the English Youth Ballet’s production of Coppelia on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd April.

Having successfully auditioned in January, training and rehearsals for the show began in March and took place over three consecutive weekends and one week of the Easter break. The girls trained with young dancers from across the region and professional ballerinas, dancing for up to six hours a day.

The shows were held at the beautiful venue of St George’s Hall in Bradford. Both girls gave a confident and flawless performance in each of the three shows, delighting the audiences which included many of their friends and families.

Summer and Emily are both pupils at Maillot Rose School of Dance In Harewood and are looking forward to continuing to develop their skills and experience in ballet and other dance styles.