On Tuesday this week (5 February) is ‘safer internet day.’ I mentioned this in my blog last week, as you will know. We all use the internet at various times throughout the day. It has become an integral part of the way we live our lives. We use the internet to communicate, play games, TV, learn, complete homework, do shopping and to find out information from a variety of sources. It is a fantastic tool, when used appropriately. Assemblies this week will be on internet safety, as will PSCHE lessons.

Last week, Mrs Wallis led assemblies to remind us all of the terrible atrocities that were committed as part of the Holocaust. It is important that we remember this event and the  genocide of the Jews during World War Two. It is a tragedy that similar events have taken place in other countries since then and it is through standing up for each other, being tolerant and respecting one another that we can work together to avoid this kind of horrific event being repeated. 

I wanted to start this week by thanking those students who helped a member of our local community last week. As I said in assembly last week, I was incredibly proud and pleased to receive a letter which stated not only that you are well behaved outside of the College, but also that some of you had gone further, helping one of the local residents. This is a great example to all of us and something we can all do.

I’d like to start this blog by thanking you all for a very positive first week back. We have visited several lessons and have seen you working well and making good progress – let’s keep that up, please. I have added a new section in the blog on ‘notices for the week,’ which will contain information on assessments, internals and other events for the week ahead. 

 

A very happy new year to you all – I hope you all had a very good break and are feeling ready for the term and year ahead.

Last week, we visited several lessons across the College and saw you working hard and doing well. Well done to all - please make sure you keep this up for the last week and a half of this term. I received a message from a member of the local community last week who commented on your good behaviour outside of college too. It is great to have positive feedback from members of the general public. This week we are holding our Christmas carol concerts in our local church. This is an opportunity to bring our college community together and also for you to demonstrate your excellent behaviour as we walk to and from the church.

You all know our values at MRC – they were chosen by you in 2016 and it is important that we all use them as a guide in our work and interactions with each other. I know we don’t get things all the right all the time – we all make mistakes every day (students and staff), but it is important that we learn from these and try harder next time to get things right. It is also important to remember that when we make mistakes, we don’t it deliberately.

This week, I will start be thanking all of you who represent our College. We have several sports teams, including rugby, football, netball, hockey and athletics. We also have an orchestra and many other music and drama groups who perform for us; the Winter Concert this week provides an opportunity for us to appreciate the talented musicians that we have at MRC. I’d also like to thank our House Captains, who are proud to wear their house ties and support the College.

One of our values is respect. I am hugely impressed with the way you demonstrated your respect for others last week, through the amount of money you raised for BBC Children in Need. You raised over £1300, which is a great total for a great cause; the money will help young people both in this country and in others. Well done and thank you. Last year you raised well over £10000 for various charities – we are well on our way to beating that total already, with over £2500 raise already. Well done!

I am always proud of your behaviour, effort and work in College. Last week, however, I think you all showed yourselves at your very best. Our Armistice assembly and commemoration with the poppies you made were both outstanding. You demonstrated respect and empathy for those who have given their lives for us. It is important that we continue to remember them throughout the year – not just at the beginning of November.