stmarys.mail The weekly newsletter of St Mary’s School Edition No. 20 14th May 2021

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES/EVENTS

Monday 17th May Wednesday 19th May (cont’d) Form 3 trip to Abbotsford Board of Governors Meeting 5:15pm Tennis lessons 4/6 Thursday 20th May Tuesday 18th May Form 2 trip to Gunsgreen SMT Meeting 8:30am Tennis lessons 6/6 Wednesday 19th May Friday 21st May Kindergarten Pedal Push 11am Science Clinic for Form 8, 4-5pm

NOTE FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD Mr and Mrs Harvey thoroughly enjoyed last Friday evening when welcoming the Blunt Family for an outdoor visit. Christoph, Lorna, Wilfie, Dicken and Imo were on top form and were delighted to have a yomp around their old school, showing keen interest in all the new developments. The Blunts then gifted us a beautiful fire-pit; what a thoughtful present, entirely topical given our new garden developments and one which will be well used by pupils for years to come.

Monday brought Common Entrance into sharp focus as our Form 8 pupils sat their mental arithmetic paper. They were calm and composed before the CD play button was pressed and I am pleased to report the same can be said as the test was completed! With our CE candidates into their stride, Tuesday brought about their French Listening and Speaking exam. An exhausting day for Madame Bruce in particular, was made all the easier by credible performances from all involved. Très Bien.

Wednesday’s Form 8 science clinics continue to be well attended, allowing for fine tuning of the vast science curriculum in preparation for June’s Physics, Chemistry and Biology papers.

We were all delighted to receive the news on Tuesday evening that Iona W has been awarded a Basil Hume Scholarship to Ampleforth College (with an emphasis on sport); those of us who have taught Iona since Reception are well aware of her sporting prowess and we are thrilled for her.

Thursday’s good news story came in the form of an email from Oundle – Tiggy has been awarded an Academic Scholarship to Oundle following on from her gruelling examination and interview process. Many an adult would have struggled with the programme Tiggy has been through and she thoroughly deserves her success. We are all extremely proud of her. Kindergarten had a splendid morning at Wooplaw Woods. It was lovely to see them all so happy on their return.

On a housekeeping matter, today we conducted our termly fire drill. It is pleasing to report that this went very efficiently.

Have a good weekend.

BOARDING HOUSE NEWS https://bit.ly/33Lkyn8

NOTE FROM MADAME BRUCE On Tuesdays the Form 8s sat their Common Entrance oral exams in French. It is always a nerve- wracking day for them, but without exception they did themselves proud this year. They deserve a huge well done for the hard work and preparation that went into preparing for these short but important exams. They also sat Common Entrance Listening on the same day, meaning that half of the French papers are completed already. Only Reading and Writing to go! Well done Form 8, and keep on trooping.

Mme Bruce

REQUEST FOR PLASTIC BOTTLES A call for clean, plastic bottles to be brought in at the start of next week to enable Mrs Stuart to get F7 building some lung models. Size not important. Will recycle once used! UPPER KINDERGARTEN ARE ENJOYING TRIPS TO MRS CURRIE’S CLASSROOM

Mrs L Berni

FORMS 5 – 8 ROUNDERS TOURNAMENT – results to follow

GREAT BORDERS RIVER CLEAN – Mr Rawson would appreciate support This weekend’s Great Borders River Clean could well prove to be one of the biggest yet. I am extremely grateful to have had the support of both St. Mary’s School and the Fallago Environment Fund as the Great Borders River Clean has grown into one of the country’s largest (if not the largest) synchronised river clean series. It was amazing to see 453 volunteers in c30 Borders communities attend last Spring’s pre-lockdown event . The Great Borders River Clean has been superbly supported by so many St. Mary’s families over the last few years and I am sure that this weekend will be no exception. I will be at and on Saturday and at Tweedbank and Melrose on Sunday and would love to see you there.

SATURDAY SUNDAY – 0900 @ Manor Bridge Peebles – 0900 @ Haylodge Innerleithen – 1000 @ Red Bull Car Park – 1000 @ Netherdale Car Park Galashiels – 1000 @ Obstacle/Assault Course, Tweedbank – 0930 @ Lowood Bridge Car Park Melrose Road Hawick – 1000 @ Common Haugh West Linton – 1000 @ Village Centre Selkirk – 1000 @ bridge Earlston – 1000 @ Earlston Cauldie Melrose – 1200 @ Chain Bridge Kelso – 1000 @ car park by Garden Centre Cardrona – 1330 @ Nashy’s Selkirk – 1000 @ Ettrick Water bridge – 1500 @ Coldstream Bridge Ancrum – 1000 @ Ancrum Football Club Leaderfoot – 1400 @ Leaderfoot Viaduct Stow – 1030 @ Quoiting Green Eddleston – 1400 @ Village Hall Walkerburn – 1330 @ Walkerburn Bridge Eddleston – 1400 @ Village Hall