A frenetic half term

I imagine that we are all ready for a well-earned rest with our families, after such a frenetic start to the School year. It seemed appropriate therefore for my family to celebrate the beginning of the half term holiday with a traditional Arnold Parents' and Friends' family event - the Junior School Halloween Party. Children and parents alike had a great time, and we enjoyed some amusing entertainment, a delicious supper and lots of dancing! The PFA team had clearly worked flat out to organise yet another fantastic night; this time for the younger members of our community. Thank you. Special mention must go to our Junior School teachers who joined in the fiendish fun. Mrs Knight's talents as a face painter were put to constant use throughout the night, and Mrs Smith proved she was a great sport when she allowed the girls' team to transform her into an Egyptian Mummy during one particularly ghoulish (and messy) game! Mrs Briggs had the tricky task of selecting the best dressed ghoul.

The PFA AGM on Monday night marked the end of Christine Atkins' tenure as Chair of the Arnold PFA. Christine has been involved with the Association for a decade and has worked tirelessly as Chair for the past six years. The school is exceptionally grateful for everything that Christine has done for us, with the constant support of her husband, David. We thank them both. I would also like to thank Cheryl Thornley, Bethan Worthington, Kathryn Morris, Ian Fairhead, Lorraine Lane and Angela Mills for their sterling efforts during their time as members of the Committee. Lisa Lonberg has taken over as Chair and we all wish her, and the rest of the committee, well as they prepare for their Christmas Fayre and Christmas Party Night. Details of these events, and all other PFA activities, can be found on the website: http://bit.ly/coKQi9.

I am still coming down off my high following Tuesday night's Autumn Concert. The depth and breadth of talent on show was quite amazing. We are putting together some tracks from the concert to a collage of photos, and this production will soon be available to view on the Arnold TV Channel. I have resisted the temptation to try and take on Apple by launching our own 'aTunes' site! Our new Director of Music, Daniel Chandler, and his assistant David Hewitt certainly hit the ground running. One invited guest summed up the evening by saying ''we are very much looking forward to our next experience of Arnold magic!'' Well they won't have to wait too long as tickets for 'Calamity Jane' went on sale this week and nearly a third have been snapped up already. Please book early to avoid disappointment: http://bit.ly/diMKBg.

On Wednesday the U16 hockey squad won the County Round of the National Championships in style by scoring 27 goals and conceding just one. All three Arnold teams (U14, U16 and U18) have now qualified for the Regional Round and we wish our girls well as we continue our quest for another National Title.

Congratulations and best wishes must also go to four pupils who will be playing for the Pennine Pumas over half term. They will be competing in the Futures Cup which is an integral part of the England hockey selection process. Sophie Akhtar, Jessica Omasolli and Charlotte Evans are in the girls U16 squad and Alex Evans is in the boys U16 squad. Good luck.

Well done to the U12 rugby team for their first victory in Arnold colours when they defeated KEQMS in a closely fought game.

The second half of Autumn term is always extraordinarily busy with extra-curricular activities so this holiday is a great opportunity to recharge our batteries. However, please remember that Year 10 will sit Science modules immediately after the break and our sixth formers will take important modules early in the New Year. Other year groups will, of course, face their own academic challenges in the second part of term. I expect pupils to undertake some sensible consolidation work during the half term holiday and then sustain an appropriate focus on their academic efforts right up until Christmas. To quote Thomas Edison, 'genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration'.

I wish you and your families a restful half term holiday.

Best wishes

Jim Keefe, Acting Head

Posted by: J E Keefe
Date: Monday 18/10/2010