Newsletters

News from Mr Grady

Hello everyone,

How on earth is it December already?  If you’re anything like me, although it does feel like it’s been a long half-term, I can’t quite believe we have just about a fortnight to go until the Christmas break.

As I think I mentioned in a previous newsletter, we are so excited to have our co-curricular offer and groups really starting to pick up momentum, and last week I had the pleasure of watching the last few minutes of the year 7 football team’s match against Parker E-ACT from Daventry.  The year 7 team are ably coached by Dr Brown and Mr Phillips, and their excitement to be playing a real game against another school was palpable.  Unsure of the right things to shout at a football game, and not wanting to offer inappropriate advice, I simply made sure I roared encouraging noises at our team, and left the detail coaching advice to Dr Brown and Mr Phillips.

As I wandered out to catch the end of the game, I could see Mr Quinn, who had volunteered to referee being given a decent workout and run-around by the two year 7 teams – they were fast, and they were driven, and they were playing some very good football.  It was our teams very first game, having only worked together for a few weeks, but already I could see great determination, focus and strategy.  It made me remember my own time in the school football team (I was never good enough for the secondary school team, but I was in my primary school one, as there were only 11 boys in the class in year 6, so irrespective of actual ability I made the team!)

A football pitch is a big piece of ground when you are a year 7 student, and the goal appears a looming chasm of space, and yet despite some great attempts on goal, both goalies acquitted themselves very well indeed.

What was most pleasing was as the final whistle blew, leaving us with a hard fought 3-2 loss, was the sportsmanship of the students, cheering each other, complementing each other on a well-played game.  Talking to our team afterwards, they were mature and reflective about their loss, and how next time they would adapt and play differently.  For the students, it wasn’t completely about winning and losing it was about having got out there and played the game, represented the school with pride and dignity and worked as an effective team.

What a fantastic thing it is to see, such commitment to self-improvement and maturity in working together – and this was year 7 – they certainly offer the promise of great things to come.  The RHS way:  Set heights in your heart, and work hard to meet your own aspirations, with good-humour, maturity, kindness, care and respect.

There.  I managed a whole newsletter about football, without betraying my very poor lack of knowledge about the game…

With all best wishes, stay well and safe!
Mr Grady