News from Mr Grady
Hello all,
I am told (I've not been counting) that this is the 41st Newsletter of the year. 41 is a Prime Number. (I knew this I didn't have to look it up.) The 41st British Prime Minister by my reckoning was William Gladstone. (I did have to look that up.) 41 is 1 away from 42, which for those of you that have read or seen "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams will know is the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything.
Why do I share all of these facts? Because right back at the start of the year, one of the things I spoke about was the continued joy and curiosity of learning, and for me that is still the thing that should underpin all that we do. We may have had to do things differently, but we have hopefully kept the joy of learning alight in some way for everyone! When I saw that this was the 41st newsletter I was immediately curious as to what I could say about it, and enjoyed looking up something new as well as using things I already knew to make a connection. I bet some of you will read this and happily let it pass you by, but others will think "who was the 40th Prime Minister?" or "what number is our current Prime Minister," or indeed, (although hopefully not) "what is a Prime Number?" Whatever your response, it will have poked your curiosity in some way, and that is what we're all about, whatever the circumstances!
A single newsletter cannot hope to capture all the successes of the past academic year, and although I'm sure, since March it might have felt like a very odd year, we cannot let the final newsletter of the year go by without celebrating the achievements of our students, and indeed of our staff. We have missed 2 celebration assemblies since our move to remote learning, but it doesn't mean that students have not produced some great work and effort, or that staff and student efforts haven't been appreciated!
I know that we have all had our own personal challenges throughout this year, and I so pleased to see that we are approaching the end of term having stepped up to those challenges and found a way through. We have maintained the heights in our heart and will do so with even greater fervour next academic year!
One of the biggest things I've missed are those moments when the whole school community comes together in one room, and we can look about and say "This is us: This is our school." Those are the moments when you can see what RHS is physically - nearly 1000 people in one space. But what I've also missed are the little day-today things of smiling at friends and colleagues in corridors, of sharing a joke or an anecdote, of eating together, learning together and generally enjoying all the aspects of the RHS community, when you realise what RHS is beyond the physical - a supportive and warm environment, where we can feel safe and cared for, and where we can continue to develop our joy and curiosity of learning.
I hope, whatever your experience that this year has had positive moments, and that you have had chance to find joy and curiosity in something you have done. I hope too, that you have felt RHS as a constant presence in whatever state we have been, and although I know, like any school we may not always have been perfect, or got things the way everyone would have liked that we have at least listened, and reflected and responded.
And finally I hope that over the summer, you enjoy some peace in whatever form that be, some rest and and some recuperation. We are eager to see what September will look like, and are looking forward to working with you all, staff, students, parents and carers during the next Academic year to go on setting ever higher heights in our heart, and to once again come together as the Rugby High School Community.
With very best wishes to you all for a safe and restful summer holiday,
Mark Grady
Head Teacher
Not to be missed: Our Summer Farewell Video. 
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