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7th
July, 2006 |
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Dear Parents,
We have been living in
exciting times! It is difficult to take in the
fact that this term we will have replaced well
over 100 years of Craigclowan experience in
seeing the retirements of Pat Cockburn, Chris and
Dennis Rix, Osla Guest, Nuala Kennedy and Rae
Farrow. All have made unique contributions to the
children’s lives during their long
associations with the school. Change does, of
course, bring the opportunity for re-generation
and we welcome Leanie van Niekerk into the school
office to work with Wendy Stewart, Donald Morran
to the grounds, and Melanie Hill to replace
Tracey Stamp in the Pre-School. The natural
replacements on the academic side come in Charlie
Reynolds to learning support, Tracey Stamp to
Form 1 and Gemma Douglas to PE. As you will be
aware, they are all currently on the staff. Their
appointments will provide continuity as well as
regeneration as they are well known to the
children already.
On the subject of change,
Angela and I would like to add our ringing
endorsement to the Governors’ appointment of
Andy Rathborne to my role. He too will bring
regeneration but on the basis of a totally solid
understanding and appreciation of living and
working in the prep school environment. It has
been heart warming for me to hear many people
speak so highly of Andy and Alex as I have been
on my travels this term. We will welcome them to
us on a number of visits in the coming months as
they begin to pick up the threads of the unique
nature of our school.
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Choir Tour to Aschaffenburg |
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Joseph’ by Form IIA |
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F.VII on ‘Ocean Spirit’ |
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On the subject of
my travels, my period of office as
Chairman of IAPS comes to an end on
August 31st. I am very grateful to
everyone for the patience and
understanding shown on numerous occasions
during the year. It has been a second,
almost unique opportunity to be at the
centre of prep school education
nationally and, once more, the experience
has made me appreciate Craigclowan all
the more. I have two remaining duties
next term. During half term I am invited
to speak at the annual conference in
Chicago of the Elementary School Heads of
America and, just before that, in
September at a similar gathering of the
Junior School Heads of Australia in
Brisbane.
Reverting to home,
many of the successes of the year have
been well documented. It is worth
recording again, however, my thanks to
everyone involved in the school. Nothing
would be possible without the care, co-operation,
understanding and sheer pleasure that
comes from the collaborative efforts of
you at home, the staff and governors in
school and the children themselves. A
powerful combination indeed. |
Scripture Union Barbecue and
Games‘ |
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Scottish Rounders Team Members |
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Craigclowan’s Scholars |
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Finally, several
matters of housekeeping, if I may.
I have real
concerns about mobile phone use and
driving. Recently, several parents have
had near misses in the car park because
another driver has been driving and
phoning at the same time. The car park is
hectic as we know. I can only urge you to
put the children first on the school
grounds and not risk their safety by
using the telephone when on the move.
After all, it could be your child on the
wrong end of a crash!
Included with
this letter are two leaflets. The first
from SCIS outlines the Personal Accident
cover that all the children in the school
have. This for information only. All
children are covered out of the fees that
you pay. The second from SFS is optional.
It is an insurance that can be taken out
by parents to cover fees in the event of
accident or illness to a parent.
It is fee
increase time again. Consideration of
fees is a constant recurring theme in all
schools. All fee increases are undertaken
after the utmost care and consideration.
Salary increases, pension costs, costs of
insurance and energy are all significant
this year. The Governors, in taking these
factors into account have determined the
fee for the next academic year to be £2600
a term.
The Second hand
uniform sale will be set up in the Upper
Classroom of the Pre School on Thursday,
July 13th. If you have any clothes, that
are clean, neat and tidy, that you might
like to sell, pop them into my study in a
bag clearly labelled with your name.
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F.V Camp |
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Sports Day |
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I am available
for appointments in the first two weeks
of the holiday, and by arrangement
thereafter. We will have ‘open
house’ as usual for you to
‘drop in’ any time between 9am
and 3pm if you want to see your new
classroom etc without the need of an
appointment. Whether we see you at the
beginning, in the middle or at the end of
the summer we all wish you happy travels
wherever they may take you.
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With best wishes and
grateful thanks for your part in making
Craigclowan what it has become,
Yours sincerely,
Mike Beale |
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