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Head’s blog

Growing Minds and Growing Buildings

I hope you have all had a pleasant week. The children are ready for a break now after a busy first half term.

This week’s theme was about Growth Mindset; the idea that intelligence, talents and abilities aren’t fixed, the importance of effort and the power of practice. Ms Sutherns’ Chapel service showed a video of a baby’s 12 month journey in learning how to walk. The little girl had to try again and again, responding to many setbacks, until she was able to master moving around on two feet. Mrs Lumsden’s chapel focused on the science of Growth Mindset and also about the progressions moving from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset. 4EP modelled the steps to a Growth Mindset as a follow up to the Chapel service.

 In all the Chapels and my assembly we also talked about ‘famous failures’ including JK Rowling, Michelle Obama, Stephen Hawking, The Beatles and Ed Sheeran.

In assembly, I played a song by a young Ed Sheeran when he was developing as a musician. It is fair to say that one of the biggest music artists in the world was not born a natural singer and he acknowledges how hard he had to work and practise to get where he is today. When we look at successful people, we are often in awe of their talent but don’t see the hard work, resilience and failures that have taken place in order to get them there.

Musical and Sporting success

Well done to all of the children who took part in the informal concert on Wednesday and those who participated in yesterday’s swimming trials. Congratulations must also go to the girls who went to the IAPS hockey tournament in Cambridge, coming second in the plate competition.

Sports Hall Update

The building is starting to take shape now and, despite the delay, we are still hopeful that it will be ready in time for Christmas. You can see from the pictures that it is starting to look like a sports hall (although you still need to use your imagination a little bit!).

The Sports Hall is going to make a tremendous difference to both the children and the local community. I am particularly excited about the climbing wall and, of course, the cricket nets! The nets will be a tremendous benefit for the children but they also mean that the staff team can prepare throughout the winter, in readiness for their next encounter with the parents!

I am also determined to get the campaign to our £1m target. We have worked for 18 months on this project with Nick Priestnall, the Campaign Director. We started the campaign with the amazing gift of £500,000 and very soon lots of you responded and became Sporting Legends, Gold, Silver or Bronze Medallists; others came to the Ball for a Wall and rode on or supported the London-Paris Bike Ride. More recently some of you have bought bricks on the Pathway to Fitness. We really have helped to build Belmont together. I am hugely grateful for your contributions and generosity. I am delighted that we have now reached an amazing £980,000!

If you haven’t yet contributed to the campaign but would like to, now is the time. There are still a few weeks left to become a Medallist or to get your child’s name on the Pathway to Fitness.  Whether your son or daughter has just joined Belmont or will be leaving Belmont in 2020 it would be great to see that you are part of building Belmont together for the benefit of both current and future Belmontians. Follow the link if you would like to support the campaign.

Half Term Holiday

I would like to wish all of our Year 7 and 8 pupils on the cultural trip to Seville and Granada the very best for a successful tour next week. The weather looks set to be fine and it should be a great experience for all of the pupils. I’d like to thank Miss Turner for all of her hard work in organising the trip. I am looking forward to being part of the tour and I am hoping that Mrs Roberts, who has another week of teaching, will be talking to me again soon.

Have a lovely half term, wherever you are, and see you in a couple of weeks.

Best wishes,

Leon Roberts