Dear ALS Community,
We close the first half-term of our school year having had a wonderful few weeks. I couldn’t have asked for more from the pupils or staff at ALS as they have all hit the ground running this half-term. Our Reception class are really settled with Ms Cook, Year 7 now know their way around the Seniors and Year 12 are adjusting to life at the highest level of school-level education. Thank you to all for a brilliant half-term.
Top billing this week goes to sharing information about our upcoming ALS Winter Ball. The event is an excellent chance for us to celebrate together as a school community and have a lovely evening. Tickets can be booked here via Evolve. For larger table bookings, please email [email protected]. I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Last week, our Year 7 pupils attended a residential trip at an activity centre. The trip is placed at this point in the school year to allow the chance to deepen new friendships and broaden friendships in an environment away from school. As it always is, the trip was a tremendous success and I am sure pupils took much from the experience. On the topic of trips, our first Sports Tour of the year has departed today and our Bay of Naples Trip (for Years 11 - 13) will be heading off over half-term. When we come back after half-term, we will be writing out with more information about the summer residential trips that we have planned. Very exciting!
When we return after half-term, our mantra comes from Dedicas: Inspire others by aspiring to be your best. I think, over this half-term, our sports team have encapsulated this mantra. Whilst on the one hand we have an unbeaten streak for one of our netball teams, we also have had pupils competing for their school for the very first time. At the ISA Midlands Swimming Competition this week, we had some outstanding swims (our Y8 relay team taking the ‘double’ and winning both competitions; Maddy winning the backstroke; Erik winning the butterfly and Isla also winning the butterfly) and we also had pupils competing in a swimming competition for the first time. In hockey, we’ve had some thumping victories this half-term, topped off with a 7-1 for our U15s vs Bowbrook along with our U11s securing a 4-3 victory against Bablake. Whether it’s been a victory, gold medal or not, I am very proud of the pupils who have aspired to be their best on the sports pitch this half-term.
Earlier this week, we held our Year 7 Assessment Day for entry to ALS for September 2023. One side effect of the growth of ALS is that our Year 7 entry is now significantly oversubscribed which means that we are unable to accommodate all of the applicants who hope to join us for their Senior years. We have now written to all of the pupils who took part in the process to provide them with the result of their application and I look forward to seeing the successful external applicants join with our current Year 6 for transition events as we lead up to them joining us for Year 7 September 2023.
The first week back of the next half-term sees our Junior Halloween Disco that is organised by the Sixth Form (we’re never sure who enjoys it more…Reception or Year 12…). If you haven't bought your tickets, please do purchase them through Evolve. On Friday 4th November we will be joining a Leamington wide PJ Day to raise money for LWS Night Shelter. Bring in £1 and wear your PJs for the day. The following week has our Sixth Form Open Evening for Year 11 to learn more about life in Sixth Form to prepare them for the transition to A Level and BTECs in the future.
Closing date for the half term Halloween Holiday Club bookings for Reception – Year 9 is Wednesday 19th October. Please join us for some Halloween activities from Monday 24th – Thursday 27th October, more details can be found here.
Please find our provisional term dates for the next academic year here. They are provisional for now but do take a scan of them to give an indication of our dates. I will send confirmed dates out early in the new half-term.
Best wishes,
David Preston | Headteacher
October 14th 2022
