NEWSLETTER
Dear parent, guardian, and friend,
It has been an eventful term here at Ribblestrop, and I am writing to thank you for entrusting your children to my care and that of my diligent staff. Ribblestrop, I believe, is a home away from home, where we provide a secure sanctuary and equip young people with life skills. To take you through the events as they occurred would be a hard task for any man. While my own motto is “look to the future,” it would be wrong of me to let the year pass without mentioning some of the spectacular achievements of your children.
First of all, we now have a roof. Under the mathematical guidance of our two new members of staff, Captain Routon and Professor Worthington, a substantial amount of last term’s fire damage has been put to rights. This means we have more classroom space and will be developing a library and seminar room in due course. If you could have seen your children scaling the slopes and working together, you would have been even prouder than you undoubtedly are already. I put it to you that the combination of academic and practical skills that these children have been learning puts them way ahead of the game when it comes to survival experiences. In the arena of sport, Ribblestrop has acquitted itself well; reading and writing are also coming on strong. The choir has made a sound start; some children have developed their skills as drivers, welders, and marksmen.
On a sadder note, you will, no doubt, have heard of the premature depature of our deputy headmistress. In her brief time at Ribblestrop, Miss Hazlitt was one of those teachers that made a real difference. She was dedicated - few children will forget the care with which she taught good manners, for example. On a happier note, you will be pleased to know that Captain Routon is making a speedy recovery.
But what of the future?
I am proud to tell you that scarcely a day goes by without some new enquiry from an interested parent. A substantial injection of funding has allowed me to look not just to our infrastructure, but also to the recruitment of new staff. As I said to the children on day one, you have to be builder and dreamer combined at Ribblestrop: and that is what I can promise for the New Year – expansion, dedication to excellence, and massive ambition. I hope your children get the rest they deserve over the holiday (our orphans certainly will, because they are staying here) – and I look forward to welcoming them back next term, for more of the same!
Thank you for your support to date. Please don’t forget that each child must be equipped with a flower press for next term, as nature study dominates the spring curriculum.
Dr. Giles Norcross-Webb
Dr. Giles Norcross-Webb
Headmaster