FA Cup winners!

I am sure that everyone knows by now that our amazing Under 15s girls football team are the new English Schools FA Cup Champions! The girls capped off a magical season by winning the treble in style – Stockport, Manchester and now National champions too. The girls played with passion, spirit, determination and a respect for the opposition that is common to all MHS sports teams.

A remarkable run for a remarkable team, and thoroughly deserved. Opponents Kings Langley were a really strong team and are a school with an equally ambitious outlook for their students, it was great to share the pitch and the stands with them. Team MHS were supported so well by the travelling family and friends, and of course by the 44 students who made their presence known in the stands. Outnumbered but certainly not outvoiced, the chants from team MHS were non-stop and so supportive. Not only that, but the whole school got behind the team with the game live streamed into every classroom and our halls over lunch. My colleagues tell me that they have never felt an atmosphere like it at MHS, the whole school site reverberating to the cheers when the teams came out, when Penny scored her two amazing goals, and at the final whistle. As one boy said to Miss Gregory: ‘This is a really mint day for our school isn’t it, miss. I’m really glad I come here!‘ I wish I could have been in two places at once to feel what it was like in school as well as by the pitch.

It was an excellent all round performance with solid defence, great goalkeeping, creativity in attack and a determination perhaps best shown my Katie Turner dragging herself to her feet to clear the ball at in the closing minutes whilst struggling with cramp. The match is still available to watch online with professional level commentary throughout – what a treat for the players and families. One highlight of many around 29.30 into the stream…”Ooooh what a goal that is! Penny Hallos take a bow. That is quite superb!’ It’s well worth a watch and is available here: www.youtube.com/ESFATV

Thank you to everyone who has supported this team, and supported sports at MHS in general. Thanks to your help, we have managed to raise close to £1500 (on top of the costs of travel to the game) to further support sports in the future, and to build on the inspiration that the U15 have given us. I absolutely love what this team of girls has done for MHS, they have brought us together more than anything else, and I could not be any prouder of our school than I am this week.

But…it’s the end of term (almost) and it would be remiss of me not to mention to other fantastic events taking place this week

Celebration assemblies for each year group, a KS3 Sports Day yesterday with brilliant support for those taking part, a wonderful Spark Night last night – the best attended ever – and our annual Spark Day which is due to start in about an hour from now. The school is looking great, the stalls are being set up, the staff and students are up for it and the sun is shining…it promises to be a fantastic afternoon. What a wonderful way to end the term!

I’ll be in touch one more time next week before the break, but for now I wish you all a great weekend and, for those going away, safe travels during enrichment week.

Best wishes,

Joe Barker

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