As we near the end of the summer term and reflect on another successful school year, my thoughts turn to our girls who are in the process of completing their education here at Sutton High School, as they prepare to go out into the world and forge their own paths.
Our three core school values of Courage, Truth and Joy are embedded in our DNA and woven through every aspect of a Sutton High School education. Nowhere are these values more apparent than when we welcome our alumnae back to school. This Saturday we look forward to welcoming over one hundred former alumnae with some coming from as far back as 1941!
It is always a pleasure to see them, hear their stories and watch as they rekindle old friendships, demonstrating the firm bonds built up over the formative school years. We hope that all the girls who leave us this summer will remember the bonds they have formed at Sutton High school are strong enough to last a lifetime and that they will always be welcomed back.
With this in mind, I am delighted to share the news that one of our trailblazing alumnae, Aletha Shepherd, has been shortlisted as the GDST Alumna trailblazer of the Year for her efforts for inclusivity.
Aletha left Sutton High School in 2004 and is the founder of and producer at Shot of Tea, a neoteric production company created with the vision of inclusivity at its core to bring a fresh perspective to the media industry. Since its inception in 2017, Shot of Tea has quickly gained recognition for its successful short films, which play at festivals around the world and have won numerous prestigious, international awards.
As founder, writer, actor and producer, Aletha is at the forefront of seeking out and finding undiscovered voices and talents, platforming those previously not offered opportunities and paving the way for up-and-coming talent. Inspired by her love of filmmaking and the creative arts, Aletha strives to produce visually compelling motion pictures with female lead roles that empower women.
In 2023, she was awarded the Women of the Future Award 2023 in Arts & Culture where the judges praised her resilience, motivation and attitude towards success and failure. This year, she gave her first TEDx talk, “How Letting Go of Dreams Can Unlock Your Unique Story.”
What Aletha has achieved and continues to do is truly remarkable. Her achievements are the embodiment of our three school pillars of courage, truth, and joy.
Thank you for inspiring a new generation of our Sutton High Girls, Aletha.
Beth Dawson, Head