This week my challenge is what not to write about, I’m certainly happy to bypass all references to politics! Rich learning pervaded all parts of the school in a feast of creative timetabling and excellent extracurricular programming. When we decided a few years ago to concentrate alternative provision into one week, trips week, I don’t believe that we anticipated quite the combination that St Michael’s pupils experienced this week.
A Roman extravaganza for Year 4 on Monday with complementary costumes supported by our fabulous parent participants, Kent Fire Rescue training for Years 1-6, a soggy science trip for Year 5 to Herstmonceux observatory, a French film experience for Year 6 in South Kensington, a talk from an ex-prisoner about prison life, gang culture, behaviour and respect and then the Big Sing involving all of Year 2&3 and some other fantastic primaries nearby and a wonderful uplifting concert at the end of their workshop day. On top of that we’ve had Science week, culminating in Y7’s mission to Mars day today, the Jersey tour for Year 8 and some Year 7, the first homework challenge presentation morning, Pre-Prep trips to see life at Sealife and finally today celebrating, and in Pre-Prep raising money for, Red Nose Day.
Superimpose on that little lot a parent training workshop day by Kent Mind on mental health first-aid and a successful and varied governing body meeting and you have the perfect week at St Michael’s Prep!
This is of course the stuff of which memories are made but I have to thank all my colleagues for the huge amount of extra work that designing and delivering such a week involves.
Fantastic team work, brilliant support from parents and close attention to the logistical implications of all of these things made it a tremendously successful week and I thank everyone involved in making the extraordinary happen every day.
We’ve tried to “tweet the week” as it unfolded and for those of you who are not yet signed up to our Twitter feed we commend it to you in a week such as this.
Can I please also add my thanks to the IT department for supporting so many different things this week, the admin team for welcoming so many visitors, Mark and the catering team for delivering extra and delicious food for our visitors and the estates team who work so hard to make our site look beautiful and are responsible for the thousand bulbs planted which are now revealed in our newly dancing daffodils.
For the many blessings we enjoy at St Michael’s we often give thanks but this week we have been in laudatory overload!
Wherever you are this weekend, have a good one.
Jill Aisher