In a term in which my assembly theme has been based on words removed from the junior Oxford dictionary, I thought it would be appropriate to invent one to add to it this week. We have entered a period which I shall call “trip-a-thon” time.
In what can perhaps be described as an overload of enjoyment, all year groups have been out and about, experiencing new things in the last 10 days. The Year 3s on Friday enjoyed their trip to Chiddingstone, despite the rain and this week they have been enjoying the company of pupils from Shoreham Village School on Monday for the spectacularly successful Tanzania day and the Year 2s, who have been up here being creative and collaborative in a variety of workshops designed to settle them and give them confidence as they move around the Prep school. My colleagues’ quality thinking and planning came up trumps as this logistical jigsaw has fallen into place almost seamlessly over the week. In just two days, the Year 2s have grown in confidence and familiarity with the routines of Prep.
Superimposed onto this activity we welcomed 25 pupils from Plaxtol Primary School, who joined in the Year 5 Codathon, masterminded by Jamie Booth, all day Tuesday, while parents in the library enjoyed another mental health first-aid course delivered by West Kent Mind.
The end of last week came to a most joyful conclusion when Year 8 presented their “play in a week”, “Melon City” which was a delightful ensemble piece enabling them to have fun, work strongly as a team and deliver an impressive and enjoyable story, word perfect, by heart. Their particularly moving finale involved a rewrite of the song “When all is said and done” which was touching and beautifully performed with each pupil having a solo moment.
I’m very proud of all the Common Entrance results secured by Year 8s and it was great for them to celebrate at the end of the week feeling proud of all their achievements.
It’s been fun to get daily updates from Suffolk, where Year 8s are now enjoying an action-packed week and from Paris, where the Year 7s are enjoying “la belle vie Parisienne”.
Yesterday’s challenge project in my group taught me about the invention of the telephone and the invention of the ballcock and U- bend. One of the nicest things about the challenge project group sessions is that we all learn from one another. A steady trickle of excellent and original projects is passing across my desk and I very much enjoy taking a moment to look at the work these children have created with inventiveness, style, commitment and talent.
Today you will receive the class lists for your children next year and on Monday they will be experiencing a taste of things to come. We are welcoming in all our new staff for their induction day and we very much look forward to the next phase in the development of St Michael’s Prep.
Whatever you’re doing this weekend, enjoy it.
Jill Aisher