St Christopher’s is a community in which we care for each other, learn together, and play together. This week I want to celebrate our school as part of the wider community, whether that is in terms of Hove, our city as a whole, or indeed citizens of the world.
Tomorrow is our annual Artists’ Open House, with our red gates thrown open to the public. Artwork from every child in the school will be on display, and it is a chance for local people to come inside and get a glimpse of the wonderful things that go on behind those gates. Now in our third year, this is a hugely positive experience for all involved, and I hope to see as many of you as possible in what looks to be decent weather. Fingers crossed!
Our life in the local community sees us support other city-wide events in the calendar. We have operated as an area headquarters and water station for the Brighton Marathon on a number of occasions, and it is always good to see St C’s alumni come and say hello and lend a hand.
Coming up after Half Term is our annual Make A Difference Week, when classes across the school will be taking part in various initiatives to help others across our city. In previous years this has seen us clearing scrubland at Devil’s Dyke, making sandwiches for a local homeless shelter, planting at a community orchard, and clearing plastic from the seafront. Everyone can get involved in some way, from Reception to Year 8. The message is you are never too small to make a difference. Pre-Prep Make A Difference Club have made several visits this term to Barford Court, a local retirement home, to join in activities with the residents, which is enjoyed by all involved.
Across the year, our four Houses raise money for their chosen charities, which are a mixture of local and global. This year, we support Off The Fence, Together Co, Rockinghorse, and WWF UK.
A new development this year was the children taking part in a democratic process within our city community, helping to choose a name for the new seafront park. The importance of democracy as part of our shared British Values is an idea that informs many aspects of lessons. It was great to see our children involving themselves in such a process that went beyond our school.
The benefits of helping others are self-evident. At school, our children learn the importance of helping others, particularly as they live lives with more advantages than many in our city. They learn that each of us can do so much to make a difference to others, on a local, national, or global basis.
Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head