One of the very best things any Head can wish for is the support of the parents in their school community. An active Parents’ Association that supports and enriches the life of the school is something even more precious. At St Christopher’s, we have a long-standing Parents’ Association who do great work throughout the year supporting the children and providing great social events for our whole community.
Without attempting to be a comprehensive list, let’s consider some of the things our PA do: They run our annual Spring Fair spectacular, which last year raised over £3000 for a local charity. They keep us in Pimm’s and other refreshments on Sports Day. They organise the annual Quiz Night, which was sold out again this year and a great success. They funded the new climbing frame on the playground which is such a hit with the children, and also last term’s hugely successful Silent Disco. The equipment in the Hall on show for our concerts and plays, from the backdrop curtains to the lights and sound system, are gifts from our PA, as are the cameras used by Mr Holt and his team to document school events. When Covid prevented us from playing against other schools, our generous PA sponsored our use of venues like YelloWave and Hove Lagoon. Last Summer Term, the whole of Upper School enjoyed takeaway pizza at The Barn Theatre before their first performance of Fame. These are just some of the ways the PA make such a positive contribution to the school.
As this Newsletter goes out, the Parents’ Association are busy setting up for tonight’s Courtyard Carols event, where they will keep us in mulled wine and mince pies to keep out the chill. This is a lovely, informal way to start the festive season, and I look forward to seeing many of you there. Do please take the time to chat to a member of the PA if you are interested in taking an active role with them.
I have lived in England for over twenty years, and much of British Culture is now completely familiar to me. I rarely confuse “chips” and “crisps”, and I am aware that a muffin is something toasted and buttered rather than some sort of cake. However, the traditional Pantomime is an area that I am still getting to grips with. Oh yes it is! My sincere thanks to Mrs J Griffiths for taking on the extra task of moulding a team of staff into the company of a production of Cinderella, the casting of which was Top Secret until our opening and closing performances this afternoon. I can honestly say that I found the experience somewhat terrifying, and I am in awe of our children who can learn lines and perform in front of an audience with such grace and poise.
We hope to see as many of you as possible at All Saints Church next Thursday morning for our annual Carol Service. I thought last year’s event was wonderful, and I’m sure that this year’s event will enable us all to begin the holidays full of good cheer.
Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head