What a busy week! What makes it, and this edition of the Newsletter, all the more remarkable is the fact that very few of this week’s major events have taken place in school. Every year group from Reception to Year 7 has been on a trip or residential visit, and Year 8 are packing their bags as we speak to head off early tomorrow on their Leavers’ Weekend. The itinerary this week has included Hove Library, Newhaven Fort, the beach, the Isle of Wight, Oakwood Outdoor Centre, Three Peaks Outdoor Pursuits Centre, the Undercliff Walk, and bushcraft in the Kent countryside. We hope the pictures in today’s edition give you a flavour of what went on; there will be some more detailed reports from the residential trips next week.
The heroes of the week have been 8F, who gallantly faced their Common Entrance Exams whilst everyone else was away having fun. My congratulations to them for the mature and sensible way in which they approach this. They have earned a good rest, and can relax and enjoy the final weeks of term together with 8H, most notably putting on Bugsy Malone at The Barn Theatre in Southwick – tickets are selling fast.
Whilst 8F sat exams, 8H have been extremely busy. They started the week with a cookery lesson taught by our very own Hairy Biker, Mr Holt. The main focus of their week was the Enterprise Challenge, in which the companies that they had formed finally got to sell their products to their peers at Break times. All profits will go to the NSPCC and Little Lifesavers, and I hope to be able to bring you some totals next week.
The final three weeks of term manage to fit even more events. I am delighted to announce that Sports Days return to their pre-Covid format, taking place next Thursday for Pre-Prep and next Saturday for Middle and Upper School. A letter with full information will be sent to all parents at the start of next week. I hope to see a great many of you at these events.
Our focus in these final weeks is not just about enjoying ourselves in the sunshine, as and when it appears. Two important events take place that focus on our involvement with our local community and our city. Our annual Make A Difference Day sees the different year groups taking part in events to support important local projects. Previous years have seen us making sandwiches for Off The Fence, clearing scrubland at Devil’s Dyke, and helping keep Hove seafront free of plastic. Our Sponsored Walk sees the four Houses running to raise money for their four chosen local charities: Rockinghorse, Hangleton Food Bank, Off The Fence, and Leo House at Home.
Next week begins with Move Up Monday – how exciting! The children will spend some time in their new classes, which were announced today, and get to meet some of the new members of staff who will be joining us in September. All in all, it is an exciting time at St Christopher’s, with plenty of adventures still ahead before the long holiday.
Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head