School years, like many things, occur in cycles – cycles of weeks, terms, and academic years. It is hard to believe that only fourteen weeks ago St Christopher’s pupils were arriving on the first day of Michaelmas Term for the 2023/24 school year, overjoyed to see our new playground. I am now writing my final Reflections of the year. I am writing this on Wednesday from the narrative perspective of term being all over, but with the probability that you will be reading this sitting in a pew at All Saints waiting for Carol Service to begin. I will try and be consistent with tenses!
The end of any cycle is an opportunity for each of us to see how far we have come and celebrate our growth and development. I think this is especially true for children. Ask your children what they are most proud of achieving this term, celebrate their successes, and discuss what they want to achieve next term. This constant cycle of growth and reflection will serve them well on their educational journey and beyond. As ever, “I still can’t do it…” should be reframed as “I can’t do it yet…”, whether in relation to long division or swimming without armbands. New years and new terms are the perfect time to set targets and make resolutions.
This week’s Newsletter is a round-up of the wonderful things that have happened in the final days of this term. The festive season officially began for us last Friday, when it was splendid to see so many of you at Courtyard Carols, and events have followed thick and fast, as you will see.
I would like to give my best wishes to those in our community who will be celebrating Hanukkah from sundown this evening. Winter festivals bring light in a time of darkness, celebrate time spent with family and friends, and the importance of caring for those less fortunate than ourselves. At the end of Carol Service, we thanked our Guest of Honour, Paul Young of Off The Fence, for the 26 years of service he has given to the homeless and vulnerable in our city. We wish him and his wife Wendy all the best for their future in Australia. He is an example to us all at this time of year.
Wherever and however you mark the festive season with your family and loved ones, I wish you all the joys of this most wonderful time of the year.
Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head