The Head’s reflections on the week - St Christopher's Prep Hove
students playing sports

The Head’s reflections on the week

Posted: 24th January 2025

Last week’s Newsletter went live slightly later than normal, as the fantastic news that the U11 Girls had won the Pelican Cup arrived just as we were preparing to go to press. This week is a bumper one for sport, and so I have made it the focus of my article this week. Physical activity is so important for children as lifestyles become more sedentary, and the Roman poet Juvenal’s famous tag mens sana in corpore sano (“A healthy mind in a healthy body”) explains perfectly the relationship between physical and mental health. St Christopher’s children have Games lessons twice each week, as well as a PE session in the Hall or on the front playground. Starting in Year 3, our children travel across Sussex to play a wide variety of local prep schools in competitive fixtures. This week alone we fielded ten Netball teams, nine Rugby teams, sent an U11 team to a Football tournament against local primary schools, and attended a Swimming Gala. After School Clubs for Yoga, Martial Arts, and Football also took place.

We are proud of our sporting achievements; the latest cup or shield we have won is the first thing visitors see when they come through our door. Our 2024 Rugby season was a strong one, with tournament victories at both Worth Abbey and in the Windlesham 7s. Girls’ Cricket continues to flourish, with our U13 team winning the ECB indoor tournament last season. Mixed Football is also on the rise with Saskia, our Head Girl, playing for the 1st XI and in the Gothia Cup.

The Sports section of the Newsletter is rarely a clean sweep of victories. Not every team that sets out comes back with a win. To me, this is nearly as important as when teams come back with medals and silverware. Taking part in competitive sport builds resilience in children, which is more important than ever. Take a defeat gracefully, always shake hands afterwards, and put it down to experience. There is always the next match, the next season. Use the growth mindset – what do I need to work on in Games sessions? How can we communicate better as a team? Sport is a perfect example, alongside Music, of an area where every moment spent training and practising counts.

Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head

Categories: Head's Reflections