Year 6 are preparing for their first full set of exams, ready to move up to Upper School next term, and Year 7 will soon start thinking about their formal letters of application for positions of responsibility such as Prefect and Sports Captain next year. As a result, my focus this week is the opportunities for our Senior children.
Exams are indeed on the horizon for all of our older children, and my best wishes go to those in Year 8 who will sit Scholarship Award exams next week alongside the Year 6s. Exams are part of life in Upper School, but St Christopher’s children learn all the habits that make for good revision and effective preparation, so that they can give the very best of themselves in their final exams before they move to senior school. Our record of Academic Scholarships and placing children at their chosen school speaks for itself.
Once the exams are all over, it’s time for lots of fun, whilst continuing our learning in new and exciting ways. Year 8 will devote a whole week to a Dragons’ Den style Enterprise Challenge. They will come up with products, games, and activities to offer to the school on the last day before Half Term. All proceeds go to charity, and the team with the biggest profit from their initial investment of £50 wins. More details to follow soon! They have their residential trip, camping in Dorset, to look forward to. For many Old Boys and Girls when they come back to visit us years later, it is the Leavers’ Trip that holds some of their fondest memories of their time at St Christopher’s.
Year 7 will head off to France after Half Term for our longest and most immersive residential trip. They will return with lots of great memories of activities with their friends and some very well practised French. As I have already mentioned, they are preparing to inherit the mantles of our Year 8s as Heads of School, House Captains, Prefects, Sports Captains, and Ambassadors. The chance to have positions of responsibility as they enter their teenage years is one unique to prep schools, and one that gives them many valuable skills that will stand them in good stead when they make the transition to senior school. As Year 6 prepare to make the transition to Upper School, they are most excited about becoming part of our Buddy system, and taking on a mentoring role to next year’s Reception children.
Professional actors would jump at the chance to perform at the Cairns Theatre at Brighton College, as it puts many West End venues to shame. Every child in Years 7 and 8 is involved in our production of Shrek The Musical, which will be performed at the Cairns Theatre on 26th and 27th June. For children aged 12 or 13 to have the starring roles centre stage at this magnificent venue is a wonderful opportunity. The whole of Upper School will have the fantastic experience of working in this award winning building, from those singing and dancing onstage, to those with vital backstage roles who keep things running smoothly, to the photographers and technicians working with sound, lighting, and visuals.
It’s a busy time of year, but a very vibrant and exciting one!
Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head