Sunday 9th
December
After Lights Out
Dear Parents,
It’s well after
lights out and my computer is on a go slow so please excuse a short
letter this evening.
I have got to
the stage of term where I’m writing lists to remind me of the things
that need doing and the length of the list scares me. Nevertheless,
there’s an exciting week ahead of us and after the lovely weekend
that we’ve enjoyed at Ashdown, I did want to share it with you.
The scenario is
not a great one: the weather has been hideous – driving rain and
high winds; sodden pitches and flooded courts; tired children at the
end of the longest term; tired staff trying to meet exam marking and
report deadlines and keep up with the teaching, coaching and
organising of entertainments. The patience of some of my colleagues
often amazes me as an excited child asks a senseless question and
they respond with a smile and a good answer. So on the surface of
it, a testing time of term….but as I was trying to say in Chapel
this morning, advent is all about a burst of light in amongst the
gloomiest of moments. And this weekend has been that burst of light.
This evening’s
concert was a real treat. Mrs Colville wanted to involve every pupil
in the school in this term’s concert and so each form performed the
piece that they have been working on in class music lessons. We had
all sorts of instruments including xylophones, handbells and gazoos
(is that what they’re called?) and the Theatre felt more like a
spontaneous house party than a formal concert. As the orchestra
accompanied us all with some carols, we went out feeling a bit
better about life (and that wasn’t just the mulled wine).
This afternoon,
the whole school had convened in the swimming pool for Mr Gilsenan’s
alternative swimming gala. The 1s had to organise their patrols to
find teams for the doggy paddle, feet first, swimming with a netball
relays. Then each patrol was timed clearing the pool of ping pong
balls (there’s a technique to that I can tell you…and the Rhinos
went last - they’d worked it out). The swimming pool gets pretty hot
at the best of times and with the whole school there, it was
positively tropical. As the swimmers pounded the lanes, their team
mates bawled encouragement at them and Mr Gilsenan fielded
challenges for a stewards’ enquiry. Some of them were upheld but not
my claim that the Rhinos should be docked points for soaking me with
their extravagant dives. Near deafened and boiled, but a very jolly
afternoon while the weather did its worst outside.
This morning saw
just about the whole school put through its paces for Scottish
reels. The dancing parties take place mid week and it’s important
that the children know when to go ‘heel-toe’ and when to ‘turn their
partners round’. The senior dance on Wednesday evening was a real
joy last year and I hope that we can create that special atmosphere
again this year (while the 4s and 5s sit in the front hall to have
hot chocolate and carols and await the arrival of Santa Claus…who is
obviously terribly clever because he always manages to dress up a
bit like Mr Kitto to give the evening an Ashdown theme.)
I’m sorry that
the girls’ last netball matches were called off yesterday, but it
wasn’t a marginal decision. Unfortunately you can’t call rugby off
for bad weather (well, not at Ashdown) and so we sent U9s, Colts A
and B and 1st and 2nd XV out to face the elements. I know that the
Colts were outplayed by the Yardley Court teams but the U9s managed
to squeeze home against the Yardley B team and at senior level,
where our numbers are more equal and we can play even teams, the 1st
XV lost narrowly and the 2nd XV won narrowly – both matches decided
in the last minutes. That the boys should even keep going in weather
that had this referee fleeing for cover under parental brollies at
half time, is testament to their character. I was lucky enough to
referee the 2nd XV and I was very proud of their courage and
determination up to the final whistle.
But now we’re
into the final run in. Christmas lunch, trips to the theatre, carols
at Gatwick Airport, Christmas sketches (and the famous
‘one-rehearsal’ staff panto…don’t even know what we’re doing yet!)
plus the more mundane clearing up and packing…and then it will be
Saturday morning and we’ll all be off to Coleman’s Hatch for the
carol service. Our collection this year will be for Step by Step and
Chailey Heritage who do fantastic work on the one hand for children
with autism and on the other for young people with brain injury.
Do please remember to put any donations in a gift Aid envelope so
that the charity maximises their income. I’ll try to concentrate and
to stop singing when Mrs Colville tells us to (because I’m not sure
that she’s really forgiven me for last year yet)…and home for the
holidays. I’m sure that you’re looking forward to having them home.
Sarah and I
therefore take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy
Christmas and all that you hope for in 2008.
