Week 4 - Personal development, Yoga, Mindfulness and Adventure

This quote from the World Champion Adventure Racer Robyn Benincasa set the tone for my assembly this week.  I wanted to remind the children and staff of the first weeks back where we raised the flag for St. Peter’s and the new term.  Assemblies are so important for the school to come together regularly as a community, to celebrate success and to focus on our important values.  

As the Year 8s left for their trip to Cornwall I wanted them to think about teamwork and the strength that they can draw from each other as they head into their final year at St. Peter’s and make the most of the leadership opportunities provided by the ‘Spirit of Adventure’ and ‘Cross Keys programme’ which run through Year 7 & Year 8.  This, rather like a junior Duke of Edinburgh, trains and develops interpersonal and leadership techniques.  Children spend time learning First Aid, life-saving and volunteering.  I am constantly impressed by the year 8s who cheerfully help younger pupils and those overloaded with bags in the morning.  They wear their yellow jackets with pride (and I am told that some come in early deliberately to help more, but also to get the coveted yellow ‘bomber’ jacket).

The recent trip to Cornwall prepares the pupils for the major expedition in their final term using the wilderness and beauty of Dartmoor. By then the groups are largely self-reliant and are responsible for their own navigation, catering, shelter and group management, all with a staff backup team in the wings. My very great thanks go out to Mr Pritchard and Miss Lister for their own leadership of the recent trip - for more information please see the Senior Section of the newsletter.

St., Peter’s Prep is unique in providing such a well rounded programme in personal development and, alongside the Baccalaureate with its focus on St. Peter’s (personal) qualities and academic skills, the children have a clear structure for development in all areas.   

As well as the new weekly ‘Yoga for Staff’ sessions, ‘Yoga and Mindfulness for children’ is one of our regular weekly activities and, with a record 38 children arriving for the first session, we are delighted that the concepts of self- awareness, recognition of emotion and understanding of techniques to manage the stresses of life is a very positive initiative.  With coaching such as this, pupils will develop the ability to focus, be resilient and able to achieve great things as they move onto their senior schools and future careers.  

At the IAPS conference in London this week ‘Personal development’ was certainly a buzz word and I felt proud that at St. Peter’s we already have this firmly at the core of what we do in our development of the whole child.  

Much has been happening this week around ‘Lit Fest’ and I thank Miss Lister for her tremendous organisation and enthusiasm as well as Mme Evans for her work on the European Day of Languages.  This has certainly been another busy week!