I am delighted to announce that Mrs Kate Lord has accepted the position of Boarding Houseparent and teacher for the year starting in September. Many of you will remember Kate who worked with Mr and Mrs Newman in the boarding house last year. She has a background in the army and has recently completed her PGCE. The staff and pupils are thrilled with the appointment and I am sure you will join me in making her welcome. Recruitment for a permanent houseparent will then take place over the Michaelmas term ready for September 2018. I can also let you know that Miss Shannon Baker has accepted a position as a trainee accountant from May half term and we wish her well with her new career. She has been a bedrock of support and fun in the boarding house, at school and on the games field. Shannon will be replaced by Jodie Atkins for the rest of the term. Jodie previously worked as the Boarding Gap here at St. Peter’s so is very familiar with the ropes!
Spending time with the children is absolutely the best part about being a Head and I joined Nursery for their ‘Hello song and dance’ on Monday morning. I’ve welcomed children in my office explaining their work which has made it into the ‘Academic Book of Excellence’ (this week a three page French essay by Abbie in year 8). I had lunch with some Year 6 in my study this week and they enjoyed telling me how impressed they are with the new food changes and we had a great discussion about their Science experiments that they are working on to present in the Science Fair in a couple of weeks. Experiments are all designed by the children from testing the success of various mechanical hand, the porous quality of egg shells to the best chocolate brownie recipe. (This last one is particularly fun!). I’m looking forward to the presentations later in the term.
This week I received a letter from a Year 6 pupil. It was eloquently written, well argued and rather impressive. I replied to the letter asking said child to meet me (with a friend) in my office at break time. They remembered, ( on time ) and we had a super discussion all about my vision for the school and how important I felt the History of the school was. The boys felt reassured that I would be rehanging the previous Headmasters’ portraits in the new library and that I would also be doing an alumni display. The school has a fascinating history and I welcomed Mr Charles Abram for coffee last week, a previous head. He shared with me a detailed history of school done under his watch by a previous master. I particularly enjoyed reading that the school was founded in 1882, as a ‘High Class’ School at Exmouth for the ‘sons of Gentlemen’ . The school was moved from Exmouth to the current site at Harefield in 1949. It is often that I show round families with parents who had attended the school as children and are now looking for their own children. If anyone has any photos or information for our History of St. Peter’s display in the new library, please do let me know. Often they say that they remember St. Peter’s with such fondness as a wonderful place to grow up. A traditional prep school with a real family feel to it which instills good values and nurtures children in an environment full of opportunities. They feel that they benefitted and want the same for their children. Here is a picture of one of the old school blazers and cap. Its really interesting to note the old shape of the shield. In those days they had ‘pips’ for House points which were pinned onto the blazer. This picture of the one above the office shows the original shield shape in more detail and it was we have echoed in our new branding as shown here on one of the new House T-Shirts. .
Have a wonderful bank holiday weekend with the family.
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