February 10th 2024
Assemblies are such an important part of school life, giving an opportunity to come together, to celebrate achievements, for children to perform, and to set the tone for our community. Form assemblies are always particularly special, and both the school and parents have loved all this term’s performances, with Year 5’s Star Wars themed productions being particular highlights. I went to see the original Star Wars (which somehow is now fourth in the series?!) on its release in 1977, and it’s no surprise that the film’s theme of the triumph of Good v Evil still resonates to current generations.
My prep school assemblies this term have all focussed on our school values of Kindness, Courage and Curiosity. We’ve discussed the Mars Rover (Curiosity), the English cricket team (Courage), and most recently the life of Sir Michael Colman (Kindness), who was a very good friend of my mother-in-law’s and sadly died in December. I shared with the children a poem that was handwritten for Sir Michael by his prep school Headmaster, and was treasured by him throughout his long life:
I shall journey through this life but once,
Any good thing, therefore, that I can do,
or any kindness that I can show to any human being,
Let me do it now
Let me not neglect nor defer it,
For I shall not pass this way again. (Stephen Grellet)
Curiosity was also a thread that ran throughout Sir Michael’s life, and do ask your children (perhaps over a cup of tea) about how he spent his retirement, after his career with the family business, Reckitt and Colman. I do hope all the children (and parents) have a very restful half-term.
