From the Headmaster's Desk

Last week, I enjoyed the company of Year 5, in a foretaste of the changing of the guard, on gate duty.  It reminded me that time is short for our current Year 6, but as our Senior Girls have been telling me, they are excited about what is to come in their final fortnight at Lyonsdown as much as they are about moving on.

Perhaps the first of our exciting Summer Term events is the FLS School Fete, and this year’s offering was a huge success. Food, games, competitions, entertainment – the Fete had it all, with parents, grandparents, pupils,  siblings, old girls and boys and teachers all having a wonderful time. A big thank you to everyone for supporting one of the highlights of the year at Lyonsdown and, in particular, to the FLS team for all that they did for the day, and have done throughout the school year.

Expectation for such major events is a wonderful motivator, with the pupils’ excitement firmly channelled at present: the sound of the Upper School production fills the corridors and I am sure you are looking forward to the performances as much as I. Of course, we are looking forward to September too: on Thursday, we hosted our Open Afternoon and I hope that you enjoyed touring the school with your son or daughter and meeting your child’s teacher for next year. We also held another Lyonsdown coffee meeting, for parents to meet any new members of staff in the Lower School, which was “lovely” and had “nicer cakes than Costa.” (One of these quotations was from a child). It was also noted that we trialled recyclable paper cups for water, as part of the School’s commitment to Sustainability.

The week ended with a sprint finish, but also a puted (one “t” apparently) shot and thrown vortex, amongst other events, at our wonderful Upper School Sports Day which is masterminded by Miss Doyle. Under clear skies, I was reminded of one of the joys of athletics and sport in general: the huge range of disciplines. I was never the best at field events, but running made me happy, and still does. What is important is that exercise and sport are enjoyed by all. Every single pupil persevered, both independently in their events and collaboratively as a House, and the competition was fierce. In the end, it was Yellow House, St. Francis, that emerged as the current leaders with final results to be announced before the end of the Summer Term.

So, with expectations high for the final two weeks of term, I hope you enjoy the fortnight ahead.

C. Hammond