A Brief Pause In Proceedings
Published on: Friday, November 26, 2021
A little pause at the mid-point of the second half of term sees the Rural Living Show return to our site this weekend for the first time in two years. Whilst it isn’t a Christmas show at its core, it obviously has a leaning in some areas and certainly is a marker of one step closer to the festive season. The Christmas lights were turned on in Taunton last Sunday, I spotted Nursery bringing Nativity costumes out of storage on Wednesday, Advent materialises next week and I heard my first full-on Christmas song yesterday playing as background for the ballet sessions happening in the Woodard Room. It won’t be too long before we are all wearing Christmas jumpers – or a Christmas addition to our uniform – in the final week.
Today has been wall to wall meetings for me, either with our Governors or as a Governor of another school. The one just ended had the final 15 minutes accompanied by the delivery of a new piano in the Woodard Room – the delivery team had another drop to head off to and so they silently wheeled in and setup a terrific looking piano that will duly be tuned and made ready for action following the weekend. No doubt Mr DJ will put it to good use.
Before the Long Weekend break kicks in, I have one more meeting on Teams around tea time and then will be heading to join the Friends of King’s Hall Barn Dance – no doubt I will see some of you there for some fancy footwork.
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Fun, fundraising and raising children - King's Hall Headmaster Justin Chippendale
Published on: Friday, November 19, 2021
Silence is golden – just 10 minutes sitting at lunch today during our Sponsored Silence proved that. The dining room was an oasis of tranquillity, and what a wonderful moment of informal meditation. Socialising over meals is a cornerstone of civilisation, and it wasn’t so good we should do it all the time, but it’s certainly something to think about every so often. A day fundraising for Children in Need saw some fun costumes traipsing around the King’s Loop and I know several children are looking forward to getting cosy in front of the TV this evening.
One of the last times I dressed up for school was in Doha when the King’s College Doha Head asked me to wear a penguin outfit for an animal themed assembly. Earlier in the week I was on Teams (not dressed as a penguin) for our termly Education Committee meeting with KCD. Those children who started in Year 4 when KCD opened 5 years ago are now making their GCSE option choices and there are 680 children in the school meaning it has increased by about 100 pupils each year. The development plans for a second site in Doha are in motion although challenged by competition for construction companies which is fierce due to the demands of the World Cup infrastructure requirements.
Yesterday saw our home-based Education Committee meeting where, as usual each term, updates for the whole age range from 2-18 are covered with curriculum, co-curriculum and pastoral aspects all considered in great depth. The whole governance structure requires finance, estates, compliance etc etc but the Education Committee is definitely the one at which we spend most time talking about what it is we actually do at the coal face. The Council members who sit on that committee include three past Headmasters, a Deputy Head, a recent Captain of Britannia Royal Naval College, a JP and an eminent Bishop so there is huge experience to draw on as we review and consider all that creates a King’s education. Long meetings but professionally very rewarding.
Back to lunchtime today, where the fact there was pea soup on offer allowed me to bring out an old favourite which I printed on a piece of paper (silence, remember). One side read “What’s the difference between mashed potatoes and pea soup?” The other? “Anyone can mash potatoes.”
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Rocket Powered Return - King's Hall Headmaster Justin Chippendale
Published on: Friday, November 12, 2021
Today certainly ends with a bang (and a whoosh, and a sparkle, and a pop, and a whizz and possibly with a glug glug of some mulled wine) and it is also true to say that this second half of term has started in rocket powered fashion.
Two parents’ evenings, matches on Wednesday including the U11 boys undefeated at their tournament, our respectful and moving Remembrance Service (look for the link in the Newsletter to hear the choir) and then our Fireworks this evening – life as usual! 8S are preparing for some important mock exams next week, play rehearsals and artists decorating the set, Drama Festival finishing touches being added, orchestra rehearsals filling the air with melodies, yesterday after lunch I met Year 1 up in the woods in their Forest School mode and then later on, after darkness had fallen, I came across the Pioneers hobby up there having a great time with their torches.
So we’re back together after a valuable two-week rest which came at a point we were just beginning to feel the impact of seven weeks well run as well as some covid cases emerging (we still may have some more of that to come). Two weeks is quite a long time and I have heard many parents comment this week how excited their children were to come back as they had been missing school and their friends. One little girl in Pre-Prep was proudly showing me the double gap in her bottom teeth that has appeared over the two weeks and I made a comment about how it was two teeth not just one. She nonchalantly replied that two wasn’t very many really because her Grumpy Gramps can take all his out – but he gets into trouble with Granny when he does it in front of everyone.
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