Dear OFS Community,
On Monday we had a few technical glitches with our remote live feed from our greenscreen room as members from our School Council interviewed Mr Seddon and Mr Shah as Middle and Upper School pupils joined them. Mr Seddon shared his early impressions of working in our English department. We learnt that his favourite book is Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, and that historical books set across this period capture his imagination. We got a little more personal as he shared his passions outside the classroom – being a Chelsea fan coupled with an avid English cricket supporter, it was safe to say that Monday was something of a low point for obvious reasons!
Unfortunately the live feed was breaking up but we didn’t let tech hold us back so 30 seconds later, we created a live studio in the theatre and we were back up and running!
Mr Shah shared his long and changing journey with Orley; firstly, as a parent and past Chair of the OFA, then more recently as the founder of our alumni, or Orlumni programme and as a new governor. All of these roles have been done as a committed volunteer and his message dovetailed with that of Mr Slaughter last week, shining a light on the power of voluntary work.
I have always been humbled and taken with the infectious willingness of this community to ‘give’ and I truly believe that it’s a hallmark of what it is to be an Orleyan. Our pupils often connect their sense of self by what they have put into the day rather than by what they have taken. Having met so many parents through OFA events, I can see where they get it from!
The Great Wave of Kanagawa
I am delighted that our partnership programme keeps growing and in true Orley style it embraces breadth of experience. As you know, from previous posts, we already host Science, Music and Sporting experiences in which our pupils teach, coach and join pupils from local settings to build friendships. Mrs Walsh has been inviting pupils from Alexandra School to join us for Art sessions and it was such a pleasure to capture a few moments as they immersed themselves in their topic of ‘water’.
1666 London burnt like a bundle of sticks!
We were treated to an in-depth review and retelling of events surrounding the Great Fire of London. We met Thomas Farriner and his family as his bakery sparked the start of events that would lead to 85% of Londoners becoming homeless – surprisingly, only 6 people lost their lives. Sammuel Pepys shared excerpts from his diary and we even met King Charles II who danced to a rather strange beat from Mr Hirani’s archives! It was a wonderfully lively and informative presentation that spoke of the love of learning from Yr1!
A wonderful afternoon of fast flowing Netball
We had an amazing fixture with St. Helen’s College this week with 12 teams playing in a rotation against each other – mixing abilities as well as positions. I love this approach at this age as you can see the progress as each game unfolds. With a less progressive approach, children can become comfortable in certain positions and less inclined to change, however, by constantly moving whilst changing opposition, a greater empathy was very visible along with the development of skills – well done girls, I loved watching the various games.
The Polar Caps
I think that it’s always tough on Reception pupils as they have to wait until the end of the assembly cycle before presenting, I would feel that pressure! However, no such nerves as they shared a huge amount of information that they’ve recently researched through their polar caps project. We had songs, paintings, a penguin waddle and so much more – well done, I hope that parents enjoyed their respective homework: 1) reviewing household recycling and power use; 2) sharing favourite animal facts!
A little Crunch!
It was lovely to get out to Rugby matches against Durston House as well as Beechwood Park as we hosted junior and senior fixtures. Whilst the sun was out, there was a chill in the air, and I was so impressed with the commitment and willingness to get stuck in. There were some fantastic tackles as well as determined runs but above all, there were supporting players on the shoulder – great play boys!
Tooled Up
As a Tooled-Up School, we have access to some fantastic resources, do click through on the link below for the latest food for thought:
Headmaster's Commendation
This feels like a timely point to thank our parents for your continued support – whether joining us for class assemblies, standing on a blustery touchline shouting words of encouragement or joining evening OFA meetings to plan future events, you are a cornerstone in our community and you are sowing rich seeds for our wider future. Thank you for all that you do!
Tim Calvey