Let’s connect
From the Headmaster’s Desk: 10 February 2023
Mr Hammond
Headmaster
Wellbeing is something that we all need to be mindful of throughout the year, with Abercorn’s Wellbeing Week an opportunity to focus on such a key theme. The pupils and staff have certainly enjoyed taking part in a variety of activities in school, and I hope that you have been able to use some of the resources that were sent home.
I was lucky enough to teach Year 2 both Drama and PSHE on Thursday. As with all children at Abercorn, they were both informative and amusing. If you have not heard of the game have you ever had a penguin round for tea? I heartily recommend it to lighten the soul. We discussed character and what the qualities that we cannot see; a fitting theme for the week. Children across the school have also been contributing to a wellbeing display that celebrates the power and importance of connecting with each other.
As my favourite NBA coach of all time says: the strength of a team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. On that note, congratulations to Mr LeBron James for his record-breaking career; with Tom Brady retiring, I am running out of active sportsmen and women in my age bracket!
Another highlight of the week was the Year 7-9 Play, all captained by Mrs Wrottesley. The piece was a roaring success: the audience gaffawed (it is not often I teach Microsoft Word a word) and sang along with glee. As well as some impressive acting, the pupils ran the show, performing costume changes and moving set with minimal guidance – all proof of what can be achieved when we work in collaboration with each other. I very much look forward to Year 5 and 6’s rendition of Matilda in the Summer Term.
Year 4 were abuzz on Friday as one of their team presented an amazing archaeological find. During routine tidying of Mr Robinson’s classroom, a Victorian penny fell from the period fireplace. How long had the 140 year-old coin been hidden? Who dropped it? Our young, inquisitive historians were full of questions, and I indulged by passion for numismatics (the study of coins) by joining in the debate. Another coin-obsessed class, Year 2 studied the 50th anniversary of Pride 50p as part of their wellbeing work this week. Children – always ask shopkeepers to check their tills for interesting finds and remember that Charles III will start to appear in your purse very soon.
Finally, some important dates for your diary: the Movie Night on Friday 24th February for Years 5 and above, the Spring Fayre on Friday 12th May for all families and a Senior School event on Tuesday 16th May for parents are all now set, so please save the dates – more details will follow. Also, and with thanks to the APA, you will have seen ta flyer advertising parent-to-parent coffee hours with the first gathering held on Thursday 2nd March. To RSVP, please email abercornparents@gmail.com.
All the best for a lovely half term, Mr Hammond
To see how busy a place our wonderful School is and for a more detailed look into all things Abercorn, follow us on social media; Twitter, Instagram and Facebook offer a wide range of updates. My personal thoughts on educational life can be found @hammondteacher.
Abercorn Interhouse Cross Country Competition
Excitement was brewing in the hallways in the days leading up to the cross country races. Speculation was rife as to who would be challenging for the top spots, as well as the impact the “Bog of Doom” was going to have. Big eyes and looks of horror came from the faces of children who would be running an Abercorn Cross country race for the very first time, as they were regaled by tales of the muddy slope that has claimed many sports shoes over the years.
The parents were out in force to support the children, as were many teachers that you wouldn’t normally see at a Games lesson. Thank you to all of them for their help and support. The APA provided the usual sustenance to help the children recover from their hard graft. The brownies went down very well with the hot chocolate. Well done to all the children for finishing their respective races.
The top finishers in their respective year groups were are as follows:
Year 2 Girls – Sara, Prithvi, Chengxi
Year 2 Boys – Elias, Matthew, Quin
Year 3 Girls – Iole, Calla, Widad
Year 3 Boys – Torin, Artem, Bryant
Year 4 Girls – Iana, Livia, Hina
Year 4 Boys – Misha, David, Jack
Year 5 Boys – Husni, Thomas B, JoJo
Year 6 Girls – Anya, Claudia, Onoria
Year 6 Boys – Lucas V, Filippos, Shinnouske
Year 7-9 Boys – Yo, Ilyas, Kimonas
Year 7-9 Girls – Arina, Lisa, Zahour
