There are certain points in the school year (admittedly not many) when events politely queue up, one at a time, in a slightly British, almost resignedly patient way. And then there are weeks like this one, when they all appear at once, elbowing cheerfully for space and leading many parents to conclude that they might indeed need to put their own lives on hold for a period, just to be able to attend everything.
I finished last week’s newsletter leader with the sense of, ‘Here we go…’
The thing that I’m about to suggest tarnishes the gilt of the World Cup experience did, at least, plonk some nostalgia under my nose via my phone the other day.
‘It’s just not cricket’… a slightly archaic idiom of the English language and yet one still familiar many decades – possibly over a century – after one imagines it evolved in parlance
It took me rather longer than it probably should have done in life to realise that the phrase ‘a moveable feast’ has a clear and logical derivation from the fact that some religious Feasts are, indeed, moveable.
I have previously written about the fact that one of the very best and most refreshing parts of my job is the sheer variety that any period can contain. A recent pair of events that suitably illustrates the contrasts that I can enjoy was, on the one hand, to be chairing the most recent Parley discussion on AI with some senior school heavyweights and, latterly, on the other hand, to be experiencing the joy, fun and tremendous quality of the Years 3 to 5 drama production of ‘Romeo & Juliet’.
A very Happy New Year to everyone, as we regather – in the snow-dust, frost and cold – for a term of promise and potential.
It’s leading into one of the best times of year here at Pilgrims’, as gears wind up towards the Christmas events and end of term. The Chamber Choir sang wonderfully at the Kingsgate Christmas lights switch-on last night, having done similarly for the city’s lights ceremony last week, and this morning saw some excellent performances in the chill for our Promenade Concert. Very well done to all the boys involved and for the fundraising achieved!
Over the summer holidays...
Our Headmaster is encouraging our boys to pick up a good read over the half term break.
Unsurprisingly, there has been no shortage of debate in recent months about the influence of AI on education.
This week we mark World Poetry Day, a reminder that poetry is not merely a matter of rhyme and rhythm but, at its best, of a certain human truth. One of the risks of viewing poetry solely through the familiar lens of the Romantics is that it can appear to idealise life, polishing experience into something unnaturally smooth and harmonious.
