It really is great to be back!
I admitted to those who attended our ‘Settling In Session’ on Wednesday that schools without children are pretty boring places. It’s true! To stand at the gates again yesterday and welcome so many happy, smiling, laughing children back to school was a genuine pleasure. It has been great to see how quickly the children have settled back into school life, and it is a sign of just how happy and comfortable they are at Pennthorpe.
Fittingly, therefore, yesterday I introduced the children to the idea of ‘One Pennthorpe’, explaining that it means ‘working together to create something amazing!’ What better way to illustrate this than with a team puzzle?
I spent Wednesday evening completing a 150-piece puzzle. Having not ‘puzzled’ in a few years, I was rusty, but I actually, really enjoyed it. Eventually, I remembered the best way to approach it: the importance of thinking logically, being patient and planning ahead. I finished the puzzle in exactly 49 minutes and 36 seconds; nothing spectacular, but a reasonable effort, I thought. I also recorded a time-lapse to show the children which highlights just how much I move around, even when doing something which should require you to simply sit still!
On Friday, as the children entered our first Huddle of the year, I gave every single one of them a piece of that same puzzle. I explained that each piece was important; without it, we could not complete the puzzle. Each piece was special, colourful, unique and exciting, but when we brought them all together, they created something more, just like them, just like us: One Pennthorpe.
I set them a challenge: to work as the ultimate team, all of them together, to complete the puzzle faster than I did. And they smashed it! Eighteen minutes and 12 seconds, to be precise.
Our Year 8s took the lead, taking a table each and working on a combination of different continents, edges, animals and the sea. As each group of children, form all different year groups, finished its section, they brought everything together to create the bigger picture. It symbolised perfectly what this school is all about: community, resilience, problem-solving and collaboration, all leading to the creation of something amazing that we are all part of! If you want to see their completed puzzle, it is currently in the Front Office. Please do have a look and ask your children about it.
I wrote to you last week with news of the new staff, but next week we must say goodbye to two of our current team.
Next Friday will be the last day at Pennthorpe for Sam Curling and Kelly O’Brien. Both Sam and Kelly have been a huge part of Pennthorpe in recent years and will be greatly missed.
Kelly has taken the role of ‘Office Administrator’ to a new level; she has been so much more. Kelly has been a constant happy face on the front desk, bringing energy and passion to current parents and visitors alike but has also been a massive part of many of the lives of our children too. Kelly has enjoyed working with the pupils so much that she leaves us to take on a more child-focused role at Christ’s Hospital, and we wish her all the very best.
Sam has been involved with Pennthorpe for over ten years as both a parent and, for the last few years, a member of our Admissions team. Sam recently informed me that her own children, who left many years ago, still refer to Pennthorpe as ‘school’. Pennthorpe means so much to Sam, and her hard work, commitment and passion for this school have been invaluable during Open Mornings, tours, taster days, and simply in supporting and reassuring parents. Anyone who has joined the school since Sam has been here will know just how brilliant she is at her job. Selling Pennthorpe is far easier when you truly love and understand it as much as Sam does.
Sam leaves us to take on a role in the Sports Administration Department at Seaford College, where her son Jonny is a pupil.
Finally, always looking forward and thinking ahead, next year’s term dates will be released next week, so anyone looking to book their 2028 Easter or summer holiday will be able to do so.
Thank you all for such a brilliant start to the year. It has been lovely to catch up with as many of you as possible over the last couple of days. I hope that lots of you will also be able to join us in the Sports Hall on Monday at 18:30 for our Parent Information Session. During this session, we will be presenting the key information and changes for the year ahead, as well as giving you the opportunity to meet and chat with staff.
Have a great weekend, and see you all next week.
Mr Marler
