I am pleased to be able to report that the 2022/23 Academic year is off to a cracking start. The return to school is always preceded by so many mixed emotions. Parents will have had their own feelings to work through as they adjusted to the promise of new beginnings, heightened expectations and what returning to the extended school family might mean for them and their children.
The children themselves, of course, grapple with their own pre-term nerves before reaching out in their own unique and refreshing ways to engage with and explore returning to the wonder of learning in the purposeful schooling environment that is Edge Grove.
As one of the ‘new boys’, I was particularly alert and watchful at drop off time last Wednesday morning. Of interest to me over the years has been the manner in which the children re-enter school life after the long summer holiday. I was not disappointed.
Whilst many of the younger ones were understandably seeking reassurance in holding tightly to the hand of mum or dad, the majority of the older boys and girls were seemingly overjoyed to reconnect with their mates, explore their new classrooms and surrounds, and be on the receiving end of cheerful welcomes from upbeat form teachers.
It was a memorable day filled with the infectious sounds of children - their laughter, exuberance and happiness reverberating through the school. It was a return to school that, as expected, saw the Edge Grove spirit, having hibernated for the summer months, reawaken and come alive again. It was a joy to behold and to be a part of.
The Autumn term promises much and, in particular, the chance to re-energize everything that the Covid spectre has kept dormant for far too long. It will prove to be an important term for the extended Edge Grove School family as mums and dads feel again a sincerely generated spirit of belonging and the warmth of embrace that has always been so much a part of the wider school community. Together we will rekindle that Spirit of Belonging.
From the FoEG Committee:
I am pleased to share with you all that, following a meeting with Kim Chan (outgoing Chair of Friends of Edge Grove) and co-chairs, Michele Liberman and Nargis Robertson, the following is being planned by way of an initial parent function that will be the forerunner of further events in the next few weeks: Friday 23rd September - Kim, Michele and Nargis will be hosting a special ‘Spirit of Belonging’ evening for all parents in the Apthorp Hall. More details on this to follow.
Updates and Reminders:
As you will know, the week ahead has been set aside as part of the national period of mourning to honour the memory of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Having held a special Assembly of Reflection and Remembrance on Friday morning which was attended by all Edge Grove pupils in Year 1 - 8 and all members of staff, we intend to follow this up with a Commemoration and Thanksgiving Service tomorrow, Tuesday 13th September. We ask for the children to be dressed in their formal uniform please.
Following the announcement from Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty’s State Funeral will take place on Monday 19th September. This has been set aside as a Day of National Mourning, Edge Grove children will not attend school on that day.
It is appropriate too, to postpone or cancel the following calendarised events: The Roald Dahl theme day, due to be celebrated on Tuesday 13th September, will be postponed until a later date;
Friday 16th September - Kim Chan and her FoEG committee were due to host a coffee morning for new parents (and others who might wish to attend) in the school boardroom. This will be rescheduled; Please note that the Pre-School / Reception and Year 3-8 Parents’ Social and Welcome evenings planned for this week have been postponed until next week. More details to follow; The Open Games session will be moved to another Friday after we are out of the mourning period. This involves a social gathering of the parents afterwards.
A Final Word:
During our Reflection and Remembrance Assembly in honour of Her Majesty on Friday morning, children and members of staff were invited to share personal stories of when they or members of their families may have seen or, better still, had contact with the Queen herself.
There were a few delightful anecdotes shared, some even from a few of the younger children. What struck me again, was that during the course of her seventy years reign, Queen Elizabeth made a point of reaching out to connect with people of all ages, and particularly children. There are some wonderful photographs taken from countless far away places and closer to home here in the British Isles, of the Queen receiving bouquets of flowers, sharing a word or two, or being photographed having lighter moments with children.
The photograph below was taken in April 1980 when Her Majesty was visiting the market town of Windsor. The little girl in pigtails and the white alice band is seen, quite understandably, to be mesmerised in the moment and in awe of the Queen.
Jane Broadis, our Edge Grove Head of English, is the little ten year old in the photograph.
Jane tells the story: “The intention was to visit the castle, which is where the Queen sometimes lives when she's not at Buckingham Palace, or Sandringham, Balmoral etc.
It was totally by accident that we were there as a family on a day where she was to go walkabout amongst her people. Barriers were going up and we asked a policeman what was going on. He said the Queen was coming. So we stayed and waited. She came over and we looked at each other. I was speechless! She asked the lady in the fur coat, ‘Do you come here often?’
A photographer from the newspaper called the Windsor Post caught the moment she looked at me on camera.”
Another life touched and a moment treasured by a little girl who, some forty years later, is able to share that priceless moment with the Edge Grove family. Best wishes for the week ahead.
Yours with kind regards,
Richard Stanley Interim Headmaster
