| Headmaster’s Speech Speech Day 2010. Ladies and Gentlemen, Honoured Guest, Boys and Girls, Good afternoon and welcome to Speech Day. Here we are at the end of another year, with much to celebrate, as you can see from the silverware and prizes behind me. We try hard here to inspire every child to achieve highly in every field, and this is an opportunity to reward them. Now, I have recently been reading a book about Captain Scott of the Antarctic, the man who tried so hard to be the first man to reach the South Pole on foot, back in 1912. It was written by one of our most famous explorers, a man who, amongst many achievements, was the first man to visit both the North and South Pole. He has been a distinguished soldier, an explorer, leading expeditions up the White Nile and up a glacier in Norway, whose name I cannot pronounce, he and Charles Burton spent three years on the Transglobe expedition where he circled the earth from Pole to Pole using surface transport only and travelling 52,000 miles in the process, and received the OBE from the Queen in 1993. His name is Sir RanulphTwisleton-Wickham-Fiennes, and he is an amazing man. Now, there is story about him, which may or may not be true. Apparently, on his first day in school, his teacher asked him his name. He replied “Ranulph Twisleton-Wickham-Fiennes”. His teacher asked him, “How do you spell that? He replied “My mummy helps me”. Now, to our school; you will also have seen the photographs and written records of our school outings. As you all know, to us outings are a vital part of your child’s education. This term children at St Faith’s at Ash have been to a number of places, including: Canterbury Cathedral for a Pilgrims experience The Ramsgate Synagogue Digger land Broadstairs Beach Walmer Castle Wingham Bird Park and Strawberry picking Pfizer Science Jamboree Canterbury Museum Roman day at Dover Museum In addition, a number of children have been on Geography or History walks around Ash. The Nursery held a Cinderella’s Ball Reception had a splash day last week when it was really hot And the Nursery joined the Big Toddle for Barnardo’s, raising over £200!!! On top of that, many of Year 6 went to Skern Lodge for the fantastic annual outdoor activities week. Once again I must thank you all for continuing to recommend St Faith’s at Ash to your friends and acquaintances. This year in particular has been a difficult one, yet many people who come round the school do so because they have friends here who have been kind enough to recommend us, so thank you. This year we have developed Music at St Faith’s at Ash. nYou may have seen our new webpage, “Marvellous Music”. We have much enjoyed the choir again this year and yesterday in our final Assembly we were treated to a lovely little concert with Year 6, 5 , 4 and 3 choristers singing together, followed by the orchestra playing the Blue Danube. Earlier in the term we had a very special Summer Concert, where nearly twenty children played their instruments for us. This was far more than ever before, indeed, for many years this event was actually the choir summer concert. Well done to all of you and thanks to all the music teachers. I must mention the swimming pool, because this was built with a very generous contribution by the Friends of St Faith’s at Ash back in 2003. Once again this term the Swimming Pool has been in use virtually every day. Years 3 & 4 swim on Tuesday and Thursdays and Years 5 & 6 on Mondays and Wednesdays. Years 1 & 2 have been in on Mondays or Fridays, and there have been swims at lunchtime and after school Swimming Clubs. The Swimming Pool has actually never been used so much. But all this needs constant maintenance: Back in April Mrs Latham cleaned the pool and karchered the cover, which last winter again stayed on the pool. Mrs Latham then set to work and had the pool clean and ready for the start of the term. During this term, she stays on after school once a week to maintain it, although she checks it for us every day. So, a big thank you to Mrs Latham for all her hard work to keep such an enjoyable sport going right through the term. The pool will be back in action at the start of next term. We have been known to swim right up to half term in October. Once again I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Friends of St Faith’s at Ash for all that they have done over the year. After the disappointment of Bonfire Night in 2008, it was a joy and delight to watch the Fireworks and stand around the bonfire last November. Once again, an enormous barbecue, lots of hot drinks and mulled wine, sparkling lights, particularly wonderful fireworks and a bonfire, built by parents and children 4 weeks earlier, which went up spectacularly, with just a little bit of help. Incidentally, I have mentioned the bonfire in my summer newsletter which you will receive next week. I have made an appeal for wood, as we seemed to have burnt most of the school. Any old sheds, pallets, fence panels or wooden desks gratefully received. Back to Bonfire night: many thanks to all of you who helped to put on such an enjoyable evening, and again, thanks to all who helped afterwards to clear up, wash up, pick up litter, put stuff away and all the other jobs that needed doing after the evening’s entertainment had finished. The Friends also laid on yet another lovely Christmas Fayre at the end of the Autumn term and what fun that was; I remember the most wonderful grotto for Santa, and many thanks to Mrs Mustoe for creating that bit of magic. We then experienced another utterly fiendish Quiz Night, with some amazingly challenging questions; Many thanks to Mrs Gibbs for setting the questions and to the Committee for organising such a good evening. If you have not been to one of these, do come. It really is fun, especially when the Headmaster’s table is fined 150 points for some trivial technicality. The Friends again laid on their marquee and catering for Sports Day, which I thought was a great success. Actually, Sports Day was something of a challenge this year as we now have our wonderful new hard court, so the land available is rather smaller than in previous years. The marquee went up by the French room so that it was ready for Sports Day tea. We were not sure if all the lightning fast runners would pull up before they ended up in the ice cream freezer, but all was well. Then the following afternoon, there were all the Friends again, with a lovely Summer Fayre, when many of you came to dance, to watch the dancing, to play on the castle, face painting, play the football games or ride in our mini moke. The event was again amazing and the Friends raised lots of money for their next target. One stall raised a considerable sum to start us off buying cricket whites for our Cricket team. We played a number of matches again this year, winning some which was very pleasing. Next year the cricketers tell me that they would like to play in whites when representing St Faith’s at Ash, so, now that we have equipped our team players for the winter sports in our school tracksuits, whites will be the next target. Well done to that stall. Again, many thanks to all of you who put on a really good afternoon, and particular thanks to those who stayed on to help clear up. May I urge you to support the Friends 100 club? Every month a lucky person wins a nice little sum, so please join up and it could be you. Now, the big project over the last two years was to raise the funds to build our new sports court. Well that was finished for the start of the autumn term back in September, formally opened last Autumn by England cricketer and Ashes winner Geraint Jones. And it has been in use ever since. Again, many thanks to all of you. Our netball team went from strength to strength, we were able to play more matches as we no longer have to be off the playground by 3 pm, we have been able to run more clubs and more teams. Year 2 have used it regularly too; it has not just been an asset for the Upper School. The Friends have been working quietly away this year, building up resources after the amazing donation towards the new sports court. Mrs Glossop in particular has been organising and working hard on behalf of all the children here. I have a small token of our respect and thanks. Mrs Glossop I also have a thank you for a member of our staff who not only teaches her class, but also looks after the pool, attends all the Friends meetings and even took over the bbq at the summer fayre. Mrs Latham And I have another thank you now. This is to say thank you to a teacher who took over responsibility for organising and running our sporting programme this last two terms. Out in all weathers, on the phone arranging fixtures, coordinating all the coaches, picking teams, the list goes on and on… Thank you Mrs Mellin I do have to thank another member of our staff. As you all know, sadly Mrs Hardy lost her battle with cancer early in the year. Unfortunately she had not been well for a long time before that. Now, Mrs Haywood joined us nearly two years ago as School Secretary, but as Mrs Hardy’s illness became worse, Mrs Haywood had to take over more and more of Mrs Hardy’s work. She did it very carefully, as we all tried to keep Mrs Hardy’s spirits up as long as possible. So Julie was school secretary and increasingly financial secretary, as we could not possibly replace Mrs Hardy until the end, as it would have been such a blow to her morale. As many of you know, Julie has taken on an enormous amount here, including organising today. Most of her work, like today, has had to be new to her, but she has risen to all challenges. I have a small token of our appreciation which I would like to give to her today. Mrs Julie Haywood. Now then, Year 6. OK, so we did not win the World Cup. But our Cricket team defeated the Australians in the final of the World 20/20 championships to become World Champions. Our Cricket team then defeated the Australians in three matches running to win the 50 over series. Then our Rugby team beat The Australians in Australia on their recent tour. Then A British Rider won the Hickstead Derby. And Cambridge won the Boat Race. So all is not all doom and gloom. Remember, in four years time there will be the next Football World Cup. Even Year 6 will only be 15 then. Well, I remember, when I was 15, watching England win the World Cup, back in 1966. So you have plenty to look forward to. So now to our Leavers in Year 6, who will be 15 at the next World Cup Now, many of you will have seen the colourful and imaginative work in the corridors outside their classrooms all year. Their calligraphy and their art work, particularly the Lowry paintings and the portraits, have stayed in my memory. Year 6 this year have actually had a lot of fun this year as well as working hard. Last Christmas they put on a Punch and Judy show to the school. They set up the stage like a booth, and then they were the puppets, loosely following a script adapted by Professor David Holbrook. That was a first for Year 6 and was much enjoyed by all of us. In the spring term, as part of their World War Two studies, they listened to some former evacuees from the Blitz, and then entertained us all at a tea dance, where they danced the jitterbug, the Charleston and lots more, dressed in suitable clothing and with the union jack bunting and brown metal teapots. This term many of them went off with Mr Taylor and Miss Crook to Skern Lodge in Devon, where they had a wonderful time, judging by the photographs I have seen. There have been many other highlights over the year: Most of the Year 6 have represented their school in a number of sports over the year. Last December we enjoyed a lovely Carol Service, with many Year 6 in the choir for the Carol service. This of course was followed by a wonderful Summer Concert with some memorable performances, both vocally and instrumentally, and yesterday, when the choir sang in our last assembly, there were still some Year 6 singing with them. And of course, we all enjoyed their school play, “Lights, Camera, Action,” over the last two nights, marking the end of their last term at St Faith’s at Ash. Year after year, Year 6 produce these original, entertaining and colourful productions, always performed with boundless energy and enthusiasm, and this year’s was no exception. In fact, it was absolutely terrific, and thoroughly enjoyed by all who saw it. One of the best. Now Year 6 move on, highly educated and highly motivated, ready to answer such difficult questions as: Why do we press harder on the remote control when we know that the batteries are flat? Why does someone believe you when you say that there are four billion stars, but check when you say that the paint is wet? Or Why is it that people say that they slept like a baby when babies wake up every two hours or so? Year 6 now move on to a number of schools, which include: Simon Langton Boys Grammar School Simon Langton Girls Grammar School Sir Roger Manwood’s School Folkestone Grammar School for Girls Sandwich Technology School St Edmund’s School, Canterbury Kent College, Canterbury Dover Grammar School for Boys Dover Grammar School for Girls Castle Community College The Archbishop’s School ****************************************************** And now, may I introduce my visitor, who has been waiting here so patiently. Captain Jonathan Hodge was a prefect at Dover College when I first met him. His parents lived in Ash, just down the road from here, and they were actually the first Ash people to invite us round after we arrived here in January 1997. Jonathan then went on to the University of Bristol, actually one of our top Universities, where he took a BSc in Geography. He then followed his father into the army. Jonathan is a remarkable young man in that he has already packed an enormous amount into his lifetime. He went in to the army training college at Sandhurst in 2002 and after he had passed out of Sandhurst, he then joined the Coldstream Guards. Much to everyone’s concern, his regiment was sent to Iraq, where he served for seven months at the height of the troubles following the invasion. He then served in Saudi Arabia, before returning to the UK. Jonathan is no longer a soldier now, having served his country, but his name may be familiar to you, however. Last term, back in March, we arranged a Mufti Day. This was to support Jonathan who was attempting an extraordinarily dangerous feat, the Desert Marathon. He was running to raise money for local hospices, a cause with particular significance to us all at St Faith’s at Ash this last year. I am sure that he will tell you about it in a minute, but I checked his website last night and the funds he has raised for the local hospices are far in excess of his original modest target. Indeed, he has now raised over £10,000. Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and girls, Captain Jonathan Hodge. ****************************************************** Thank you very much. And now to the prizes Every year I remind you of what the great P G Wodehouse used to say: “The Race is not always to the Swift nor the Battle to the Strong, but being Swift and Strong is always a great help.” For every winner today there were others who could have won, who were so close, but who did not quite get there. To these children we say, Well Done, Keep Trying. Next Year could be your turn. PRIZES Thank you, Captain Hodge, for coming here today to give out our prizes. And a special thank you to Mrs Haywood for organising all the prizes, printing the certificates, arranging the engraving and laying them out in the correct order for presentation this afternoon. This is a very exciting time for all of us. The Summer Holidays stretch out ahead and rest and relaxation with our family beckons. Some of you have holidays already arranged. Some of you are looking at your watches, wondering when I’ll finish because you have a ferry or a plane to catch…. Tonight….. But this is sad time, as we often have to say Goodbye to a teacher as well as to our Leavers. This year we say goodbye to some of our teachers. Today we say Goodbye to Miss Keogh. Miss Keogh has been teaching here before. Five years ago Miss Keogh came to teach Year 5. Her first year coincided with our first full Ofsted inspection, and, as she had just been through one at her previous school, she was an enormous help to us. Then, after two years, she got itchy feet; metaphorically speaking, of course. She went off to teach in Bromsgrove School. But not the 500 year old Bromsgrove school in Worcestershire in the midlands. No, she went to the new Bromsgrove School in Bangkok, Thailand, where she taught for three years. Fortunately for us, last year Ms Keogh decided to return to the UK. We were delighted to welcome her back for a year while she decided where to go next, so to speak. Now she is off to Cheshire, where her family live, and we wish her all the best in the future. Ms Keogh, a small token of our respect. Sadly we also say Goodbye to Mrs Doult. Now, a secret about Mrs Doult. Her name is not Mrs Doult. It is actually Mrs Smith. But when she came here many years ago, there was a teacher here already called Mrs Smith. So, to avoid confusion, Mrs Smith used her maiden name and became Mrs Doult. Then Mrs Smith retired, but another Mrs Smith arrived. So Mrs Doult stayed Mrs Smith here. Mrs Doult was here when I arrived. She actually came to St Faith’s at Ash in 1989, the year of the second hurricane. She has been a wonderful teacher here. While I have been here she has taught Year 3, 4, 5 and 6. She is thorough, imaginative, kind, and conscientious and she always has a word for every child. When she taught Year 5, before the Kent tests moved to September, one of the great delights that she would organise was the Year 5 outing to Penshust Place, former home of Sir Philip Sydney. Mrs Doult is a great enthusiast and has been involved in so much here. Music has been her great passion; she has introduced many children to the recorder, has encouraged them to join the choir and found us a choirmaster one year after Mr Windess left. Every year Mrs Doult has accompanied the choir and lesson readers when we go to the church for the rehearsal for the Carol Service and given sound advice to the readers. During the actual service she has sat with the lesson readers, looking after them and encouraging them before they read their lesson. For many years she has taken our singing practise assemblies and then sung with the children on Friday mornings. And of course for years she was indefatigable when preparing her class for Sports Day. We wish her well in retirement, when she will have more time for her grandchildren, to travel and also to sing in her choir in Whitstable. We are all going to miss her. She has been a part of this school for so long and has contributed so much that it is impossible to mention more than a fraction of what she has done here over the years. Always passionately concerned for every child that she taught, always conscientious about everything she taught and was responsible for, always ready to lend a helping hand or a friendly ear to any child who wanted help and so on. Mrs Doult, a small token of our appreciation. Now, before we go, please bow your heads for the Leavers Prayer. Dear Father God We bring before you the pupils who are leaving this term. Give them the courage to face the future and help them to learn from all that they have done here with us. Remind them that they are loved by us and by their families. Be with them in the days to come. Amen And now it really is time to depart for the Summer Holidays. The Children will now take their chairs back to their classrooms with their teachers. May I ask all our Guests to let the children leave first, then please go and collect your children from their classrooms and bring them over to the Front of the French Room behind us for a cup of tea and lots of cake. Thank you. |
| CONTACT US 01304 813409 |
