The Roundup
Ed. 82
W/C 17 November
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In the past week, I’ve spent a few hours sitting with my father while he had some routine tests done – the sort of things that seem to come with getting older. Nothing dramatic, nothing worrying, just one of those appointments where the waiting takes far longer than the actual scan.
There is a certain atmosphere to these places: a mixture of patience, boredom and unexpected kindness. I was there long enough to see nurses and doctors swap shifts, the police come in and out dealing with everything from sickness to scraps, and people drifting between fear, humour and outright exhaustion. It was humanity in all its messy, honest forms. As the hours passed, I ran out of pages in my book, ran out of people to watch and even ran out of ways to eat a small bag of Maltesers slowly so that the chocolate would disappear.
Some of the moments stopped me in my tracks, though. I watched a nurse show a level of calm and compassion that would put most of us to shame, even when a patient hurled abuse at her. I watched Tunde, the blood pressure nurse, explain the same thing again and again to a drunk man who kept forgetting what he had asked. Among the noise and the mess, there was so much compassion and kindness.
We ended up next to an elderly couple, Norman and Rose, who were waiting for their own appointment slot. When Norman discovered I used to teach history, he suddenly asked if I could explain the Suez Crisis - something he said he’d heard about all his life but had never quite understood. So there I was, talking about Nasser and Eden while Rose dozed gently on his shoulder and my father flicked through an old magazine. The whole scene was oddly peaceful, a little pocket of conversation in the long drift of waiting.
Somewhere in that quiet stretch, watching people pause when a doctor came in to see if it was their turn to go, before settling back down when they realised they still weren’t first in the queue, a thought struck me: this slow rhythm - the long spells of nothing punctuated by brief bursts of activity - is exactly what this week, and a number of recent weekends, have looked like for so many of our students and staff involved in this week’s production of Chicago.
For every moment of applause, energy and spectacle, there are hours behind it that look very much like that clinic corridor: waiting, repeating, trying something again because it wasn’t quite right yet, supporting others while they take their turn.
In life, we always focus on the performance: the music, the lights, the costumes, the energy and applause. But creativity is very rarely just a string of fireworks. More often, it is patience stitched together with persistence.
Hours of waiting. Hours of doing the same bit again. Hours of watching someone else get their scene right before it’s your turn. Our staff have poured in days and evenings that the audience will never see. And our students have matched them, rehearsal after rehearsal, giving their time and focus to something that grows slowly before it shines brightly. The same is true for our musicians, artists, robotics teams and sports squads. The real work sits beneath the surface.
Yes, they are learning teamwork and creativity. But they are also learning something far more valuable. Patience. Commitment. Sticking with something when it is no longer instantly thrilling. Accepting slow progress. Learning that not everything has to be fast to be worthwhile. In a world that is impatient and fixated on outcomes, these slow hours matter. They shape us just as surely as the big, showy moments.
Eventually, my father was called, seen quickly and declared perfectly well. On his way out, Rose tapped my arm to say that Norman had asked about Suez because his older brother had served there but had never spoken of it, and he had always wondered what had really happened. A small conversation in a patch of waiting had meant something to him, however small. It reminded me that patience has value. These slow moments shape us quietly, even when we think nothing is happening at all.
If you’re seeing Chicago this weekend, you’ll see the final result of hundreds of those quiet hours - the patience, the graft, the shared effort - all coming together in something joyful. If you’re joining us for one of the performances, you’re in for a treat. Enjoy the show.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s Opening Night of our Senior School production, Chicago. Tonight’s performance is fully booked, and we are looking forward to welcoming you.
A small number of tickets remain for Saturday’s matinee performance — once they’re gone, they’re gone!
🎟 Ticket Prices
Performance Dates & Availability:
✨ Saturday 22 Nov (Matinee) – 2:30pm–5:00pm: 6 tickets left
We are delighted to announce that St Chris will be hosting a Careers Fair on Wednesday 25 February 2026, from 8.20 - 13.00.
A letter with further details has been sent out by Lizzie Hedderson and can also be found by clicking the link below.
Please email Lizzie if you are able to contribute to the event or pass on the email to friends and family that may be able to support our Careers Fair.
Lizzie.hedderson@stchris.co.uk
Pastoral & Wellbeing in the Junior School - will be held in our new Recharge Room.
Please email Chloe Burton if you will be joining us: chloe.burton@stchris.co.uk
A reminder that the Junior School Christmas Fair will take place on Friday 5 December, 3.30 – 5.30pm. There will be stalls (including some external), children’s games run by D Group (Year 6), refreshments and seasonal entertainment.
We would be very grateful for donations to support the event:
Jolly Jars: Please send in a filled and festively decorated jam jar — ideas include crayons, Lego, mini cars or nut-free sweets. These will be used for the Jolly Jar tombola.
Rainbow Stall: Each class has a colour and children are asked to bring in a small new item in that colour:
Class boxes will be placed outside each room for donations.
Raffle: If you have a prize you would like to donate, please bring it to the Junior School office.
Thank you for your support. We hope this will be a wonderful event for the whole Junior School community, raising funds for our chosen charity — to be confirmed by the School Council.
We are excited to invite expressions of interest for our Football & Netball Sports Trip to Salou, taking place Sunday 25 - Thursday 29 October 2026. Students will enjoy professional coaching sessions, competitive matches, sightseeing opportunities, and a day at the theme park. This promises to be an unforgettable experience for all involved.
Parents who would like their son or daughter to take part are encouraged to request further information by emailing Lyn (Head of PE) on lync.mcgrregor@stchris.co.uk, and note that deposits are required by Monday 1 December to secure a place.
At the School Council, a motion was passed to organise a Christmas Disco run by the students, for the students and they have been working collaboratively to make this event happen.
Tickets are £5, including party snacks and a student-chosen charity donation. These will be on sale next week during break and lunch times (cash only).
A consent form has been sent via Evolve. Please confirm whether your child may attend.
Students will go to the PE changing rooms and Outdoor Gym from 3.40 pm to get ready and play some party games before the Disco starts at 4.15 pm in the dining room.
Please ensure your child is collected promptly at 5.45 pm as we have a quick turnaround before the next party starts.
Students cannot be supervised after school, before the Disco.
Rather than a Christmas party, III Group have asked for a trip to Gravity instead. This will take place on Thursday 11 December, during school hours. Further details will follow next week.
We are really proud of the hard work the Major Officials and the IV Group Disco committee have put into organising these events.
Thank you in advance for supporting the students with this event at an already busy time of the year.

| Monday 1 December | V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams |
| Tuesday 2 December |
Nursery & Junior School Open House V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams |
| Wednesday 3 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams KS1 Nativity 1 I & II Group (Years 7 & 8) Rugby vs KTS (home) |
| Thursday 4 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams KS1 Nativity 2 Community Christmas Tea I & II Group and IV Group (Years 7, 8 & 10) Christmas Disco III & IV Group (Years 9 & 10) Rugby vs KTS (home) |
| Friday 5 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams F Group (Year 4) Morning Talk Junior School Christmas Fair |
| Monday 8 December |
Flu Vaccinations (catch up session) V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams |
| Tuesday 9 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams Senior School Christmas Concert |
| Wednesday 10 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams II Group (Year 8) Pantomime Trip Junior School Gathering III Group (Year 9) Basketball vs Marriotts (home) III Group (Year 9) DTP & MenACWY Vaccinations |
| Thursday 11 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams I Group (Year 7) and Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13) Ice Skating Junior School Gathering Senior Football vs KTS (away) II Group (Year 8) Football vs Barclay (home) |
| Friday 12 December |
V Group (Year 11) Practical GCSE Mock Exams Last day of Autumn Term 2025 - term ends at 1200 noon |
| Monday 15 December to Monday 5 January | Christmas Holidays (school closed) |
| Monday 5 January | Staff INSET |
| Tuesday 6 January | First day of Spring Term |
Our weekly Careers Newsletter has a different theme and excellent links to further information to help students explore careers they might be interested in. It features up-to-date Labour Market Information, an Employer Spotlight and a University Spotlight. We encourage you to explore this resource with your child to help spark careers conversations at home.
Please see Edition 10 below. If you have any further questions about Career Related Learning at St Chris, please contact Lizzie Hedderson.
| E and D Group Swimming Gala |
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Last Tuesday, our Year 5 and 6 (E and D Group) swimmers headed to St Francis’ College for a friendly gala filled with energy and determination. It was a wonderful occasion, with many pupils reaching personal best times and every swimmer showing clear growth in confidence and skill. Throughout the evening, the children encouraged one another with real enthusiasm, reflecting the supportive spirit we value so deeply at St Chris. Although St Francis narrowly secured more points overall, our swimmers returned with every reason to feel proud of their efforts and attitude. A big congratulations to all for taking part; whether it was in an individual race, group relay or helping with scoring and a big thank you to the swim team for coordinating the event and helping swimmers on the night! |
| Visit from Author & Illustrator Jess Meserve |
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Year 4 and Year 5 (F and E Group) enjoyed a special visit from author and illustrator Jessica Meserve this week. Jessica shared her sketchbook diaries with the students and spoke about how she develops ideas for stories. She read Our Tree to the class before guiding them through an illustration of Little Red from the book. It was a wonderfully inspiring session, and the students approached each activity with great enthusiasm and creativity. |
| Nursery |
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Our youngest students stepped into a wintry world this week, delighting in the soft snow that settled across the grounds. They made footprints, gathered small patches of ice, and explored how the cold changed the textures around them. Indoors, they strengthened their fine motor skills through a calming dough disco session set to the gentle music of Enya. |
| J Group (Year 1) |
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Year 1 students have been immersed in The Jolly Christmas Postman, bringing the story to life by crafting their own stick puppets. These characters have already inspired lively retellings and imaginative play. One student, Pixie, took this further by creating her own postman and letter, a thoughtful reminder of how students build on shared learning in their own time. Outdoors, the students also ventured into the wintry weather, exploring the soggy snow, pressing footsteps into the ground, and gathering small handfuls to shape into snowballs. |
| H Group (Year 2) |
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In PSHE, Year 2 spent time reflecting on the people who support them every day. Students spoke warmly about family members, friends, and trusted adults in school. The conversation encouraged them to recognise the networks of care surrounding them and to appreciate the many ways in which kindness is shown and shared. |
| G Group (Year 3) |
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Year 3 embraced a crisp Forest School session this week. Though the air was cold, the weather stayed dry, and a tarp was set up in case the clouds turned. Students continued to build confidence outdoors, learning to work together and stay resilient in the winter chill. |
| F Group (Year 4) |
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Year 4 continued their Forest School journey with thoughtful focus. To deepen their PSHE learning, each student was given a leaf and invited to explore similarities and differences; a gentle prompt to consider how people, like leaves, come in many forms. Together, they discussed how to read others’ feelings and how best to respond with care, whether that means offering help, finding an adult, or simply giving someone space. The session carried a warm sense of teamwork, with students supporting one another throughout. |
| D Group (Year 6) |
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Year 6 students took part in an important visit to Crucial Crew last week, where they explored personal safety, online safety, first aid and the real-world challenges they may encounter as they move towards Senior School. Later in the week, their learning broadened further during a fascinating trip to Bletchley Park. Students enjoyed a guided tour, explored the museum’s exhibitions, and took part in a hands-on workshop focused on breaking codes. We are so proud of Year 6 for their hard work, determination and incredible acting skills they showed in their Morning Talk today. From writing and editing the scripts, to rehearsing and then performing; they should be proud of what they have achieved! |
Our II Group (Year 8) basketball team put in a strong showing on Wednesday afternoon, narrowly losing 34–20 to Knights Templar. The students worked hard throughout and kept pushing right up to the final whistle. There were many encouraging moments across the game, and it was especially pleasing to see so many I Group (Year 7) students stepping up and performing with such confidence.
Despite a challenging 6–1 result against Priory in freezing conditions on Thursday, our U13/14 football team showed admirable character throughout. The second half saw a clear lift in their play, with students working harder, staying well organised, and putting together some confident passages of football. The scoreline doesn’t capture the spirit and determination they demonstrated — a commendable attitude and plenty of positives to take into the next match.
Last Saturday, our boarders enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of ice skating at Alexandra Palace. Students took to the rink with enthusiasm, helping one another find their balance and sharing plenty of laughter along the way. A brilliant winter outing for everyone involved.