Arnold School

Individuals pull together for the team

The first few weeks of the academic year are special.  Any Head Teacher worth his or her salt will agree that school buildings just don't "feel right" when they stand empty but, as soon as the children return after the long summer holidays, their individual energies and enthusiasms seem to combine almost instantly and create a happy, busy and focused atmosphere.  The echoing buildings are transformed and the school comes alive.  It's simply brilliant and it means one thing only - it's time for business.

Our children are most definitely happy, busy and focused; as can be seen very clearly in the many different news stories that we have featured on our website since the start of term.  I particularly relish hearing about the achievements of individual pupils, so you can imagine my delight when reading about Lucy Ella Smith's headline performance at Lytham Proms as well as Megan Bruce's starring role in 'Over the Rainbow' and Lucy Salmon's practical lab experience at Manchester University.  All these girls have very different talents of which I can only dream, and I am very proud of them. 

In fact, Lucy Smith and Megan Bruce will be adding their talents to a very strong cast at our forthcoming musical, which this year is 'Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat' with Joseph Shaw in the leading role.  I cannot wait to see how Miss Horrocks, Mr Chandler, Ms Preston and their team will top the dizzy heights of last year's "Calamity Jane" success but I have an inkling that this year's show may be even bigger and brighter...  Like me, you can follow their progress on Twitter (@ArnoldDrama).

My first official event of the year was The Old Arnoldians' Dinner; which was a relaxed evening in the Memorial Hall with a delicious dinner provided by our catering team.  Two families of OAs, the Armfields and the Owens (both pictured below), were even represented across three generations. The evening combined good humoured memories about everyone's happy schooldays with an understanding of, and optimism about, the changes ahead.  Talking of which, I have just returned home from my second very productive visit of the week at KEQMS, where I enjoyed another warm welcome.

I spent most of Sunday smiling when my family and I joined 40 or so other intrepid walkers (not forgetting Bonnie Blue's two dogs Bradley and Honeybee) at the PFA Family Day.  Mrs Leman and Mrs Armstead gallantly led us all on a 2½ hour walk around Ambleside, with some stunning views over Lake Windermere.  My two year old daughter was one of the many children who completed the walk (although it has to be said that she was encouraged along the way with a chocolate biscuit kindly donated by Miss Allen and a few piggy-backs!).  In fact, the team of boys and girls were at the front throughout the walk.  I do hope that many more families will join us on PFA Family Days in the years ahead.

Our hockey teams have made a very robust start to the season, with Emily Adams scoring goal after goal against Rossall and Cheadle Hulme.  Mr Evans reports on exceptional levels of teamwork in our rugby teams and I share his admiration for the boys' "gutsy" performances and their efforts on the pitch, which "cannot be faulted." 

Well done to everyone, teams and individuals alike, on making such a strong and focused start to the year. 

Best wishes

Jim Keefe, Headmaster

Follow School headline news on Twitter: @jimkeefe_arnold

Posted by: J E Keefe
Date: Wednesday 28/09/2011