News list
Our festive ‘Services in Preparation for Christmas’, held over two days in the magnificent Chapel of St John’s College, once again heralded the start of the season with a range of carols, poems and readings all presented by the children. The carols and readings were interspersed with 5 congregational hymns. The Services provided a sense of calm from the busy nature of this time of the year and created up a contemplative mood to help prepare for Christmas.
Humanitas Charity runs a primary school located in the remote, rural community of Ayensuako in southern Ghana. It forms part of Humanitas’ Education Matters programme. St John's continues to support this school through Humanitas and the children had an update in assemblies at both Senior House and Byron House about the success of the project, as well as workshops for some year groups. The school buildings at Ayensuako have now been painted and a library is being established which will be used by the entire village.
Parents and pupils alike were enchanted by T1’s modern nativity, Christmas with the Aliens. The traditional Christmas story is retold to some alien visitors who become stranded on earth and meet a group of schoolchildren rehearsing their Christmas play.
It's a far from silent night in the stable – until Mary and Joseph arrive, bringing peace among the animals. Parents and pupils alike were treated to a magical nativity of colourful costumes, clear voices and tuneful, catchy songs with KG’s rendition of their Christmas story. The children performed the familiar nativity story but with a twist. Not Such A Silent Night is the story of Larry the lamb who runs away from his stable in Bethlehem. Larry soon realises that he’s made a terrible mistake and decides to return with some help along the way.
T2s were transported back to 1897 and the reign of Queen Victoria via the drama-based presentations and workshops delivered by ‘History Off the Page’. This truly cross-curricular experience rounded off their study of the Victorian era and the children experienced a range of sources including documents, artefacts, pictures and music, to bring to life this colourful period in history.
This year’s Shakespeare School’s Festival (SSF) performance of The Tempest by members of the Sixth Form was literally ‘out-of-this-world’. Mr Tim Clarke and Ms Drusilla Harris put on a truly cinematic spectacle that brought a breath of fresh air to one of Shakespeare’s most musical and mythical plays. Watching this exhilarating version of The Tempest was almost like watching an intricate painting burst into life. The cast and creative team totally transported the audience to a brand new, exciting world of adventure.
The Parents' Association Fireworks Night at St John’s College School always marks the real start of winter and is one of the most splendid displays in the area. This year parents, children and friends came out in large numbers to marvel at the rockets and Catherine Wheels in a cold, clear sky.
Form 1 experienced the world of ancient Rome with a Roman Day workshop. The children were transported back to Roman Britain with a recreation of life in the past including role-play, practical activities and hands-on experiences with Roman replica artefacts.
The Piazza was transformed into a multi-coloured rainbow of different playground designs on 18 October as all the children in Senior House embraced The Big Draw challenge. “The Big Draw Festival 2018 is all about letting loose, embracing happy accidents, discovery, and most importantly having fun with your weird and wonderful materials of choice!” (The Big Draw – www.thebigdraw.org)
Form 2 took part in a ‘Dancing with Dementia Patients’ project as part of their Responsibilities Development and as an extension of the school’s Outreach Development. Miss Worthington, Deputy Head of Junior Department, explained, “The aim was twofold: to provide Outreach Opportunities to Form 2 children to increase their understanding, compassion and self-awareness whilst also developing their sense of responsibility towards others in the local community. We believe that by doing this, children will be given opportunities to embody and develop the values of trust, compassion, love and