Head Master's Weekly Notes - 21st November 2014

Last week I opened my mail in my study and I was surprised to find a Christmas Card in the middle of November! Firstly, I was surprised at the efficiency of the sender (an Old Sexeian by the way) and secondly, it alerted me to the fact that we are just four Fridays away from Christmas. Is it me, or does Christmas seem to be arriving earlier every year – the John Lewis ad (apparently this signals the start of Christmas), the annual battle of the supermarkets, the Sunday supplements teaching you ‘How to cook the perfect Turkey’ and a message from the Facilities Manager asking about Christmas trees for School and the Boarding Houses. So we are officially in the festive season, even though it is still only November - and this week we have seen a veritable feast of opportunities which have included drama performances from the critically acclaimed Muddy Choir, cracking sporting fixtures against Sherborne and Clayesmore, the Business Breakfast Meeting for our 6^th Form students and business leaders in Bruton and the Yr 7 boarders for supper at Walwin. Of course, the Y11s have started their Autumn exams (the Artists completed their exam yesterday) and they all start in earnest next week. And alongside this, our own Christmas prep is underway - I noticed the Christmas decorations coming out the school attic, the boarders are putting up Christmas trees in their boarding houses; preparations are underway for the Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party, the Christmas Concert on Tuesday 5 December, the annual Cross Country event, Christmas Dinner in the KDR, the Christmas Shopping Evening on Bruton High Street, where the PSA will be in full force, as will our Carol Singers, and of course, the Christmas Carol Service on the last day of term at St Mary’s Bruton. This will round off the term and put everyone in the Christmas spirit, though some may already be spreading the Christmas cheer at School.

We have the extended exeat this weekend and this will be an opportunity to rest, relax and reflect, but I fear that I may well be writing Christmas cards…