A Festival of the Arts
In what has been the most glorious week with the weather providing a wonderful backdrop to learning and simply enjoying being at school, it is the Arts that have shone through with such an array of different events taking place. Across two days and three separate performances, a broad range of the student body performed some of their LAMDA pieces in a dress rehearsal prior to the actual examinations next week. A record number of students have chosen to take this wonderful qualification this year which just exemplifies their commitment to go above and beyond the curriculum. The standard was high across the board and what was most pleasing of all, was the range of pieces that they put on from dark satire to comedy and surrealism. We wish them all the very best as they perform in front of the examiner next week.
In addition, over thirty students visited Norwich Theatre on Thursday to see a production of ‘Joseph’. A wonderful opportunity to see and hear one of the finest musicals where they were able to discover what professionalism within the world of theatre truly looks like.
And then the Bohemian Choir came to Saint Felix; I was disappointed not to be able to see them, but the feedback has just been incredible. The choir is made up of trainee teachers from the Czech Republic and performed a selection of songs to students across Years 6-9 as well as the Senior Choir. Their repertoire included Bach, Stopford as well as traditional Czech songs bound together by the theme of “When Freedom Was Just an Illusion”; their three and four-part harmonies simply blew the audience away! It is also so heartening to see continued student success with Charles S having a premiere of his piece “Beyond the East Shore” performed at the Southwold Town Mayors Charity Concert tonight at 7 p.m. in St Edmund’s Church. Good luck!
This is a geographical area that is rich in the arts and next month, the Southwold Arts Festival takes place organised by our very own Lin Le Versha, who is not only a Governor but also Chair of the Education Committee. It is a wonderful week that celebrates so many different forms of the creative and performing arts and we are thrilled to be putting on our very own showcase again this year with students across both the Prep and Senior Department performing at St Edmund’s Church at 1 p.m. on Thursday 26th June. Please do put the date in your diary: Southwold Arts Festival 2025 | June 21st – 28th June. I have put a number of programme flyers with the details of all the events in Reception if you would like to pick one up.
In my newsletter last week I talked about resilience, and this was the theme of my assembly on Monday picking up on how to begin to develop the traits and characteristics that will serve our students well in developing this habit. One of the best ways to develop resilience is by embracing new opportunities, taking on a new challenge and not being afraid of failure. A number of the different elements of the new curriculum and co-curricular programme are deliberately designed to enable our students to experience such opportunities and this is certainly true of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme: DofE – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It is an award that embraces the ideals of Saint Felix across its various components with students engaging in teamwork, volunteering, and outward-bound activities.
I am delighted that our first two students have gained their Bronze Award; congratulations to Lilly R-W and Chloe P who have clearly shown great resilience and strength. Other students are also on the verge of gaining their certificates in the weeks to come as they finish off their last few areas of the award.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend and that the fine weather continues. I am away from Saint Felix next week at the annual BSA and ISA Conferences. Ms Hardcastle will be in charge of the school in my absence should you need to contact someone at that level.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Oakman
Head
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Oakman
Head
