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Summer Term: Week 11

I can’t quite believe that I am sitting writing the final Boarding Blog of the academic year! In amongst the children’s usual panic when realising that they can’t actually fit everything into their cases to return home, there have been a whole host of events for the boarders to enjoy this week.

There was pandemonium in the House on Tuesday evening when the final whistle blew to signal England’s victory against Germany. This was followed by a House BBQ as an end of year treat. On Wednesday the Year 8s had their Leavers’ Ball and it was wonderful to see them all looking so smart as they donned their dinner jackets and dresses and enjoyed wonderful food and entertainment, plenty of laughs and photos and even some dancing!

On Thursday evening the whole Colstocks community came together for the boarders’ end of term supper. While the numbers were much lower compared to previous years due to the pandemic, the quality of food and atmosphere remained as high as in previous years.  The supper also offered me an opportunity to thank staff for their hard work and effort during this unprecedented time to ensure that the children leave having had the best possible experience with us in Colstocks. Miss Armin, Miss Lancefield, Sister Vicks and Miss Lozano continue to do a wonderful job in Colstocks and I am fortunate to have them on my team.

It is natural at this time of year to say goodbye to staff. This year we say farewell to Mr Mynott (House Tutor) and two of our fantastic gappies, Shaumya Kularajan and Joseph Shouksmith. All have contributed significantly to the smooth running of Colstocks and I would like to thank them again all for their hard work and wish them the very best as they embark on new chapters in their lives.

We also said farewell to Mr and Mrs Jones who have been a constant support to the boarders over the past six years and their passion for boarding has helped to raise Colstocks’ profile significantly in the school. As part of the celebrations I asked the boarders to describe Mr Jones in three words and it was fitting that the children could instinctively describe the qualities that we all recognise in Mr Jones on a day-to-day basis, such as ‘kind, energetic, epic’ and ‘fun, hard-working, generous’. 

Etched into our House charter on the stairwell that the boarders pass daily are the following words: ‘We want all of you to leave Colstocks having had a fantastic time, while making lots of friends and sharing memories which will last a lifetime.’  I think our boarders will leave with their heads held high, knowing that they had made the most of every opportunity given to them at St Andrew’s Prep.