Friday Flyer - 10th July 2025
Dear Michael Hall Community,
We've finally approached the end of the academic year which always brings joy with the excitement of the summer to come and the pride of the accomplishments of the year, and also brings peace as the busy-ness of day to day work is put to rest and we can look forward to quietly reading books in the garden all day (well that's what I will be doing!)
There is also sadness as we say farewell to cherished colleagues and students, including the whole of Class 12, who will be going on new adventures.
As I come to the end of my Acting Principal tenureship and reflect back on the year, I think there is a lot to celebrate as Michael Hall sees in its 100th year, not least that we finally secured a Good from Ofsted (after three very long inspection days). I know that my very unexpected period of ill health after this inspection put a significant strain on my colleagues but at the end of the day it is the strength of our community that has seen us through the year with our wonderful curriculum, beautiful work and glorious festivals unfolding like clockwork as they always have thanks to every single person at the school.
I have always been an introverted soul and Michael Hall has always felt very "big" to me and it has reminded me very much this year of the story of "The Snail and the Whale" by Julia Donaldson. I taught my Class to recite the entire poem when they were in Class 2 and we presented it on the stage with beautiful pictures the children had drawn. It's a story of a very big whale taking a snail on very exciting adventures but then getting stuck on a beach due to speedboats making big waves (aspects of the modern world which the whale isn't accustomed to coping with). At the end, the snail tells the school teachers and children to come and help and it is the school community, every single person, all pouring water on the whale to keep it sustained till the tide comes in.
I think the tide is finally coming back in to take Michael Hall on some brand new adventures and I feel confident that our new Captain and the community are in for some marvellous, beautiful and imaginative journeys. Although there will always be choppy waters, I see much clearer skies ahead.
I am very much looking forward to returning to the simpler life of being a teacher, teaching my two great loves of Psychology and Maths and will still be around for a nice quiet hello.
Wishing you all a peaceful and joyous summer holiday.
With love to all in our community,
Emmeline Hawker
Teacher
Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th August 2025.
