This week, Gresham’s pupils created their own Diwali Day. The School organised a series of exciting and festive activities to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

The day began with a special assembly where Chetanya Y, dressed in traditional Indian dress, explained the significance of Diwali and its history. She shared how the meaning, ‘row of lights’, highlights the importance of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

At lunchtime, pupils and staff enjoyed an Indian meal with an array of options including dal makhani, tandoori chicken, samosas, naan, dry potato curry, pakoras, papadums, and coconut rice pudding. The catering team went to a tremendous effort to create authentic dishes and plates were piled high! The food looked delectable and tasted amazing, too.

In the evening, the chapel was decorated with two hundred bright candles that created a warm and joyous atmosphere. Pupils made colourful rangolis, tucked into some sweet treats, and played Indian songs. Everyone had a deep red tilak to mark their forehead, symbolising spiritual connection and awakening consciousness.

Overall, pupils and staff thoroughly enjoyed the day and were left with a deeper appreciation for Diwali’s meaning and traditions.

On Tuesday, the Hispanic Society held a vibrant Día de los Muertos event to celebrate alongside the school’s Mexican pupils, those studying Spanish in the Senior School, and staff.

The evening began with a beautiful presentation by pupils who shared the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos, detailing the unique elements that make up an altar and explaining why this festival is important to them.

The pupils learned about “Calaveras Literarias” which are satirical poems used traditionally for this festival, and an altar was set up to showcase its cultural significance. Pupils also listened to contemporary Mexican music associated with the festival, along with some classics chosen by our Mexican pupils. 

Conducted entirely in Spanish, the event offered an authentic experience that enriched our pupils’ language skills and gave them a deeper connection to the cultural traditions they study.

Pupils participated in a fun Spanish-language quiz and enjoyed a mask-decorating activity. The evening concluded with an array of traditional Mexican snacks, adding a flavourful touch to a night filled with learning, laughter, and cultural appreciation.

The Year 13 pupils were privileged to attend an inspiring and insightful talk with Robert Murray, who shared the trajectory of his education and career, resulting in a prominent role within NATO International. This year, NATO celebrates 75 years of collective defence.

Robert provided a comprehensive overview of NATO’s history, covering its founding, original member states, growth, and mission of collective defence.

Robert’s talk was highly engaging and encouraging, as he recounted his personal journey, answered questions, and shared his key takeaway: “Never stop reading and learning.” This invaluable advice resonated with the pupils, emphasising the importance of lifelong curiosity.

The end of the Half Term break marked the much-anticipated annual House Music 2024 competition, showcasing the incredible musical talent across the School. Pupils from all houses competed in three categories: instrumental, part song, and unison, with each house delivering captivating performances.

The event was judged by expert vocal coach and choral director Mark De-Lisser. Most famously, Mark appeared as a vocal coach on ITV talent show The Voice for eight years, and currently performs the same role on The Masked Singer.

The competition was fierce, with every house striving for top honours in each category. Woodlands House took the trophy for the Instrumental category. Queens’ House emerged as the winner of the Part Song category, while Edinburgh House captured the Unison award. A huge well done to Queens’ House who was crowned the overall winner of the 2024 competition.

The event was a true celebration of the house system, with every pupil contributing to their house’s success. Supported by the entire school community, the atmosphere was electric, making House Music 2024 a resounding success.

A group of eighteen Year 11 cadets spent the first day of the October Half Term break on the CCF Junior Leadership Course.

In a day filled with activity, they were all introduced to leadership in practical tasks, taking command of teams in scenarios that varied from saving casualties, crossing simulated minefields, building watercourses, and re-constructing sabotaged information.

They all performed well, despite unpleasant weather conditions, and finished the course with a smart parade in front of their parents.

For the first time in several decades, Gresham’s has a group of keen campanologists learning to change ring at Upper Sheringham Church each week.

The pupils are all new to bellringing and are making astounding progress. In a few months, we hope the pupils will share their new talent with the local community—perhaps they will be ringing for a wedding or Sunday service near you.

Our final Saturday Chapel service of the Half Term was nothing short of a feast for the ears and the mind. It blended outstanding musical performances with thought-provoking insights on the importance of caring for our planet.

The service opened with incredible musical performances, featuring our talented Concert Band, Jazz Band, and the Junior Girls Choir. For many pupils, it was their first time performing in front of the entire school, making their achievements even more remarkable.

We also enjoyed a moment for reflection through a compelling talk delivered by Cara Parrett from the Faraday Institute. Her presentation explored the scientific, religious, and cultural factors that need to be addressed if we are to care for our planet effectively.

Sixth Form pupils who had the privilege of going on the Kenya trip this summer recently delivered a captivating presentation to the school, sharing their experiences from the journey. The talk covered a wide range of topics, from encounters with wildlife to football matches, moving stories, even an account of the toilet facilities!

Perhaps most importantly though, the pupils talked about the ongoing link between Gresham’s and Opalagilagi School in Kenya. As Gresham’s main overseas charity partner, Olpalagilagi School plays a vital role in improving the lives of young people, and the pupils highlighted the meaningful impact of this long-term partnership.

During Field Days, eighteen pupils had the exciting opportunity to learn how to teach English as a foreign language. Over the course of two days, they engaged in a variety of fun and interactive activities, ultimately earning a valuable qualification in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).

The first day was about ‘systems’ (grammar) and understanding what the classroom experience is like for those learning English. To do this, the instructor taught the group some basic greetings in Chinese without speaking any English. Instead, he used pictures and gestures to convey meaning and instruction. This helped the whole group learn how to ensure pupils with little knowledge of English can understand instructions and learn new vocabulary.

That afternoon, the pupils taught their first lesson in small groups to the whole class about any aspect of English grammar. Topics ranged from the future simple tense to adverbs of frequency. Although the topics were wide-ranging, all the lessons followed TEFL guidelines, such as minimise Teacher Talking Time and follow the three Ps (Presentation, Practice, Production).  

The next day focused on teaching the skills of learning a new language: reading, writing, listening and speaking, with a particular focus on reading and listening. They took part in many different activities that they could use to teach people listening and reading skills, such as dictation, gap fills and sequencing events in a story.

The group also learnt to structure a skills lesson with activities before, during and after the reading or listening. With plenty of knowledge under their belts, the pupils taught their skills lessons that afternoon which featured many different activities, including those that they had created themselves, and some familiar favourites such as board slap and charades.  

This TEFL course was a wonderful experience for all involved, and in a few weeks, pupils will receive a certificate which shows that they are qualified to teach EFL abroad.

The whole group would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Osborne for organising the course, Ms Masters for supervising and Nathan Lomax, the TEFL instructor.