Michaelmas Assembly

During a week of wild storms and rain, Wednesday 29th September burst forth in full sunshine to bless us with light and warmth throughout our day-long Michaelmas celebrations: the morning festival for all,  the later Courage Games for the younger classes and the fearsome Dragon Game for those old and brave enough to stand it!

I sat – unusually alone – on the parents’ benches in Keir Hall as the children streamed in clutching their harvest offerings: each Class 1 child carried a bunch of bright flowers which they held out with beaming faces to the equally beaming Class 11 students whose open arms received them, then arranged them on the harvest table which was simply dressed, with a freshly baked (by Class 7) harvest sheaf, other home-baked loaves and beautifully plaited corn dollies. 

Class 8, a class rich in musicians, performed a rousing, foot-tapping medley of sunny Beatles songs. Class 2 followed with a very tricky medley of Michaelmas songs sung, and played on their pentatonic pipes. What nimble fingers they have! and what lovely voices too! Ben stood in for Jonathan to support Class 4 in a splendidly rhythmical Norse Myths poem full of the forces of Will! We were charmed next to hear Class 1, who have only been in the main school such a few weeks – singing their autumn song ‘Come little leaves said the wind one day…’ accompanied by fulsome gestures. How brave!

Class 2, with small arms full of great green cabbages, courgettes and purple-sprouting broccoli… followed, then Class 3 with rosy apples and other juicy fruit. As each class entered, the singing grew in volume and I experienced how well the school is, how strong and full and healthy. This filled me with great joy and a sense of immense gratitude.
Sandi gave a beautiful address – introducing the mighty Archangel Michael who stands behind this important festival – in the loveliest way: strength and power can be shown in swashbuckling manner with much sword-clanging – or it can come from within, a deep and conscious inner strength which we can show in our deeds towards each other; and she gave some impressive examples which will certainly inspire many a good deed among our children. She also drew our attention to the beautiful picture that hangs in Keir Hall lobby – painted especially for us by the artist David Newbatt – a striking image of St Michael not killing, but taming the dragon and teaching it to use its fiery powers for good deeds.  

This full-hearted festival was brought to a close by Class 8 with a new rendering, in two-part harmony, of an old favourite: ‘In Autumn St Michael’. 
Many thanks to all the classes and their teachers for a heart-warming, soul-nourishing celebration. 
P.S. ‘St George and the Dragon’, our traditional Michaelmas play, has had to be postponed, through illness, to a later date.  
Christine Polyblank