Outside my study window as I type this, I can see a couple of snowflakes falling! The Christmas season certainly is here. Thus far, I have had the pleasure of attending the Nursery Christmas singing, the Reception ‘Whoops-a-daisy, Angel’ Nativity, the Year 1 and 2 Christingle Service, and of course the very festive Prep School Christmas Fair last weekend. We are all looking forward to the Senior School Carol Services on Sunday (6pm) and Tuesday (7pm) as well as the Prep School Service on Wednesday (please note the slightly earlier start time of 5.45pm rather than the previously published 7pm, which should give a chance for those who are interested to get home and watch the Semi Final of the Rugby Vase Competition in time!) If you want to join in on our festive spirit from afar then you can, of course, follow the SVS Advent calendar here on TikTok.

Tonight is the final night of The Winter’s Tale production following a performance to the Prep School on Monday and two other performances on Wednesday and Thursday earlier this week. I know that the cast and crew have worked very hard indeed to provide a thought-provoking and enjoyable Shakespearian evening and my thanks goes to all those involved. I shall be there this evening.

I must also acknowledge the success of the girls’ U16A Hockey and the boys’ 1^st XV Rugby teams, who both won their chilly and highly competitive national competition Quarter Final matches this week. We wish them all the best in their next rounds and we are very proud of their achievements thus far. A particular thanks to the parents who came to watch – thermals were certainly needed! The sunset at Top Field during the U11s three-way Rugby afternoon on Wednesday gave one of the best backdrops I have ever seen for school sport – do take a look here.

We have over 80 students and a group of staff setting off at 3am on Monday to Stansted, where they will fly to Poland for what I am sure will be a moving and humbling History Trip. I look forward to hearing reports from them during and after and I am sure there will be much to respond to.

We have an Old Suttonian gathering in London at the Landsdowne Club on Saturday Evening. It will be great to have such a wide age range of members of the SVS Foundation community coming together sharing stories and experiences. We have also made sure there will be a screen in the background with the England game on, in case anyone worries about missing out!

Do wrap up warm, everybody, and feel the Christmas Cheer!