Old Wheatleyans Former Pupil News
Welcome to the summer edition of the Old Wheatleyans Newsletter We are always very pleased to welcome former pupils back to Bablake, and we were delighted to see almost a hundred at our 1980s reunion on Saturday 1 July. I really enjoyed hearing about their journeys through life since they left the school, and many reflected on how personally they had benefited from the opportunities of their Bablake education, alluding also to the durable friendships they had forged. Earlier that day, I had welcomed our interviewers to our Mock Interview Morning, thanking them for sacrificing Saturday papers and a more leisurely start to the day! Over half of them were former pupils, keen to give something back to their school. We know that success and happiness in life will not depend purely on academic achievement (important though it certainly is), and self-confidence and inter-personal skills were also tested in those mock interviews. We have just appointed School Captains and Prefects, and they have been selected by staff and fellow students for their leadership qualities and their willingness to serve others in the school community – for an essential ingredient of leadership is indeed service. House Prefects, Peer Supporters and Mental Health Ambassadors have also been appointed, and they will play their part as rolemodels and guides, engendering happy integration across the year groups. There have been many activities in school over the last few days which have involved pupils in the support, guidance and service of others. They were fine and proud ambassadors on Open Evening; some have enjoyed working with primary school children on our creative arts, modern languages and sports outreach days; others assisted at the 1980s reunion; and several were excellent hosts and entertainers at our Senior Citizens’ Summer Party on Wednesday. So excellent were they that the residents of St Catherine’s Lodge were prompted to write in appreciation: “From everyone at St Catherine’s Lodge, thank you all for an afternoon that provided us with much joy and laughter. The sandwiches and those home-made cakes were delicious. (The sherry found our singing voices, not sure the Ring and Ride Driver would agree though!) This morning we all spoke about the fantastic musical talent and most importantly for us as a group the interaction the pupils had with the residents. To have the skill, respect and ability to make older people feel welcomed and valued is most important and we thank those pupils dearly. It was very clear how much hard effort was put in to making the afternoon such a success, please be very proud.” And we are proud, for we should aspire to excellence in all that we do – whether in our studies or in those skills which bring “joy and laughter” to others. 1