May Half-Term Newsletter

Dear Families,

The half term has flown by, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the very special St Lawrence community.

Assemblies this term have encouraged us to reflect deeply on how we use our time and talents. We considered what it truly means to be ‘smart’, not just academically, but in the way we live our lives. One assembly explored the idea of time as a daily bank account of 86,400 seconds, reminding us to use each moment wisely. Another told the story of the boy throwing starfish back into the sea, a parable that reinforces the idea that even small acts of kindness can make a very big difference.

We’ve celebrated a number of successes, from sporting wins to superb performances in the UK Mathematics Trust Challenge where 18 Young Lawrentians proved themselves to be among the top 2-3% of mathematicians in the UK. These accolades are a testament to the mathematical strength we nurture.

Our pupils also shone beyond the classroom. Sarah-Jane received the Miss Vyse Cup for her outstanding contribution to the Thanet Festival of Music, Drama and Dance, and Amber was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Community spirit has been a pleasure to behold whether during Sports Day, House Masterchef (with Bellerby as overall winners), or the hotly contested Tug of War. Staff particularly enjoyed winning the staff v pupil round!

We also took part in local commemorations, including a dawn walk to the Royal Harbour for our D-Day ‘Operation Dynamo’ event.

Looking ahead, we would like to develop a new parent initiative – The Friends of St Lawrence. The purpose of this parent support group would be to contribute to fostering a warm and supportive school community where parents are invited to be actively involved in College life and so contribute to the holistic development of every pupil. More information will follow next term but please let me know if you would be interested in helping us to establish this group by emailing hm@slcuk.com.

Finally, to those sitting external exams – best wishes! We look forward to celebrating your achievements in August.

Wishing everyone a restful and happy half-term break. I look forward to welcoming our boarders pupils back to school on Sunday 1 June with lessons commencing on Monday 2 June.

Matthew Brown

Head of College

Dear Families,

An exciting half term has just flown by, filled with engaging lessons both in the classroom and beyond. Our older Prep pupils enjoyed a fantastic range of experiences, including the Kidenza orchestra, a thoughtful VE Day assembly with Miss Smith, an immersive evacuation experience (complete with a ride on a steam train), and a glorious week at PGL for Year 6.

Meanwhile, our Pre-Prep children have loved their time in Forest School, enjoyed their Year 2 Super Slumber Party, and are eagerly looking forward to their upcoming trip to Quex Park.

All children also took part in a valuable online safety workshop led by the charity Childnet, helping them to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. We were pleased to extend this learning to parents in the evening.

Academically, we’ve continued to focus on providing high-quality live feedback during lessons, ensuring pupils are both challenged and supported in the moment. We’ll be sharing assessment outcomes in end of year reports and at parents’ evenings next half term.

In celebration of National Diversity Week, some of our Chinese pupils taught us about the Dragon Boat Festival and shared their memories of watching the races in Beijing.

Being part of the St Lawrence community means a great deal to us all. I’ve been especially heartened by our School Christian Tapestry project, with children and families working together to contribute a million stitches into one beautiful expression of creativity, love, and community.

Looking ahead, we are very much looking forward to welcoming families to several special events next half term:

Sports Day