News

They say that time flies when you are having fun, and it’s quite hard to believe that we are now halfway through the summer school programme. Today we say goodbye to 30 students who have come to the end of their stay with us, but we are welcoming another 30 students to the programme. Week 3 was another jam-packed week, with the students continuing to excel in classes and also embracing the activity programme in both the afternoon and evening and also on the Wednesday and Saturday excursions. Let’s take a look at what’s been going on this week…

The House System: Traditions and Friendly Rivalry

Throughout the past week, the students engaged in various activities and challenges, earning house points for their respective teams. The competition is extremely fierce, and dedication and enthusiasm shown by the students is quite impressive! The culmination of this house rivalry comes at the end of the week during the graduation ceremony, held in our concert hall. One evening activity that was really popular (and is always a hit every year) was the Egg Protector Challenge. The idea is to put an egg inside a homemade protective box that students build and at the end of the activity, the activity leaders attempt to 'destroy' the egg. Firstly, the students build their box and they can win materials to protect their egg by undertaking various challenges. The more challenges they successfully complete, the more materials they win and can put towards making a box/container that will protect their egg. At the end of the challenge, the activity leaders attempt to destroy the egg that is in the box by…smashing it as hard as they can! The catch? If the egg doesn’t break, then the students can smash the egg on the activity leaders’ heads!

As you can see from the picture, the students prepared their protective box....

Then, the activity leaders attempted to 'destroy' the box and egg...

Unfortunately for Jordan, the activity leader pictured above, he didn't break the egg, so this meant the students could 'smash' the egg on his head! 

And the winner is...AUSTEN!

At the end of the week, we announce the House Cup winners during the graduation ceremony (more on this below). The winner is the house with the most points collected during the week. Competition is extremely fierce, mainly because the winning team receives not only the cup, but Krispy Kreme donuts too. This week, the winning team was Austen!

Celebrating Student Achievements: The Graduation Ceremony

Every Friday we hold the graduation ceremony and it is the highlight of the week at Whitgift Summer School. It provides an opportunity celebrate all the creative, sporting and academic things the students have done over the week. The ceremony is filled with excitement and anticipation, as various awards are presented to deserving individuals. Students are recognized for their progress and effort in various areas, such as "Most Improved Speaker," "Best Sportsperson," and "Best Boarding House Boy & Girl." These awards highlight not only academic achievements but also the importance of character development and overall growth during their time at the summer school. Amidst the individual awards, there is one prize that holds a special place at Whitgift Summer School—the prestigious Whitgift Award. This award is given to the student who best embodies the ethos and values that define a true "Whitgiftian." The recipient of this award is seen as a role model, showing leadership, compassion, honesty and dedication to the school community. This week, Jonny, who is here with us for 4 weeks, won the award - well done to him! 

Celebrating Talents: Student Performances and Weekly Video

Another special part of the graduation ceremony is the highly-anticipated  weekly video. This video reminds the students of the memorable moments of the past week and leaves the them with unforgettable memories. A big thank you must go to all the staff (and students!) who get involved with the shooting of the video content over the week. You can see the Week 3 video here:

A Special Moment of Recognition and Celebration

The graduation ceremony is a special part of the week here at Whitgift Summer School for both staff and students. It is a moment to appreciate the progress made, friendships formed, and experiences shared during the preceding week. Each student's journey at Whitgift Summer School is unique, and the ceremony allows us to come together to celebrate the positive impact that this program has on the students.

After the ceremony, the students enjoyed some street food before the disco started!

Stay tuned for Week 4's blog to find out what the students did!