Living Our Values: Reflections on the First Weeks at Casterton
As we approach the first Exeat of 2025, I would like to take a moment to share some reflections from my first 3 weeks as CSPS. Values are very important to me, and one of the reasons I applied for the role of Head here is because the values of the School, The Ways Of The Wolf, are very much in line with my own values. Accordingly, I would like to share some examples of where I have seen our values in action:
Kindness – I have been overwhelmed with the kindness shown to me as a new member of our community. I feel incredibly grateful to have been so warmly welcomed by children, staff and parents; thank you.
Collaboration – Watching our children play. Play is such an important part of a child’s development. Observing the way children collaborate during play is always an uplifting moment for me. I have seen our children decide on rules for their games. They have not always agreed, but they have found ways to compromise and move forward. They have decided on how games will be played, established boundaries and learned to consider the needs of others. Of course, it is not always perfect, but giving them the space to problem solve will often reap rewards.
Creativity – I have experienced so much creativity over the last three weeks. Within lessons, assemblies, church services, extra-curricular activities.. the list could go on. One of my favourite examples would be within our congregational singing. Seeing the way the children engage so freely with this is just gorgeous, and it creates moments of connection between all of us, which is truly joyous.
Ambition – I will always encourage ambition in our children. This is clearly evident on our sports pitches, but we should not underestimate the ambition seen in our classrooms. I was thrilled to see a number of children congratulated for being Word Millionaires for example, which shows genuine commitment and ambition. I also commend all of our children who are challenging themselves with scholarship applications.
Courage – as adults we can often forget what it is like to truly step out of our comfort zone (starting a new job has been a stark reminder of this…). Children regularly challenge themselves and we should not underestimate how difficult this can be. Whether it be standing up in Assembly, reading the prayer at lunch, running cross country or performing on the stage; we can at times forget how much courage this takes.
Responsibility – I would like to highlight our senior children who have so willingly helped with our recent cross-country events. They have been hares and tortoises, supported struggling runners, collected lost shoes and covered many miles; all with a smile on their face and a positive approach. Their willingness to take on meaningful responsibility has been highly impressive and bodes well for the future.
Kate Martin
Head of Prep School
Image: Congratulations to our Word Millionaires!