From the Principal #162

Earlier this week, I opened my mail and was surprised to find a Christmas Card in November! Firstly, I was surprised at the efficiency of the sender, and secondly, it alerted me to the fact that we are just five Fridays away from Christmas. Is it me, or does Christmas seem to arrive earlier every year? This year’s poignant John Lewis ad (which signals the start of Christmas), the annual battle of the supermarkets, Black Friday (next week!), the Sunday supplements teaching you ‘How to cook the perfect Turkey’ (last weekend) and Christmas trees popping up around College and in the Boarding House, and it is still only November! So we are officially in the festive season – you can tell by the weather.

This week we have seen a veritable feast of opportunities. We had an assembly on Anti-Bullying Week led by Myles (Head of Wellbeing), which included students and staff supporting ‘Odd Socks Day’; FTP Live led by our Student Council deputy heads (Hayek and Maria), Oxbridge interview preparation, House competitions, sports fixtures, including football against Eton College, more CCAs than you could shake a cracker at, webinars and of course, the build-up to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Alongside all of this, our own Christmas preparations are underway. I noticed that the Christmas tree is being delivered to the Atrium next week, and decorations are coming out of the College store. The boarders will decorate the Christmas tree and a number in the boarding house common rooms. There will be Christmas preparations for the Winter Awards Ceremony next month – do join us online for the yuletide festivities. We are preparing the Christmas Lunch menu in the Global Kitchen, Christmas Jumper Charity Day, the DLD Christmas Card, Student Council Christmas Song, DLD Christmas Party, carol singing and plenty more.

However, there is still much work to be done before Christmas arrives (in December, I hasten to add!). There are mock and public exams to prepare for in December (IFP) and January 2023 (BTEC), end-of-term reports to write and the completion of UCAS personal statements and applications, to name but a few. Although it is still only November, I think everyone will be in the Christmas spirit soon, though some may be spreading the Christmas cheer at College a little bit too early…

Best wishes

Irfan

Irfan Latif, Principal