Every year, early into the start of term, the Hall School Parents Association (HSPA) puts on a Saturday picnic to celebrate the back-to-school season. The aim of the event has always been to bring the whole school community together—parents, boys, staff, and siblings—for an afternoon of socialising in a safe and enjoyable manner. The opportunity also allows for new families to join the Hall to meet other families for the first time.
The Wilf Slack Sport Grounds offered plenty of space for this year’s event where children could run around, play football with Belsize Park Football Club, enjoy giant lawn games, and participate in face painting, and balloon modelling. While picnics were encouraged, food vendors selling pizza, crepes, and ice-cream dotted the field. A pre-loved uniform shop, bake sale, and pre-loved games and books sale were also available which made £3,810 for the Association.
Chair of HSPA, Marianna Katsoulis, comments on the event: “We had a record attendance this year of 555 individuals, up on last year numbers. The HSPA worked tirelessly behind the scenes for about a month with a subcommittee creating an event plan and risk assessment shared with the local police. We hired security who are all first aid trained to take care of our guests and keep the event solely to the school community. On the day, we had 21 volunteers and helpers enlisted using callouts from the class rep system. It really is a group effort of parents coming together for the Hall School Community.”
Marianna encourages all parents interested in joining a supportive and comfortable community to reach out to hspa@hallschool.co.uk or read the information on the website.
