From Lower Prep to Senior School, pupils and Staff came together to celebrate The Grange School’s 98th Birthday through reflection, tradition, competition and community spirit.
Last week, The Grange School Community came together to celebrate one of the most meaningful and emblematic moments in our annual calendar: The Grange School’s 98th Birthday.
Founded in 1928 by John Jackson, The Grange School has remained true to its founding vision of educating young people who are trustworthy and useful to society. For almost a century, generations of pupils, Staff, parents and Old Grangonians have contributed to building the strong and vibrant Community we know today.
Throughout the week, pupils across Lower Prep, Upper Prep and Senior School took part in a wide range of activities designed to celebrate our history, strengthen School spirit and honour the traditions that unite generations of Grangonians.
As we move steadily towards our Centenary, School Birthday remains a valuable opportunity not only to celebrate the past, but also to recognise the people, values and experiences that shape our future.
Lower Prep
What a memorable celebration!
Our School Birthday brought the entire community together in a wonderful display of colour, spirit and joy. Pupils and staff alike dressed with style and pride, filling every corner of Lower Prep with Light Blue, Dark Blue, Dark Grey and Light Grey. The atmosphere was vibrant from the very beginning, with the Mini Gryphons taking centre stage to lead a special Assembly that set the tone for a day filled with enthusiasm and Grangonian spirit.
A special highlight of the celebration was the presence of Miss Josephine Jackson, granddaughter of our Founder, John Jackson, former pupil, Prefect and long-serving teacher at The Grange School. In a heartfelt address, Miss Josephine shared personal memories of her family’s connection to the School and reflected on how generations of Grangonians have contributed to building the community we know today.
Speaking about the School’s early years, she reminded pupils that although many things have changed over the past 98 years, the values that inspired the School’s foundation remain as important as ever: hard work, respect, good manners, friendship and a strong sense of community. She also shared memories of her own time as a pupil and teacher, as well as stories from the Jackson family, offering a unique glimpse into the history of The Grange School. Her words left pupils and staff alike inspired and proud to be part of such a special community.
Following the Assembly, pupils gathered with their respective colours for a spectacular aerial photograph, beautifully captured by Tomás Westenenk (OG-2003). The image reflected the pride, unity and sense of belonging that characterise our School community.
In Prekinder, pupils celebrated this milestone during their Understanding the World lesson by reflecting on what makes our 98-year-old school so special. To promote a sense of belonging, they shared their favourite places and activities, creating beautiful birthday cards and a collaborative class poster titled “I like my school because…” to capture their love for the community.
Back in their classrooms, each class sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed a beautifully decorated cuchuflí cake as part of the celebrations.
From the laughter in the corridors to the pride reflected in every face, this was a day that reminded us all just how special The Grange School truly is. As we celebrate 98 years of history, we also celebrate the people, values and traditions that continue to unite generations of Grangonians.
Upper Prep
The birthday spirit continued throughout the week in Upper Prep, where the Heads of Colour organised a variety of activities designed to encourage pupils to reflect on our School’s history, celebrate our traditions and strengthen their sense of belonging to the Grange community.
Monday – Reflecting on our School
Pupils were invited to complete sentences on a post-it note and add them to a display that stood proudly in the new Green Quad throughout the week. They were encouraged to reflect on:
- My favourite memory at school is…
- What I like most about my School is…
- I wish future generations will…
- This year, as a school, we…
Tuesday – Gryphon Hunt
Some very sneaky pupils and staff members hid small Gryphon cut-outs around the Upper Prep quads during first break. Pupils who found one placed it inside their House Points Box, contributing 10 House Points to their Colour.
Wednesday – Acrostic Poems
Pupils were invited to create an acrostic poem using the word GRANGE. Each poem submitted received 10 House Points for their Colour. The teachers were impressed by the high standard of the entries.
Thursday – Happy Birthday Assembly
The teachers and pupils of Upper Prep gathered together in Balfour Quad, donning their Colour shirts to mark this important day. We heard a little of the School’s history, learned which Colour had found the most Gryphons on Tuesday, celebrated the winners of the Acrostic Poem competition and participated in some trivia time.
Our School Gryphon then joined the celebrations as we sang Happy Birthday to the School, before Miss Ingamells concluded the Assembly with her final words.
Friday – Crazy Socks, Tights and Tie Day & a Balfour Quad Surprise
Pupils and teachers came sporting their colourful socks, tights and ties to bring some colour and party spirit to the final day of the birthday week.
In addition to this, the teachers surprised the children during first break by dancing along to Waka Waka. We thank the teachers for the time spent rehearsing this performance, as well as the pupils who enthusiastically joined in the fun.
Senior School
In Senior School, the celebrations combined reflection, tradition and competition, bringing together some of the most emblematic elements of School Birthday week.
Assembly
A special Senior School Assembly marked the beginning of the sporting activities associated with the School Birthday celebrations. The gathering provided an opportunity for pupils and Staff to come together and reflect on the significance of this important occasion, as The Grange School celebrates 98 years of history, tradition and community.
During the Assembly, the Headteacher, together with the Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl, addressed the Senior School community, sharing reflections on the values, sense of belonging and Grangonian spirit that have guided our institution throughout its history and continue to shape its future.
In her address, the Headteacher reminded pupils that while anniversaries provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those who came before us, they also invite us to reflect on the role we play in shaping the future of our School. Drawing on John Jackson’s original vision of forming pupils who are trustworthy and useful to society, she encouraged the community to recognise that every act of kindness, integrity, respect and service contributes to the legacy of The Grange School and helps strengthen it for future generations.
To read the Headteacher’s full Birthday Assembly Address, please click here.
The Assembly concluded with an invitation to embrace the School Birthday celebrations in a spirit of teamwork, fair play and community, recognising that each generation of Grangonians has the privilege and responsibility of contributing to a story that has been unfolding for almost a century.
The Jackson Quad Run: A Tradition of Speed, Spirit and Colour Pride
Another of the most emblematic traditions linked to the School Birthday celebrations is the Jackson Quad Run, a long-standing InterColour competition that takes place around the corridors of our iconic John Jackson Building.
Each year, Senior School pupils from 3°EM and 4°EM gather to take part in this fast-paced and spirited race, representing their Colours in an atmosphere marked by enthusiasm, healthy competition and strong School spirit. More than simply a race, the Jackson Quad Run represents the spirit of friendly competition, Colour pride and tradition that lies at the heart of School Birthday celebrations.
This year’s competition once again delivered memorable performances and outstanding commitment from all participants.
Girls
🥇 Josefina Richmaui (Light Grey) – 32.99 seconds
🥈 Elisa Bruce (Dark Grey) – 33.27 seconds
🥉 Julieta Martínez (Dark Blue) – 33.80 seconds
Boys
🥇 Joaquín Valacco (Dark Grey) – 29.93 seconds – New Record
🥈 Martín Nelson (Light Grey) – 31.05 seconds
🥉 Álvaro Barriga (Light Grey) – 31.48 seconds
Congratulations to all participants for their effort, commitment and enthusiasm throughout the event.
The Traditional Cups
The sporting celebrations continued throughout the afternoon with the Traditional Cups and Shields, another of the most anticipated School Birthday traditions.
One of the most anticipated moments of the School Birthday celebrations each year is the series of Traditional Cups and Shields contested by pupils in 3°EM and 4°EM. More than simply sporting competitions, these matches honour distinguished members of our history whose dedication, leadership and service helped shape the values, traditions and spirit of The Grange School.
The Cups proudly bear the names of former teachers, coaches and members of Staff whose contribution left a lasting impact on generations of Grangonians. Through these competitions, their legacy continues to be remembered and celebrated each year, connecting today’s pupils with the rich history of the School.
Throughout the day, pupils, Staff and invited guests gathered around the pitches and courts to support the participating teams in an atmosphere marked by enthusiasm, healthy competition and strong Colour spirit. Once again, the matches showcased not only sporting talent, but also teamwork, perseverance, commitment and respect for opponents.
The results of this year’s competitions were as follows:
José Ignacio Quinteros Football Cup
Winner: 3°EM
James Cowan Hockey Cup
Winner: 4°EM
Juan Carlos Jung Rugby Cup
Winner: 3°EM
Irene Villarroel Volleyball Cup
Winner: 4°EM
Football Girls Shield
Winner: 4°EM
Congratulations to all pupils who took part in this year’s Cups and Shields. Through their commitment, sportsmanship and enthusiasm, they helped honour a tradition that has united generations of Grangonians for decades.
Once again, the Cups and Shields provided a fitting conclusion to a memorable day of competition, camaraderie and School spirit.
Looking Towards Our Centenary
As Headteacher Mrs Kate Ingamells-Bland reflected in her School Birthday message, a school is far more than its buildings, traditions or history; it is the people within it who bring it to life.
Over the past week, pupils across Lower Prep, Upper Prep and Senior School came together to celebrate not only 98 years of history, but also the values, friendships, traditions and shared experiences that continue to define The Grange School today.
As we look ahead to our Centenary in 2028, we do so with gratitude for the generations of pupils, Staff, parents and Old Grangonians whose commitment, care and service have helped shape the Community we are privileged to be part of.
At the same time, these celebrations remind us that the story of The Grange School is still being written. Each generation is entrusted with the responsibility of strengthening this community and carrying forward the values that have guided it since John Jackson founded the School in 1928: respect, kindness, integrity, service and excellence.
As John Jackson envisioned nearly a century ago, our purpose remains to form young people who are trustworthy and useful to society. It is through the daily actions of every member of our community that this vision continues to thrive.
Happy 98th Birthday, Grange!
