On Tuesday, September 9, the Clapham community celebrated its first-ever Stepping In Ceremony, an event marking two significant milestones: the start of a Clapham education for our newest Explorers and the beginning of Secondary School, which includes our House sorting ceremony, for our Class Six students, as well as other new Secondary students.
Below are the remarks from Mrs. Phillip, our Lower School Principal, regarding the Explorers:
Thank you for joining us today as we honor our youngest students during this year’s Stepping In ceremony. These students are stepping into their roles as scholars at Clapham School. To commemorate this new beginning, we will place laurel crowns on their heads. In ancient times, laurel wreaths were a symbol of victory and achievement, worn by those who had run the race and triumphed. You might wonder: Why crown students who are only just beginning their journey?
These crowns are not a celebration of merit or accomplishment. Rather, they point to the truth of the Gospel—our victory in Christ. Through His suffering and death, we have been brought into God’s family and adopted as His heirs. We do not merit it; we have not earned it, yet we have victory.
At Clapham School, we want our students to live within this truth and story—the story of God’s deep love and delight in them.
At the same time, we believe children are capable of much. God has created them with minds that question and imagine, eyes that perceive beauty, mouths that speak truth, and feet eager to run, play, and explore.
In this ceremony, our Upper School students will place the crowns on the heads of our Explorers, welcoming them into a journey marked by diligence and joy. Upper School students have worked hard over the years, and though they are nearing the end of their time at Clapham, we hope and pray that each of them continue to grow into young men and women who represent Christ in all they do—who are passionate for truth, who love what is good, and who delight in what is beautiful.
May both our youngest and oldest students hold fast to the Lord’s love and live in the truth that He is all that matters, and our victory is in Him alone.
