Seasonal Learning in Action: Kingsley’s Apple Week
At Kingsley School, we have been celebrating one of autumn’s simplest yet most rewarding traditions – Apple Week. Following on from last week’s activities, where our Year 7 students had the privilege of harvesting apples from the Headmaster’s garden, the celebrations have continued with a variety of hands-on, apple-themed events that brought together students of all ages.
On Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes, drop-in sessions were held for all year groups, giving everyone the chance to take part in the rewarding process of turning apples into fresh juice. These sessions quickly became a hive of activity, as students arrived eager to roll up their sleeves and try their hand at the traditional craft of juicing.
The process itself required teamwork and effort, beginning with carefully chopping the apples into smaller pieces. These pieces were then placed into a mechanical crusher, operated by students turning the handle. Laughter and encouragement filled the air as friends took turns driving the crusher, watching as the apples broke down into pulp. Next came the pressing stage, where the apple pulp was transferred into a sturdy press. Here, students once again worked in teams to turn the handle, slowly squeezing out the fresh, golden juice.
There was a wonderful sense of anticipation as the juice began to flow, collected and poured into jugs ready for tasting. Some students couldn’t resist sampling their creation straight away, enjoying the crisp, tangy flavour of freshly pressed apple juice. Others chose to bottle their juice, proudly taking it home to share with family and friends, a thoughtful gesture that highlighted the communal spirit of the week.
The celebrations didn’t stop there. On Wednesday afternoon, our Year 7 students continued the theme during their Earth Centre lesson, where they explored the process further and learned more about the value of seasonal produce and sustainable food practices. This hands-on experience tied beautifully into their curriculum, giving them a chance to see how nature’s harvest can be transformed with a little teamwork and effort.
Today, our celebrations extended to visitors as well. During the taster session for prospective Year 6 students, the apple juicing process once again took centre stage. Our younger guests enthusiastically joined in, chopping, crushing, and pressing apples alongside Kingsley students. It was a fantastic way to showcase the school’s values of collaboration, creativity, and community spirit, while giving future students a real flavour – quite literally – of life at Kingsley.
Apple Week has been a joyful reminder of the importance of seasonal traditions, teamwork, and connection. From the Headmaster’s garden to the hands of our students, every apple pressed this week represented more than just juice; it symbolised the shared effort, curiosity, and enjoyment that are central to life at Kingsley School.
As the bottles of juice make their way home to families across our community, we hope the taste will not only refresh but also remind everyone of the simple pleasures of working together and celebrating the fruits of the season.
