Cairns—simple stacks of stone—have long served as quiet markers of meaning. Spiritually, a cairn gathers presence together they become a grounded prayer, rooted in the earth and open to the sky.

At Chestnut Street we use our Cairn as a welcome ceremony, which invites our new pupils to arrive fully. Rather than words alone, it offers a shared action. Each pupil chooses and decorates a stone of their choice. In doing so, each pupil is welcomed not into our school community.  We see this a communal beginning. As a whole school community we say: You belong here. Your presence adds to the whole. The finished stack stands as a living symbol of collective care—balanced and strong—reminding all who pass that welcome is not only spoken, but built together, one mindful gesture at a time.