This week I would like to dedicate the newsletter to our amazing children. My week started with the whole school assembly, which the children did for me! I hope you were all able to enjoy the experience too, and if so, I am sure that you will agree how wonderful they were. The confidence, passion, pride and engagement they all displayed inspired me for the week ahead, and it also made me think: how do they do it?
When I look back to 5, 8 or 12 years old me, I can’t imagine myself doing what those children did with quite that spark and openness. Mini-me also wasn’t going through a pandemic and lockdown with no clear end in sight. The rest of my week has been full of highlights of our children raising ducklings, performing monologues, delivering presentations, uploading responses to complex problems and creative writing. And then some. Making movies, practising French, creating music, art, telling jokes and sharing the kind things they’re doing to support those in need. There are also children struggling but having the courage to speak out and ask for help. That’s inspiring.
During this time we’ve all been challenged, having to adapt the way we do many things in our day to day lives. When I think back to 5, 8 or 12 years old me, my life revolved mainly around school. Being with friends; learning, playing, competing, creating, sharing hopes, dreams, worries and growing together. It was pretty simple. This disruption to the lives of our children must feel huge, yet their approach and response show determination, positivity and grit. The way that they are embracing the challenges, feeling the fear and trying their best regardless, is superb. They get up and carry on and try and make each day even better than the one before. So here’s to our heroes: the children.
I wish you all a fantastic bank holiday weekend. The weather on Friday and Saturday looks set to be glorious, so I hope that you can take the opportunity to get outside and have a break from devices. Next week we will be able to look ahead with more knowledge about when we will return to school and it will be great if we can go into that following a few days of being able to enjoy good weather and time with family.
Mary Bridges