Given the fact that it has been Monday all day in my head, I am really struggling with the concept that these are my final Friday thoughts for this academic year. I am not entirely sure that the fact that we have got through to the 26th June has really sunk in. You would think that the fact that we have already had Y6 graduation and that there are a few students walking around in leavers’ t-shirts might spark some realisation, however the sheer enormity of it as a concepts is just clearly too great.
As I was writing my speech for the graduation, it occurred to me that I had been involved with them since I first arrived in 2011. Those children will have now finished their first year at university (whatever that has looked like for them). The auditorium is the same (apart from the fact that it was brand new that year) and the symbolic handing over of ties is the same but apart from students and teachers changing and the Principal and Heads of School have changed too. It was in the afternoon for the first time, and it was definitely the first time that we had it live streamed. It was, however, just as wonderful and amazing. Nobody let a few thousand miles and several hours’ time difference ruin a great occasion. I have to admit that Charles’ speech from his ‘wardrobe’ was particularly well received, as was his reference to all of the distractions that come with working from home. It was a light-hearted way of reminding all of us that it’s not been easy and that there are still a lot of staff and students carrying on still. The atmosphere wasn’t quite the same because there were only a few of us in the audience, and the reduced time available meant there wasn’t much time to prepare stage entries and exits, but it didn’t matter. The pianists were astounding and the students speaking were wonderful, the song was amazing. If this is what could be put together with just two rehearsals, I once again say that I find myself once again what cracking children (and staff) we have here. Of course, it was more than this. However, our students had the stage presence and confidence to do what they needed to do with minimal practice. Imagine what they will achieve with time and effort! Could I have imagined, back in June 2012 that it would be me giving the Head of Primary speech rather than Pete Dewhurst just eight years later? No. We don’t have the tag line ‘Be Ambitious’ for nothing!
I will leave you with Dr Seuss and I think it will do us all well to remember:
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
Speaking of ‘Being Ambitious’, our school jazz band is playing on Saturday night at Geneva Family Restaurant form 7-9pm. They’re really quite good by the way, and I’m not even just saying that because most of them came through my Y5 cohorts:). Another example of dedication and a shared passion for music.
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