Self Leadership

Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"...
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...”
Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

As I write, we are busy preparing for the eagerly anticipated return of students to our school buildings. For those of us who have continued to work in school, it has been a surreal experience to wander around the site, normally a vibrant sea of maroon-clad students and expressive faces, and encounter the eerie quiet of empty corridors.

But there is change in the air.

A weekend of sunshine has unfurled both buds and hopeful plans anew.

And whilst we wait our moment to reconnect our school community in the coming weeks with enthusiasm, there is also cause to reflect on what has been gained; the skills we’ve learnt and the experiences shared. Without any roadmap to follow students, teachers and parents alike have shown a remarkable capacity for self-leadership, remaining motivated and committed even when the showers have come.

In particular, I would like to pay tribute to our students who have inspired us with their positivity, gratitude and resilience. In holding themselves accountable for their regular attendance and participation in lessons, they have shown up for themselves and their education. They have demonstrated adaptability in the face of technological issues and patience with us as we’ve navigated the intricacies of remote teaching. They have inspired us with their lockdown artistry and challenges and have kept us motivated with every question asked, thought shared or answer given in the disorientating world of the online classroom.

We have missed you all and look forward to sharing brighter times in the weeks ahead.