“Only in the Darkness can you see the Stars”

By Andy Callow (Principal)

The challenges and uncertainty we face today are unprecedented in our lifetimes.

Previous generations have lived through far worse pandemics. The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed more people than the total victims of the First World War (and, unlike Covid 19 was especially dangerous for young adults).

More recent health threats have included Swine Flu, AIDS and Ebola, but none of these created the wide-reaching social dislocation that we are trying to navigate today.  The medical challenges are acute, but the secondary impacts on mental health (anxiety, financial stress, isolation and the like) may become even more widespread, and longer lasting.

A crisis is also an opportunity. Martin Luther King Jnr. lived a life of great impact through a turbulent time, and his legacy lives on today as exemplified in the quote above.  We all need stories and reminders of hope, especially when our news feed seems to be unrelenting bad news.  Recently I asked my staff how they were seeking to help our students cope well in the midst of the storm. I’ve heard many positive stories and here is a recent example from our Junior School. If you would like to be encouraged check out the video below.