“A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder.”
– Susan Orlean
The first week back in January tends to be one of the quieter weeks in the school calendar. It is not just that people are returning from a holiday which is generally packed with good things, but it also heralds for Year 11 and Year 13 the start of their mock exams. Nothing says welcome back to school like a set of exams, a definite test of resilience.
This week was livened up no end by the snow that fell and certainly made it a first week back to remember. We try to ensure that the school stays open when snow falls and our maintenance team does an amazing job in making sure that the campuses are safe for us to use. Those who were able to come into school on Tuesday had the chance to do some academic work, but also had the opportunity to enjoy the snow with their friends. Such days can be the days that pupils remember for a long time after they leave the school. Memories are made on days like these.
Wednesday’s snow started to fall in earnest during the time many would have been travelling to school, the forecast had suggested that we might have been able to travel to school in something rather less than a blizzard. As we were unable to guarantee an effective staff to student ratio we had to close. All decisions about school buses are administered by the local authorities, so this was out of our hands. It is disappointing to close the school but on occasions it is a necessary precaution.
At a time when we are able to predict so much and can use technology to aid our thinking and decision making, it is perhaps refreshing to see that the weather remains, at least in part, able to surprise us – even if it is only by a matter of an hour or so. Closing the school is something that we are reluctant to do. As we progress through this year we will pass the sixth anniversary of the epidemic and if there is one lesson that we learned from that experience, it is that being in school together leads to a better educational experience than trying to do it from home and via a screen. So at this time of resolution perhaps we are right to dwell on the importance of making the most of real experiences, whether that involves playing in the snow or taking an exam in a hall with other people. I hope that this year, as the weather improves and we enjoy the excitement of the academic year leading to its inevitable summer conclusion, we reflect both on the importance of what is learned in lessons and what is gained from studying (and playing) in this unique global community. Having witnessed the sheer quantity of suffering and aggression that exists in the world today, we must consider the importance of our young people (who will go on to lead their communities in the future) working together and learning from the challenges that they face growing up.
A Happy New Year to all of us.
Nicholas Hammond
Headmaster
