You’ll have seen the announcement by Boris Johnson this week that schools will be remaining closed until 8th March, at the earliest. It’s difficult not to feel discouraged as we continue to sit, patiently or otherwise, with the challenges and isolation of lockdown, and I know that many of our parents are juggling a huge amount at home as a result of the schools remaining closed.
We also know that, for young people in particular, being apart from peers and spending so much time in the virtual world can feel distinctly isolating, and there have been further national reports this week which suggest the significant impact on our young people’s mental health. Mr Turner has written to you all about this, outlining in particular our tech-week focus, our No Homework Weeks and our ‘Strong Body, Strong Mind’ campaign, being launched soon.
But amidst what can feel like an overwhelmingly negative series of messages in the media, it has occurred to me repeatedly in my interactions with our students this term that it is not particularly helpful, or even accurate, to focus on all the things that have been lost or compromised during this time. Perhaps our girls bring their most positive self to their discussions with their Head; but they are, almost invariably, able to articulate not only what they’re finding difficult about this experience but also what they are gaining from it. The level of gratitude, perspective and resilience they are able to maintain is, frankly, quite humbling; what’s more, they are able to stay resolute in their cheerfulness. And it does strike me that this is something fundamental to our spirit and approach here at WHS. I met virtually with two alumnae & former Deputy Head Girls this week, too, both of whom have finished their time at Cambridge: they told me that, amidst all of the uncertainty of their own futures thanks to the pandemic, as well as whilst negotiating the pressures of studying in such a challenging university environment, they identified their own ability to laugh during times of trial and to keep their heads up when times get tough as very much a legacy of being a WHS student. To quote one of them, who laughed whilst she said it: ‘It wasn’t until I got to university that I realised not everyone was like that’.
And so I remain ever-hopeful, amidst the gloom, by the attitude of our Wimbledonians. Indeed, the theme of our Holocaust Memorial Day assembly on Monday morning was ‘The Light in the Darkness’ and our students have responded to this by telling us what it is that keeps them going during this time; what provides them with the light in their lives. You won’t be surprised we’ve been awash ever since with pictures of pets (always welcome!) but we also had stories of family members working on the frontline of whom they are incredibly proud, of listening to audiobooks, running and walking in nature, baking, painting and spending more time with family. And I do hope the weekend brings much of that, to all of you, and a very welcome end to perhaps the longest January on record.
