Fun in the sun
I hope you enjoyed a happy and refreshing Easter break with family. It has been delightful to see pupils smiling, laughing and having fun in the sunshine.
It is a serious time for our Y11 and Y13 pupils as they prepare for important examinations, but I know that many of the latter especially will not be counting down the days until they leave, but rather trying to stop the clock! As I write, several staff and I have just attended an informal gathering of Old Leicestrians in London. They were full of happy memories and anecdotes of their time at LGS, and of the experiences they shared with their fellow pupils and with their teachers. It was also great to hear how their LGS education has contributed to their onward journey.
The reality of life is that not every day will be entirely happy. At school, it is vital that our pupils feel that we are there for them, and that there is always someone from whom they can seek support or in whom they can confide. Our duty too, with parents, is to ensure that we build children’s resilience so that they can cope with the ‘downs’ as well as the ‘ups’ as they grow towards adulthood.
Overall, though, we hope that there is much more laughter than tears. Certainly, visitors often comment on the happy atmosphere within the school and the very positive relationships they observe between pupils and between pupils and staff. I see this in lessons, when pupils are working so positively and powerfully together or are excited by a new discovery; that is the joy of learning! I see it when they are exhilarated by making high-quality music together or when they have the courage to step out on stage in a play and ‘pull it off’ consummately. I see it in joint team efforts on the sports field, where each player contributes to the synergy of the whole, whether or not they always savour the sweet taste of victory! I see it in the numerous house activities, from basketball to general knowledge to house singing – where happy participation is the name of the game. And I see it daily as they laugh together on their way to lessons, as they enjoy their lunch or as they chat in the sunshine.
Learning should be challenging and we should ensure that our pupils think hard about their studies and about life - but it should also be full of fun and enjoyment.
I hope that, for your child, even if there are bumps along the way, these are some of the happiest days of their life.
Best wishes for the long weekend,
John Watson
Headmaster and Principal