7th January 2022
Happy New Year, and may 2022 see a national and global metamorphosis from continued COVID corruption to a more workable existence for all of us.
We welcomed two new faces to the staff this week: Sarah Pugh our new Gap student, and Samantha Goodare a Fashion Technology and Design student. Unfortunately, and very soon after arriving, Sarah found herself confined to quarters but has since emerged with a smile of relief on her face and an enthusiasm to get underway. Samantha was busy from the moment she stepped across the threshold, and both Sarah and Samantha are very welcome additions to the St. Mary’s community.
So too are our nine new Kindergarten starters and three new prep school pupils, as we had anticipated. Our three new pupils have all arrived with sleeves rolled up, smiles on their faces and a determination to do their best. We cannot ask any more than that!
Staff reassembled on Tuesday, and those stifled by regulations logged in from home. As pupils returned on Wednesday, I will admit to a sense of foreboding caused by the household self-isolation directive, as this impacted on six of our nine absent staff and meant too that the attendance of pupils would inevitably be affected. However, the adjustments made by Scottish Government brought a welcome sigh of relief.
Despite the worries we had at the time, it was vital to start the term on a positive footing in our Wednesday morning Teams assembly, so I recounted the happy story of an aspiring medical student saving the life of a high-profile ice-hockey equipment manager.
This story highlights human compassion and how looking after others makes for much happier media news than the daily demoralising updates of pessimistic COVID forecasts and tensions surrounding restrictions. Do click on the link below if you have not heard this tale. It should make you smile, and perhaps make you pay attention to any suspicious moles of your nearest and dearest.
Despite a reduced staff, Wednesday was a happy day. Pupils rolled in on mass, recounting their own stories of festive cheer, and looking well-rested and ready for the challenges of the Lent Term.
On Wednesday evening, staff took part in a most enlightening and interesting twilight training session delivered remotely by Shirley Lawson from CALL Scotland (Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning). The theme was using technology to assist with dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning needs. Encouragingly, staff had incorporated some of the resources before (particularly during last year’s lockdown), but a whole new set of applications and techniques were introduced to us. The advances are exciting, not just for those with specific learning needs, but for all learners.
Expertise in Communication and Assistive Technology - CALL Scotland, Edinburgh
We have had a busy start, but a very positive one too. I hope you share in our optimistic outlook that 2022 is going to be the year when we look over our shoulders and think ‘goodness, those two years were a bit of a challenge!’
It is a pleasure seeing the people of St. Mary’s getting on with life, and a privilege to be among it.
Have a lovely weekend.
HM