Page 12 - Brave New World

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2021

LESSON 4
Actually, we love Games. This year, my office has been sadly empty of
any last minute visits from desperate students (juniors and seniors!)
with urgent dental appointments that demand their immediate
absence – conveniently – from Afternoon Games. Now, students can’t
wait to get outside and run, play and laugh in the sunshine. Our seniors
have, moreover, been very keen to play on the impressive new futsal
pitches during study periods (properly supervised and respecting all
H+S precautions). Agreed, this isn’t what Afternoon Games normally
looks like, but the relief seen on their faces after a runabout on the
futsal pitches left no doubt in our minds how essential physical
exercise is in terms of mental health.
Yiannis Georgiou
Senior Assistant Head LESSON 5
Listening is an essential life skill. Sometimes we are keen to do the
HERE COMES right thing and then we also need to remember that taking into
account student concerns can solve so many problems and at the
same time that two-way bridge of communication can, in addition,
THE SUN allow everyone to understand how decisions are made in the very
best possible interests of students in getting them to the next stage
of their education. Communication is key. It hasn’t been easy with the
cancellation of most public exams in the UK and we have tried to
THIS IS NOT ANOTHER PIECE ON THE HORRORS OF address the issue in the fairest and most reasonable way. And in the
THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC. ONLY A PASSING REFERENCE end, we adjusted the Mock schedule, extended study leave and
TO LOCKDOWNS. NO MENTION OF MASKS OR proffered advance notice on the ‘Mock’ exams to students as well as
HANDWASHING. CERTAINLY NO COMMENTS ABOUT reducing content while at the same time ensuring the integrity of our
ONLINE LEARNING (HA!). AVOIDING AT ALL COSTS system of assessment, confident in the knowledge that the exam
ANYTHING RELATED TO THE WORD OF THE YEAR: boards, if they come knocking on our door to ascertain the rigour of
SOCIAL-DISTANCING. NOW WE HAVE THAT OUT OF our procedures and to see the evidence of the high achievements of
our class of 2021, will not leave disappointed.
THE WAY, WE CAN EXPLORE WHAT THIS PAST YEAR
HAS REALLY BEEN ABOUT. LET’S CALL IT LESSONS And so with lessons learned, we now can, at long last, see the end of
FROM THE EDGE OF CALAMITY. the fierce winter of discontent: Here comes the sun. It’s been a long,
We have witnessed many developments in the world in the last few cold lonely winter. Here comes the sun. The smiles returning to the
months. We have observed how society reacts when there is a real faces. Here comes the sun. The ice is slowly melting. Here comes the
crisis, such as upgrading our Wi-Fi packages, supporting the surge in sun. George Harrison – The Beatles.
the profitability of online delivery apps, and we have seen how Play it loud. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQetemT1sWc
priorities still get upended when everyone knows that education on
the school site, in real classrooms, is more important for young
people than opening up cafes and restaurants. But enough.

LESSON 1
We need human contact. Never has the need to see and speak with
other human beings face to face been so apparent than in these
times of forced incarceration (AKA ‘lockdown’). Here I will mention the
magnificent efforts of our Student Leaders who, together with the
hardy members of the Student Council, have laboured so valiantly to
student voice sore. Congratulations to them all for being so devoted in their
bring the community together in ways aiming to overcome the cold
and distant highways of cyber that left each one of us eye and neck
contributions to the wellbeing of all. And what an amazing day it was
to see our senior students trooping into school back in February with
smiles on their faces to, yes, sit a diagnostic assessment. The frisson
of joy and relief to see each other, face to face, was felt by literally
everyone on that first Monday.
LESSON 2
We now value healthy eating and keeping fit. Once thought of as
something we remember to do every spring before the summer
heat, we are naturally drawn to a balanced diet and any opportunity
10 to get out of the house and walk or run, or even swim for some of us.
Let’s see if we can maintain this penchant for fruit and fibre with the
assistance of our valued school canteen!
LESSON 3
It’s ok. Students can now openly admit it. Coming to school is really
great. They love school. Without exaggeration and in all seriousness,
students have missed their classmates, their teachers and even the
school buildings. After what has seemed like a long dark winter, our
young people are blinking their eyes into the rising sun and slowly
readjusting to a process of recovery and re-connection. Especially the Simoni Stefanou 3B
case with our Years 1-3 who have been held captive by an invisible
gate keeper for far too long. Hopefully, when this article is published,
we will all indeed be waking up from a truly awful nightmare.