Page 9 - Brave New World

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2021 THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2021

I HAD INITIALLY PLANNED TO with me, which I would like to share with you, they become crises. Even things that now
START OFF WITH SOME MORE as HM Lambon described his interests is how seem normal, such as adding dispensers and
PERSONAL QUESTIONS, much he cares about sharing the things he sanitizing spray bottles in classrooms, were
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT loves with his students. The second bell had initially difficult to organize. When facing
MANY YOUNGER STUDENTS HAVE rung, indicating that our conversation was problems such as the pressure of ensuring
that everyone was safe no matter what you
nearing its close, and yet I had so much still
NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO that I wanted to know. In the background, the do, you will face a range of different opinions
FORM A CONNECTION WITH YOU musicians packed up their instruments. I watch and perspectives. I would say a challenge
DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. with what care and elegance a boy puts his would be to have something I call a ‘helicopter
HM: I feel that way as well. It definitely has guitar in its case and sets it against the Music view’; an unbiased view that ensures the
been a challenge for us to interact with you room wall. right decision is being made for everyone.
or the younger students, given that we cannot There is a certain fondness associated with
host assemblies and other meetings. The AS A NEWER STUDENT MYSELF, these new additions to our campus. Down in
younger students have also been out of school HAVING COME TO OUR SCHOOL the Sixth and Seventh Form Center, it took us
for quite a few months, which is definitely a DURING THE BEGINNING OF YOUR almost a year to realize how to use the strange
challenge. I would also like to say that it’s hand sanitizer contraption. When we discovered
really nice, hearing the music outside. With FIRST YEAR AS HEADMASTER, I the magic of its pedal, a chorus of laughter
the Covid-19 restrictions, we definitely have REMEMBER HOW MANY CHANGES erupted. As HM Lambon discusses these changes,
lost this community engagement of students. OCCURRED IN A SPAN OF A FEW it seems impossible to maintain a tone of
MONTHS. IT SEEMS THAT SO bleakness and pessimism. As humans, one of
IN ORDER TO BRIDGE THIS GAP MUCH HAS HAPPENED, FROM our most admirable traits is our ability to adapt
BETWEEN YOU AND OUR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW and overcome. Wearing a mask and spraying our
YOUNGER STUDENTS, HOW NEWHAM BUILDING TO BREXIT. hands every so often seems quite unimportant
WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? considering the severity of the coronavirus.
Headmaster Lambon takes a few seconds to Yet, observing how quickly student and staff
think. It sometimes feels that the only thing attitudes changed from March 13th, 2020,
we discuss with the adults in our lives these I can only think that there is nothing we can’t
days is the pandemic. overcome.
HM: (he laughs) I think it’s always quite HM: It is very difficult for everyone at
difficult to describe yourself rather this time since there is so much out of
than others. I would say I am very control. I can only hope that we have
much a people person, I am much made it clear that we are trying our
more interested in people’s stories best given the circumstances, to
and situations. Before I took the provide some stability. We cannot
position of Headmaster, I was get things right all the time,
teaching students in secondary but we are trying. I am mainly
school. This is definitely what I concerned about the future
love, I love engaging with students following returning back to normal.
and getting to know them through How will the younger students
lessons. I would say that one of adapt, and what issues might they
my biggest regrets is not teaching face concerning their mental
as much as I would like. I am also very well-being. These are all obstacles
family-orientated, which has always that we will face when the time
inspired me to teach, as I have two comes. However, the response of
older and now two younger children. students coming back, even temporarily
This period of the pandemic and travel to do their diagnostics and mocks has been
restrictions has been exceptionally very positive. I think a school setting is an
challenging as I have not been able to see my ideal environment to learn, and I feel that headmaster’s interview
mother and relatives back home. students appreciated being physically
As Headmaster Lambon is talking, I can only SOME OF THESE CHANGES WERE present after so many weeks and months. It’s
think about my own family that lives all over been a tough couple of years, no one could
the world. My sister trapped in a Glasgow EXOGENOUS, BUT IT’S BEEN have expected everything that happened. I
apartment, my grandmother in Athens. I would INSPIRING TO SEE HOW QUICKLY must say that I have a lot of faith in the
say that one thing we have gained during these OUR SCHOOL ADAPTED. I WOULD younger generation, and I hope we can work
trying times is that all conversations with our LIKE TO ASK YOU ONE FINAL together when the time for re-integration
peers and superiors have an added, deeper QUESTION BEFORE WE ULTIMATELY into physical school comes.
dimension to them. It’s a bittersweet feeling, HAVE TO RETURN TO OUR We don’t shake hands but HM Lambon escorts
spending so little time in school, and yet every RESPONSIBILITIES. BEYOND ALL me out of his office and wishes me good luck on
moment here is much more meaningful. THE ADDED DUTIES OF THE PAST my mock exams. Our conversation rings in my
HM: (continues) Beyond this, I am very YEAR, AND ALSO AS YOU head as I walk down the one-way stairs, and
passionate about sports and athleticism. I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE leave the main building. The clouds finally 07
believe that exercising can be the best way to became too heavy and it was drizzling hot rain.
get some time to myself to think and reflect, LOSS OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Jogging to my next class I feel the dust that has
especially during periods of elevated academic DUE TO COVID, WHAT HAS BEEN been weighing on Nicosia for the past week
and work pressure. I would love to make THE GREATEST CHALLENGE finally begin to clear. Better times are near, the
sports more accessible and attractive in school. THIS YEAR? sky seems to say. ‘I think you’re right’, I respond
We have been doing some work to improve HM: Regarding student engagement, and and sit at my desk in N25.
our facilities and create an environment that what I like to call the ‘soul of our school’, I
encourages students to get more involved definitely believe that this is something that
in school athletics. It would be great to will return to normal almost immediately.
strengthen student involvement in a niche This is one of the things that has been put on
range of sports. hold, rather than lost. But to answer your
I had attempted to get an initial glance at who question, I think the biggest challenge has
he is outside of school. What really resonated been managing so many problems before
Simoni Stefanou 3B