Category: Reflection
Reflection: Remembrance Service Address
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, the United Kingdom and countries across the Commonwealth fall silent. For two minutes, we unite in remembrance, to pay tribute to the fallen, to those who endured horrific conditions and fought when victory could hardly be told apart from defeat. And yet they…
Reflection: Reflection
In the academic environment we find ourselves in, the word reflection often carriers a somewhat negative connotation. The word frequently surfaces in the aftermath of disappointing tests, unsuccessful sports fixtures or if you find yourself sitting in S01. It is far too often associated with what could have been better and our failures, rather than…
Reflection: World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is tomorrow and I’m going to use the next few minutes to try to give an elevator pitch for the value of counselling and therapy. So, first, some stats. According to the American Psychological Association, therapy has an average effectiveness of 75%. Additionally, the International Institute of Mental Health showed that…
Reflection: 75 years of Windrush
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush. The cruise liner, bringing 492 Caribbean people to the United Kingdom, was more than just a ship. It symbolised hope, opportunity and the promise of a better life for the thousands of Caribbean immigrants who followed in the footsteps of those aboard…
Reflection: Collaboration
The iconic opening lyrics to the song Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice seem an excellent way to start today’s Reflection: to use those words, “All right, stop, collaborate and listen.” I am sure collaboration is something we are all familiar with. Yet I would just like to highlight one particular definition that I believe…
Reflection: Pride
When writing this Reflection, I wasn’t sure I would be able to convince all of you about the importance of Pride – maybe I will prove myself wrong. But what I did know, and what I do know now, is that I can convince every one of you in this room to care about the…
Reflection: Co-curriculum
The theme for this week is co-curricular involvement. Today is a Monday timetable, thanks to the fact yesterday was a Field Day, one of the many ways the School goes beyond the curriculum to enrich our learning. I for one spent the weekend with Mr Casale and the surfing Period 8 team enjoying the best…
Reflection: Courage
Good morning. Today, I would like to speak to you all about courage. Let’s start off with defining the word – what does it actually mean to be courageous? According to Google, it is the ability to do something that frightens you. But this one, simple sentence doesn’t tell us much about the acquisition of…
Reflection: Mental Health
One in six people between the ages of 12 and 16 have a diagnosable mental health condition. In 2019, over 140 young males between the ages of 15 and 19 were tragically lost to suicide. While these statistics are often cited, simply stating them may not fully convey their severity. That’s 140 families devastated, 140…
Reflection: Coronation of King Charles
The upcoming coronation of King Charles has sparked much discussion about the necessity of a monarchy in the modern world. The notion of monarchy can feel archaic and unreflective of our modern understanding of the moral equality of all persons. The question has been posed as to how we can hold a group of people…