This morning, our Deputy Head Pastoral at the Prep, Mr Thomas, delivered an inspiring assembly to our Prep School community. Using the story of an ascent to Everest as a starting point, the assembly urged us to live with courage. Risk is a relative concept, it means different things to different people. Our climber even admitted that certain things, such as bungee jumping, he would never do. However, avoiding risk altogether is not a recipe for a life well lived. Without accepting risk we cannot step outside our comfort zone, which is essential for us to learn and develop. I couldn’t agree more. Courage is one of the fundamental values we need to instil in our boys to nourish excellence in them and to help them live a fulfilling life.

Our move to remote education, even if a far lesser challenge than the grand climbing of Everest, has tested our community in a variety of ways. It has been impressive seeing teachers and pupils having the courage to embrace the unknown, and learn new skills and ways of working incredibly fast, despite the considerable pressures we are all facing in family and community life.

I have also been impressed by the contribution of the boys to others – especially at a time when sitting down and coasting along could have been easy. Just this week we have had boys giving impromptu concerts outside their house, with touching renditions of Ave Maria, and well-crafted pieces on the clarinet. We have seen boys produce protective masks for the NHS, prepare food for hospitals and help communities on the occasion of the start of Ramadan. An impressive attitude. In an increasingly fast changing world, as Mr Thomas told us this morning, that courage to step outside one’s comfort zone and continue to challenge oneself will serve the boys well.

Enjoy your weekend and take care.

Mr M E Rossetti