Thought For The Day – Friday 19th July 2024
A Wonderful Day
Thought For The Day – Friday 19th July 2024 – A Wonderful Day –
The last twenty four hours on the London Road site for The Bishop’s Stortford High School was both wonderful and perfect.
Students and staff recognised and respected the moment. There was a buzz on the corridors in the morning of the historic last school day on this site. Students knew they were part of history. Students, once again, conducted themselves in an outstanding manner. Past students and staff would have been very proud of them. In the evening, cleaners, one of which, Mr. McCoig, has an association of fifty years with the school, cleaned the TBSHS for the last time.
We must also thank our long-standing neighbours around the school site, including Thorley Hill Primary School. The primary schools are where everything begins, after the family.
Final Assembly, led by Mr. Reeve, the senior management and student leadership teams, was a very memorable and moving occasion, befitting of the magical, marvellous and memorable moment.
Very thoughtfully, the assembly began with a tribute from Mr. Reeve to the caretakers, information technology support staff and learning support assistants, following a tribute at Christmas to the catering staff. Mr. Reeve made the very important point that many, such as the caretakers, cleaners, finance and information technology support staff, will be working very hard indeed over the summer on the school move.
Student leaders and speakers perfectly crystallised another outstanding term. Their speeches were brilliantly delivered. Student leadership.
After another superbly judged, and performed, musical interlude of the appropriately-titled “When The Saints Go Marching In”, student and house award winners were announced and celebrated. Inspirational staff leaving speeches followed, where students, and staff, spoke with a brilliance beyond words, and from the heart, about people who will always inspire, and be part of, us. We wish Mr. Li, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Evagora, Mr. Sargent, Mr. Pike, Miss. Guerra, Mr. Shortland, Miss. Yao, Ms. Winterburn and Mrs. Rogers every happiness. They will be back. Each with a personal and profound story, they changed lives.
An appropriate, and very positive, extract from Wendy Cope’s “An Ending”, recommended by Mr. Patterson, was beautifully read by Hattie, a sixth form student, whose reading was received with very warm applause.
Mr. Reeve wonderfully celebrated the past, the present and future, in keeping with the school’s motto, paying tribute to students and staff this last term and academic year. This is superbly detailed in another bumper edition of “The Mitre”. All staff were thanked by students with very grateful applause. Mr. Reeve also paid tribute to the extraordinary service of Mr. Fraser who, though he retired ten years ago, still gives opportunities, working selflessly and voluntarily. Mr. Reeve explained that for so many staff and students over many years, this site had been their home.
Mr. Reeve massively inspired all to continue to aspire to greatness, and always be mindful of those in need, looking after others, and ourselves, including over the summer, checking in on others.
The assembly closed with the very emotional singing of “Jerusalem”, before which there was not a sound as students stood to sing after sitting in warm conditions, and an appropriately reflective, thoughtful and inclusive, by definition, The Lord’s Prayer.
The final inspirational words, respectful of the past, living in the present and looking forward to the future, rightly belonged to Mr. Reeve.
After this final assembly, Mr. Griffiths, just as he had done before the assembly, closed with words of thanks, motivation and organisation.
An end is a start. In the afternoon, and on Friday, in “Race Across to Beaumont Avenue”, or “Race from London Road”, our own more epic version of “Race Across the World”, led by Mr. Reeve and the senior management team, all staff, with the very kind assistance of some kind students, dug deep and completed the packing of the school in an outstanding team effort which truly epitomised “The Black and Gold Spirit”. Totally inspirational. The team behind the team. This staff task has been completed on Friday. Of course, in a different part of the world, literally, the rugby tour continues.
On behalf of the staff and school, Deputy Headteacher Mr. Gunn made presentations to Mr. Reeve and Mrs. Engel for everything they have done over very many years for the new school.
There is a very bright light in the distance. As one chapter, book, era, epoch and season closes, another truly exciting one begins. We go again with the same “Black and Gold Spirit”. Very best wishes to all students receiving examination results in August also.
Please have a happy, healthy, kind, safe and sustainable summer. Reach out if you need any help. Make good decisions in person and on-line. Never stop dreaming, caring, being humble and loving. Keep doing you. Let’s go.
Thank you to all of you and, as ever, thank you to your families and the wider community.
