Thought For The Day – Tuesday 2^nd June 2026

We hope you had a happy and healthy half-term.

Our thoughts are very much with those who suffered, some tragically so beyond words, in the conditions of the heatwave, whether in the United Kingdom, or in even hotter conditions abroad.

We send our very best wishes to Year 11 and Year 13 students continuing their examinations this week, and to Year 8, and Year 12, sitting their internal examinations this week, and next week, respectively.   Year 10 students, and their carers, guardians, and parents, experienced a very important and productive “Academic Consultation Evening”, reflecting on their examination results and targets, at the close of last half-term.  Next season begins now.

Enriching and wonderful extra-curricular opportunities continue, as demonstrated by the Year 9 students who recently participated in the “Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme”.

Staff very kindly volunteer of their time to create extra-curricular opportunities.  Students, and families, volunteer their time to support these important activities.

This week is “National Volunteer Week”.  The 2026 theme of this week is: “Your Year to Volunteer”.

A volunteer is someone who generously gives their care, expertise, skills, time, and thoughts to help others.

The word “volunteer” is derived from the Latin words “voluntaries”, meaning willing or of one’s own choice, and “voluntas”, meaning will or desire.

We pay tribute to the many people in any community, including our local community.  who are volunteers.  Our heroes are all around us.

They choose, desire, and are willing to, help others.

They are so often the selfless spirit that creates, drives, and encapsulates, society.

They give care and opportunity.  They are the ties that bind.  After all, society is a team.

At The Bishop’s Stortford High School, for example, the Governors, the “Parents, Teachers, and Friends Association” (P.T.F.A.)  and the “Parents Sports Association”  (P.S.A.) are inspirational volunteer leaders who massively enhance T.B.S.H.S., in every dimension, in every era,  for every student.

Another example is  “Bishop’s Stortford Rotary Club”, who visit T.B.S.H.S. every week, as they have done for thirty-five years, to guide and inspire school charity and generations of Interact students.

Students themselves show the value of volunteers and volunteering when they put their hands up, and put themselves out, to respectfully help others.

This happens in organised events, like litter picking and bag packing.

But this also happens, safely and informally, in our seemingly small and seemingly unnoticed everyday actions.

We do not need, or should not need,  to be told to care.

Every day, we can make the pro-active decision to appropriately help, and show empathy for and with,  others, rather than waiting to be asked.

The motivation, and spirit, of volunteering is always service, helping others instead of helping ourselves.

This endeavour brings collective, and personal, happiness.