Thought For The Day – Wednesday 23^rd July 2025

Black and Gold Summer Vibes

“Now the final the sentence of the final chapter”, said the golf commentator Ewen Murray before Open Champion Scottie Scheffler’s penultimate shot last Sunday.

The final day of this season.

And what a season.

In our own way, in many ways, we have shown the ever-resilient spirit, solidarity, calmness, compassion, composure and courage of the Lionesses.

We all gave it our all.

Thank you to all staff. Thank you to all students. Thank you to all carers, guardians, parents and family. Thank you to the wider community.

Final Assembly, led by Mr. Reeve, the Senior Leadership Team, students and the Music department, and organized, as always, by Mr. Griffiths, will be a very appropriate, and symbolic, celebration of this summer term, just as “The Mitre Magazine”, edited by Mrs. Miles and Mrs. Radford, was. The academic year’s final “Parental Newsletter”, thanks, as ever, to Mrs. Hunter and Mrs. Radford, will be published today.

In words, music, poetry and pictures this summer term, and this academic year, will be remembered.

We listen, learn, lead and love.

Thank you to everyone everywhere for everything. We give a heartfelt thanks to those who have made a particular difference to us. Everyone will have that special someone or something somewhere.

Late yesterday afternoon, in Bishop’s Stortford, two former students were keen to say hello. Nick and Jarrell left in a few years ago. They were full of positivity. They said, of course, they never saw the new school, but talked of returning to inspire the next generation. Without being asked, they genuinely spoke of how the “Black and Gold” always guides them. The smiles on their faces showed their love for, and appreciation and gratitude of, The Bishop’s Stortford High School.

Values are always with us. Whatever your do, wherever you do, whoever you are, never lose sight of what is important and what matters. Look after others and yourself. Treasure the moments and memories, the people and the places. We make others feel special.

As well as celebrating the many opportunities in and outside of lessons and school, crucially today we also pay deep tribute to staff and all students leaving T.B.S.H.S. this academic year. We say thank you.

Each an inspirational person with a wonderful legacy. We will hear about that, from students, both current and former, in Final Assembly, just as the staff gave emotional tributes in the staff meeting after school yesterday.

Totes emosh.

And why the emotion? Because emotion shows deep care. Because the School profoundly touched them. Because they profoundly touched the School.

So we pay tribute to: caring, inspiring and kind Learning Support Assistants Ms. Waldock and Mr. Mark, learning support assistants are always unsung heroes, supporting students and staff; Ms. Makamure and Mrs. Malah, caring, inspiring and kind teachers in such a vital area of any School and indeed life (Mathematics); as was mathematician Mr. Rawlinson-Mills, who to so many students and staff has been such a caring, giving, humble, wise and wonderful teacher, supporter and leader for many years; Mrs. Price who, since 2004, opened so many doors in life for generations of students, especially as regards their future beyond sixth form, with meticulous organization and inspirational care and encouragement, literally changing so many lives; Mr. Hood, who thoughtfully and wisely led in a number of key areas across the School, with pastoral (as Head of Year), safeguarding and technology leadership, and in Business Studies, Economics and cricket, for over thirty years, helping build, care for, craft and nurture “The Black and Gold Spirit” amongst students and staff.

Words, of course, here do not do such brilliant, great and wonderful people and professionals above, and those mentioned below in this message, justice. Their outstanding legacy is their inspiration and character.

All enter T.B.S.H.S. and write their own personal and inspirational story.

But individuals are irreplaceable. Everyone is a precious, sacred and unique person with a story. People are never forgotten and always inspire.

And, when the season has ended, and even within it, we never forget those key people behind the scenes. They keep the club going in, and outside, the season. They are always in the offices, managing the budget, organising the maintenance, ensuring the grounds are ready, even building a new sustainable and iconic stadium. When the crowds have dispersed, these staff, the heartbeat of the club, always helping those few supporters popping up to the ground, looking forward to the new season, picking up the season ticket, getting their shirt, or even their scarf for the winter. “Next year will be our year”. In Mrs. Mulholland, who, with the equally wonderful Ms. Engel, worked throughout every holidays, people always found the very best friend, guide and supporter. It is always the economy. And it is always the care. Thank you so very much to Mrs. Mulholland, Finance Manager, and First Aid leader, who joined the School in 2007. Everything staff and students did effectively went through Mrs. Mulholland. In every week of every year. In term time and the holidays.

In our lives, we do not forget those behind the scenes. Not just the team behind the team, but the team behind the team behind the team.

Thank you to all staff, and students, departing T.B.S.H.S. This will always be their School.

We pay tribute to all schools and all who work in and with the community.

We never forget our roots, carers, guardians, parents, family, friends and supporters.

And we never forget those who inspire us from Heaven.

You never leave T.B.S.H.S.

And T.B.S.H.S. never leaves you.

We will always be there.

Past, present and future in one vision.

Have a great Summer.

Stay healthy, legal and safe. In person and on-line.

Keep being kind. Think about, act for, help and support those in need.