Fresh starts, new beginnings: a Happy New Year to everyone in the Lyonsdown community as we move into the Spring Term.
The range of activities experienced by the boys and girls over the Christmas break was astounding. I have heard that some went as far afield as Miami and New Zealand, whereas others joined me in enjoying the delights of the UK. Whatever you got up to, I hope that it was relaxing or exciting and time well spent with friends and family.
As with every school month, January brings with it its fair share of hard work. This half-term’s Lyonsdown learning habit of perseverance is, therefore, most appropriate. In my assembly on Tuesday, the children learnt about the value of consistent effort and were reminded that trying hard when things are most difficult is when we sometimes learn the most. As an example of this, I could tell you the story of how I successfully rewired a light switch in my house over the holiday, but a more inspirational tale comes in the form of athletics. Those of you who remember the 1992 Barcelona Olympics will be familiar with the story of British athlete Derek Redmond’s failed attempt to reach the 400 metre final. The heat is as painful to watch as it is emotional, but it is certainly the race I remember from that Summer and this lasting memory shows how much we do, and should, value perseverance. We remember Redmond, and not Steve Lewis who won that semi-final or Quincy Watts who claimed gold in the final. The mere fact that I had to use a prominent search engine to find the winners’ names says it all.
The perseverance poster competition and Mr Hammond’s Challenge (round one, all about unicorns) are opportunities for any boy or girl at Lyonsdown to tackle a difficult task. The competition is fierce, and not everyone can win, but I would encourage all children to enter and am looking forward to seeing their work: details of both competitions can be found in the School newsletter. More and more information is contained in our weekly bulletin, so please do read each release thoroughly. On the subject of communication, all parents should have received an important message about School email; if you did not receive this missive, please contact the Office.
And so, the first week in a term that is to be filled with perseverance draws to a close. I hope to see all of you at some point in the coming months.
All the best for the weekend ahead.
C. Hammond