Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls and I would like to extend my own warm welcome to our guest speaker, Megan Taylor and her Assistance dog, Rowley.
As always, I am honoured to be a part of what is your Awards Ceremony, boys and girls, and once more I stand here in awe of your successes and accomplishments, and your generosity of spirit – your maturity and understanding that not all of you can take away a prize this evening and the joy you will show for your friends who do is humbling, and what better example of our school motto, Non Tibi Sed Omnibus’ (Not for oneself but for all).
My thanks go to Mrs Mitchell who, once again, has written the Reflections of the year, which can be found in your programme and highlights that the boys and girls remain at the heart of everything we do. Please do take a few moments to read this in the forthcoming days. Sadly, I am unable to list every success and achievement this year – it would simply take far too long.
However, I would like to take a moment and reflect on a soft skill which we believe is very important – confidence. We constantly try to instil confidence in our boys and girls. The ability to walk on stage in front of a crowd of people and sing, play their instrument or deliver lines or use their physical skills in sporting competitions. Every pupil in this hall has stood up, and presented themselves on stage – and what a range of stages – from nativities to class assemblies, from LAMDA performances to showcase productions, worthy of the West End, as well every day in class too. Then of course, there is the sporting arena in which boys and girls have represented us at venues such as the Olympic Pool in Stratford and a myriad of gala, fixtures and tournament at local schools and venues. What a triumph.
Boys and girls, I am sure that you have played the game Jenga where you take it in turns to pull away the bricks until the tower crashes down. Each brick you pull out makes the tower a little weaker. However, if we were to change the game and played it the other way around, adding bricks, rather than taking them away, each brick would make the tower stronger, more resilient, more robust.
I look at you and every time you stand up on that stage and learn those lines or sing that song, your own personal Jenga becomes stronger – every time you challenge yourself in the classroom or achieve a PB in any subject, you add another brick until your own Jenga – your confidence – becomes stronger and firmer. Every day, at our School, we try to give you the opportunities and platform to build your confidence because we know confidence will take you far – now - and in the future.
I would like to thank all those people in our wonderful school who make what we do possible. Thank you to our staff – you are all quite simply - amazing – every single one of you. What you give of yourselves, to ensure the children have the very best opportunities, and how you support one another is incredible, thank you. To our staff leavers, we wish you the very best in your future endeavours. Thank you for your professionalism, expertise, and kindness. You have all played a significant role in ensuring that our school is the success that it is today, and for that I am very grateful.
My thanks go to our Senior Leadership Team – Mrs Mitchell, Mrs Wynn, Mrs Ranger and Mr Parton. Your hard work, dedication and friendship is very much appreciated by everyone but no more so than by me. Finally, thank you to our Governors – for understanding how what we do really makes a difference and believing in the importance and value of the education we provide.
My thanks also go to the Friends of St Hilary’s School, fondly known as FOSH for your support. As we welcome in our new Chairs, Mrs Aspray and Mrs Jackson, we say farewell to Mrs Gardiner. Mrs Gardiner, please do join me …
In our assembly on Monday, we learnt about working dogs and their many roles If a dog was a teacher this what they would want, you to do:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Never pass up the opportunity to go out and have some fun. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure enjoyment.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know gently when they’ve invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising. Run, romp and play daily.
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough. Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
The end of the academic year marks the end of an immediate association with the school for our Year 6 pupils. We wish them all the very best as they move on to their senior schools. I remember some of you when you were babes in arms: and you have endeavoured, aspired and achieved in so many areas of your lives already. And of course, it is the end of an era for many of our parents who have dropped off at the school gate for many years, and for some who will soon no longer have a school run to do at all!
To all our leavers today, make sure you reach high, full of aspiration, work hard and always find time to have fun and to play. Remember Albert Einstein’s wise words, ‘Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow’. And remember Christopher Robin’s equally wise words, ‘You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.’
Whether you are leaving now for the summer, to return in September, or it is your last few days at our School, it is my wish that you embark on your next adventures in the knowledge that St Hilary’s will be with you wherever you stride.
Thank you