Welcome back to the new school year! It is always an exciting time; meeting new people, seeing what has changed at school over the summer, and getting into new routines of work and play. My start of year message, shared with both the staff and the children, was inspired by the Olympics. Like many of us, I was inspired by the abilities, but also the mindset, of so many of the athletes who took part. With both children and staff, I rewatched the moments when GB’s Alex Yee took Gold in edge of the seat circumstances, and GB’s Women’s Cycling Team Sprint in their similar victory.
This year, I want us to all be going for Gold! This fits nicely with our school motto altiora peto “I aim for higher things”. No Olympic athlete aims for Silver or Bronze, they all aim for Gold. I want our children to aim for the very highest in everything they do. Yes, of course this includes academic work in the classroom and on the sports pitch, but I would like to see Gold Medal standards of behaviour, smartness and tidiness, and above all kindness this year. Our new ePraise App helps our older children to be more involved with what they have achieved and see when and why they have been rewarded, and this will help them set their own personal targets.
Of course, you can’t win the Gold Medal every time, or have equal talent in every event. Progress is all about small steps, success is about picking yourself up and trying again. The growth mindset once again comes to the fore. There is no “I can’t do it”, only “I can’t do it yet”. Every day, in every way, you can get one step closer to a target. What is important is to set targets and work to achieve them. Bronze Medal position in the last French vocab test? What can you do for the next one to improve?
Chosen for the B team next week when you’d rather be in the A team? What can you do as part of the B team to lead them to victory? Success is like an iceberg, we only see the top, what isn’t visible are the hours of practice, moments of resilience, and self discipline.
At the end of our first full week, we already have much to celebrate from the combination of effort and the growth mindset that leads to the podium in life.
Ms Elizabeth Lyle, Head
