HOPE CONNECT

This time of year is always incredibly exhausting for teachers. Planning for next year whilst ensuring all keeps going well for the current year. Adding the 2021 variations into the mix and school life is bringing plenty of challenges. I am sorry that 2020 and 2021 has brought social distancing and extended remote learning!

We are aware of the difficulties that you have faced.  I have received countless emails from parents ranging from ‘my child is coping and doing all the work’ to ‘I cannot get him/her out of bed’ to ‘there is too much screen time’ to ‘we need more teacher time in class’.  Some of you have even gone as far as to say that you feel helpless;  you do not understand Pythagoras’ Theorem, The Crucible or Newton’s Law. And that is also OK.  Know this: you are doing a great job. Thank you.

But some things don’t change and it is important to tell you: we love your children.

One of the more bittersweet parts of being a teacher is looking out into a classroom (or into the screen) as we head towards the end of the school year and seeing a particular group of students that will never be there together, all at the same time, again. Each year we spend 180 days gathered together.  The students work alongside one another, sometimes growing frustrated with one another, but they learn to function and grow as a group. They lift one another up, they accomplish goals, and they grow. The adage ‘the days are long but the years are short’ is true for teaching. When June arrives, my time is up. Even though there were crazy days when I wanted to pull my hair out, I can’t help but feel sad it’s over. 

As staff we’ve watched your children morph into stronger, better versions of themselves. They’ve  grown taller, braver, and wiser. They’ve struggled with challenging concepts and we’ve proudly watched them battle on. They’ve found creative ways to do their school work and interact with their friends.  They quietly extend kindness to others. We’ve seen them overwhelmed, on the verge of giving up, and have looked them in the eye and seen perseverance. We’ve seen them make mistakes, and we have called them out on it. We call them ‘our kids’.

So, in case we don’t get to talk at our Graduation or Celebration service, we really want to tell you how much we love your children. And from me personally I want to say thanks for sharing your children with me (actually us, as I speak for David also) for the last few years, some for longer, others shorter… but they have all been a joy. Please know that your children will forever be in our heart because we’ve seen those little things, those God given unique personality traits that make each of your children special, and we love them too. 

On matters school:

• Next week our Year 12’s will have their online graduation service. We will share this with the whole community as a video link

• After listening to your feedback, class routines for Primary and Year 9 and 11 will not change for the final two weeks of school. 

• Middle school teachers are still working on planning for school activities for the week beginning the 31st and will update students and families soon.

Cheryl Flight

Siem Reap Campus Update

Under the leadership of the School Board, Mark, Helen, and Sophal, the Siem Reap campus is currently in process of moving locations. As we begin to see the fruits of their labor, we want to acknowledge how grateful we are for all of their hard work.  See the beautiful pictures below.