How scary is it going back to school? It shouldn't be just because you have a new classroom or a new teacher. The principles are the same right? You'll get to socialise with all your classmates again (within 2 metres) and go out in the playground. But since the Covid-19 pandemic began pupils will have been thrown into a frenzy. We have all had to adapt and evolve to a new kind of normal schedule. In someways this has been a massive pause in what I consider a healthy reflection. We must make sure that when the doors open again - we have some strong support systems in place.
My secondary school was built over 250 years ago on a Moravian settlement and just as my Mother and Auntie before me had, I trod these hallowed halls. We had a mix of the old tradition and some new ones. Being a Fairfield girl, along with my cousin who was in the same year, meant having to stand up out of your chair whenever a member of staff entered the classroom. It was a sign of respect and at the time I probably found it quite annoying. The friendships my Mum made in school have lasted nearly 50 years and I know the memories I made there are by far some of the fondest. It's strange what you remember old teachers, old caretakers, old dinner ladies but during my time of education I will never forget the FG ethos. The school gave "a commitment to academic success for its girls, including high standards of behaviour and appearance.
"We did take pride in our uniforms - of snot green for year 7,8,9 (lower school) and then came the almost blissful event of getting to become "a blue shirt" which respectively was years 10 + 11 (Upper school). I was made a prefect, a role I took on gaining responsibilities and insight. Over the course of my time there, there were lots of advancements - a new and improved sports block, an upgrade to our IT department but some things remained the same as it had done for years WE ALWAYS had to walk on the left hand side. Some of the narrow staircases to the older parts of the school felt like something out of the astronomy tower in Hogwarts. The Green Toilets were definitely haunted. We had huge old wooden doors apparently bomb proof and a sweet church just across the cobbled street where Christmas services and Leavers assemblies were held.
What I strive to get across is although there will inevitably be a lot of change for kids/ young people heading back into school we need to provide a positive, safe environment for them and our teachers.The saying goes " School days are the best days of your lives" and I intend to make sure that at the very least the workshops I can bring to schools will highlight and spread this positivity. We as humans have been through so much in this year alone. 2020 brought a pandemic, a colossal check on our privileges throughout the Black Lives Matter protests and also instability regarding whatever our plans were 6 months ago and seeing them all of a sudden vanish.
SO this is what I am to do about it. By using my knowledge and work experience we can listen to the pupils and give them a voice. That is what I intend to do. Provide support for Teachers who are looking for PPA cover and having a Theatre Professional who wants to share their passion for the performing arts leading the way. By introducing a new experience; to find a school workshop that facilitates the children's own artistic expressions.
What was the break like for them? Do they have anything they want to emote and download? Can we help promote Fitness, Focus and Freedom for a creative outlet they surely need? My question is how can we go back to normal? Waggle Dance Co provide storytelling and dance workshops that are youth- led. So let's give the children an opportunity to MAKE and PRODUCE and PERFORM something that will bring assurance and let them know we acknowledge their problems. 2020 has been a huge shift - for everyone, let's get back to the fundamentals and start finding some solutions.
The Fairfield Motto is Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur which translated means Our Lamb Has Conquered, Let us Follow Him. Now I think is the time for us to RESET look to the future and be the lambs ( we will conquer the problems facing us all world-wide and we must set an example for others). We can give the next school leavers a beacon to follow. Just as the Queen Bee directs the rest of the hive to the nearest flower through her waggle dance - we must give our pupils a sense of direction. Who can get us there?
THIS GIRL CAN.
@ThisGirlCanUK
