It has been a week full of joyous events as we come to the end of our very unusual year! I was privileged to be with the Year 6 girls as they gave their reflective speeches as part of their special Celebration event early in the week, and then to join them for breakfast this morning as they prepared for their last day of primary school. I was delighted to spend time on Monday with the Senior School Captains of Faculties, Sports and Activities as they began planning for their 2021 roles and then to announce the Year 6 2021 leadership positions to the Year 5 cohort on Wednesday. We are blessed with fine student leaders at Lowther Hall and I very much enjoy working with girls in leadership positions across the School to assist them in realising their visions. I witnessed extraordinary leadership in action on Tuesday as our 2021 Faith and Worship Prefect and Social Justice Prefect facilitated more than 30 captains to manage a whole day of activities for every girl in Kindergarten to Year 12! The theme of the day was “Growth” and the girls did a wonderful job of crafting meaningful workshops suitable for the various ages of the girls in different parts of the School. The day culminated in a whole school, livestreamed Chapel Service at which the toys given for donation to Mission House were collected and blessed before being sent off to this important charitable foundation.
In Blinkbonnie House my highlight this week has been seeing the girls take delivery of their special packages from the North Pole. Their letters from Santa’s elves arrived in ice and they had great fun breaking them free and reading the messages! Also on a Christmas theme, the Blinkbonnie House Christmas Service saw the Year 1 girls provide a clear and meaningful rendition of the nativity story and the whole school enjoyed viewing a special digital version of our Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, which has now been released to the wider school community. I hope that you have had time to view this beautiful event.
Finally, today I have been proud to spend the day with the girls in various end of term ceremonies where we have been able to recognise the contributions made by the students, celebrate the year and present some awards and certificates. These ceremonies have also provided the opportunity for girls to thank their teachers and farewell staff who are not returning. This morning the School Captains and I presented our School Crossing Supervisor, Jenny, with a gift from the School. I know that many members of our community will miss her greatly. Presentations from the School to staff who are leaving are made at our final staff meeting for the year next week.
I feel particularly grateful for our Lowther Hall community this year. I have a profound appreciation for my colleagues who have done all that they possibly could have to ensure our girls and families had the best possible experience across this challenging year. I am proud of the girls for their resilience and optimism, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been supported by our families as we have banded together to navigate the uncharted waters in which we found ourselves! Thank you for all you have done to make Lowther Hall such a positive place in 2020 – our centenary year. Although it was not the year we had imagined, it is a year that has truly shown the heart and spirit of our school. Have a blessed Christmas and a restful break.
Ms Elisabeth Rhodes
Principal