Lucy M. Gowdie, Head of School
31 May 2024
One, but Many.
This past Sunday was one like no other in the story of our school.
The sun shone, the sales soared and the community centred itself on what we are renowned for, our togetherness.
A hallmark of who we are as people, the International Festival is a tradition, a ritual, a moment in time that celebrates the uniqueness of us.
I was reminded the other day by a colleague that one of the more powerful elements of our school is not that we are ‘international’ but that we are ‘community.’ What a powerful statement to make, what a truth we should continue to tell.
Our kind of education centres on the foundation laid some sixty years ago, the bedrock of our formation, and our identity. To see this so alive in our culture is truly joyful.
We are a microcosm of society, a melting pot of languages, of life lessons; we are the place of gathering in an increasingly secular society when triumph or tribulation abounds.
On Sunday, as was the case decades ago, our Parents’ Association and our volunteers planned, prepared and produced a resounding success story.
It would be remiss of me not to extend my deep and sincere thanks to Nienke Sijbring, hard to miss in her orange hat, but here for weeks on end before hand preparing and planning, we are ever so grateful Nienke, for the energy and the enthusiasm you brought to this tradition. And in keeping with one of the most successful years in our story, the Parents’ Association, and their unwavering belief in the power of community have brought us together with positivity and with pride.
As we prepare for the final three weeks of school, with so much to look forward to, we are excited to share with you our strategic direction, our 2024 success stories and our Six Steps of Summer – the beginning of our building project.
There is much to look forward to, but today, we look back on the weekend that was, with nothing but pride in who we are, what we believe in and the thing that unites us – Learning.
Kind regards,
Lucy M. Gowdie
Head of School