School Spirit...
We
all have those moments when we remember exact times in our lives. Some good.
Some bad. But times that are obviously worthy memories of where you were at
what time and what happened. One of those moments happened for me this week.
Two
weeks ago, a parent from our school was tragically killed in a car accident. I
won’t go into details other than to say he leaves behind three vibrant, active
and involved children in our school community. He was also an active member of
our school community who, not just supported his children, but was hands on in
all their school commitments - academic, sporting and cultural.
Today,
along with a colleague, I attended this parent’s funeral. Not something that
anyone enjoys but something I knew I had to do to show my support to this
family especially the three children. Although it was an incredibly sad day it
was also a day of hope, support and love.
There
were a large number of people in attendance at the funeral. People from all
walks of life had come to pay their respects. However, for me, the thing I will
forever remember, is the many students who turned up to support their classmates.
They turned up not knowing the right thing to say or do. Not knowing how to
act, most of them had probably never been to a funeral before. But, they turned
up!
The
majority of our school contingent, staff, students and parents, stood outside
the chapel and watched the proceedings on TV screens. That was the volume of
attendees. When the service was over the family precession moved outside and it
is this moment that will stay with me forever. Firstly, all of the members of
the school community enveloped the family in masses of hugs. But what impressed
me the most was the way that the students stuck with and followed those three
kids.
Those
students may have not known what to say but instinctively they knew what to do
- be a friend. All afternoon the kids stuck with, supported and looked after
their mates - playing cricket, netball and just hanging out. Sometimes words
are not necessary.
I
can’t imagine what this family has to deal with from this day forth. But what I
do know, is that they will have an amazing community supporting them day to day.
A community that I am proud to be a part of. More than a community - a family
who takes care of each other.
As I left
today I knew that, for me personally, being a part of this school family means
that a part of my day’s work is to support each child to overcome their
challenges and to encourage them to achieve their goals - to provide a safe and
secure scaffold in which they can grow. As an educator and an influence in students’
lives, this will be something that I will continue to think about.
