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THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2020 THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2020

anything to do with sport. I have to say I prefer HOW HAVE ENGLISH SCHOOL interrupted. There have been so many
to do sport rather than watch sports—I’m STUDENTS SURPRISED YOU difficult points in history and we are now in
not a good watcher. I am on the wrong side DURING YOUR TIME AS one of those periods. Students in year 5, 6
of 50 but I love to be outdoors; it gives me HEADMASTER? or 7 who have been affected most will, as a
time to think. I do my best and most I think that they are very committed to their result, probably be more resilient than those
productive thinking about numerous work but what surprised me most is what who graduated 3, 4 or 15 years ago, similar
problems that may come up in a day while they can do outside of the classroom. The to those who graduated in 1974/5 or those
running and swimming. who graduated during the war periods.
shows, musical events, MEDIMUN and sports There’s a common spirit of ‘we are going to
WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF events have been incredible, and you see get through this’, and now we must reflect
students in a different light. They have an
INSPIRATION? independence to shine and take pride in on our lives, on how we treat each other and
My dad. He was a teacher of special needs that--we need more of that in daily life. But the environment, on how good it has been
children and had tremendous patience, a they really can pull off an event when to spend time with family and with each
quality I am still working to develop. He putting their minds to it. They can also pull other, despite how difficult it may have
always had a logical and thoughtful way of together for car washes or trash pickups. been sharing Wi-Fi and whatnot. Life is not a
looking at situations. And then I suppose my Overall they are a tight group, and have great linear path and there is a measure of
school friends as well. We grew up in pretty loyalty not just to the school but to each other. difficulty in every stage. This generation will
tough times in Northern Ireland and we all have a key quality in life of resilience and it
managed to pull through. We are a tight ANY DISAPPOINTMENTS will link to other groups from the past who
group, and though we were in school THIS YEAR? have gone through hard times and gotten
together (I am reluctant to say) 35 years This year the biggest disappointment has through and did great things.
ago, we are still pretty close. When you go been not having the opportunity for some
through tough times with others, they see students to finish their school career as we IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
you at your best and worst. I’d say we inspire would have hoped for them. Not to WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
each other. overemphasize the last weeks/days of I’d like to thank the students for keeping
school, but as a teacher it’s lovely to see going. It would have been so easy to not get
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE students grow up with trials and tribulations involved and step aside and be lethargic.
BETWEEN A YEAR 1 STUDENT and to walk out with their head held high. The response from students has been
AND A YEAR 7 STUDENT? Schools are places for people and the buzz incredible. There are year groups with 99%
attendance, and overall across the school
Let’s say the difference is like day and night. of school life, and although we did well attendance is up to 95-6%. It has been a
Year 1 students listen to what you say and online, not being able to wish students and remarkable achievement to move from a
most of them want to do well and make especially the Year 7’s well has been a physical to a virtual community and an
their teachers happy. Year 7 students listen disappointment. Other than that, you expect incredible success for the entire school
to what you say but they’ve got their own ups and downs during any academic year. community. ‘Non Sibi Sed Scholae’ keeps us
opinion and are very independent. All Year 7 together and we have been strong. This is an
students have slightly different attitudes MAIN REFLECTION OF THE amazing achievement for the student body,
but if they were pushed, 99.9% would make SPRING OF 2020? the teachers and the school community.
the correct decision based on their own It’s the importance of always being focused
values and the notion of ‘Non Sibi Sed on the positives in life. In my heart I am an
Scholae’. In a school environment, you’ve eternal optimist, and I always think the
got to have the space for different thoughts future will be better than the past. These
and opinions. In Year 1 you have perfect are hard times for everyone but they link us
students and a different form of perfection to our colleagues of the past, colleagues
exists in Year 7. That’s what makes up the from 1974, during the war periods or from
rich tapestry of life--every stage is good. times of civil unrest when school had to be

Mikaella Hadjiyianni 5J headmaster’s interview

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