It is Sooo Good to be Back!

On Monday the whole College will be reunited. The gap in activity, excited conversation and laughter between the Year 1s and Year 11s will at last be filled.

What a day that is going to be, a first step in moving back to a normal society. There are some things to think about to make sure it is the homecoming it deserves to be.

What do I need to savour? For the students there are things you have missed about being on campus. Maybe it’s eating with friends and playing on the ovals, sandpits and climbing toys. Maybe it’s having lots of people say hello and goodbye, or it’s the smile and “hi” from the one or two people – best friends, teachers, Bird and Bush staff – who are special to you. For the parents it may just be the six hours of peace that will descend on the house again at 8-ish! Enjoy them.

What do I need to change? Being in exile is a great time to reassess and learn, the Jewish people did that three times in their history. What knowledge has this period of social isolation brought you? It could be a recognition that things that used to irritate you are not really that important, in fact you have missed them. Or, perhaps, that your resistance to the structure of school – uniforms, rules, timetables – was misplaced and now you need to appreciate it. This is a good time to make those changes.

Who do I really want to see? There are the obvious ones like friends and favourite teachers (let’s be honest everyone has them) but what about others who don’t come so quickly to mind. Ones you probably haven’t contacted during “the exile”. Those from your cohort who are not particularly your friends but are great to have around. The College staff who are not your teachers but who bring a smile to your face and make you feel welcomed and secure. Make sure you share a “hi” and a smile with those people.

Who could I lift? It is easy to just think of yourself, that’s why most humans do it so well. What is harder, and far more rewarding, is to think of others. When we are all together again on Monday there will be some who are overwhelmed or anxious, there will be some who are sad because they’ve got to come to school again, and there will be some who are confused because they don’t understand what they’re feeling, or why. A best thing any of us can do is to keep an eye out for those people and share something uplifting and light. A kind word “hey, it’s good to see you”, or a small affirmation “you did that really well”, or an act of kindness “I’ll put that in the bin for you” or, and I know I repeat myself but it is so important, the sharing of a caring smile.

By the way, these things are not just for Monday, they are for every day.