What are you grateful for?
As we come to the end of another busy term, I think it is important to reflect on, not only how challenging it has been to run a school in the middle of a pandemic but also to be grateful for all the positives we have seen. Grateful to our talented teachers and LSAs for managing to teach face to face lessons in a mask; keeping their children socially distanced, whilst also live streaming to those children at home. Grateful to our awesome DESS children for showing how independent, responsible and caring they can be. Grateful to you, our parents, for your patience and support throughout all these changes. Grateful to our brilliant medical team keeping us healthy and safe and always on hand for advice. Grateful to our wonderful admin team for ensuring that our communications are ready to go out day and night to keep you fully informed of any necessary changes. And of course, grateful to our incredible site staff for ensuring that our site is safe, clean and fully compliant with ever changing regulations. They really are, as I tell them often, Team Awesome!
Today we say goodbye to one member of our DESS family; Santhosh. It will be tough as he has become a much loved and respected staff member over the years at DESS. Particularly tough for me, as Santhosh and I started on front gate duty on the very same day and I will really miss his caring, diligent and friendly presence. For many, he is the first face they see at school in the morning and, he not only knows all our children, but also their families too. He has taken the brave decision to move to England to be with Remya, his wife and Vinayak, his 3 year old son. This will be the first time they have been able to live together as a family and whilst we are obviously sad to say goodbye, we are all excited for him too.
The privilege of being able to live together as a family is one many of us take for granted and it is not until that is threatened or removed, that we really appreciate it. Restrictions on travel has meant that many have not been able to reconnect with their wider family for over a year now. Indeed, as I write this, Murali is travelling back to India to see his baby boy for the very first time and Anand to see his twins.
Staying in with the family has been very much the norm for the past year for most people during the pandemic, where we have been forced to be at home more than ever before, but that in itself can bring its own stresses and pressures. At DESS we work to try to support the wellbeing of not just our children and staff but also our families too. Still forced to hold all parent meetings and forums online, we yearn for the day when we can once again enjoy that community feel back in school. In the meantime we continue to run Parent forums and meetings online. Two very successful recent examples have been on raising resilient children and supporting mental health led by Olivia Tom, our Student Advisor and Yvonne Sewnauth, FS Leader and Sarah Curran, Wellbeing Leader. It has also been great to see parents in our community supporting one another during this challenging time.
So, whilst you are managing the inevitable stresses of sibling rivalry or fighting to keep your child offline this holiday, I appreciate that it may be difficult to remember to be grateful for that family time. Enjoy your children and please also spare a thought for Santhosh, Remya and Vinayak starting on that adventure together as a family for the very first time.
Take care and stay safe!
Happy Holidays,
Catherine Dando
