This is the last Bulletin of the term, as next week I shall be sending you my traditional end of term letter, in lieu of a Bulletin.
There is a fairly stable routine (of sorts) in my house each morning in terms of getting ready for work and school, as I suspect there may well be in the homes of all our families across both the Pre-Prep & Prep? I know I am on track to get to school at a time that suits me if I am listening to ‘Bach Before Seven’ on Radio 3, at just about the same time as I am whizzing past Twickenham Stadium on the A316 each morning.
I love Radio 3. Very little chat, a brief news update on the hour and more calming classical music than you could shake a conductor’s baton at. The Bach slot is a particular favourite, as with uncanny frequency it seems to me the pieces of Bach that are played usually have some sort of (almost spooky) connection to what I am thinking about regarding my day ahead at school or indeed aspects of school life in general.
One morning this week the fifth movement of Bach’s Cantata 144, entitled ‘Genügsamkeit ist ein Schatz in diesem Leben’ seemed to speak to me more loudly than any other piece has for quite a few weeks. The fluent German speaking parents amongst you will have worked out what the title of the piece means but my rather clunky translation runs something along these lines:
‘Contentment with what there is, is a treasure in this life’.
As my car journey that particular morning continued, with the weather remaining cold and gloomy and as I listened to matters of national and international importance which came to light from the 7.00am news bulletin, I have to say, I was rather cheered by the sentiment expressed in Bach’s beautiful aria for solo soprano.
It is all too easy I believe to forget about what we have that makes our lives so rich and full, and we do so at our peril I would say. I certainly remind your children of that from time to time! Chief amongst all that I remain grateful for (for example) is indeed being able to work with the boys and girls at our School.
At this point in the school year, heading out of winter and looking forward to sunnier climes and the fun of the summer term to come, the pupils’ commitment to their lessons, their willingness to make sure they try at least to get along really well with one another and the surprising and delightful attitudes they apply at school each day brings me contentment. Your children are of course your greatest treasures, and I know how fortunate we are that they are treasures here for us at school too.
