Duchess gives St Anne’s pupils a boost

Yesterday the importance of kindness was highlighted as pupils and staff marked the big step into phase five out of lockdown with the first whole school assembly since March.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, played a surprise starring role with a recorded video message.

Head teacher Martin Winward said the pupils gave lots of examples of how they had been thoughtful and considerate during the lockdown.

‘We reflected on our Alderney context and we had lots of children with hands up talking about helping their families garden and helping neighbours, writing letters to the elderly at the local care home, the Connaught.

‘Particularly the junior children have made contact with the elderly in our community, they’ve been sending letters and also receiving them; and some of the elderly folk have asked if we can all catch up, so we’re working on [a] plan before we break for the summer holidays to bring in some of those local residents and to share what’s been meaningful about the letter writing, because it’s been very genuine from the children, it something that they took on themselves.’

Also in the special assembly, an award from Surfers Against Sewage was presented, in recognition of the pupils’ environmental efforts.

The video of the school’s lockdown choir was played back, and it was noted that the song had been played over 10,000 times on YouTube.

Social distancing has technically been dropped, but the ‘new normal’ in Bailiwick schools includes being respectful of personal space, frequent hand-washing, and good hygiene regarding coughs and sneezes.

During the lockdown staff at the school capitalised on the island’s size because on Thursdays they would come into school to photocopy the latest teaching packs, and then on Fridays they would drive to pupils’ homes to drop off work and pick up homework.

The history books have not yet been written on Covid-19, but pupils at St Anne’s are already thinking about what they will take from the lockdown experience into their new lives.

The oak tree in the school’s paddock has been trimmed back and pupils are tying with ribbons their thoughts about starting anew.

Mr Winward explained that the pupils had some interesting and surprising ideas.

‘We reflected on what we would be keen to cherish, for the little ones the key words were things like “happy”, they were really happy to be in school and they missed play and the sea swimming lessons; and the older ones created sentences around what they’re grateful for and what they wouldn’t take for granted going forward, even the things that perhaps we used to grumble about, they’ve missed being part of school and the day to day.

‘One child was walking along the corridor and as he went into the loos he said “yes, I’m back to my normal loo” because we’ve had Portaloos, and different temporary accommodation for toilets and they were glad to be able to go back to their loos, which was quite funny.’

To top the day off, the ice cream van from the Braye Chippy paid a visit at lunchtime, and all the children and staff were given free ice creams.