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Thriving with Nature

I will miss many things when I move on in a couple of months, but high up on the list will be the sea. Whether it be walking the dogs and allowing my thoughts to drift over the watery expanse or scrambling over rocks with my children as I revisit my youth or actually embracing the freshness of the briny itself, the seafront has provided many happy moments and established much clarity in my thinking.

All those early morning swims I did a couple of years ago had an amazingly positive effect on my mental approach for the rest of the day and this endorses the selection of ‘nature’ as the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week which we have celebrated this week.

Aristotle said, ‘There is something to be wondered in all of Nature’ and he was right. At a time when many young people are seen to be losing their connection to nature, instead deepening their connection to technology and spending less time outside, it is as important as ever that we appreciate how our lives relate to the natural world around us and that is why Forest School and Beach School are so significant to our curriculum.

Children are intrinsically motivated to explore, create and be curious about the environment around them and this enables them to develop holistically. Holistic growth combines an individual’s mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development and so we must nurture this with access to outdoor learning. Nurture through nature some might say!

I am not alone in feeling more lethargic and less motivated when I have been stuck inside for too long and so Forest School, Beach School and other outdoor experiences will continue to be an important feature of life at St Andrew’s. So I guess I’ll have to make the most of the sea over the next few weeks. Now, where did I leave my hat and goggles?

It has been good to see various lessons outside this week, in between the patches of rain. I have witnessed battle recreations; ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf?’ in French and Spanish; drama sketches; and PSHE discussions. Not to mention all the cricket, tennis and athletics of course. Healthy in every sense!

The matches on Wednesday yielded another fine set of results with six wins and a draw from ten cricket matches. Harry Jordan impressed with an unbeaten 52 in the U12A victory while, in the same game, Hector Lawson took four wickets and achieved a direct hit run-out. Oliver Kirtley also scored an unbeaten 51 for the U13A team. The Year 7 girls House tennis competition took place on the Beresford astro too with Sea Kings taking victory overall.  

Away from the sport, Wednesday (12 May) was a day of celebration in other forms too. Firstly, it was Celebrating Women in Mathematics Day and it was interesting to read about the likes of Ada Lovelace, the world’s first ‘computer programmer’ or Valerie Thomas who has had a distinguished career at NASA. Florence Nightingale was the first woman elected into the Royal Statistical Society and she was born on 12 May which is why it was also International Nurses Day who we should also pay tribute to of course.

But 12 May also happened to be the birthday of Edward Lear the much loved artist, author and poet and so Wednesday was also Limerick Day in celebration of his humorous verse. So with that in mind:

‘There once was a wonderful nurse

Who put up with shouting and much worse

She always remained stoic

As well as truly heroic

While smiling and never once terse.’

I cannot claim that as my own but I should probably get my coat (and umbrella) anyway!

Activities are on as normal tomorrow. Happy weekend everyone.