Some days, I stop and pause, to remember what a wonderful, extraordinary, unique and special school I have the privilege of leading.
Christmas is well upon us, and it is a time to think about being confident within our school community. Our Christmas Fayre, run by the Friend of Hamilton College, was brilliantly attended, and supported by parents, pupils and staff. It was a great occasion for us to get together as a school community, and simply have some festive fun.
Yesterday, we had one of a few 'firsts' for the school, when the choir sang at Princes Square in Glasgow. Again, the number of parents and families (with their friends!) coming to support our choir, who sang so wonderfully to the shoppers, bringing the message of Christ's birth to a busy commercial environment, was fabulous. It was a great experience for the pupils to be singing to strangers, and to build their confidence in a new environment.
This was great preparation for the coming Service of Lessons and Carols in Bothwell Parish Church on Tuesday night, which we are looking forward to enormously. This is another first for the school, and how marvellous to be able to worship with our local community and celebrate Christmas together.
One wonderful piece of news is that our Kids Lit team of four S2 girls competed in the national final in Oxford on Friday, and I am delighted to say that they won. As national champions they now progress to the World Championships in New Zealand in August. If anything gives us the confidence that we are a school of amazing academic ability, it is this; competing internationally in a worldwide literature festival, and representing the UK to the international community in this way is simply phenomenal, and my heartfelt congratulations go to the girls, and to our Librarian and Head of English who have supported the girls throughout, encouraging and coaching them through the process. I do not ever remember in my career having pupils get through the the international final of any competition. The significance of this is enormously exciting.
Louise from our S6 has been working on a wonderful mural for Christmas in the school hall, with the support of Mr Wilson and some of her friends in S6; what an astonishing piece of art. This is something to be very proud about, and our focus on art recently demonstrates how in all kinds of areas of school life, the transition from Nursery to Junior School to Senior School and Upper School develops pupils who are confident, willing, and able to do remarkable things.
Whether it is through Art, Music, Sport, the academic curriculum, or community involvement, our pupils build their confidence with humility and grace.
Christmas is an important time to reflect, and to contribute to our communities, and through the work the school have been doing to support Bethany through their Caring Christmas Trees project, to support the Hamilton Foodbank (the trollies in the foyer are nearly full!) and to support Sanna in S6's fundraising campaign for Diabetes UK, our compassion is clear, our confidence that we do not only think of ourselves but consider others is clear, and our strong community and dedication to our wider local, national and international communities is absolutely, crystal clear.