2026: Welcome Back!

The new school year is here and it seems we’ve started it off with a bang – or rather, a crash. Well perhaps more aptly a metaphorical crash. A… theoretical crash. Alright I lied there was no crash: but I paid good money for my creative licence and I intend to use it.

The ‘crash’ that I am clumsily attempting to use as an opener did really happen though, just not quite at school. After a warm welcome back from our fledgling head prefects, Zahara and Michael (in case you forgot over the holidays), Mrs Reed, our principal, (in case you forgot), shared her outlook for the new year. An outlook coloured by hope, and inspired by a book.

The crash took place about 14,000km away on a deserted island in the ’60s stranding a handful of teenaged boys alongside a small boat. Unlike the famous novel that no doubt springs to mind, this real-life Lord of the Flies turned out utterly contrary to the source material, as we learned in the extract she read to us. It is in that rare triumph of humanity that she draws hope: hope for a new year in a world filled with really rather a lot of nasty things.

In other news, the school welcomed a host of both new students and new staff for the new year. Whilst getting back to school after the holidays always carries with it some—shall we say mixed—feelings, I have a good feeling about this one.

– Quinn