Welcome back to all our students - whether in school or at home. In his online address to all students this morning, Head Teacher Andrew Moss urged, 'stay positive; look for silver linings and be disciplined'. Above all, Mr Moss said: "We need to make sure we are doing all we can to look after ourselves and those around us".
Today Gordon's is launching details of the exciting Home School Programme, covering all aspects of school life, from academic to pastoral and co-curricular for the Summer Term. This video shows how it will work:
Friday Reflection from our school Chaplain, the Reverend Sarah Norbron:
We are now four weeks into lockdown, and I don’t expect that I am the only one who has had a rollercoaster of emotions. If you were to name some of those emotions, since many of us have stayed in our homes, what would they be? If I am completely honest, mine have been a complete jumble. Sadness and relief, guilt and gratitude, fear and joy, frustration and love, helplessness and being OK with being obedient in staying at home. Your emotions no doubt, will be some of these, but you will have had different experiences too, especially if you are one of our precious key workers.
After Jesus died, his friends were confused and doubtful. They were filled with terror and fear. They were well and truly locked down and in fear for their lives. But after Jesus’ resurrection that first Easter day, he made an appearance to his friends, his disciples. He was not going to let a locked door stand in His way. No problem for Jesus. The disciples’ emotions turned to amazement and excitement. And most of all there was reassurance that he would always be with them no matter what.
Corrie Ten Boom knew all about being locked up. Her fascinating story about hiding Dutch Jews in her home during WW2, is recounted in her book called ‘The Hiding Place.’ She was later captured, but, despite her suffering, she never lost hope while she was in a concentration camp. Corrie was able to focus on Jesus, safe in the knowledge that He never leaves her, and we can find our strength in Jesus too in these difficult times.
May God bless you and give you His peace.
To hear the Reverend Norbron's prayer, please see below.
Inundated with offers of materials and practical help in making protective visors at Gordon's for the NHS and Key Workers, as well as well-wishers wanting to contribute financially to the school's production, we have today launched a Gofundme page. All donations made through the page will go towards these frontline workers.
Hundreds of visors have been supplied so far to hospitals such as Frimley Park; St Peter’s; Woking Community. In addition, they are now being worn by staff in care homes; GP and vet surgeries; supermarkets and charities.
The visors were made by DT Teacher Tom Webb and his team of teachers from PE; Careers and Psychology as well as House Parents.
Our picture shows Gordon's Medi Nurse Emma Light (left) and a colleague at Frimley Park Hospital sporting visors freshly made in the school's workshop.
We thank you in advance for your donation and for helping us to continue contributing to frontline workers. For updates on the voluntary work the school is doing, please follow us on Facebook (@GordonsSch); Twitter(@GordonsSch) and Instagram (@gordonsschofficial).
Thumbs up from staff at the Frimley Park Hospital’s Maternity Unit as they declared they were “delighted” with the protective face shields produced by DT Teacher Tom Webb in the school’s workshop. Since then, the Sandringham House Parent has set up a production line with help from Balmoral’s Ben Heathcote; Augusta’s David Mathews and Careers Lead Caroline Sims and hopes to produce 1,600 of them.
Wishing all our students, Gordonians, staff, and their families a safe and happy Easter.
Good Friday's Reflection from our school Chaplain, the Reverend Sarah Norbron:
So what is so amazing about grace? I love the word ‘grace’, and it is made so clear in John Newton’s famous hymn about Jesus’ sacrifice for us that first Good Friday, ‘Amazing Grace’. It is also the title of the 2006 excellent film about William Wilberforce. Maybe during this lockdown period, you could give it a watch. I have heard grace described as ‘Great riches at Christ’s expense’ which reminds us of Christ’s suffering. But of course Easter Day itself shows that Good Friday and Jesus’ death was not the end. Easter celebrates the joy of His resurrection. “Jesus is alive”. I shall miss our little Easter garden at school this year.
There are so many opportunities for us to show grace too. It’s those moments when we think before we speak. Are we being kind? But grace also speaks of putting ourselves forward for the sake of others and I know that members of the community are doing this, either in practical ways or by being on the end of a phone, or trying out the various ways of communicating on the internet, making sure people are getting some contact with others. Thank you all of you who are doing so much, especially our key workers.
I was so touched to see pictures of two of our girls getting involved in making masks and delivering food parcels. And it was good to see Mr Webb making all those visors. Thank you so much.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
John Newton 1779
‘Peak Week’ in lockdown and Gordon’s rowers haven’t shown any sign of letting up on their rigorous training. In this, their third week of their training programme, they have been rowing harder than ever and building on their successes in February when four individuals and a relay team made the top ten in the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships at the Olympic Park. Alan Inns, Gordon’s Boat Club’s Head Coach gave a hint of how the dynamic team are pushing themselves six days a week: “Gordons rowers are coming to the end of the third week of their lockdown training programme. In what was originally meant to be a training camp based on the water, their lockdown programme is currently based at home around the ergos. Reduced mileage this week (50k) but the shorter, higher intensity pieces are pushing them to new highs.” They have certainly earned their Easter eggs!
The Spring Term edition of the Careers Newsletter is out now! Packed with handy tips; advice and interesting information from changes in the system for qualifying for a career in the law to working as a civil servant. There is also a section on universities offering webinars and virtual tours. Click here to read.
Congratulations to Abigail Hunter-Blanco, who has been selected as a finalist in an Oxford University creative competition. Abigail’s sonnet Solus Vesuvius wowed the judges at St John’s College Year 11 Inspire Programme competition on Eruptions and Transformations. The programme aims to encourage students with exceptional promise to aim high, stretch themselves academically and be confident in making their applications to a top university such as Oxford. Please click here to read her sonnet.
Design and Technology Teacher Tom Webb made 100 protective visors for use by a local GP practice and the maternity unit at Frimley Park Hospital, over the weekend, laser cutting the headbands and hand cutting each of the clear visors. He is to produce around 1,600 for use in the NHS.
Four Gordonians from the same family were among those piping last night to salute key workers. The Prince family joined Senior Pipe Major Mrs Scotson and many others from the Gordon's Pipes and Drums in 'playing' tribute to those keeping society moving during the coronavirus crisis.
Our team in the Medi have volunteered their services in local hospitals and today thousands of protective gloves and goggles were donated to the NHS by our Science and DT Departments. Our Chaplain the Reverend Sarah Norbron sends this message:
Light the Way for Love
We were all moved by the enormous show of gratitude shared in our streets at 8.00 p.m. last evening, all thanking our wonderful NHS staff and carers for all they are doing at this time with a resounding clap and cheer. I was touched by this beautiful poem. And may we too ‘Light the Way for Love’ as we seek to do our bit.
Light the Way for Love.
They say beauty comes from a spirit that has weathered many
hardships in life and somehow continues with resilience.
Grace can be found in a soul who ages softly, even amid the tempest.
I think the loveliest by far is the one whose gentle heart bears
a hundred scars from caring, yet still finds a way
to pick up the lamp, one more time, to light the way for love.
Susan Frybort from ‘Open Pages’
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’ (Numbers 6:24-26)
