HEADLINES
By James Saunders
FAREWELL MESSAGE TO C11
Looking back over the past five years we’ve spent together, I can’t quite comprehend how swiftly time has flown by. It feels like just yesterday that we first met at the beginning of Cohort 7, and now we find ourselves bidding farewell. Throughout these years, we’ve encountered challenges we never anticipated – who could have imagined that the beginning of your secondary school would include a lockdown and a pandemic - or that you would not get to complete primary school in the usual way. Or that at the start of year 10 we would be told to close half the school for RAAC. Yet, through it all, you’ve demonstrated remarkable resilience, determination, and a steadfast commitment to learning at Honywood.
It has been a real honour to serve as your headteacher over these past five years. Together, we’ve implemented numerous changes aimed at enhancing your educational journey, and I hope you can reflect on your time here and recognise that these changes were all geared towards helping you excel. I’ve been consistently impressed by your maturity, enthusiasm, and dedication to learning. You’ve navigated through an educational experience unlike any other cohort, and you’ve emerged triumphant. Congratulations!
The past few years have taught us a valuable lesson –the importance of cherishing time and not taking it for granted. Enduring a pandemic compelled us to focus on the little things and recognise what truly matters in life. As you depart from the school and venture into the world, you do so equipped with resilience forged through your own determination, perseverance, and hard work. Few will rival your level of preparedness when you’re at the top of your game.
Preparation for lifelong learning is the essence of schooling. My hope is that you depart with a deep understanding of yourself – your strengths, weaknesses, successes, failures, accomplishments,
and mistakes. Embracing all of these facets will lead to a greater self-awareness. By understanding who you are as an individual and taking ownership of your choices, you’ll pave the way for success as a lifelong learner.
At Honywood, our goal has always been to equip you with both happiness and success. Neither can be attained without honesty and taking responsibility for your life. Your life belongs to you – not the school’s, not your teachers’, not your parents’. As the summer approaches, bringing with it the outcomes of your formal qualifications, some of you may feel elation while others may feel disappointment. Regardless, take pride in your achievements, for they are solely yours.
Is there a secret to success and happiness? If there is, it remains elusive to me. However, I do know that if you make it your mission to seek them out deliberately, you will find them. I have previously emphasised the value of time – each moment is unique, irreplaceable, and fleeting. Wasted time breeds regret. Time will become more precious than money, emerging as your most valuable asset. Seize every opportunity time presents, give your best effort, and take pride in who you are.
As you embark on the next chapter of your lives, I extend my sincerest wishes for each of you to find happiness and success. I recommend the Disney film UP, where Carl’s lifelong dream was to move his house to Paradise Falls. He spent his entire life savings to achieve this dream, only to realise that the true adventure lay in the journey itself, not the destination. Embrace your adventure, and remember to savour every moment – life passes us by while we chase after grand aspirations - don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Best of luck and farewell.
Mr Saunders
Estelle Scherer 10PBl has just captained her U16 Essex Schools football team to victory in their cup final against Surrey last weekend. The team won convincingly with a score of 4-1! This is in addition to recently having joined the London City Lionesses U16 squad, an amazing achievement, well done Estelle!
KNIFE CRIME AWARENESS
On Thursday 22nd May, Essex Police attended Honywood as part of their targeted school-based programme to tackle knife crime. These efforts aim to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of carrying knives as well as provide young people with the skills and support they need to make safe choices.
We were excited today to launch a new project in conjunction with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra and Essex Music Services. Learners were selected to participate and have been loaned a musical instrument for four weeks. During this time, they will attend a workshop in school each week with the LMTO professionals and learn a piece to perform to families on the final session. We wish them the best of luck as they embark on learning their new skill!
