The famous African proverb it take a village to raise a child points to the fact that the parental role is part of a much bigger one. The same is true of schools and it takes a community to educate a child might be the equivalent analogy. While classroom teachers are often a focal point, our students have much to learn from our security guards, cleaners, service partners, support staff, language assistants, and each other. It would be a huge missed opportunity not to draw on these colleagues. Furthermore, we are also blessed with a teaching staff who teach a great deal simply by who they are, and what they do, way beyond their own curriculum areas.
We recognise that, and our students recognise it too; and so I was delighted by the group of High School students who have set out to document some of what usually passes unseen to outsiders. The result is this marvellous collection of stories – which simply celebrate our wonderful people across UWCSEA East. The common themes of creation and pathfinding are powerful, all the more because they simply emerged by themselves, when we merely took the time to listen. Congratulations to the East Stories team; please do take a look.
