As we approach the beginning of our first exeat, a time for both pupils and staff to pause and reflect on the first four weeks of term, it is important also to reflect on an issue that we are all concerned about: progress. Not academic progress. That, quite rightly, gets a significant amount of attention […]
Back in January 2020, I wrote the first of our Parent Wellbeing Blogs. The purpose of this channel of communication is to enable us to work together to help your son or daughter flourish at MCM and in later life. As stated then, we want parents to be fully aware of what we are doing […]
I always feel there is a unique piquancy to these days as the long summer holiday approaches. There is a heady joy at losing the structure of the school day, the school run, the homework chasing, the music practice reminding, the sports kit washing – again. But also a slight tension as to what life […]
The ‘Inside – Out’ and Upside – Down of Helping Our Children Manage Their Emotions Recently, our very talented Shell Drama students presented their ‘Inside Out’ drama production, based on the animated Disney film about feelings. The piece, like the film, concentrates on the five emotions of: Fear; Disgust; Anger; Sadness and Joy. […]
Social Distancing. It has been one of the many pandemic era refrains running through our lives over the course of the last two years: the ideal physical distance between two people to keep them safe. Recently, I took a trip to the mall and I noticed that, among the other SOPS slowly thawing […]
When we listen, how well do we really listen? Could we listen better? What would that actually look like? Just how important is it to listen effectively and how can that help us in our daily lives? When was the last time you really felt listened to? How did this make you feel? I’m […]
A wise and much-respected character in fiction, Atticus Finch, tells his daughter Scout that ‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’ (39). While ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is set in a rural Alabama town in […]
Speaking of well-being… Malay: kesejahteraan Spanish: bienestar. Chinese: 健康快乐 French: bien-être. Japanese: 幸福で満たされている状態 German: Wohlbefinden. I first had the opportunity to learn a new language in my first year of senior school (a very long time ago!). French was the only language on offer- that made sense as the French and Scots have […]
Exam season is upon us. From internal assessments to exams that will help determine university predicted grades, without forgetting the ongoing external IGCSE and IB exams; there is a growing buzz around the College. It is natural and very normal for anxiety levels to increase during this time. As Beaks, this change of pace and […]
“Don’t grow up, it’s a trap!” is one of my favourite quotes that reminds me to embrace my inner child through adulthood. But what does that mean? The dictionary definition of ‘inner child’ is ‘“the childlike usually hidden part of a person’s personality that is characterised by playfulness, spontaneity, and creativity” (Mirriam-Webster.com). When we are […]