Headmaster's Weekly Newsletter – Week 24

Before classes start each day, Glen Faucher and I stand on the circle by the classroom block to greet our day students and staff as they arrive. It is surprisingly enjoyable, no matter the weather. However, we are not the only ones on the circle for this morning ritual. Each day, one of the School’s resident crows perches on the top of the Ted Canavan Athletic Centre and surveys all and sundry. Sailors know that a “crow’s nest” is a nautical term for a lookout platform high on the main mast of ships. There is no nest on our athletic centre, but that high point would likely have the best view in the municipality. From there, our crow can see everything from the Avon River to Ski Martock, from the Town of Windsor to the hospital and beyond.

I envy the crow and wonder what it sees and thinks about. It is easy to anthropomorphize crows, and I suspect that I give them human characteristics far too often. However, part of my job is to see things differently, to understand the big picture, to have a broad perspective, to see what is coming and make decisions accordingly. Life has its big “if this then that” type questions. COVID-19, climate change, Ukraine, mental health…these are challenging subjects for everyone, children and adults, to deal with. They affect our lives physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

This week in assembly, I re-used a slide from my Opening Day presentation. It features a picture of an oasis: a lush circle of blue water and green palm trees amidst the dry and lifeless sands of the desert. In the midst of so much uncertainty in the world, my hope is that at KES the students can know one thing for certain: here on campus, they will feel safe. People will be kind. My hope is that on this little hill of ours, we can be an oasis of kindness. Whether students live on campus, or arrive here each day by bus or car or foot, they enter knowing that they belong, that they are welcome and safe.

I don’t have a crow’s nest, but if I look into the future, it is conceivable that our Ukrainian students may not be able to return to their families in June. Today, I told them that they may consider KES their home and that their KES family would look after them for as long as needed. If they can get here, we will look after their families, their brothers and sisters as well.

Sincerely,

Joe Seagram