Northampton High School GDST: Remembering Together

To remember is to be able to ‘bring to one’s mind an awareness of someone or something from the past’. This act of remembrance is a potent force, capable of evoking both happy and sad memories. Arguably it is our particular set of memories that make us uniquely who we are, filled with the people and experiences that have shaped and defined us. Remembrance, therefore, encompasses thanksgiving for the good things, a sadness for those things over which we had no control, and reflection on the mistakes we must strive not to repeat.

All these aspects of remembrance are present as we mark Armistice Day, the day on which, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the conflict of the First World War came to an end. Many will wear poppies and observe the two minutes silence. This act of remembrance is special in that it is a collective act of remembrance marked by the whole nation and etched into our identity.

Though the First World War has now faded from living memory, the importance of remembering the sacrifices made in that war is paramount, as we are reminded, “Lest we forget”. Sadly, it was not the war to end all wars, as others have followed, and some continue even today. While thankfully many of us will never know what it means to be in combat firsthand, we are the beneficiaries of those who did. There are few, if any, families who will not have been touched by the effects of war in their family histories. So, this week, we remember, because it is our duty and failing to do so risks the repetition of history’s gravest mistakes. We pause to honour those affected by past and present conflicts, and we hold in our hearts a hope for true and lasting peace in our world’s troubled places.

Being part of the school community is a blessing as this second half of autumn term although busy and may feel like, at times, a whirlwind, it is also teeming with excitement, adventure and joy for both students and parents. There is much to look forward to, including our ever-popular annual Christmas Fayre brimming with festive attractions, Senior School House Plays which stands as the grandest house event of the school year, and the Christmas concert, a spectacular finale to the term. Amidst the busyness, we know how much our students really do love this time of year at school.

As we begin the march towards the end of the calendar year, we look forward to welcoming you into school for some, if not all, of these special occasions, and to sharing moments with your daughter that will last a lifetime. Then in the years that follow, you can reminisce and remember the joy, connection and community spirit that define this remarkable season.

Dr May Lee
Head