As I write this week, and look out to the Northcote lawn, the traditional assembly of our summer marquee is complete ready for the approach of ‘Marquee Week’ with its variety of exhilarating events culminating in our Celebrating Badminton Day, albeit in a different form this year.
Despite these strange and prohibitive times, the buzz around campus with impassioned pupils preparing their displays and events has never felt more commemorative. Together, in person or online, our community has triumphed over the many obstacles that the pandemic year has brought, and we will certainly be celebrating the many successes of the academic year behind us over the weeks ahead.
However, the next two weeks are equally a time in which there will be a distinct and definite void in our School. In particular, our loyal and supportive parent community cannot join us to share celebrations, our alumnae and other friends of the School are unable to visit and also the presence of ‘Involved’, our passionate parent association body and their end of year Summer Party which sadly had to be cancelled despite many hours of planning. I am grateful to them for their contribution to Badminton life and to all our parents who have joined in to support us - thank you!
I have been reflecting in happiness and sorrow in equal measure as we formally bid farewell to our Upper Sixth this evening and tomorrow morning. It is incredible to think that Riana, Georgina, Amelia, Charlotte, and Lauren all joined us (13 years ago!) into Acorns Reception in 2007! And we must not forget the 19 girls who joined us in September 2019 to start their short yet remarkable Sixth Form journey with us.
We shall save our formal goodbyes to this evening and at the brunch to follow tomorrow, but I am sure the entire Badminton community will join me in congratulating you all in your resilience over the extraordinarily past year and we wish you the very best of luck in your future endeavours!
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