THE SCHOOL YEAR
Amy Thompson Review of 2020-21 by LAS Head Prefect
I
am lucky enough to have both a historical and a present connection at Loughborough Amherst School as my Mum, Aunties and Uncles attended the schools within the Foundation and now my brothers, cousins and I are following in their footsteps- making it a very cherished place for my family. However, the beginning of my journey at Loughborough Amherst School was different to most. I started at the end of Year 8 just two days after my family and I had moved here from Australia. Unfortunately, the change in climate was not all I had to get used to. Academically, I was a year and a half behind my peers, I had to break into established social groups and the netball team was full - so not the easiest of starts. However, the small class sizes and the dedicated teachers suited me perfectly and although the climate was a little chilly, a warm welcome was given to me by students and staff and I definitely knew that my journey ahead would not be a lonely one. 2020-2021, a year where face to face learning was replaced with Teams meetings and Zoom calls, whole school assemblies replaced with year group bubbles and smiling
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The Pelican
faces were covered by masks. But regardless, Amherst was doing what it has always done. Amherst was continuing to teach us how to live, learn and grow. Every day, students at Amherst are supported, encouraged, challenged, praised, corrected, enlightened, celebrated. This didn’t change – these acts continued because we are Amherst. Every student should be extremely proud for not just surviving the past 15 months, but for smashing it out of the park as it has been a collective effort of hearts and minds that has meant Amherst remains a place of learning, growth and enrichment. This year has been full of some amazing activities and events including our very successful HelloYellow day (showing our support for young people dealing with mental health challenges), reopening of sports clubs, lunchtime dance competitions, staff /student Christmas nativity, lockdown challenges, World Book Day, the Easter Lockdown Live concert, our annual Burton Services, sports days and many more. One of my personal favourites was our Year 13 Leavers’ Week - from jumping off inflatable obstacles at Rutland water, to our school sleepover and singing in the Chapel at 12am, to the
unforgettable leavers’ meal. I would like thank Dr Murphy for how he has steered Amherst over the past few months. He set our course and helped us believe we could continue to succeed. We really couldn’t have asked more of our Headmaster in such unprecedented times. And a massive thank you to all the teachers - this year we have truly learnt the importance of their guidance and support, perhaps before too easily taken for granted and undervalued. I hope I speak for all students at Amherst, when I say that, in a year where many of our plans have been replaced with uncertainty, the spirit we have learned at Amherst offers us reassurance in knowing that despite even the greatest challenges, we can go on to achieve great things and carve out our own path in an everchanging world. I will be forever grateful to Amherst for shaping me into the confident, ambitious and resilient person I am becoming. I will miss the undeniable community spirit that radiates from our students, teachers and the Sisters and I am extremely grateful for my time spent at Amherst with an amazing group of friends and teachers.
