Dear All,
I have enjoyed a calm, low-key staycation during which I have delighted in exploring some of Vancouver Island’s magnificent cycle rides, always dodging showers, more showers, and for periods, torrential rain!
Since our return to school, I have enjoyed catching snippets of news of more ambitious expeditions. It seems that SMUS families and students visited quite literally dozens of destinations around the world. We were delighted to hear that our large contingent of musicians had the ‘time of a lifetime’, on their tour of Argentina. Argentina has long been on my bucket list of countries to visit. The experiences that our students savoured have only served to whet that appetite still further.
As is always the case, there is much to look forward to. The Middle School expansion and extension project continues at pace. We are most grateful for everyone’s flexibility during this vital construction phase. The gain will be worth the pain, and the gain is coming closer with every passing month.
Toward the end of last term, I was delighted to be able to say that we were nearing our ambitious total for the Annual Fund. We are so grateful to those of you who have given so generously to make this possible. The Annual Fund is often described as the ‘cream on the cake’ or the ‘the bit that makes the difference’. This fund supports so many important initiatives that would otherwise not be progressed. Almost all these projects directly improve student opportunity and experience.
As we go through the last three months of term and what is left of this academic year, we are encouraging everyone to consider a response. For several years our key message has been ‘the power of participation’. Over these next few months, we would like to increase our participation rates at all levels. Participation can be achieved irrespective of the size of a gift. We fully respect the principle of the ‘widow’s mite’. Participation, however, has a big influence on faculty morale and enthusiasm. If all those working at SMUS feel that the community is binding together in support of our collective efforts, it makes the tough jobs and burdens easier to shoulder and the successes more joyous in celebration. Next week, I shall be writing to everybody for a final time to ask you to step up and make a deliberate decision to be involved. It would be a wonderful achievement to celebrate the end of the year with an uptick in this direction.
Next week you will also be hearing from Dacia Douhabi, Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator, and our Marketing and Communications Department, about the implementation of our EDI plan. This has been long in the planning and detailed in construction. I am assured that our school will be taking deliberate steps to ensure we continue to respect all people in all circumstances. At the same time, I remain strongly committed to the principle of meritocracy, which I believe is ultimately the way of being fairest to all.
This beginning of term is my 111th as a schoolteacher and my 91st as a Head of School. Not that I’m counting! Whilst over the years I have become cautious, if not downright cynical, about ‘famous last words’, nevertheless, as I transition through so many wonderful events for the last time as Head of School at SMUS, I will be that little bit more aware of how fortunate I am to work in such a dynamic and supportive place, and just a bit more determined to suck the juice out of each event and….have some fun. I hope you will join me in that.
With very best wishes for an enjoyable and successful term, despite the busyness of our routine.
Mark Turner
Head of School
