Highlight of the Week

Dedicated to DofE

In my first term as the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award Coordinator at CSL, I have been amazed at the level of resilience, determination, and commitment of our students.

I am extremely proud that despite the difficulty of the year, there are 253 pupils at CSL who are currently working towards their DofE award. Even knowing that this year would be unlike any other, these pupils have seen it as a challenge that they can overcome, not a barrier or a reason to quit, but to say it has not been easy so far, and will continue to be difficult, would be an understatement. Going in and out of different stages of lockdown has meant that the Volunteering, Physical, and Skill activities that our pupils are completing have been regularly postponed and cancelled, and the expedition that ran during the Michaelmas half term had to be completely changed 48 hours before we were due to leave. Despite this, our pupils have worked harder than ever to keep themselves motivated and adapt to the latest news. Alternative Physical and Skill activities have included: jogging around their local area; completing music lessons via video calls; and learning new skills and hobbies via YouTube, such as knitting, chess and sign language. However, I am most proud of their Volunteering activities which have focussed on actively helping those in their community, especially those who are shielding. Good deeds have included: doing weekly grocery shopping; making and delivering food; walking their neighbours’ dogs; doing more chores around the house to alleviate some of their family’s stress; and giving up their time to simply virtually chat with those who are most vulnerable to help combat loneliness and improve wellbeing. I am also proud to announce that within the Michalemas term alone, 51 pupils have been awarded DofE Certificates of Achievement. These are awarded to those who, despite the challenges of completing their award during a global pandemic, have completed their allotted time for all three activity sections. This is an amazing achievement and goes to show what our pupils are capable of. It is impossible to know what the future has in store, but I do know that our pupils are ready: ready to enrich their own lives, ready to do their part to enrich the lives of others, and ready for any challenge 2021 will throw their way. Today we posted a short video which highlights what DofE at The Cathedral School has to offer, as well as the opinions of pupils who are undergoing their award. To watch, please visit https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKEOlBZAd_a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Mr Gore