Letting Go…

The Irish Blessing, tears and laughter may seem to construct the ultimate incongruous juxtaposition - but, that’s just the way a Senior farewell happens at Fairholme.

On Friday, we breathed in deeply and readied ourselves for another Valedictory Assembly. Without wanting to be morbid, there is something ‘funeral-esque’ in such an occasion: the wrench of a final goodbye and the realisation that we can hold on no more. Letting go is paradoxical: difficult but vital.

It is hard to capture this occasion in words because farewelling a cohort represents the culmination of quite an exceptional journey – one built on such diverse elements: learning, losing, achieving, missing out, frustrations and joys and every possible emotion that can be wedged in between. Some girls have spent most of their life at Fairholme, since they first donned their cute tartan shorts at age three until they walked for one last time down Palm Avenue on Friday. Others have navigated the sisterhood of the Boarding House – the sometimes-suffocating effects of mass living pitched chaotically against the precious, irreplaceable reward of lifelong friendships. The depth of connections was palpable and thus the letting go was difficult. There was a lot to grieve for and a lot to love about Friday.

That we were able to celebrate with families was special, particularly in a year when this has not been possible. And yet, having spoken to a principal colleague in London on Friday, I counted my blessings.

‘How are things?’ I enquired.

‘Only six away with COVID today, two staff, which has made it tricky,’ she replied, almost nonchalantly.

‘Masks?’ I asked.

‘Yes, all of us – it is so hard to teach whilst wearing a mask. We have to have all our windows and doors open, too, which has been interesting, particularly as it gets colder.’

At times, throughout the year, I’ve thought of Seniors in other countries whose school years simply ceased. There were no occasions to mark their departure – no special Assemblies, Dinners, Formals. They walked out of school one day, expecting to return but didn’t, couldn’t. Like the Valedictory Assembly, it is hard to put words around the pandemic landscape of 2020, and whilst we have missed out on things, moments and events, we have gained on perspective. We have been handed a lesson in what really matters, and we have all been forced to observe it – I believe our Seniors have learned it, with exceptional grace.

These Seniors of 2020 have unwittingly led their way through a pandemic and have rolled with disappointment with a resilience that we always hope to teach well, but don’t always manage. This year we have – this year they have – COVID has been an insistent teacher. Thus, as the school year closes, for me, it really is time to count my blessings rather than my frustrations, or disappointments. At this tenuous time in life across the globe, we have managed to see our Seniors out with the respect they have gained, and with the ceremony we value – jacaranda blossoms, a Junior School guard of honour, bagpipes, tartan, a mass Jump’n’Jive, The Irish Blessing, tears and laughter: a messy, spirited, delightful incongruous juxtaposition of symbolism and imagery. How lucky we are to find the letting go so difficult but the celebration so important.

We are grateful for each and all. They will always be, our girls.

Go well, Senior Leaders 2020.

Dr Linda Evans | Principal