Since the announcement of our Queen’s death last Thursday our school, mirroring the whole country, has been adjusting to the news. On Friday morning my Vice Principals and I held an assembly with Year 7 that focused on the values our monarch modelled throughout the 70 years of her reign. This week we will be focusing on the cultural and historical significance of the monumental events unfolding and supporting our community through this period of national mourning.
King Charles III has already stated that his mother modelled a “promise with destiny kept”. As I alluded to on Friday with the newest members of our community, it was the Queen’s sense of service that defined her long reign. Such unwavering intent is rare and through decades of change and turmoil Queen Elizabeth II was a constant in all our lives, regardless of political or religious alignment.
From those who knew her best the descriptions are consistent; a humane leader with a love of tradition who also embraced change, who always sought to see the best in people and who had a sense of humour! Queen Elizabeth II was a unifier and world leaders have characterised her as “standing with the giants on the path of history”.
As we enter this week of mourning let us draw closer together in our intent to help rather than harm and aspire in all humility to serve our community and most of all to be kind. As a leading figure said of Queen Elizabeth II, hers was a life of “service untiringly done and duty faithfully fulfilled”. At Heart of England School, we add our voice of thanks to that of a nation united in its recognition of “a life well lived.”
Jacqueline Hughes-Williams
Principal