Weekly Message from the Principal - Appreciate real beauty and kindness

Joshua Bell, one of the best concert violinist in the world played for free, for 45 minutes, on a violin worth 3.5 million dollars at a subway station. Over a thousand people passed by Bell, only seven stopped to listen him play, including a 3-year old boy, and only one person recognized him.

Mr. Cormac McAleer wrote about this particular YouTube clip last year and his sentiment still rings true in that we must take the time to stop and listen, watch, reflect and even comment on the kindness, beauty and talent that surrounds us every day. When you look at the clip one lady in particular (carrying a white plastic bag) stops in the middle of the subway in Washington D.C. and listens intently to the magnificent music being played.

When I watched the video parallels between this lady and our two inspectors became apparent because I know these two ladies (Ms. Anne O’Sullivan and Ms. Anne Feerick) have worked extremely hard this week in trying to make certain that all classes are covered and that our holistic approach to education beginning sometimes at 7.45am is viewed. Many kilometres and tens of thousands of steps have been covered by both ladies this week to ensure that all aspects of our timetable have been covered.

The one constant message coming from the ladies is how talented, well-behaved, mannerly and confident all 626 boys are within Willow Park Junior school and this fills me with genuine pride. However, there is a lot of hard work behind the way our boys behave within the school. Firstly, I feel that the supportive, open relationship between the parents and teachers through the Form Programme evenings, monthly progress reports, homework diaries contributes to the excellent communication between home and school. Secondly, I feel the way all staff within the Junior school genuinely nurture the talents and creativity of the boys ensures that each boy achieves success and in response they are happy and excited coming to school – thirsty for new knowledge and experiences.

Therefore, I must thank all staff, especially this week, for the professional, caring, hard-working way they have performed their jobs in putting the needs and holistic education of all boys in the Junior school first.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh! Go n-éirí libh Ms. O’Sullivan agus Ms. Feerick.