As you will know, today, the 23rd March, is the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown, and I wanted to let you know what we are doing in school to mark the occasion. Today we are joining the National Day of Reflection (led by Marie Curie) to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future

Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved.

We have come a long way in a year to fight the virus. Coronavirus vaccines have been developed from scratch, with around 25 million people in the UK having now received a first dose. In many ways we have come together, as families, as schools, as communities… but it is estimated that 4 in every 10 adults have lost someone close to them in the past year.

Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind.

This special day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we’re facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.

We will be holding a special brief assembly at 9:20 and we invite you all to join us in the one minute of silence at 12 noon. 

Children will be taking part in some reflective activities and mindful colouring during the day. We hope to send some cards of the flower designs that the children have decorated to local care homes.

During the day, children will take part in tying yellow ribbons to the school fence. We will use 126 ribbons, to represent the more than 126,000 lives lost so far.

At 8pm Marie Curie are holding a minute’s silence and asking everyone to come together to light up the night. Stand outside with a light – a candle, a torch, even your phone – to remember someone who’s died and show your support to people going through a bereavement. Alternatively you can shine a light in your window for everyone to see. 

Overall, we hope that this will be a valuable experience for the children. We will keep the atmosphere reflective, calm, but positive and hopeful as we look to the future together, and think about how we can care for and help others at this difficult time.

With many thanks for your support,

Mike Pincombe

Headteacher