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NEWSLETTER – 27 September 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This past week I have been in Bogotá, Colombia on a marketing trip, meeting families of the school, prospective families and visiting a number of leading schools in the capital. I was fortunate too that my visit coincided with the 56th Round Square International Conference and I was invited to attend the opening day.
It was an extraordinarily impressive event. I had been told by Mrs Holmes it would be but seeing is believing. There must have been well over 100 different schools attending, with some having travelled over 40 hours to get there. Each were in their school uniform and some were really impressive, including a school from Pakistan who wore dark blue tunics with gold buttons and pink turbans. Don’t worry, this hasn’t inspired me to change the school uniform! What did inspire me was seeing almost 1000 young people coming together to get to know each other and to learn through the IDEALS of the Round Square.
The young people leading the conference, students of the host school, Colegio Nogales, were very capable and confident. And the five co-hosting schools had all brought student leaders who would lead the groups everyone had been placed in, over the next several days to experience activities, service and leadership.
A great deal of emphasis was placed on the conference being an opportunity to engage fully, face to face with young people from other cultures and to learn to work together for the good. In the words of international chair of the Round Square, John O’Connor, to become braver, kinder and more considerate young people.
It was in that context we heard the words of the keynote speaker, Juanita Goebertus,
Director of Human Rights Watch for the Americas, a former Fulbright Scholar at Harvard, chair of the Ideas for Peace Foundation and former Congresswoman in the Colombian parliament, she is also an alumni of the host school. She spoke about the conference theme, ‘Blooming from the Past’, the hope for the future and the very difficult journey from the civil war in Columbia to the current much more peaceful situation.
Her first question was, how do we build peace? And her answer was to start by calling things what they are. As one of the key players in working through the peace and reconciliation process, her words carried a force born of direct experience. One point which struck me deeply was when she said that every party in an armed conflict believes they are fighting a just war.
The peace process in Colombia is far from over and in the context of all the conflict we presently have in the world I had the chance to ask her what she could say that could give us hope for a more peaceful future.
She said in reply that we need to remember that many dictatorships have fallen even if, when you are living under oppression, it might seem endless. One day it will end. She also said that in any process of negotiation it is vital that each party can see that there is more to lose by not negotiating than by searching for an agreement. She said too you must have the difficult conversations and have them soon. And also to work to overcome disinformation by debating the facts, particularly with those you most disagree with and find the common ground. That ground may be very small and hard to find, but it is there.
These words, coming from someone who has worked at the heart of a peace process to end a conflict that has affected millions, were powerful and the young people in the audience heard her message.
We all have an instinct to protect our children and part of me felt surprised that such stark realities were being presented at the keynote of the conference but as I reflected on this I thought how proud Colegio Nogales must be that one of their students has lived by the IDEALS so strongly that she has dedicated her life to finding peace and hope for her fellow citizens.
As much as we wish to protect our children, we are preparing them for the real world which isn’t always kind, fair or safe. But if we prepare them with these values so that they want to lean into the challenges and play their parts in making our world kinder, fairer and safer, then we as parents and Round Square schools have done our job.
Best wishes,
Frank Thompson
Head of Windermere School
LATEST NEWS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Friday 27 September – Sixth Form BBQ
Wednesday 2 October – Year 8, 9, 10 & 12 Parents Evening (remote – for non-local parents & guardians), 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Friday 4 October – Open Day, Junior School 10:30am -12pm, Senior School 2pm – 4pm
Sunday 6 October – English Schools fell race at Giggleswick
Friday 11 October – Charity Music Concert in Kendal, organised by alumni Olivia Moore to involve groups of pupils, 6pm
STANNITE NEWS
Alumni Spotlight: Clarissa Cooper – A Creative Transformation from Blazer to Cushion!
At Windermere School, we love hearing about the incredible journeys our Stannite embark on after their time with us. This month, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on Clarissa Cooper, who has found a creative way to carry a piece of her school days with her to university.
During her time at Windermere, Clarissa proudly wore the school’s iconic stripy blue blazer—a symbol of friendship, tradition and countless memories. She started her time with us in Year 4 and finished on the Honours Board, after scoring over 40 in her IB. Now, as she begins her exciting new chapter at Edinburgh University, studying veterinary medicine, Clarissa has turned that same blazer into something even more meaningful: a cushion for her dorm room.
Not only does this unique project add a personal touch to her space, but it also serves as a constant reminder of the cherished friendships and experiences she formed during her years at Windermere.
Clarissa’s creative approach shows how the spirit of Windermere School stays with our alumni, even as they move on to new adventures. We couldn’t be prouder of her and wish her all the best as she continues her journey!
Good luck, Clarissa, and remember to keep in touch with us—your Windermere family will always be cheering you on!
Celebrating 30 Years of Friendship; written by a Windermere Stannite, Fabienne Hartley-Raistrick:
On July 30 2024, nearly 30 years after we all left Windermere School for different corners of the world, 27 of us – almost the entire year group – reunited for an unforgettable gathering at Diana Armstrong-Bruns’ family home. Diana, her husband Steven, and her mother Ceci hosted what we can only describe as the best party of the year at the fascinating Forbidden Corner in North Yorkshire.
The attraction, originally a hobby for Diana’s father, Colin, has become a maze of wonders, filled with follies, caves, and tunnels that now welcomes thousands of visitors each year. It was the perfect setting for the ladies, their children, and husbands to reconnect. And, with rare warm weather, it felt almost continental!
Although life has taken us in different directions, we’ve remained a strong group of friends. Social media has been a lifeline, keeping us connected across the years and miles.
One person who couldn’t join us, but who was very much in our hearts, is my best friend from school, Tori Bua. Tori returned to her roots in Sicily to help with her family business, but five years ago, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. The diagnosis was devastating for Tori, her husband Roberto, and their daughter Maisie, who was just 2 at the time.
Treatment has been challenging—Tori has battled through rounds of chemotherapy, and she is now undergoing immunotherapy in hopes of keeping the disease at bay. Earlier this year, it became clear that Tori needed extra support to help manage her treatment and daily life as a mother and wife. So, a few of us organised a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for domestic help, child care, and medical equipment to help her stay comfortable at home.
One of the effects of her illness has been a collapse of her spine, requiring Tori to wear a body brace. We’re hoping to help her regain enough mobility to play with Maisie and enjoy life outside the house.
In the spirit of solidarity, some of us have been visiting Tori to lift her spirits and offer support. We’ve planned regular visits, and the bond we share after 30 years is stronger than ever. It’s amazing to see how willing everyone is to hop on a plane to support their friend.
Our reunion was filled with laughter, dancing, singing, and so many great memories. We’ll be doing it again, and we hope Tori can join us next time.
In the meantime, we’re designing a “leavers’ hoodie” (yes, even at our age!) with a positive message for Tori, reminding us all that we’re Stannites Forever.
Some bonds can never be broken.
If you would like to support Tori, please use the link here.