Greetings from St Bede’s.

This extraordinary year is in its second half, and in speaking to many people, they feel we are definitely still in the first half! During lockdown time seemed suspended, but that is not the case now.

The Conference Days, where almost 90% of the boys and parents attended, were deliberately timed so we can all get a message of re-setting, of making sure we realise we are in the business end of the academic year. I hope the students got a realistic picture of where they are at and what has to be done over the next two terms. For seniors particularly, there is only fourteen weeks’ more of classes, so we need to move forward with a degree of urgency.

While some events have been cancelled, others have been held over until this term. For example, St Bede’s Feast Day which we normally have in May, and this year we will finish the term with, and while some winter sports tournaments have been postponed, other regional tournaments have been organised and most winter sports’ programmes have been readjusted and will continue for the rest of the term, well into spring. Mrs King tells me too that cultural events will happen including the Variety Concert. So there has been a lot of effort to restore some of the things we do and make sure that 2020 is still a year we can remember, not only just the COVID-19 experience that stopped us from doing so much.

Mr Callum Wilson spoke at assembly this week about the new library space. He started by recounting the life and times of St Bede, the man for whom we are named, and how his scholarly endeavours were a beacon of light within the Dark Ages. Bede was a voracious reader, likely inspired by the renowned library at the Jarrow Monastery in which he lived. The final act of his life was completing a translation of the Bible into English. His life was dedicated to the acquisition and the sharing of knowledge, a passion that led to many recalling him as Bede the Scholar. The segue from this to the Library was that Mr Wilson claimed there would be no space in the College more important to Bede’s heart, than the Library.

This new library space – known as “The Library of St Bede” – is located upstairs in Brodie. With its move, came the change in how the space will be used, which Mr Wilson explained is to be for quiet study or recreational reading. The benefits of recreational reading (reading done outside of coursework requirements), were well covered and included factors such as improving reading ability, writing ability, general knowledge and performance in all subjects. Other points covered in the presentation included reference to our new highly skilled Librarian, Mrs Chrissie Walker, a reminder of the initiative running that sees students rewarded for e-mailing book reviews to Mrs Walker, and the proclamation of “Board Game Fridays” in the Library.   

Until next week,

J. G. Boyle