It has been a very odd academic year, for most children in most countries in the world! And we all must remain hopeful that the end is in (relative) sight on the Covid front. In educational terms, with my recent experience in the UK / Malaysia and now China, I can vouch for the fact that school communities across the globe are yearning for a return to traditional elements of school life. Of particular importance is that we all want young people to experience all the joyful elements of education too – the participation in big school events, the abundance of sports matches, the involvement in musical and drama performances…all in addition to the rich development of their pivotal academic studies.
今年是很特殊的一个学年，对于世界各地的学生而言都很特殊。我们大家都希望疫情能够尽快结束。在教育领域就近几个月我周转于英国、马来西亚和中国之间的经历而言，我相信全球各地学校都盼望着能全面恢复正常教学。尤其是，我们都希望孩子们能尽情体验学习生活中的所有乐趣，参加学校大型活动、参加体育比赛、音乐和戏剧登台表演……这些活动都在课堂之外丰富了学习生活。
Let us all hope that we can return to that world of educational potential soon.
让我们一起期待世界各地学校都回归正常的那一天！
Although I have only been at MIS for one Term, I have been impressed by the wonderful array of opportunities open to our students. They have been fortunate in taking advantage of superb sporting facilities, as well as the great bounty of Co-Curricular activities. In all these fields our Merchiston students have been excellent and I have been especially bowled over by their commitment on the basketball court!
尽管在曼校我仅管理了一个学期，但曼校提供的顶尖学习平台让我大为惊艳。 曼校学子能享用一流的运动设施设备，也能参与丰富多彩的课外活动。 在课外活动中，曼校学子都交出了亮眼成绩单，孩子们在篮球场上的精彩表现让我格外惊喜！
Ultimately, though, good schools are judged by the academic culture they possess and by the determination of the school community to always drive forward with developing academic standards. To that end, although Covid-19 restrictions meant that we were unable to host a full Prize Winners event at the end of Term, we still wanted to commend all the academic work produced by the students. Holding individual, mini, Prize Winner events this week, by individual year groups, has been an unusual end to Term but a most rewarding one.
最后，一所好学校必须要建设优良的学风，必须让全校师生都坚定决心，朝着高水平的学术标准迈进。因此，尽管由于疫情防控限制，我们无法在期末举办全校颁奖典礼，我们仍然想表彰学生取得的所有学业成就。我们举办了小型颁奖活动，按照不同的年级分组进行，这个颁奖方式不太寻常但很有意义。
Our students deserve this recognition, and we are proud of what they have achieved. Indeed, in a similar manner we held a recent Year 13 Graduation event, and it was wonderful to applaud all that the older students have achieved in their time here and also to uphold the next steps in their careers, as they venture onto new and exciting university challenges in the UK and elsewhere.
我们的学生值得这样的嘉奖，我们也为大家的成就感到骄傲。此外，我们也以同样的方式举办了本届13年级的毕业典礼，很庆幸能够以此庆祝毕业生在曼校取得的成就， 并且鼓励毕业生走向人生的下一阶段，在英国和其他国家的知名大学迎接新的人生挑战。
The end of the academic year also brought an opportunity to refresh and revitalise our Merchiston Values, such as resilience, independence and kindness……In addition to hearing these attributes espoused in Assemblies and other forums, the MIS values were beautifully illustrated in a 24 Hour Charity Bike Ride, by Mr Mikey James (one of our Juniors’ teachers) in which he cycled non-stop around the school campus for 24 hours, raising a vast sum for our chosen Charity (Outreach). It was wonderful to behold and Mr James deserves huge credit for this undertaking & his actions represented the very best ideals of service and charity. In this he was fully supported by all parents, students and colleagues, and it was a most fitting example of a community in action.
学年末的颁奖活动也提供了一个好机会，为曼校价值观注入新鲜血液，比如适应力强，独立自主，友善待人等等，曼校价值观不仅在学校集会和论坛上频频被提及，也体现在24小时骑行慈善活动中。活动发起人是我们的小学教师Mr Mikey James。他在校内连续骑行24小时不停歇，为校内慈善组织。此活动令人叹为观止Outreach筹集了一大笔善款。Mr. James坚持不懈的精神和行为值得大家敬佩，展现了精诚服务和仁慈友爱的要义。曼校师生和家长都全力支持他的骑行活动，这是曼校凝聚力的最佳体现。
These MIS values were also epitomized by the Boarding House events in the final week of Term, with separate Houses enjoying BBQs and the chance to relax and say goodbye before the summer break.
这些曼校价值观也彰显于学期末的寄宿活动中，每栋宿舍楼都举办了烧烤聚会，在暑假前共享欢乐时光、与朋友道别。
I am already looking forward to the return of everyone associated with Merchiston, in August 2021, and we will then embark upon the next chapter of this exciting school: to emerge from the Covid-19 world with a vibrant and dynamic school community, with academic attainment at the very forefront of all our ambitions. I am very much looking forward to playing my part in this target and I have overt optimism for the path of travel ahead!
我已经开始期待大家下学期回归校园的时刻了，于2021年8月新学年开学，我们将迎来曼校激动人心的新篇章。疫情当下曼校仍然充满朝气和活力，我们拥有远大志向，力求取得最佳学术成绩。我将带领曼校勇攀高峰，我也对曼校未来的发展有十足的信心！
Thank you very much for engaging and listening to me.
非常感谢大家的倾听。
Take care and best wishes.
祝您身体健康，万事顺利
