An eventful and turbulent year, as it touched our school as well as its impacts on the larger world, is now slowly coming to a close.
Hopefully, somewhat quieter, more tranquil days lie before us, time for us to reflect on the old year, to recall the good times – and the not-so-good times – and just possibly to learn from them what our own contribution was, what I could have done differently or perhaps better?
This applies both to the private and the professional spheres, indeed to anything within our view. We watch the political and ethical happenings around the world with a certain helplessness and even fear. Each day brings ever more rapidly news of the misunderstandings, catastrophes, and injustices of this world.
Naturally, any school is inclined to view the future optimistically, anything else would threaten its reason for being, and this is especially so for an international school like the Nelson Mandela School! It is simply not possible for us to give in to helplessness, and instead we look forward – in keeping with the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s life – to an even better and more magical year for our students and our school. The creativity, the wealth of ideas, and a good dose of out-of-the-box thinking, which I, as the new Director, have observed in our school community in just a few short weeks – whether from students or teachers or parents – permits me to understand my hope as fully justified. And thus, any faintness of heart is quickly transformed into the loud, colorful and creative vitality, which reigns supreme throughout our school buildings.
So, let us together put this creative vitality to good use in molding the life of our school and also in dealing positively with all those other things out there. I am happy to be allowed to be a part of all this.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year 2017!
Yours, with all my heart,
Gerald Miebs