Coronavirus: A year on

Fundraising efforts didn’t slow down and the boarders, despite being up to thousands of miles apart, worked together on Mrs Mulready’s and Mr Copeland’s ‘Challenge 75’ and raised a generous £775 for NHS charities, undertaking a vast range of activities. George, Finn, and Stan (now 3^rd Years) ran a combined 60km in six hours and totalled over £600 for National Emergencies Trust. The annual Rainbow Run, like many other events, went virtual but that didn’t deter Truro School staff and pupils, £593 was raised by running or walking 5km for the chosen charity Children’s Hospice South West. Over the summer holidays current Upper Sixths Gracie and Sophie walked the Saints Way to raise money for Cancer Research UK, which took a hit in their donations due to Covid-19. They surpassed their target of £250 to over £700. There were many more fantastic fundraisers from the pupils, including Prep. A massive well done for all your efforts.

Sadly, we were unable to invite prospective families to Truro School on the annual open days and evenings. Nonetheless, a new plan was quickly hatched and so the open events became virtual. Live Q&As with SLT and Heads of Sixth Form and Head Boy and Head Girl allowed the opportunity for new families and students to still ask those all-important questions and discover everything Truro School has to offer. In addition, the usual concerts and performances were pre-filmed to watch from the comfort of your own home, and the Careers, Medical Pathways and Aspiring Healthcare programmes continued in full swing with guest speakers giving talks on Teams, which were also recorded.

Meanwhile the Old Truronian community were brought closer together than ever, whether they still live locally or on the other side of the world, thanks to behind-the-scene efforts from the development and alumni team. ‘Keeping Connected’ newsletters were born, containing uplifting tales of OTs helping in the pandemic, offering help and support, keeping them informed with school news, providing Mrs Taylor’s tempting recipes, and even getting them involved with lockdown challenges.

When the school grounds awakened from its hibernation a couple of weeks ago, a sense of hope and happiness filled the atmosphere as some normality was returned. At a week’s notice in January, part of the SBA was converted into a testing centre ready for school to open after the Christmas break. However, the third national lockdown was announced. When the new March 8 return to school date was confirmed, pupils were tested a full week beforehand.

This year has affected us all in a multitude of ways, and it has not been an easy ride, but the Truro School community really lived up to the school motto, ‘Esse Quam Videri’.  You were courageous. You were compassionate. You kept creative, and you stayed curious. And as the country moves tentatively out of lockdown, Truro School continues to provide academic and wellbeing support to all its pupils and staff as the post-Covid road is navigated.