The Thursday Thought

Mr Nick Brown, Deputy Head Pastoral launched the first Thursday Thought of the academic year today via live stream to all pupils and staff at Shiplake.

The Thursday Thought was launched during lockdown for the whole Shiplake Community to listen to talks from teachers and staff about a range of topics, and to keep them connected. It was so popular that it has become a regular part of the weekly calendar this term, whilst we are still unable to meet physically in larger groups.

Each week a member of staff will be talking about a subject that is special to them. Next week Mrs Farrell, Head of Drama will be talking about the environment and the school’s eco initiatives.

Mr Brown’s talk today was about kindness.

He said: “Today I am not talking about random acts of kindness, but the inherent instinctive natural kindness that many people in our community display and which some people need to develop.

“It’s about common decency, thoughtfulness, caring, selflessness. It’s what makes you stop someone to help them, it’s what makes you ask someone if they are okay and wait for a reply, and listen intuitively.

“It quite often requires sacrifice on your part.”

He then went on to talk about a touching moment in the 2017 London Marathon. When seeing a fellow runner struggling to reach the finish line, Matthew Reece made an instinctive decision to sacrifice his own time and possibly a personal best to help David Wyeth over the line.

Kindness also brings us many benefits too. Scientist David Hamilton says being kind brings four benefits to an individual:

• Kindness makes us happier. When we do something kind for someone, we feel good. It causes elevated levels of dopamine in the brain
• Kindness is good for the heart. Acts of kindness are often accompanied by emotional warmth which produces the hormone Oxytocin in the brain
• Kindness improves relationships. We all like people who show us kindness and we feel more bonded
• Kindness is contagious. When we are kind we inspire people to be kind as well. It creates a ripple effect

Mr Brown's challenge for pupils:

• Be sensitive to others
• Judge their mood
• Check they are okay and if they are not offer to help them
• Be thoughtful and respectful
• Don’t say things you might regret

He said: "We want every person in the Shiplake Community to buy into this, and tutor groups have been asked to come up with their own ideas." 

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” Amelia Earhart, American Aviator

Remember kindness is the new norm!