Good morning everyone. We have almost reached that time of year once again when our site will begin to feel a little quieter - with Upper 5 beginning study leave today and Upper 6 soon to follow. For some of you in Upper 5 and for all of you in Upper 6 this will be one of your final assemblies in this building. Take a moment to absorb the space—the beautiful designs in these historic windows and the unique acoustics as sound travels around us. You have sat here for many minutes and hours over the years, listening to countless assemblies and music making, and it is perhaps only now that you will notice how this place has been an important presence in your school life. Reflect for a moment on how the quiet moments here have impacted on you. Maya Angelou captured an essential truth when she said: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This is what truly matters in our daily interactions—not so much specific words or actions, but whether you made others feel listened to or ignored, included or excluded, uplifted or diminished. Think of those teachers who transformed your experience here, many sitting amongst you here today. You will not remember every lesson, but you will perhaps carry with you how they made you believe in your potential and sparked your curiosity. We see this same principle played out with well-known figures from the global stage. Sir David Attenborough's impact comes less from the specific facts his documentaries share about wildlife, and more from how his iconic voice and his passion connects us to our planet. In the last 3 years President Zelensky's unwavering commitment to stand with, and for, his country and his people, demonstrates true courage and what authentic leadership really is, even when facing overwhelming odds. As you venture beyond these walls, you'll interact with countless new people. While your words and actions may blur in their memories, the emotional imprint you leave will endure. During these coming weeks of exam pressure, remember that kindness creates ripples. A genuine smile or word of encouragement might provide exactly the confidence someone needs as they head into that exam they have been so worried about. Extend this same compassion to yourself. Exam season inevitably brings pressure and self-doubt, but you are more than your grades. Give yourself permission to rest, acknowledge that you have worked hard, and remember that these challenges are preparing you for even greater success ahead. Self-kindness means allowing yourself to breathe, avoiding comparison, and recognising your best effort. You can't be there for your friends if you're running on empty yourself. To emphasise this message, I share Maya Angelou's poem "Continue": My wish for you Is that you continue Continue to be who and how you are To astonish a mean world With your acts of kindness Continue to allow humour to lighten the burden Of your tender heart. Continue to let gratitude be the pillow Upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build To overcome evil and welcome good. These beautiful words remind us that kindness transforms both individuals and communities. Persistence in kindness, even amid negativity, creates lasting impact. Be the one who pays attention to what others say, to open the door, to offer a compliment. As you prepare for your next chapter remember this: how you treat people is what lives on. Real success is about your accomplishments, but not without the positive impact you can have on others along the way. We should each aim to leave this, and any other community we become part of, better than we found it. When people reflect on their time with you, may they remember not just what you said or did, but how you (in your words and actions) made them feel seen and valued. Thank you for listening and thank you for the distinct impact that each of you have had on us here at Norwich School. My very best wishes to you all.

Charities Dinner took place on Friday 25 April and was a great success with most of the L6 year group in attendance along with some of their teachers, tutors, and parents! The money raised from the Charities Dinner along with last term’s Home Clothes Day, will all go towards the chosen charity of the Lent Term: Cancer Research UK Let’s hear from Boo Harrad, our Charities Committee Chair for this year: “Very heart-warming speech, Lovely event to raise money, Excellent food and company, Grateful for the opportunity as a year group” Here are some words from the Charity representatives who joined us for the evening: What can I say? I am still beaming from Friday evening, we had the best time and you made us feel so welcome and the students were so lovely, a few came over to me and shared their own experiences of cancer with me which was so humbling. Just from the merchandise we brought with us, we raised an incredible £285.50 on the evening, which is amazing considering that was in the space of about 40 minutes. We are so grateful that CRUK was chosen as the charity of the term. Here’s a little reminder about what we heard in an assembly last term about where our money gets put to use: 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Thanks to research, the UK’s cancer survival has doubled over the last 40 years and around half of patients now survive the disease for more than 10 years. To give an idea of what the money raised pays for: £4 – A kilo of dry ice to keep delicate DNA at a safe temperature. £30 – Full personal protective equipment (PPE) for the scientists to carry out their life-saving experiments safely. £50 – Restriction enzymes, which are chemicals that act like molecular scissors to cut up long strands of DNA. These allow the scientists to find out more about the causes of cancer.

On Sunday 4 May, the Senior rowers raced at Wallingford Regatta, held at Dorney Lake on the 2000m Olympic course. The conditions were challenging with a strong cross wind but all crews handled them well. The Boys 1st VIII raced as Open and Schools, finshing in the top half of the Junior 8s, despite some last minute crew changes. The Girls 1st VIII, with seven of them being J16, raced in the J18 8s and 4s. The 1st Four missed the repechage by 0.25 second, finishing 7th overall and the 2nd Four raced well holding Bedford Girls to only a 3 second deficit. The Boys Quad had a tough heat, but learnt a lot about multi lane racing. Well done to all crews. Meanwhile, Nicholas Conway, had been selected to race for Great Britain Under 19s at Munich International Junior Regatta. With a very close race in the Coxless Four final on Saturday, the crew won a Silver Medal. They then raced the Czech Republic in an 8 in the last race of the day. A strong second 1000m saw the 8 come from a length down to win Gold. The Sunday saw the 8 racing again. With a much bigger field, Nick and his crew won their heat, setting up a final with 3 German crews, Croatia and the Czech Republic. A strong race saw the 8 win Gold by half a length to the selected German crew.  With 2 Golds and 1 Silver medal, this was a fantastic start to Nicholas’ U19 International racing