Why we should ‘Always Be Caring’
“At Ashford Prep School, we have redefined our school behaviour code.”
If the last 12 months have taught us anything, it is the importance of caring. Across the entire country, our lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that we would never have even considered possible a year ago. The people and things that we care about have in many ways been scrambled as we have had to find new ways to communicate with each other and adapt to the new normal. Some of us may have reconsidered things that we previously thought we cared about; I wonder how many of us would trade material positions to recapture precious time lost with loved ones? However, they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I expect the past 12 months will have reaffirmed what we truly care about. It is my great hope that in emerging into a post pandemic landscape that the likely explosion of good feeling when restrictions are eased will have long-lasting effects on our psyche as a nation in the way in which we care for ourselves, others and our environment.
At Ashford Prep School, we have redefined our school behaviour code, referred to as Ashford Behaviour Code and more commonly as our ABCs, to create a new motto for all that make up our school community to hold close to their hearts; ‘Always Be Caring’. Our aim in redefining the Ashford Behaviour Code was to ensure that it was not simply a list of rules to follow, but something that could act as a moral compass in providing direction to our learners. Our ABCs, now comprise of nine behaviours that not only help our children to be great pupils, but more importantly guide on the path to being great people. Our nine ABCs are as follows:
Our ABCs are not simply about being caring in a kind way, they also encourage children to care and take pride in all that they do; always striving to aim higher and to be the best possible versions of themselves.
The world will always need more people who care; how else will we address the many challenges that exist in modern life, and those who spend their formative years at Ashford Prep School will go into the world with the motto of ‘Always Be Caring’ as part of their firm foundations.
We have been using our new ABC characters on a number of printed materials, including postcards, display boards and certificates.
