For Frensham Head Girl Charlotte Menzies, and Vice Head Girl Mia Horsfall, 2020 has been a year of leadership challenges and triumphs. In reflecting on their senior roles, both speak about the teamwork of the Year 12 cohort during what they describe as a period of adaptation and connection.
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"This year has been about making things as normal as possible," Charlotte said. "Although it's been a challenge, we found there was always a way to adapt the activities that meant the most to us. Sport, music, drama, boarding, all of these elements are what made our time at Frensham so memorable, and all required some form of adaptation."
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Mia agrees. "COVID-19 made us clarify what we really value," she said. "As senior leaders, we agreed early on that we wanted to give the juniors the same experience that we remember so fondly from when we were in Year 7. Our goal was to maintain school spirit and make sure it was a fun place to be."
For Charlotte and Mia, this meant working with their Year 12 peers to make decisions around event priorities, and finding alternative ways to keep everyone connected.
"We arranged care packages to be sent out while everyone was learning from home," Mia said. "Events like the Birthday Weekend were adapted to a Zoom format so that everyone could still be included. When group singing became restricted, girls were recorded individually and their voices combined for the year group song."
Equally important says Charlotte, is the personal connection with each student.
"We know every girl in the school," she said, "but it is more important than ever to check in and ask questions, to ensure no one feels left out."
"It's taught us so much about how servant leadership really works," Mia said. "How to interact with others and how you can meaningfully contribute to their wellbeing."
Charlotte and Mia are quick to acknowledge Year 12 as a whole.
"All Frensham Year 12 girls have a leadership role," Charlotte said. "We're a team, always seeking and receiving input and ideas. We're so grateful for the support we have received from our year group."
When posed the question about what they will take away from this year's leadership experience, both girls pause for a moment.
"I plan on staying connected to our year group, that's really important," Mia said. "At the beginning of COVID, we wrote a letter to the Frensham community outlining how the core values of 'Grit, Gratitude and Good Humour' could help us navigate the uncertainty ahead. Gratitude is a big thing for me. I have been so lucky to go to a school like Frensham. In future, wherever I am, I have learned to appreciate it."
"I will remember 2020 as a year when we had to adapt things," Charlotte said. "I have really enjoyed it - it's been great to have the responsibility to lead. I will walk away knowing that we did everything we could do this year. No regrets."
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