Advent: A season of hope and reflection

We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.
Alan Turing

As the days grow shorter and the mornings colder, we find ourselves entering the season of Advent - a time of anticipation, reflection, and hope. In schools and homes alike, Advent invites us to pause amid the busyness and prepare our hearts as well as our minds. Last weekend the choristers and choral scholars took part in the Advent services – ‘Darkness into Light’. These involve the cathedral starting in darkness and anticipation and gradually hundreds of candles are lit as the choir process and sing the beautiful music of the advent season.

For children, Advent can be a deeply formative time. It teaches patience, gratitude, and an appreciation for the unseen joys of waiting. Psychologists have noted that anticipation itself can heighten happiness - what researcher Dr Amit Kumar calls “the joy of looking forward.” By slowing down and reflecting, we help our children understand that not all rewards are instant, and that meaning often grows from preparation and purpose.

At school, our Advent assemblies and reflections encourage pupils to think about how they can bring light to others through kindness, forgiveness, and generosity. These small acts are expressions of hope - tangible reminders that every person can make a difference.

As families, you might mark Advent with simple traditions: lighting candles, sharing stories, or discussing one good deed each day. Such rituals connect children to the rhythm of the season and provide moments of calm amid the Christmas excitement.

Advent reminds us that education, too, is about growth that unfolds over time. Each lesson, conversation, and challenge is part of a larger journey of development. As we approach the end of term, I hope we all find time to reflect on how far our children have come and to look ahead with optimism to the memorable school Christmas events before the end of term and the year beyond.

Inservi Deo et laetare