I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Greetings to the Principals, Staff, Students and Parents of Somerville Schools!

The year 2020-21 will be remembered by all of us for being a year of unprecedented challenges. The nation promised that it would comply with instructions and follow the norms of social distancing, wearing of masks and stepping out only for emergencies. Hospital and health workers got ready for what was to be the worst pandemic in modern times.

Schools were to remain closed till further notice. Online classes were to commence as soon as possible. ‘Online Classes’, the very term was daunting for School Managements and teaching staff, parents and students. Somerville Schools got into action, consulted with IT professionals, got their Computer Departments to begin working immediately on the modalities. But, was every teacher capable of delivering online classes? Did each teacher have a smart-phone or laptop? Did every student have devices to enable them to attend these classes? How was it all going to work? These doubts had to be cleared. At first it looked like a steep mountain to be climbed, but it had to be done and it had to function smoothly.

The great Benjamin Disraeli said, “There is no education like adversity.”

How right he was! The challenge was accepted. The classes began. There was a lot of hand-holding as many teachers learnt from their colleagues what this new way of teaching was all about. Collaboration and Commitment made the process work. For this, I must thank and congratulate all our Principals and teachers for their good work and admirable efforts to ensure that classes went on, in spite of it all.

Think about it. Not only was the staff doing something new, their domestic situations were extremely stressful. Jobs had been lost, husbands and wives were working from home, children were also at home and needed to be supervised. To add to it, multiple devices were needed in a single home for work and study. The first two months were particularly taxing as there were shortages of essential items and lack of domestic help. Another grave problem was connectivity as everything depended upon the internet which was overloaded as lakhs of people and especially students depended upon internet connectivity to do their jobs or attend classes. But our staff, students and parents rose above it all and showed that it could be done, for nothing is impossible if we tell ourselves that we can do it and do it well.

We thank God for being with us all through these trying times. He guided us, made us strong, blessed us and helped us to find the way forward in spite of the many big and small problems that we had to deal with on a daily basis.

Remember, it is not over as there is still much to be achieved. We ask for your continued cooperation as we must work together to be successful in all our endeavours. Please say a prayer for normalcy to return soon. Be careful, stay well and stay safe.

D A Tressler Chairperson & Director, Somerville Schools Lott Carey Baptist Mission in India