As we move into the third year of the pandemic, we are faced with a desire to function as normal, pretend everything is ok and focus on what matters. In the context of schools that is education, updating our technology and improving student achievement through progressive practice. In 2020, during the first shutdown, running our school from home, surrounded by the beginnings of a global pandemic, where vaccinations were only on the horizon, our school climate revolved around keeping things going, upskilling our staff and managing the anxiety and fear of a virus that was killing people. It was a scary period and we held on to our family and work connections as bonds of support and sanity. A Harvard report at the time stated that the pandemic cycle could go on for five years. The year 2021 certainly brought more hope and normality as Verdala International School (VIS), like many schools, managed to remain open with only eight sporadic student cases. Staff got vaccinated and we felt more calm. We were able to manage our social distancing at VIS, cover the school in perspex and we got used to wearing masks and making lots of videos. We zoomed in parents to presentations and held our...