Over the next few days, we are observing and celebrating World Space Week at Wetherby-Pembridge. Officially, this falls on 4th to 10th October annually and it is the largest space event on Earth. More than 5,000 events in over 80 countries celebrated the theme “Space Unites the World” in 2018. This year, the 2019 theme is “The Moon: Gateway to the Stars.” On 6th December 1999, The General Assembly declared 4th to 10th October as World Space Week to celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.
Space exploration has always intrigued me. Its ability to promote a mindset of the ‘impossible, made possible’, its discoveries that raise wonder and fascination and its marked challenges that require the very best in knowledge, skills and research. The world beyond inspires us all to be part of something bigger, to keep excelling with humility and tenacity, knowing there is far more to conquer and understand.
I have been reading about the goals of this designated week of space celebration and there are six clear intentions behind this global event: to provide unique leverage in space outreach and education; to educate people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space; to encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development; to demonstrate public support for space programmes; to excite young people about science, technology, engineering, and maths and finally, to foster international cooperation in space outreach and education.
With our deep commitment at WPNY to global citizenship, this themed week takes this lofty school aim to the next level. Connecting our planet with the rest of the solar system, helps our children to understand how fragile and important their home is. Your child’s imagination is as limitless as the universe is large and can inspire undiscovered creativity and talent hidden deep within. As parents and educators, studying the topic of space gives everyone incentives to preserve and respect our natural resources. Breaking through into space travel, man leaving earth and defeating gravity, taking steps on the moon, and various other achievements were pivotal moments in human cultural development. This should be marked and celebrated, as it offers the children in our care a true sense of stewardship and possibility.
At school and home, we are always asking the same united question – ‘how do we raise children who love to learn?’ We strive to encourage curiosity, inquisitiveness and a passion for knowledge. As I look back to my own childhood and to those pivotal moments when I felt most inspired and alive in learning, most revolve around my ‘shared experiences’. Spending time with family and friends at museums, galleries, theaters, planetariums, interactive workshops and experiencing that alongside my parents and brother seemed to have made the most impact on me. We discovered together and built memories together and a healthy respect that we never stop learning and that the best way was to form a partnership and do this together.
As we embark on World Space Week over the next few days, I hope this can inspire us all to step outside our normal routines and marvel at how far we have come, the possibility of the road and journey ahead and what we can achieve together when we ‘think outside the box’ and push the limits.
