Teachers at Trinity College have scored a surprise hit after putting together a special video of their school hymn to give pupils a message of hope during the coronavirus crisis.
Staff recorded themselves singing Do Not Be Afraid, planning to send it to students who are currently forced to have their lessons at home.
But after being posted on YouTube the video became an instant social media sensation, racking up well over 4,000 views.
The recording was the brainchild of the Ladgate Lane school’s head of music, Alastair Knox, together with head of drama Amy Myers.
“When we knew the students were going to be sent home, we made plans to ensure they could continue their lessons via Google Classroom,” explained Alastair.
“But we also put plans in place to continue the pastoral care of our pupils, so that even when they aren’t at school they are still greeted by their form tutor every morning on Google Classroom, with the idea of making it a normal school day but virtual.
“Singing a hymn is another normal part of the normal school day, so we thought it would be nice to keep that going as well.
“I made a backing track and sent it out to the staff and asked them to record themselves singing along while wearing headphones, so that everyone’s perfectly in time.”
Alastair then had to learn how to edit the contributions into a single video – and everyone agrees he did a great job.
He said: “We did it for us, for Trinity, seeing it as part of the regular pastoral material we send out every day, but social media has taken it to a much wider audience. Messages started coming in first thing in the morning and I realised it was taking off.
“I love the idea of the students seeing all the staff together at the same time. It shows that we’re all still together, we’re just not all in the same place.”
Headteacher Louise Dwyer says the video epitomises the spirit of the school and projects exactly the right message at the right time.
“As a school, we are conscious that our pupils will be missing the interaction with staff and one another,” she said.
“We are posting lots on social media so that the pupils still feel a part of our vibrant community and I’m delighted that Alastair and Amy have come up with this way of recreating the singing of a hymn, just as we do in school every day.
“Do Not Be Afraid is a school favourite and we felt that the sentiment of the hymn was perfect for the pandemic. The video demonstrates just how much our staff care about our pupils.”
Alastair is hoping to produce a new video each week and while his first set of stars took a bit of persuading, several teachers who missed out have already been in touch saying they want to take part in the next one.
Like all the 26 schools throughout Teesside and North Yorkshire that make up Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, Trinity has been open looking after the children of key workers.
Google Classroom was rolled out across the whole trust shortly before pupils were sent home, and teachers are also keeping in touch with pupils by making a weekly phone call to all parents.
