Author Archives: Damian Bacchoo

In schools, the timetable can often be the graveyard of great ideas.   How many times have you come up with a great idea that you think will transform your school?  Maybe it was something you thought would help bring the school closer to its stated mission, vision, or values?  Perhaps you have been inspiredContinue reading “Computer says no”

“I am Loki of Asgard and I am burdened with glorious purpose” First uttered by Loki in the first Avengers film, these words are the culmination of his ambition to rise to what he believes is his pre-ordained right to power.  At the risk of being a spoiler, it doesn’t end well for Loki. TheContinue reading “Our glorious purpose?”

“What grade did you get?” I hear this too often in schools.  And it pains me. The grade delusion Etched into several of my childhood core memories is the experience of being given back assignments by my teacher.  There was a familiar pattern that I recognise now.  The teacher, slowly walking around the classroom, handsContinue reading “The thief of joy”

Our leadership team has had the same conversation with staff for the last 3 weekends: Friday afternoon: “Ok, we are all set for Monday.  Thanks for the hours of planning this week to get this right…” Saturday morning: “Ah, sorry to interrupt your weekend.  New changes just announced.  New plan needed for Monday…” It feelsContinue reading “Plan early, plan twice?”

When I was growing up I wanted to work on a starship.   Science Officer or Captain – I wasn’t too fussed.  I just loved the idea of flying out into the unknown, meeting new people, and exploring strange new worlds.  Throughout my life I have always embraced leadership challenges and intentionally taken myself out ofContinue reading “To boldly go…”

Derek Sivers says that we should let pedestrians define the walkways.  Here’s his anecdote: A new college campus was built, but one thing was still debated: where in the grass should we put the paved walkways? Some people thought the walkways should go around the grass, to leave it green. Some thought the walkways shouldContinue reading “Why do we keep paving the cowpaths?”

This week, a student asked me if she could take some action to show support for a climate cause that is important to her. It involved wearing different clothes for the day and so she was asking for my permission to promote it school-wide at very short notice. If I said yes I might beContinue reading “Beware of butterflies”

6 March 2021 For home-learning last week, my little daughter was asked to research historical events about the 1st March.  It was an interesting activity that stimulated a lot of conversation at home (did you know that Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity on 1st March 1869?) and I was so pleased to see the value andContinue reading “Zero Tolerance?”

Maybe I am just over-thinking things at the moment.  Today I saw a boy sitting on his own with his hands holding his head.  He’s fed up. Stressed.  Lonely.  I don’t really know, of course, but that’s what is going through my mind.  So many people are suffering from the cumulative impact of COVID, andContinue reading “The aggregation of marginal strains”

Perseverance, NASA’s Mars Rover, successfully landed on the Red Planet this week to search for signs of ancient microbial life, and to advance the quest to explore the past habitability of Mars. Wow. I know this because my children asked to stay up well past their bedtime to watch the landing happening live on YouTube.Continue reading “Whatever happened to Goldilocks?”