This week, I received a message from a parent asking me to explain the significance of the King’s College badge and, in particular, the bird that stands proudly at its centre. It is heartening to see such curiosity and engagement from our parent community, and I am more than happy to shed light on the significance of our emblem.
Our school crest, which is identical to that of our sister school, King’s College UK, proudly features a pelican, a bird that has captivated the imagination of many throughout history. In various mythologies, the pelican was believed to symbolise a profound act of parental self-sacrifice, piercing its own skin with its beak to feed its young, and this act is reflected in our school badge.
Please do be reassured, however, that while this notion is symbolically powerful, it is not entirely accurate.
The reality is that pelicans, in their nurturing role as parents, collect as many fish as possible into their beaks. They then press their beaks to their chests as a means of helping them gradually push the fish they have collected into the beaks of their fledglings.
The myth of the pelican making the ultimate self-sacrifice of feeding on itself, to feed its offspring, is just that—a myth. Nevertheless, the concept of parental self-sacrifice for the well-being of one’s children is a universal and deeply resonant theme. It speaks, of course, to the experience of parents who choose a King’s College education for their young.
A parallel can indeed be drawn between the pelican’s nurturing instinct and the sacrifices that each of our parents makes for their children: our vibrant and talented pupils at King’s College.
Whether it’s shuttling them to and from musical rehearsals and drama classes, offering unwavering support with homework, or ensuring they make it to sports fixtures on time, the dedication and sacrifices that our King’s College parents make are immeasurable, and we do all we can to support them through our commitment to offering an extended school day in which so many co-curricular activities can be undertaken, not by racing from pillar to post in Doha, but all within our school grounds.
Our parents at King’s embody the essence of selflessness and commitment, mirroring the spirit of the pelican in their own unique ways. Their tireless efforts contribute significantly to the growth and development of our pupils, and for that, my colleagues and I are immensely grateful. Indeed, their sacrifices play an integral role in the success and well-being of our King’s College community.
At King’s, we strive to foster an environment in which each child can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Our partnership with parents in this journey is invaluable, and as the well-earned rest afforded to us by the Winter Holiday approaches, we hope that our pelican parents and their chicks can now take the time to rest and recuperate.
They have earned that privilege!