School as a place to grow, build relationships, discover one’s talents and learn to think for oneself. On the eve of the first day of school, Secretary of State Teodoro Lonfernini addressed a message to San Marino’s students, teachers, school staff and families, underlining the central role of education in the life of the community and the need to strengthen the educational alliance between the State, schools and families.
The full message follows:
Dear students,
dear teachers,
headmasters,
school staff and dear families,
Once again this year, the ringing of the first school bell marks a new beginning. For our community, September has always represented a genuine turning point: a moment of renewal that concerns not only those who fill the classrooms every morning, but that involves families and society as a whole. The school calendar is the quiet yet essential metronome that sets the rhythm of our daily lives, our sporting, artistic and family activities, reminding us just how central education is to our community.
It would be reductive to view school — from nursery school right through to university — merely as a means of instruction or the transmission of notions. School is, first and foremost, the heart of our most authentic human relationships: the ones we carry home with us every afternoon and that we often keep close for the rest of our lives. It is the place where we define who we are and begin to imagine who we would like to become.
This is why school’s primary task is to safeguard and protect these dreams. Of course, solid cognitive and academic foundations are needed — without them, one does not get far — but it is equally essential to offer a space where the different dimensions of the individual can flourish.
As Institutions, we are working with conviction to build a school model that pays ever closer attention to the overall wellbeing of students, teachers and families. We are well aware of the concerns and challenges that parents and educators face in a world undergoing rapid and complex transformation. School must be able to keep pace with this change: it must be a safe place where young people can find their way among their own, often conflicting, emotions and find clear points of reference to navigate consciously, including in the digital world.
It is true that schools today are asked to do a great deal — at times, perhaps, even too much — but this should not alarm us. San Marino’s schools, with their history, their leadership and the people who bring them to life every day, have all the resources, sensitivity and expertise needed to be a solid guide.
My thoughts and my heartfelt thanks go, therefore, to the entire teaching staff: yours is not simply a job, but a true human and civic mission. Every day you carry out a task of the highest responsibility: transmitting knowledge, certainly, but above all recognising unspoken needs, listening to silences, and valuing the uniqueness of each student.
Alongside you, I wish to express deep gratitude to all non-teaching, administrative and support staff. Your work is often carried out quietly, behind the scenes, yet it is absolutely essential. You are the backbone that allows the complex machinery of our schools to function every day.
I extend an affectionate and heartfelt thought to families. Educating young people is a challenge that cannot be won alone. My greatest hope is that a genuine educational alliance can be strengthened between the State, schools and families — one built on mutual trust, respect for each other’s roles and constant dialogue.
Finally, to you, dear students, I extend my warmest wishes. May this new school year bring you the wonder of discovery, the value of curiosity, and great opportunities for growth, both personal and academic.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, to ask questions, to confide in others, to question what surrounds you: school is your training ground for life, your home, the place where you learn to think for yourselves.
I hope that among the adults who accompany you on this journey, you find passionate guides, attentive listeners and points of reference worthy of your expectations, your dreams and your extraordinary talents.
Happy new school year to all!
