School Sends Uplifting Note To Students Before Test: 'There Are Many Ways Of Being Smart'

School Sends Uplifting Note To Students Before Test: 'There Are Many Ways Of Being Smart'

A school reminded its students that they are much more than just a test score.

With many of its students taking the SATs, (a UK educational assessment test that's different from the test high school students in the U.S. are familiar with), Buckton Vale Primary School in England decided to ease their worries. They sent a letter home to Year 6 students last Friday reminding them that regardless of how well they do, they are not defined by their score.

"The SATs test does not assess all of what makes each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you the way we do," the letter read. "They do not know that some of you speak two languages or that you love to sing or draw. ...There are many ways of being smart. You are smart!"

Please see letter sent home to all Year 6 today (Friday 8th May)EDIT. These words were written by Mary Ginley back in...

Posted by Buckton Vale Primary School Information on Friday, May 8, 2015

The letter which was originally written by teacher Mary Ginley back in 1999 and adapted for Buckton Vale's purposes, were shared on the school's Facebook page and quickly went viral with more than 62,000 shares on the social media site.

Though the uplifting letter has recently picked up quite a bit of steam on the Internet, this isn't the first time the letter's words have gone viral. According to the Buckton Vale's Facebook post, many schools in the past have shared the note with their students. Last year, Barrowford Primary School in England sent a version of the message home with its students. It was later shared on Twitter where it generated almost 2,000 retweets.

It's no surprise that the letter has received so much attention. Its timeless message is one that speaks to anyone who's ever taken a test.

"So while you are preparing for the test and in the midst of it all, remember that there is no way to 'test' all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU!"

Read the full Buckton Vale Primary School letter below:

Dear Year 6 pupils,

Next week you will sit your SATs tests for maths, reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation. We know how hard you have worked, but there is something very important you must know:

The SATs test does not assess all of what makes each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you the way that we do and certainly not in the way your families do.

They do not know that some of you speak two languages or that you love to sing or draw. They have not seen your natural talent for dancing or playing a musical instrument. They do not know that your friends can count on you to be there for them; that your laughter can brighten the darkest day or that your face turns red when you feel shy. They do not know that you participate in sports, wonder about the future, or sometimes help your little brother or sister after school. They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy and thoughtful and that every day you try to be your very best.

The levels you will get from this test will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything. There are many ways of being smart. You are smart! So while you are preparing for the test and in the midst of it all, remember that there is no way to "test" all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU!

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."
-- Aristotle

Sleep, Rest, Believe!

Good Luck!

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