In the time between the last newsletter and this one, boys in Years 8, 9 and 10 presented a wonderful dramatic production of Two Weeks with the Queen over four performances. The Senior School came together for the Inter-House Athletics Carnival and after spirited competition the carnival concluded in a way no other school could have emulated. House marching followed the high precision marching display from the pipes and drums before a large and highly appreciative crowd of parents and local residents. Immediately following the Athletics Carnival a group of boys rushed off to perform in the Middle Years production.
Last week we enjoyed the creative talents of a large number of boys across Music, Visual Art, Drama and Media through the daily activities organised to celebrate Arts Week. Highlights included daily art battles where boys painted a picture in a 30-minute time frame, live music performances were held each lunch-time and the Inter-House Singing competition was conducted over three days. Thursday night saw the Year 11 Drama students perform in the Foundation Theatre while in the Dickinson Centre a large audience enjoyed the film productions of the Year 9 to 12 Media students at the Director's Cut Awards Night. The standard of film was very high and the Year 11 and 12 productions left us in awe of the boys' creative and technical skills. The week ended with the Music Department's Spring Concert. This was a fitting end to a busy week that saw every boy in the Senior School sing in a choir. Many other boys performed at a lunchtime concert, performed on stage in a dramatic production, painted in an art battle, showed a short film or performed in a music ensemble.
While a wealth of opportunities and experiences surround every boy all the time, for our Year 12 boys these experiences are rapidly coming to an end. With three weeks of term remaining, the full Year 12 cohort will march to assembly only one more time. For many this will mark the end of five years of marching up to the assembly. There are no more winter or summer sports to be played and only the PSA Athletics Carnival remains. Classes are now revising work and boys are studying hard in the lead up to the final exams. It is at this time of the year that we reflect on the journey the Year 12 boys have taken and realise how important it is for boys in all year groups to seize their opportunities. These moments do not come back. The message is no different for parents. Get along to as many School events as you can. If you saw any of the events I have listed during the past week, you will appreciate the importance of enjoying each and every opportunity.
Dr Rob McEwan
Head of Senior School
