11 June 2021
There has been a strong sense – and running theme – of ‘coming together’ over the past couple of weeks.
I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for the commitment of staff and students, from both Walford and St Peter’s College, who made Grease The Musical such a highlight of the school year so far. I loved the large ensemble pieces in particular, clearly the result of hard work and dedication on the part of all students, and skilful direction and choreography on the part of the staff. From where I sat on the last night, just along from the technical control desk, I could see the show’s Director, Miss Georgia Brass, beaming with pride as she mouthed every word of every scene, a reflection of her dedication and support. The show had a positive energy from start to finish and was clearly as exhilarating for the cast as it was for the audience on all four nights. For many students, and for good reason, this production will be the defining moment of their educational years. Co-curricular activities, passion–fuelled and emotive as they often are, have this effect.
The farewell and send-off for the Year 10 journey offered a similar supportive message of connection and camaraderie, with the boys uniting around the challenge and shared goals that lay ahead of them in the Flinders Ranges. I must say, with the Muster on Thursday, chapel service on Friday and the Blessing of the Boots on Sunday, there was a real buzz of valedictory about these few days. The Blessing of the Boots ceremony, led by Father Theo, offered a message of both strength and love (in reference to our School Prayer) to the boys, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the foot of the steps of Old School House. It was a beautiful and fitting service to inspire the boys to take the first step of their journey and for parents to let them go (in every sense).
During National Reconciliation Week, I had the pleasure of attending the 14th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration in the University of Adelaide’s Bonython Hall, where Pat Anderson AO inspired all with her appeal for a just, fairer, kinder Australia. I was grateful for Ms Anderson’s permission to share these ideals widely and apply them broadly. At St Peter’s College, we also acknowledge diversity as a fact, inclusion as an action and belonging as the outcome. A week of awareness and responsibility concluded with our students in Muster accepting the Uluru Statement of the Heart, which can be found here.
Enjoy the long weekend.
Marcus Blackburn
Deputy Headmaster/Head of Senior School