Remarkable things happen when you combine students who are passionate, committed, and willing to take a risk with teachers who are equally passionate, committed, and ready to support their students! This was definitely the case with today’s two amazing performances of High School Musical by our Middle School students.
MS Principal Peter Casey could not have been more accurate when he told us before the show, “I think you will be quite amazed by what our students have been able to accomplish in such a short time”. With only eight full-cast rehearsal blocks and one full day of rehearsal, the team, cast, and crew did an outstanding job. As always, was so impressed with the talent of our students and so grateful to our teachers for the energy and time they put into making milestones like this happen. Special recognition also to our HS students who supported our performers both on and off stage – it truly was a team effort. I intentionally use the word milestone because today’s performances really did represent a milestone in the learning journey of our students. It took a lot of self-belief, passion, and the willingness for them to take a calculated risk in front of peers, all of which are hugely important learning experiences that, like the memory of taking part itself, will last a lifetime.
Our role as educators is not only to provide opportunities such as this for students to explore their passions and try something new but also to create a supportive and nurturing environment where they feel comfortable and confident doing so. The audience also plays an important role in doing this and it was a joy to see the engagement and support of their peers during the performances. Due to Ministry of Education SOPs, we were sadly not permitted to allow parents to attend, however, we did, of course, record the event and will be sharing the link soon so you can enjoy seeing our MS students in action.
Earlier in the week, our Grade 9 and 10 PRAXIS students reached a major milestone when they completed their latest BluePrint (a 6-8 week project module). In undertaking a PRAXIS BluePrint challenge, students explore ways to make a positive difference in the world by tackling a real-world challenge and using a design thinking process model that involves research, exploration, problem-solving, and collaboration. At this week’s Grade 9 learning celebration, students presented their designs for eco-friendly products and services based on circular economy principles and Grade 10 students completed an art installation representing their understanding of the refugee experience. Again, I was deeply impressed by the talent, passion, and commitment our students demonstrated.
In partnership
Rami Madani
Head of School
