Holistic Education.
I remember, when I first started on my journey as an educator, a mentor spoke to me about what makes a complete education. At a school such as Grammar, students get to experience a range of activities both inside and outside the classroom. He spoke about the importance of the arts and sport. Sport he suggested, gave the school its spirit and the arts gave it its soul. As I sat watching the Spring Concert last week I realised 30 years later that he was wrong. Seeing students from Grades 3 to 12 perform made me realise that not only does the arts provide the School a soul, but I also saw great spirit. I saw great comradery and I saw a commitment to work hard to achieve a common goal. I also saw courage. The courage to stand up in front of a room full of people as students sang, danced, and played musical instruments.
In so many aspects of society the arts are the first thing cut when budgetary constraints are felt. The first America president George Washington wrote so many years ago “to encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to this country”. I feel very fortunate to go and see our students perform in so many different venues. This week I attended the Grade 5 performance of Oliver! Jr.. As I sat watching I reflected just how incredible it was to see young students performing a musical at that age. Like so many of our performances they are the culmination of a great deal of hard work. I once read that the only place you will find success before work is in the dictionary. Over the last few weeks I have seen a culmination of a great deal of hard work manifesting in incredible performances. Such opportunities truly make for a rounded education which in turn helps produce both rounded and grounded students. Thank you to Dr Melissa Rogers and Mrs Amelia Reynolds, and their team on the Senior Campus and Mr Mark Saunders and his team on the Junior Campus for the work that they have put in to help make the magic on stage a reality. Also thankyou to Ross Marsden and Jacqueline France who shared a snippet with audiences of the upcoming Senior Campus Musical, Cats.
Finally, as we approach the weekend I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your families and for the football fans out there, enjoy the Grand Final.
Gods Blessings
Nick Foster