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News
If you have an umbrella you won’t need it! That old adage almost proved true today when the early-morning downpours sent staff scurrying to collect umbrellas in anticipation of over 350 grandparents onsite! Thankfully the skies cleared and the campus was on display in brilliant sunshine by the time they arrived.
It’s an eagerly awaited highlight of the Middle School calendar, when the Year 7 and 8 students invite their grandparents to see their place of learning. Today’s visitors travelled from far and wide to witness their grandchildren’s education in action. Usually welcomed to the Sports Centre Lounge, the current renovations to the Sport Centre moved the arrivals to the more spacious Year 12/13 common rooms, where they enjoyed a morning tea provided by the Parents and Friends, with support from the Year 10 Middle School student leaders.
The grandparents were officially welcomed by the Head of Middle School, Mr Duncan McQueen, and the Head of College, Mr Steve Cole. Mr Cole quipped that this morning’s guests were without doubt the best behaved group he’s spoken to in the senior common room! A grandparent himself, he identified with our visitors. He said that while many facets of education have changed over generations, having an inspiring and caring teacher remains the most important factor in a child’s success in the classroom. He thanked the guests for their commitment to their grandchildren and for coming today to observe a slice of their daily lives at Saint Kentigern.
When it was time for the students and their special guests to meet, the wide smiles and tight embraces showed the bond between the generations! The grandparents were escorted to the Elizabeth MacFarlan Centre where each class had planned a presentation. These included musical performances, speeches, examples of schoolwork and sports reports. This was followed by a quiz for the grandparents on what school was like in their day, which produced some ‘wow’ moments for the students! ‘You walked to school!’ ‘What? You rode a horse to school!’ ‘No cell phones!’ in return, there were some quizzical looks from the older generation as they were given a run down on the OLE!
A tour of the campus showed the grandparents where the students attend chapel and our other landmarks before reconvening in the Sports Centre for the Middle School assembly. The Middle School Pipes and Drums played as everyone took their seats, and there were also performances from dance classes, the Middle School Sinfonia and the Maori and Pasifika Cultural Group. A large number of performing arts participants received badges to recognise their commitment to one or more disciplines, and it was extra special for the students to have their grandparents on hand to see this acknowledgement.
Grandparents play a very special part in the lives of our students, offering not only love, support and moral guidance but, in many cases, also offering the financial resource to ensure their grandchildren have the very best education available to them. Thank you to all grandparents who came from near and far for your support to your grandchildren, families and the College.
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