Rejoice
Mrs Janet Stewart | stewartj@mbc.qld.edu.au
The magnificent cast of our musical, The Wiz, sang,
Everybody look around
'Cause there's a reason to rejoice you see
And there is certainly a host of reasons for the community of MBC to ‘rejoice’ at the end of Term 2, for if we ‘look around’ there is much to celebrate and be joyful about.
The Wiz was an exceptional production; the talent on display was breathtaking. From vocal performances, to dance performances, to music performances, we were enthralled and entertained by our students. The culmination of two terms of hard work, The Wiz lived up to all our expectations and then some!
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Dance, Music and Drama staff, support staff, actors, singers, musicians, costume and makeup artists, technical crew and the MBC Parents Support Group for their energy and enthusiasm for the rehearsal and production process. In particular, I would like to thank the Director: Emma Pattemore, Co-Director: Kathrine Lloyd, Producer/Choreography: Kate Fitzgerald, Costumes/Choreography: Hannah Bliss, Musical Director: Ben Langford, Voice Coach: Susan Ellis, Voice Coach: Jenna Maree Woodforth, French Horn: Melissa Barnes, Stage Manager: Robynne Schmidt, Backstage Managers: Jessica Robertson and Jana Barnier, Dressing Room Supervisors: Andrew Holmes, Damien Murtagh and Paul Dack. Their shared commitment enabled the cast, orchestra, and crew to share in a memorable experience where skills were honed, and relationships forged.
The talents of our musicians were also on display last Friday evening when our Rock Bands performed at the contemporary concert at MBBC. We were entertained by 4 bands who offered a variety of vocal and instrumental styles – from the heavy rock of Van Halen and Powder Finger to the soulful melodies of Aretha Franklin. It was a wonderful night; the lighting and tech crew helped to create a visually stunning set and the atmosphere was electric.
Similarly, there were many reasons to rejoice in the Primary school when two teams from Year 5 and 6 participated in the Da Vinci Decathlon. The Year 6 team came third in a tough competition and the Year 5 team secured first place, becoming State Champions. I attended a celebratory lunch last Monday and there was indeed much rejoicing, but also some deep reflection on the team’s tactics for next year’s competition! Then, last Friday the Primary girls’ football teams took on the chill of Toowoomba for their Andrew’s Cup event. Their results certainly brought much celebrating with the A Grade Team taking out 2nd place and our B Grade Team first place, winning their competition.
Our Secondary Readers’ Cup teams also rejoiced when they secured victory in their competition last week at Ormiston College. Their hard work and preparations were richly rewarded with the Year 7 and Year 8 teams coming 1st and 3rd respectively. The Year 7 winning team will now compete at the State Finals later in the year.
Camps have also given the girls much to be joyful about. The Year 3s tackled the challenges of activities at Kindilan with great confidence and in a busy week, visited Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and have become quite the wildlife experts! The Year 11s have also had a challenging week as they pondered their legacy during the Year 11 Leadership Retreat at Alexandra Headlands. I was privileged to work with them on Tuesday while engaged in a preparatory incursion with Peer Power. It was exciting to hear their hopes and ideas about leadership and observe how, through collaboration and trust, they began to create a legacy for their Senior year.
Then there has been the joy that is the Inter-house Athletics carnivals. Girls in P- 3, Years 4-6 and Years 7- 12 have demonstrated incredible courage and skill – not to mention House pride – as they ran, hurdled, threw, and jumped for their House, gaining points and ribbons, and having lots of colourful fun for the House competition. At these events it has been fabulous to welcome parents to share in the palpable spirit and fun, as the girls participated with such energy and passion in these fabulous community events.
Re-connecting with parents has been another reason to rejoice this term, and the Parents and Friends’ Association High Tea was one such occasion when parents and friends and staff came together with a shared purpose. Nearly 300 attended this beautifully styled event at Victoria Park to raise funds for College projects. The united efforts of the P & F Management Committee and the High Tea team of Anna Zerner and Jasmine Butler ensured an afternoon of fun and friendraising; we are indebted to them for their hard work and commitment to the College.
Raising funds was also the focus of the Darkness to Daylight initiative in Secondary. This event aimed to raise community awareness and money to help prevent domestic and family violence. In the very early hours of Monday 31 May, nearly 50 of our girls and staff ran 10kms and walked 3kms in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, raising over $11,000 for this significant social issue. Importantly, not only did the girls and their supporters have fun participating in D2D, but they engaged in conversations about the experience and the crucial meaning of their involvement. We surely must rejoice that we have young people in our College who are compassionate and selfless and are so willing to support and care for others suffering the hell of domestic violence.
Moreover, the last two weeks of Term 2 have furthered our reconciliation action plan (RAP) journey as we engaged in the final two weaving workshops as part of our 120 years Founders’ Day celebrations! Fibre artists and Ngugi women from Quandamooka people, Sonja and Leecee Carmichael worked with students across primary and secondary and their mothers, grandmothers, staff and old girls to share their art of weaving and encourage our connection with place, people and objects through story telling. Excitingly, these woven creations will contribute to the larger cyanotype artwork project which will be revealed at the Evening of Art on Monday 26 July.
Everybody look around …there is so much of which to be proud in this vibrant and connected College community. As we take a breath and pause over the term break, rejoice in the many opportunities the girls, staff and parents have been blessed to engage with this semester.
Stay well and, if travelling, travel safely.