Volume: 5 Issue: 27

A young student wrote me this week with the following message: “In order to be a successful student, I have to be brave enough to try new things and challenges. I should face difficulties confidently instead of trying to escape from them.” I love this. It is a recipe for success in school and in life. Avoidance of new things and challenges is the easy road. Being brave and confident is hard, but these qualities are necessary when the path is challenging.

This week has seen craftsmanship and the arts take centre stage. Not just with preparations for the Junior School Musical, but in carpentry and visual art. A section of the Dining Hall has been cordoned off as a master carpenter is installing a custom cabinet which will celebrate the life of alumnus Major Jim Wilcox and the 254 Cadet Corp. Hand cut and custom designed to fit our Colours and house our many cadet awards, this cabinet will be revealed at the Cadet Mess Dinner on Tuesday night. The pictures attached to this newsletter provide a sneak peak. It is a work of art.

Ms. Stewart and her art students are busy painting the set for The Music Man as well as an installation at the top of the stairs leading into the Senior Classroom Block. The large murals are already striking, but unlike the backdrop for the musical, the Tom Thomson painting will last for generations (as will the Wilcox Memorial Cabinet).

I can hardly wait to see the end product of all these creations: the play, the cabinet, the painting. It is a delightful stage of anticipation. All will be revealed in the days and weeks ahead. It does indeed take courage to step up on stage, and it takes confidence to create works of art. We are fortunate to be surrounded by those who have both qualities.

Week 27 24 Images