We finished last week with one of the highlights of the Special Character year, the Feast of Assumption Mass and this week we finish with a highlight of the cultural year, the St Bede’s College Art Show, a major fundraiser for the PTA.

Both events are coordinated by the school, but rely on the input and generosity of our whole school community. The Art Show also showcases the new Grimes Block and what an asset to the school it has become as both a teaching and display space and event venue.

Last Sunday we hosted in the foyer of Grimes, the International Rugby Programme (IRP) prize-giving and had a chance to thank the boys and girls for their contribution to sport at the College. The programme ends this Monday with twenty three young people from around the world returning to their home countries having had a very positive experience at St Bede’s. Congratulations to Mark Ealey and his wife Miyuki for the success of this year’s programme.

This week sport has been very much to the fore with Rugby, Hockey and Football all competing in semi-finals and finals. The 1st XV match against Christchurch Boys' High School was a great spectacle and the big crowd was treated to an exciting game. Although St Bede’s were beaten 42-32, the team can look back on a highly successful season which had a haul of eight trophies either won or defended throughout the season.

The 1st XI Hockey team continued their great run with a hard fought 1-0 defeat of Christchurch Boys' High School to gain a place in the final against Timaru Boys' High School. This is on Friday night and we expect a big crowd.

The 1st XI Football team also had a very good finish to their season prior to tournament, with a win in the plate final against Lincoln High School, 7-6 on penalties. This was the second straight week this had happened. Congratulations to all the other sporting teams that had success during the last two weeks.

Fitting around all this activity has been the Exam Week for the Seniors. These exams will give a good indication of every student’s progress and will point to what they will need to do in preparation for the final exams in November. Parents will have a good opportunity to discuss these results and the overall progress of their son in the Conferencing Day coming up in a week’s time.

Just another typical Bedean week!

Until next week,

G Davidson
Deputy Rector Pastoral