2020, who could have forecast accurately apart from Nostradamus, as we started our school year off on 29 January on how it would pan-out for the year. We welcomed Rhys (basketball star) and Ryan (rugby star) year 7, Dutch year 9 into our form and started the year off with a video clip on how to make your bed.

Athletic and swimming sports occurred with Joyce House doing extremely well, Year 9 camp completed and then the impact of the Corona virus loomed large over our heads. Bradley broke his ankle in a motor bike race, slowing him down for the year, Kristian becoming ill.

That word lock-down became familiar, on-line learning a reality, school holidays early and then Mr. Taylor calling us in the morning through a video link informing us of what was happening and giving us the news of the day. At first, everyone logged in and as the weeks went by, images of the boy’s in their pajamas and in bed crept in, we were over it.

We had to consolidate our learning and we as senior students had some urgency to get our credits and grades early. The pressure was on but Mr. Taylor supported us and most of us achieved our goals. Ollie stepped up running form class and texting through absent students to Mr. T.

Monday mornings allowed the boy’s to de-brief their weekend sporting results, with some losing streaks mainly from the soccer and hockey boy’s becoming a familiar theme, although rugby did shine through the exploits of Sanele, Ollie and Ryan and Jack with his fishing and hunting exploits. Jayden still king of the video games along with Rad and Dutch and Jacob with his laconic dry sense of humour made form time interesting.

Connor Briggs year 13 departed St Thomas’s, off to design school along with Josh Hill. Our mentor group congratulates Paolo Guese on becoming Philippino College Leader for 2021.

Josiah Waho & Ollie Pratt.