This video is the last rehearsal

Polyfest 2019 

It was exciting but also challenging a challenge that the TAMA MAI SAGATO TOMASI (Boys from St Thomas) gladly accepted. 

Polyfest 2019 was a journey like always this year brought a new set of challenges which was no surprise. One of the first challenges was always the new faces to the group - juniors and seniors and it was my job as a leader and also my fellow year 13 leaders to make these new faces feel welcome and make them feel like they belonged because at the end of it all that’s what the Saints are all about. It’s not about being the best at Polyfest but it’s about creating a bond with our juniors and seniors that they will never forget. A journey that they will never forget not only when Polyfest is over but also when their schooling life comes to an end.

One of the other challenges that we encountered was learning our set that we had to perform on the 16th of March. This part of the journey the boys started to get frustrated because they hadn't done anything like Polyfest before. Some decided to quit because they found it too hard and some kept going even though it was challenging and it’s moments like those that really make the journey memorable. 

St Thomas runs their Polyfest kind of differently to how other schools do their ones and it’s because our tutors don’t do all the thinking. Some of our set comes from ex-students and also current students. We find that bringing everyone’s ideas in will make the performance an enjoyable one no matter how young you are in the group your idea will be valued. You can see the journey about to come to an end but you wished you could go back to the beginning so you could do it all over again. Your last days doing Polyfest make you remember all the days you’ve been working hard to make this performance one of a kind and there you are on the day of Polyfest ready to rock and roll. 

The boys are excited but also nervous. We hum our songs and the boys remind themselves what to do in specific parts of the performance. The first year performers are shaking but also excited, the tutors telling us the same thing every year. I think it’s their favourite line to say “ DON’T SPEED IT UP “! The boys nod and within a flash you’re on that stage performing hitting every beat that drums are playing. All the boys are smiling like there is no tomorrow. Sweat drips down their body and they power through like that have the best endurance in the world.

BOOM ... Polyfest 2019 is over, pictures are taken, snapchats, instagrams and photos. All the boys are trying to get the right angle so it looks like they have abs “ cough TAMA FAITOTONU cough “ 

But to end ... I’d like to thank all the tutors Asovale, Junior, Sefa, Josh and Taualai for all your efforts and most of all thank you to the families that have supported us from day one of our Polyfest journey and all the teachers ... you guys were the best.

Elisara Vaifale

Pacifica leader 2019