Captains’ Corner | College Captain, Sam Dutton

As we know, a school is truly not a school without its students. Crowded corridors, a yard filled with boys playing handball and congested staircases brought back a sense of normality this week. 

If you peered into the grounds on Monday morning, you would have felt the energy and excitement amongst the black and the red blazers. The smell of cooking sausages and the sound of handballs bouncing on concrete brought back a sense of being at home - a second home, away from home.

Although we may be nearing the halfway mark of the term, for most boys it is as though the term has only just begun. 

Talking to teachers this week, being able to teach with students in the classroom again has been both a relief and a joy. For younger students especially, many have expressed to me their newfound appreciation for the teaching staff and the importance of face to face interaction.

The importance of this interaction is not only reserved to teachers, with boys embracing the opportunity to be face to face with mates again – truly evident on Monday morning. 

Red and black tiles were laid at main entrances to the college, with groups of Seniors welcoming boys back into the school. Tunnels of Senior boys offered fist pumps and cheers to boys laden with textbooks and instruments. The arriving students may have only been walking through onto concrete behind, but it was as if the boys were being prepped to run onto a footy field. The smiles were on full show and it was pleasing to see the joy evident on faces of returning students. 

For the Year 12 cohort, the time away from the classroom has really allowed us to appreciate what little time we have left. The atmosphere that comes from walking through the halls and the warmth of a morning smile will not be lost on us any time soon.

Have a good week and always Be the One to smile!