Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Although there are still two weeks of school left in the 2024 academic year, it is natural for staff and students to be thinking about the end of the year and be planning for 2025. Year 8 students have chosen their electives for Year 9, they are busy preparing their dance for the annual Dance Battle, and they are making the adjustment to their classes and Homerooms for next year during the Headstart period.

The Dance Battle is one of the highlights of the year and requires a broad range of skills to be successful. Each Homeroom prepares a dance of 3 – 4 minutes, and then each Homeroom performs their dance on Wednesday 4 December during Periods 4 and 5. Students are in control of the entire process:  the choreography, the music, costumes and any backdrops needed.

During the preparation process the Year 8 students needed to work together, manage conflict and communicate clearly – essential skills for success now and in later life. Teamwork is an essential part of a successful Dance Battle performance, and to quote Ray Kroc (founder of the McDonald’s franchise): “None of us is as good as all of us.” Wise words indeed!

It is essential that we mark the end of the year fully and appropriately. Transitions can be times of loss as well as opportunities. Although it’s exciting to be moving into the Kildare Centre, there may be a loss of the identity built up in the Year 8 Homeroom and the relationships built throughout the year. Some students will feel vulnerable about this process and will require reassurance from their teachers, friends and family. Their teachers have seen them at the best they have been, and the best they have achieved during the year, and hopefully they can celebrate and feel good about what they accomplished in 2024.

Whatever happens, they can start to prepare for a well-earned break, and start to plan for the wonderful opportunities that await them in Year 9 in 2025. No doubt the families of Year 8 have earned a break also, and we ask for God’s blessing upon them during the Christmas season.

Bill Fitzsimons

Level Leader: Year 8