Academic Fair 2022

By Principal David Gray

Saturday morning proved to be a very busy one with the Academic Fair taking place in the Dobbing Hall and in the Covered Play Ground for students from Grades 5 to Grade 12.  I did not count all the projects and displays, but I reckon that there were more than we ever had before and certainly there were far more people in attendance than I have ever seen before.  The place was completely mobbed with students, parents and staff and it was a joy to see the interest, excitement, enthusiasm and commitment of all the students in what they were doing.  I was completely exhausted by the end of the morning, since students and parents wanted me to visit every single stand which I indeed did do and in fact some remained right to the very end just so I could go and see them and hear what they had to say.  I was massively impressed by students’ enthusiasm for their own projects which were mathematical, scientific, artistic, linguistic, cultural, financial etc..    and indeed some students brought along projects for departments which were not represented which showed the level of their commitment and their enthusiasm.  The students who talked to me, whether they were 9 years old or 18 years old, were all highly articulate, lucid and impassioned about their projects. There was such a variety that I could not possibly name them all, but the idea of solar panels did feature in many of them, quite independent of each other, amongst children of all ages.  Another theme that was recurrent and which I was pleased to see, was the importance of women’s rights for a juster and fairer society  for the future. There were also two projects, one featuring cures for blindness, and the other on neurology which I thought were fascinating and were both led by students in Grade 6.

I am very grateful indeed to Asaad El Helou for overseeing, directing, coordinating and managing the academic fair which is a not  insubstantial responsibility, for all those who helped set it up and made sure that projects were where they should be in good time, and to all  Heads of department, subject coordinators and subject teachers  who attended, encouraged the students in their work and guided and directed them in their projects.  It was a busy morning and one which was full of excitement and had that sense of return to normality to which we all have looked forward for a very long time. 

Please click HERE for a complete set of event photos, and HERE for the Facebook selection.