50p
Bring out the Bruce!
Some students in Mr Collis’ AP English 11 class were “Born to Run” to Springsteen Night on November 23. Mr Collis enjoys making creative assignments for the students in his class, and the most recent one was to write a synthesis essay using a variety of Bruce Springsteen’s songs as sources.
Reading the lyrics wasn’t enough for students to get the full effect of the songs, so Mr Collis organized a night in the Killy Theatre for some staff and students to sing their own rendition of Springsteen’s songs. Springsteen Night was like the calm before the storm. It was a night full of joy before the class had to actually sit down and write a treacherous multi-sourced synthesis essay.
With Covid restrictions, Springsteen Night looked different than it has in the past. We had to gather in the Bunch in order to be more socially distanced, and some of the performers had to execute their best Bruce personas via video. Nevertheless, students excitedly marched on down into the Bunch. The entry fee was a toonie or some non-perishable food item to be donated to the food bank, but the only way you were able to get in to watch the performances was if you dressed in a Springsteen inspired outfit, which everyone did fantastically. Shirt sleeves were no longer intact, denim on denim was worn, and bandanas were pulled out.
Mr Olzewski and Mr Marshall sang their hearts out on the stage, while Ms Olzewski, Mr Collis Handford, and alumna Holly Collis Handford brought out the Bruce virtually. Chris S, Privett ‘21 was the only student to serenade the audience, and Mr Collis himself made a slideshow reminiscing his “Glory Days” in which he showed off his high school self.
Mr Collis has a deep passion for Bruce Springsteen, and has “loved Springsteen’s music ever since [he] discovered his dad’s vinyl copy of Nebraska”, which was probably many years ago. Mr Collis established Springsteen Night approximately five years ago. He comments “To my horror, my 11AP students knew as much about Buce as I do competitive flamenco dancing.” Well Mr Collis, you’d be happy to know that your 11AP students now know enough about Bruce to be able to write an entire essay on him!
Mr Collis thinks that “No one should graduate without at least once travelling down ‘Thunder Road’” and his one wish for his students is that they “graduate from Brentwood and, instead of going to Grad, just peel out of the gates in a convertible, with Mary by their side, screaming ‘Mill Bay's a town full of losers; I'm pulling out of here to win!’” Note taken, Mr Collis.
The students fully enjoyed “Dancing in the Dark” to the melodies being produced in the Bunch that night, and were left with a “Hungry Heart” for more of The Boss. Justine C, Alex ‘22, is excited that “So many students came together over a newfound shared love for Bruce.”
It was an amusing and leisurely way to spend the Monday night before an in-class essay, that’s for sure! You can always leave it to Mr Collis to bring out his Bruce once a year, and also get his 11AP students to bring out the Bruce that they didn’t know they had!
Emily N, Allard ‘22
Reading the lyrics wasn’t enough for students to get the full effect of the songs, so Mr Collis organized a night in the Killy Theatre for some staff and students to sing their own rendition of Springsteen’s songs. Springsteen Night was like the calm before the storm. It was a night full of joy before the class had to actually sit down and write a treacherous multi-sourced synthesis essay.
With Covid restrictions, Springsteen Night looked different than it has in the past. We had to gather in the Bunch in order to be more socially distanced, and some of the performers had to execute their best Bruce personas via video. Nevertheless, students excitedly marched on down into the Bunch. The entry fee was a toonie or some non-perishable food item to be donated to the food bank, but the only way you were able to get in to watch the performances was if you dressed in a Springsteen inspired outfit, which everyone did fantastically. Shirt sleeves were no longer intact, denim on denim was worn, and bandanas were pulled out.
Mr Olzewski and Mr Marshall sang their hearts out on the stage, while Ms Olzewski, Mr Collis Handford, and alumna Holly Collis Handford brought out the Bruce virtually. Chris S, Privett ‘21 was the only student to serenade the audience, and Mr Collis himself made a slideshow reminiscing his “Glory Days” in which he showed off his high school self.
Mr Collis has a deep passion for Bruce Springsteen, and has “loved Springsteen’s music ever since [he] discovered his dad’s vinyl copy of Nebraska”, which was probably many years ago. Mr Collis established Springsteen Night approximately five years ago. He comments “To my horror, my 11AP students knew as much about Buce as I do competitive flamenco dancing.” Well Mr Collis, you’d be happy to know that your 11AP students now know enough about Bruce to be able to write an entire essay on him!
Mr Collis thinks that “No one should graduate without at least once travelling down ‘Thunder Road’” and his one wish for his students is that they “graduate from Brentwood and, instead of going to Grad, just peel out of the gates in a convertible, with Mary by their side, screaming ‘Mill Bay's a town full of losers; I'm pulling out of here to win!’” Note taken, Mr Collis.
The students fully enjoyed “Dancing in the Dark” to the melodies being produced in the Bunch that night, and were left with a “Hungry Heart” for more of The Boss. Justine C, Alex ‘22, is excited that “So many students came together over a newfound shared love for Bruce.”
It was an amusing and leisurely way to spend the Monday night before an in-class essay, that’s for sure! You can always leave it to Mr Collis to bring out his Bruce once a year, and also get his 11AP students to bring out the Bruce that they didn’t know they had!
Emily N, Allard ‘22