50p
Final Days in Privett House
The final week of the 2021-22 school year has now arrived. Along with the school’s schedule and closing events, each house has their own set of unique traditions for the conclusion of the school year. The bonds and friendships which form within the boarding houses are very special, and saying goodbye proves to be a very difficult task each and every year.
Some common signs of the year coming to an end include the grade barbeques with Mr Patel, the Internal Awards Ceremony, Interhouse Track, and the start of final exams. In the houses, however, the year’s end is more closely associated with the start of year-end room cleaning, the Grade 12’s barbeque and a few special house meetings.
In Privett House, many of the long-standing traditions revolve around the graduating members of the house and giving them a touching goodbye. Privett Assistant Houseparent, Ms Wolinsky says, “These traditions are really important in the sense that all the boys who have graduated from Privett House are connected to the house, and to one another, through these special moments”.
One special tradition in Privett is the departing speeches that the Grade 11s give for each Grade 12 student. After sorting out who will speak to which senior, the Grade 11s put a great deal of time and effort into making it a deep and meaningful farewell. These speeches, without fail, bring back lots of great memories, inside jokes, laughter, and often tears.
Another tradition includes a house barbeque on the final night where, weather permitting, the students all enjoy the evening playing games on the field and meeting up for a final steak dinner. This, along with the earlier Grade 12s barbeque, are great opportunities to enjoy the last opportunities to spend time with not only the other students – but the house staff as well.
Once Thursday night eventually rolls around and it is time for one last house meeting before many students’ last-ever night in their dorm, the tone shifts from one of celebration to one of nostalgia. Mark Lafreniere, Privett ‘22 words it perfectly, “During all my time here at this school, Privett House has been my home and all the boys here are like my brothers. Although we all are saying goodbye pretty soon, a part of Privett House will always stay with me.”
Sebastian Magana, Privett ‘22
Some common signs of the year coming to an end include the grade barbeques with Mr Patel, the Internal Awards Ceremony, Interhouse Track, and the start of final exams. In the houses, however, the year’s end is more closely associated with the start of year-end room cleaning, the Grade 12’s barbeque and a few special house meetings.
In Privett House, many of the long-standing traditions revolve around the graduating members of the house and giving them a touching goodbye. Privett Assistant Houseparent, Ms Wolinsky says, “These traditions are really important in the sense that all the boys who have graduated from Privett House are connected to the house, and to one another, through these special moments”.
One special tradition in Privett is the departing speeches that the Grade 11s give for each Grade 12 student. After sorting out who will speak to which senior, the Grade 11s put a great deal of time and effort into making it a deep and meaningful farewell. These speeches, without fail, bring back lots of great memories, inside jokes, laughter, and often tears.
Another tradition includes a house barbeque on the final night where, weather permitting, the students all enjoy the evening playing games on the field and meeting up for a final steak dinner. This, along with the earlier Grade 12s barbeque, are great opportunities to enjoy the last opportunities to spend time with not only the other students – but the house staff as well.
Once Thursday night eventually rolls around and it is time for one last house meeting before many students’ last-ever night in their dorm, the tone shifts from one of celebration to one of nostalgia. Mark Lafreniere, Privett ‘22 words it perfectly, “During all my time here at this school, Privett House has been my home and all the boys here are like my brothers. Although we all are saying goodbye pretty soon, a part of Privett House will always stay with me.”
Sebastian Magana, Privett ‘22