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ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL AND OF HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II
On Friday 13th May, the whole St. Paul’s School community came together for a very special 90th birthday celebration. Weeks before, we invited our pupils to design an invitation for Her Majesty to attend our joint celebrations. The 90 best invitations were then shipped off to Buckingham Palace. We are sure she enjoyed opening them all while tucking into her breakfast! Very sadly, Her Majesty was unable to join us, but even so our British celebratory spirit could not be dampened, and even the sunshine came to join us on what had been a rainy autumn week in São Paulo. It was truly wonderful to have the whole school, from 3 to 18 year olds, on picnic blankets, playing silly games and enjoying great British food and entertainment. We tried to emulate a British ‘street party’ feel, but I think, in the end, it was a little more like a festival; with everyone in party mood, enjoying the warm weather and the opportunity to relax and reflect on our 90 years of history. We played pass the parcel, were treated to Monty Python sketches by Form 4, a new twist on the British anthem by our ACER drummer guests, and a range of music provided by our Prep and Senior School pupils. Even our teachers took to the stage to support our rock
show, and the music department had everyone dancing with their memorable, surprise tribute to Abba! Mrs Isabella Suplicy had very generously made us a delicious and incredibly beautiful cake (complete with crown and candles on the top) and we enjoyed singing happy birthday to us as well as to Her Majesty. Seeing our youngest, middle and most senior pupil cutting the cake together was a truly special moment. Continuing with the celebrations, on Monday 30th May, we enjoyed a special concert in celebration of Her Majesty’s 90th birthday, and in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Soloists Camila Taylor, Gabriel Newton and Marcella Nahas gave courageous performances with songs inspired by the words of Shakespeare, and visiting Director of Music from the London Oratory School, David Terry, had composed a piece especially for the occasion, entitled Orpheus. The end result, with our Prep and Chamber choir performing together with our Choral Society, was nothing short of spine-tingling. How wonderful, also, to hear our young pupils singing Her Majesty’s coronation anthems together with staff and Old Pauleans! The perfect way to celebrate an exceptional year for St. Paul’s School. Louise Simpson - Head - St. Paul’s School