Headmaster’s 2011 Prize Day Speech
Erin Hogue
This is an excerpt from the speech given by Headmaster Kevin McHenry It is a privilege for me to welcome everyone to this, the 112th Prize Day ceremony at St. Andrew’s College. Prize Day is a day to celebrate all our achievements of the past year: a day to reflect on our individual accomplishments as well as our collective success as part of the Andrean community. ‘Brotherhood, Greater than Self’ was our theme this year. I don’t believe that I’ve ever heard a better phrase to describe the Andrean experience. Whether you’re in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12, I hope that when it comes time for Celebrating at the Grad Dinner l-r: Andrew Nelson, James Mackin, Scott Kimmerer, Alexander Nowlan, Estian Coetzer, Dennis Buschmann, Steven Sirbovan; front l-r: Dylan Amar and you to leave here, it will be with memories Torrey Glendinning to last a lifetime, and when you see each other again in the years to come, you will share a strong sense Regionals for the third consecutive year and is one of four Caof belonging to this incredible brotherhood. nadian groups invited to represent Canada and perform at the Academically, this class has shown some outstanding results. London Olympics in August 2012. Our University Counselling Office indicates that our grads have The incredible Pipes & Drums thrilled the crowds at various won over $1.3 million in scholarship offers to universities in St. Andrew’s events this year. The band also competed at the Canada, the United States and around the world. The average Toronto Indoor Games in April, and two SAC quartets finished number of university offers per student is 4.2. Sixty-four percent first in their grade. of the class will attend university in Ontario. Fifteen percent will 4. Several of our students placed in the top 2% of thousands attend out-of-province schools. Sixteen of students who wrote national and percent of the class will attend university international chemistry, biology, computer in the United States, and the remaining science and mathematics competitions. students will attend university overseas. 5. Two of our teams competing in the I would like to share some of this year’s York Region RoboCup Jr. Open won the highlights: right to represent Canada in July in Istan1. We started the year with a bang by bul, Turkey at the World RoboCup Chamlaunching our new website, complete with pionships. [editor’s note: they finished first those amazing award-winning videos. in the world, partnering with teams from 2. Our actors graced the stage in NovemTaiwan and Portugal!] ber in a production of A Chorus Line. This 6. Our debating program continues to production involved 32 of our students, grow. This year, St. Andrew’s hosted both on stage and behind the scenes. There the Fulford Debating Tournament and were two dozen Focus plays performed in we also had a student place in the top May, involving more than 100 students. 20 at The World Individual Debating 3. Our bands continue to win competiand Public Speaking Championships tions and delight us with their perforheld in Brisbane, Australia. Headmaster Kevin McHenry presents mances. The Wind Ensemble was 7. I applaud the many achievements of Nicholas Chretien ‘11 with his diploma. awarded a Triple Gold at Music Fest our 56 athletic teams competing in 23 The Andrean 35