Is this the new normal?

COVID-19 has changed so much about our day-to-day life, especially in the St Peters event space. As we grapple with just what the College’s ‘New Normal’ will look like, it’s time to reflect on how our events have been able to adapt.

Pictured: (from top) A music lesson via Zoom; Behind the scenes of the Year 7 Virtual Open Morning; Dave Brown with Old Scholars at the annual Football match; (background) Year 9 student, Alex Gilfedder, plays The Last Post on his driveway on Anzac Day. KELSEY BRICKNELL

communications officer If you were to open this edition of Plus Ultra alongside its counterpart from the same time last year, one thing would be blatantly clear—there has been a distinct lack of College events in 2020. Sure, we moved our Open Day into a virtual space and the annual Parade of Nations went ahead as a pre-recorded presentation in Term 3, but actual events—whole College gatherings; live performances; Community Engagement functions—these have significantly decreased. Rather than dwelling on their absence, there’s a lot to celebrate about how well different departments at St Peters were able to adapt and persevere in 2020. For starters, the Sports department still held all three of its major Inter-House Carnivals. Swimming, luckily, snuck in just before the outbreak. Cross Country, a little less lucky, was held in individual HPE classes across the Year Levels and, similarly, Track & Field was transformed into a three-day event (one Year Level at a time) for Junior High and Senior students, and a two-day event for the Primary Years.

In the Performing Arts and Music space, 2020 events have been very much ‘situation abnormal’. Despite this, the departments have thrived online. Starting with ANZAC Day, St Peters Music staff, students and Old Scholars answered the call to ‘Light Up the Dawn’ by playing The Last Post on their driveways. This nation-wide initiative showed a deep respect to those who have fallen for our country, but also worked to ignite a fire within the Music department. Newly aware of the virtual possibilities, Music set about creating a range of At Home

Performances—creative video productions, and additional staff are being required to showcasing our students’ talents to the assist with the management of live events, to online world. The performances were ensure that each venue is not over its total recorded individually by students during capacity. the At Home Learning period and then Despite this, Chloe and the team have expertly edited together by Co-Director remained optimistic. of Cocurricular Music and Head of Strings, Mr David Deacon. His efforts created a “We have streamed a lot of events we buzz at St Peters and, while the community normally wouldn’t this year,” she said. indicated they still desperately missed the “It’s been a good test, to see the online in-person aspect of our Music performances, the videos were an enormous hit (head to the St Peters Music Youtube playlist to see them for yourself!). Developing relationships with the " compatibility of each one.” One of the most interesting things to come out of the online event space, Chloe said, was watching how presenters Around the rest of the Sports, Publications respond to being faced College, restrictions have and Curriculum with just a camera and an continued to inspire departments has otherwise empty room. rather than depress. St been a very positive “As much as you would Peters Events Technician, Chloe Dunn, shared that, while moving regular College events take away from what has been, for everyone, a very think a large crowd of people would be the main reason for concern around presentations online has presented challenging year!” and performances,” she some challenges, it’s reflected, “people seem also created some to rely on the audience for feedback while terrific opportunities for her team to work presenting!”with areas of the College they wouldn’t ordinarily see. Luckily, the easing of restrictions as we “A great example of this was our team reintroduction of small audience numbers. livestreaming the David Brown Cup on entered the second half of the year, meant the Harts Road Oval. Developing relationships “Our events, more recently, have had both with the Sports, Communications and a limited onsite audience and a livestream Curriculum departments has been a very option, allowing the best of both worlds,” positive take away from what has been, for Chloe said. everyone, a very challenging year!” Going forward, the future of St Peters Chloe told us that COVID-19 restrictions events remains, largely, at the whim of the have meant that different (and extra) pandemic. While the current ‘new normal’ questions are needing to be asked of has caused us to miss the audiences of event organisers to ensure everyone’s the past, it’s also left us inspired by just safety. Event ticketing, for the few onsite how adaptive the College community has audiences that have been allowed, been. Across Year Levels and departments, is now manually allocated, as St Peters’ events have evolved. Whatever the software doesn’t factor in happens as 2021 unfolds, we’re confident things like social distancing, that our high-quality College events will continue to stand.

Scan to watch and listen to 'Riverfiddle' by the St Peters Music strings students.