Culture resides in the hearts and souls of people
From the Headmaster’s Desk: 24 February 2023
Mr Hammond
Headmaster
Super Bowl LVII (thank you the NFL for testing our knowledge of Roman numerals; 57) is a massive sporting and cultural event. When the champions of the American Football Conference and National Football Conference meet in February, they are playing to win the Vincent Lombardi Trophy. However, to some, the events that take place on the pitch are the least important part of the day. The half-time advert slots are some of the most expensive in the World and the mini concert at said interval is always watched by millions – one can even announce one’s pregnancy! Congratulations to Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Rhianna for their various successes.
Only a few tens of thousands of people can watch live sport: just under 68,000 at this year’s Super Bowl. Even fewer can watch live theatre – the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre holds 1,100 when full. Nothing can beat that communal experience of enjoying performance in a crowd or audience; the reactions are more joyous, more tragic and more vivid. Television and the Internet have opened up such events to a much wider audience and (as long as you can manage the time difference) you can watch nearly any event live or as live from the comfort of your own home. Online services always bear some risks, but if these are managed then society is better connected than we have ever been.
Until the Senior School Movie Night that took place today, I had truly forgotten the pleasure of cinema. A group of friends sitting down to enjoy a film is a rite of passage that some of our children have missed out on. Lockdown aside, the wide range of viewing services make it so much easier (and significantly cheaper!) to watch the latest releases at home. But what of whispered discussions, shushing those near you, alongside laughing and crying in response to the matinée? The children in Years 5-9 who attended the Abercorn Movie Might were both fabulously entertained and beautifully behaved; thank you to the APA for arranging the event, which included a pizza party in our dining room. I look forward to organising more events with the APA in the future and would encourage all parents to sign up for these, or even volunteer to lend a helping hand.
Finally, and with significant events in mind, if you would like to attend the formal opening of the expanded Senior School, please keep the evening of Tuesday 16th May free. Timings and details are TBC, but it would be wonderful to talk to you about the future of Abercorn over a glass.
All the best for a lovely weekend, Mr Hammond
To see how busy a place our wonderful School is and for a more detailed look into all things Abercorn, follow us on social media; Twitter, Instagram and Facebook offer a wide range of updates. My personal thoughts on educational life can be found @hammondteacher.
