This year's Opening Year Service took place on Friday 13 September at a whole school assembly.  The service was opened by Mr Flattery who welcomed everyone to the new school year and introduced this year's motto which is Do the Right Thing.  We at St Andrew's College have had 125 years to decide what is the right thing  so we know that to do the right thing one needs a commitment to excellence, a sense of community, to support each other and to have a tolerance for, and understanding of, others' feelings and beliefs.  Mr Flattery encouraged everyone to be generous and compassionate,  to treat others with the dignity they deserve and to show respect for them.  

The readings by Mrs Kirby, Lucy Deacon (Fifth Year), James Doherty (Second Year) and Eleanor Selby (P6) all shared the same theme of kindness.

Revd Alastair Dunlop reflected on the readings and wondered who could say that they always do the right thing?  He quoted the parable of the Good Samaritan and said that we are probably more like the two passers-by but need to wake up each morning making an effort to try to live like the Good Samaritan who stopped on his way to help the injured man on the side of the road.  

With a guitar solo from Sacha Bistani Savi (Sixth Year) and a song Let me be a Child of Peace sung by the Junior School Choir, the service closed with prayer and a wonderful rendition of Seasons of Love by the Senior School Choir.

 

Please click here for more photographs taken at the service.

A New Year

Another fresh new year is here,

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest.

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!