The Name is Bond, Jane Bond

7 July 2015Alva S, Hope ‘17 & Seo Young R, Alex ‘17

In May, after writing their provincial exam, the Grade 10s enjoyed their annual elective unit in which they were able to specialize in the study of photojournalism, romance, children’s literature, debate or the fiction of Ian Fleming: James Bond. The Bond elective, taught by the Mr. Paul Collis, Head of English, is oversubscribed with thrill-seeking boys keen on studying and then emulating the ways of literature’s most dashing secret agent. Enter the trio of Jane Bonds: Sasha H, Allard ‘17, Cara A, Alex ‘17 & Gemma E, Alex ‘17 all petitioned Mr. Collis to become agents 0025, 0026 and 0027. They did this with Haikus, a flood of emails and persistent tenacity. Now it is Janes’ time. All the hours of exhausting work and nerve-jangling days comes this single moment. Face to face with the villain, she draws her weapon, cocks her gun with a shaking hand, and fires. The bullet is on its way right to his heart, ready to end his evil life…and misses by millimeters. One bold look over his sinister shoulder and Dr. No is gone like a phantom. Opening the door of Mr. Collis’ classroom, we can already sense which elective we’ve just entered: testosterone, James Bond and more James Bond. Ian Fleming started the whole 007 mania with his books, so what would be more natural than reading a few of his pieces as well as watching some of the blockbuster films. But as everyone who knows Mr. Collis is aware, just reading is not enough; you must also feel the language! For the next generation of 007s this meant going from the training camp of the classroom into the field. On a thrilling scavenger hunt they sought codes all around campus to complete their mission. Their final project was either writing an installment for one of the Bond stories, filming a movie clip, or producing a summary. How did it go, you ask. If we told you, we’d have to kill you. Alva S, Hope ‘17 & Seo Young R, Alex ‘17

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