50p
History
The following is the text of Mr. Patel's address to the school today in assembly.
Earlier this month, January 13th to be exact, was my father's birthday. When I woke, on January 14th, a wave of guilt washed over me – I forgot to phone him! Birthdays, to many, are important historical markers that, no matter the nationality, religion, or culture, are well celebrated. Other historical markers cause us to pause and contemplate. Where was I when …
• The Beattles arrived in North America
• The space shuttle first launched
• The Berlin Wall came down, marking the end of the Cold War
• The Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup
• Or when the Canucks lost in game 7 to the New York Rangers – oh, and again to the Boston Bruins.
This past Monday, our American cousins marked a historic moment.
Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech as part of the civil rights movement's March on Washington. It also marked the inauguration ceremony for President Obama's second term. Fifty years after Dr. King called for freedom to ring from every mountain top, an African American man began his second term as President of the United States. No matter what your political views, it was a historical moment. I'm so pleased that the students on Mr. Robinson's social studies tour to Washington, DC over Midterm Break, will stand in the exact spot of these historic events.
History is all round us; it takes place every day. We need to pay attention. Listen for it. Look beyond our daily clutter. In my office, I have a set of pictures marking Brentwood's history.
• Brentwood in 1924 – a boys school in Brentwood Bay
• The 1941 1st XV – with the famous Gillespie brothers
• The fire of 1948
• 1973 – the first class of girls at Brentwood
• 1984 - "Hello Dolly" - one of Mr. Gil Bunch's last musicals Sometimes history just happens, sometimes we make it happen. Over the coming weeks, raise your senses, look round and see what type of history you can make.
Have a great day.
Mr. Bud Patel, Head of School
• The Beattles arrived in North America
• The space shuttle first launched
• The Berlin Wall came down, marking the end of the Cold War
• The Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup
• Or when the Canucks lost in game 7 to the New York Rangers – oh, and again to the Boston Bruins.
This past Monday, our American cousins marked a historic moment.
Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech as part of the civil rights movement's March on Washington. It also marked the inauguration ceremony for President Obama's second term. Fifty years after Dr. King called for freedom to ring from every mountain top, an African American man began his second term as President of the United States. No matter what your political views, it was a historical moment. I'm so pleased that the students on Mr. Robinson's social studies tour to Washington, DC over Midterm Break, will stand in the exact spot of these historic events.
History is all round us; it takes place every day. We need to pay attention. Listen for it. Look beyond our daily clutter. In my office, I have a set of pictures marking Brentwood's history.
• Brentwood in 1924 – a boys school in Brentwood Bay
• The 1941 1st XV – with the famous Gillespie brothers
• The fire of 1948
• 1973 – the first class of girls at Brentwood
• 1984 - "Hello Dolly" - one of Mr. Gil Bunch's last musicals Sometimes history just happens, sometimes we make it happen. Over the coming weeks, raise your senses, look round and see what type of history you can make.
Have a great day.
Mr. Bud Patel, Head of School
75p
