THE BRITISH Ambassador John Buck was this year’s invited guest to officially open the new academic year at St Dominic’s International School in S. Domingos de Rana.
First to take the stage was the school’s principal, Dr. Maria do Rosário Empis, who asked the invited guests, teachers and students to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Sónia Souza Hughes, a junior school teacher who had recently passed away. Following the silence, she outlined the forthcoming academic year as the year of music, wishing every student great success.
Next on stage was Canzonetta, the senior school’s choir who sang the new school anthem. Then followed the enchanting voice of Katherine Branco, a Year 13 student who sang a brilliant Andrew Lloyd Webber solo, and Andrew Hickling, a Year 12 student who played two pieces of music on clarinet.
Salim Patel, president of the school’s PTA, made his closing address, outlining important PTA sponsored events throughout the academic year, an important one being the school’s ECO forum initiative, which will involve a number of outside schools and will take place at St Dominic’s in October.
The British Ambassador addressed the students, saying that, during his time in grammar school, there was a lack of internationalism, but looking at the St Dominic’s students, there was evidence of a great mix of nationalities. “The future will give them opportunities to partake in what is truly a global world, which, with technology, has become smaller,” he concluded.
