Weekes' Weekly News

Dear Sacred Heart Kew Families,

I still remember Year 12, standing at the front of my English class, shaking at the knees, palms all sweaty, about to deliver my English oral paper (thinking to myself, why didn’t someone organise ‘Public Speaking’ opportunities for me and my classmates when we were at primary school, all those years ago?) What a GENIUS idea that would have been!

When I was in Prep, Year One and Two, one minute was rather a long time (just to count), let alone having to speak for this amount of time. When I was further along my primary school journey, I would have tried to hide in the toilets or come up with some mysterious tummy bug if someone told me that I had to speak for two or even three minutes. Why? I’ll tell you why, because, this just wasn’t the done thing back in my day! Thank goodness it is now. 

Listening to the various topics our children prepared and presented this week was an absolute joy. Their confidence and poise was mightily impressive. The way that classroom teachers made this usually daunting task so relaxed, easy and fun, could easily be seen, throughout the different year levels. And didn’t we have it all? 

Topics such as: 

The history of KFC

Elf on the Shelf (with props)

No Homework!

My brother Andrew (the TERROR)

Why Flinders is the best place to holiday 

Cicadas 

Mosquito (the planes not the insect)

Every Animal under the sun

Climate Change 

Trip to Dubai and marriage proposal

These speeches were far better than some of the ones I have heard in Parliament. I think some of our children could well and truly be placed on the payroll down at Spring Street. Our Senior children might even be able to offer their services when they visit Canberra, early next year.  

As I reflected upon what I had witnessed during the week, I was stunned by many things. The use of pause techniques and general poise of each individual. Firm eye contact (this was evident right throughout the school). The expressive tone, coupled with variances in pitch and dramatic use (flair with words). I was also amazed at some of the theatrics and simple use of props. These children had clearly practised, practised and practised, and had been well prepared by their support crew. 

You will be pleased to know that the ‘speech’ fun hasn’t ended this week. Next week our Year Five children will present their Leadership speeches for Year Six, as they outline their talents and qualities that they believe would make them suitable leaders for our school next year. We look forward to these speeches, next Tuesday 26 November. 

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.    

Kind Regards,

Ed Weekes 

School Principal