Friday´s news
Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Graduates and Friends of Open Gate,
Another working week accompanied by gorgeous, albeit unseasonal, tropical temperatures is coming to a close. Such azure skies boasting highs of 30 degrees in September have to be looked for many, many years back; reason enough to hold our Monday assembly out of doors. It had to be so as the content revolved around our school’s enthusiasm for the noble sport of rugby. As you are probably aware Open Gate in conjunction with SK Rugby Babice trains a whole scale of youngsters in the techniques of this sport, and our teams have gone on to perform most successfully in competitions nationally across the age ranges. Mr Marks and his team of helpers gave us all, staff included, a fun introduction to line-outs and passing from the scrum. All enjoyed the experience and it got the blood circulating beautifully; a fun way to start the day. Thanks to all.
On Tuesday the well-known and acclaimed photographer, Karel Cudlin, was welcomed to Open Gate and given free reign during his nine hour stay with us to roam the campus and snap away! And did he just! He visited lessons in classrooms, the theatre, the library, the sports’ areas, all to give a true workaday photographic record and impression of life at Open Gate. Mr Cudlin commented upon the exceptionally positive atmosphere prevailing in the school, so much so in fact that he claimed he felt as if he had landed in another world. A world of young, courteous, polite and smiling students who despite the fact that he was ever in the background camera in hand, retained their natural daily behavior.
This week saw the start of our extra-curricular clubs and activities, and as always there is much to choose from. Mr Chara visited as many as he could during the week and reported on the pleasure he had in witnessing the busy noise and enjoyment emanating from all involved. Thursday’s assembly to the seniors was taken by Mrs Pospishil who devoted the time to the subject of theatre and musicals. The aim is to engender enthusiasm for our own planned school production: ambitious, and I promise all concerned my total support. On Thursday, too, the dormitory staff organized their traditional sports’ day, culminating in good old Czech custom viz sausages roasting on sticks around the fire under a starlit sky. Lovely Jubbly. Check out the web and facebook where you will soon find photos of all these activities. Also to be found on facebook is information relating to online courses for American universities and High Schools organized by the Centre of Talented Youth. Many of our students take advantage of these courses and the results are clearly beneficial. The 21st year of the Debate League competition is to be held at OG this weekend with around a hundred competitors visiting us from schools around the nation. Open Gate has a fine record in this competition and we look for more of the same. Whilst on the subject it is the right time to congratulate Vaclav from Septima who was awarded the prize for best delegate at the Diplomatic Summit in Plzen.
From a fully busy academically jam-packed to the gills Open Gate may I wish all of you a happy and restful weekend. A particular wish goes out to our students from last year who are now about to begin their university studies; good luck, keep your nerve, and after the demands of IB this will be a piece of cake! But do not forget us – drop us a line when you can, or stop by.
All best, Peter Nitsche.
