Reflection – Christmas 2022 – Carol Service

Thank you to Mr. Goodman for his magical touch as director and to all the actors – staff and students – for willingly taking on their roles. I never read the small print of my job when I became Head of Shawnigan – that I would have to play the back end of the camel (MCB was at the front) at the Staff Children’s Nativity Pageant last Saturday and then dance around the Main Building. It is clearly silly season at Shawnigan.

So to my – perhaps more serious – reflection for our Carol Service….

 

November and the last few weeks of term are always challenging to navigate (and sometimes endure).

 

Our team of staff and prefects have carefully positioned some moments of illumination to challenge the darkness of winter – from the Shawnigan Haunted House to the Frozen theme at Snowfest, from gingerbread creations to House Outings, from the festive lights around the campus to Christmas sweater day (a staple part of a Shawnigan December!).

 

This evening, we will light candles – another age-old tradition, across cultures, of turning darkness into light.

 

At this time, across the world, the Hannukah lights are lit in Jewish households. In Scandinavia, people celebrate Santa Lucia – on Saint Lucy’s Day on December 13 (Tuesday this week) – with a candlelit procession with the first person wearing a wreath of candles on their head – candle light and song penetrate the darkness in this festival of light.

 

I used to love the lighting of candles in Chapel as a student – and how hard it was to resist (as I know you will) the temptation to do something mischievous with a lit candle in the darkness of Chapel.

 

In a darkening world, the candles later this evening are a reminder of our bright future and brighter days in the year ahead. Our Shawnigan values and community spirit, represented by the candles, guide us in times when the world seems dark.

 

Some of you might know that in August this year, Raymond Briggs the illustrator passed away.

I loved reading his illustrated comics when I was your age – with his fictional Father Christmas reimagined as a grouchy, grumpy, lavatorial character, complaining endlessly about his “blooming terrible” festive responsibilities, the “blooming cold” and “blooming Christmas.” Even his cat, his Peek-a-Boo, is trodden on accidentally on the staircase with an accompanying “blooming cat.”

 

He’s completely flawed and deeply human.

 

And I loved his graphic story and then the animated film of “The Snowman,” which tells the tale of a boy and a snowman which comes to life at midnight in his garden. I found a copy on Poppy’s shelf last night.

Together they fly up the coast of Norway, glimpse the northern lights, dance with other snowmen at the North Pole. It is only as they fly that we hear a human voice singing a hauntingly beautiful:

 

 

It’s a work of extraordinary beauty. It speaks to the power of imagination, to adventure, and to friendship. And it’s very much part of my understanding of Christmas.

 

I found myself walking through the Main Building singing it earlier this week. Mrs. Miranda immediately recognized it.

 

Later that day, I stumbled upon some talented staff members – Ms. Bryant, Mr. Hale, and Mr. Bartlett – in Mitchell Hall singing, playing the piano and guitars. I asked if a couple of them would be up for performing “Walking in the Air” for us this evening.

 

So here goes.

 

 

It’s a song and story of friendship.

 

The end of their nocturnal escapade finishes with a huge hug and a wave.

I hope that, at different moments, this term you have found trusted friendship here at Shawnigan to sustain you – and you have had some hugs along the way.

 

I hope that you have been able to fly high, to “aspire” (as our word shirt invites us) – with the support of others around you.

 

This has undoubtedly been an exciting term – from the thrill of opening day to the dying embers of term, from the heatwave to the winter wonderland of campus, from Truth & Reconciliation Day to Remembrance Day, from Inter-House Track and Field to Air Band, from competitive fixtures to new friendships forged.

 

Each of us will have a favourite moment of term.

 

I trust that you can pause to reflect on the term gone by with pride and to consider what you have achieved and to consider how you, as an individual, have made others feel.

 

At the beginning of term, I drew your attention to the quotation by the German educator Kurt Hahn chosen for the front of this year’s Gold Book.

 

“There is more to us than we know.”

 

We, as staff, have done our very best this term to help you realize that “There is more to you than you know” and to help you find your “unique remarkable.” I trust also that friends sitting alongside you this evening have encouraged you, inspired you and reminded you along the way that “there is more to you than you know.”

 

For those of you new this term (both students and staff), we hope that you have loved every minute here at Shawnigan. Think back to Opening Day and the journey you have made.

 

One parent sent me a message this week:

 

“[My daughter’s] House is amazing…They rally around her and wrap her in love and support… I wanted to say thank you for having an amazing school and being there for our girl.”

 

I would like to take a moment to thank the House staff teams. I know that they work incredibly hard to create a home-away-from-home and to create a sense of belonging within the Houses.

 

We care deeply about you all. And I think you know that. As we approach the winter solstice of December 21, the darkest day of the year, we need to look for our snowmen, our moments of illumination and moments of gratitude.

 

It’s how we turn darkness into light.

 

Enjoy the ambience of the candlelit carol later on in this service. To everyone celebrating at this time of year, my family and I wish you a happy and restful holiday. May the New Year bring with it peace and happiness.

 

Happy “blooming Christmas” to you all.

Richard D A Lamont

Head of School

 

16th December 2022