Traditions bring us together and strengthen the BSM community spirit
Traditions bring us together and strengthen the BSM community spirit
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Dear BSM Family,
As our familiar end-of-Term 1 traditions light up the calendar with showcases, concerts, trees and lights, and with Manila in full Christmas spirit, it’s clear we’re in Christmas and holiday mode. This first term is always long and brings its share of pressures, but it also offers, as we look back, the deep satisfaction of a term well spent: collaboration, growth, and genuine flourishing.
Today, another beloved BSM tradition played out: our annual staff pantomime! I’m sure your children will have plenty to share about the anxiety of Aurora and the lost love faced by Maleficent and the King. Sleeping Anxious Beauty tells a tale of lost internet and no social media in traditional fashion through comedy, song, and dance.
I was surprised to hear that many people have not heard about pantomime, often shortened to “panto”; a playful type of theatre with roots stretching back to 16th-century Britain that is traditionally performed around Christmas. It is different from most stage shows because it’s loud, funny, interactive, and full of audience participation. For BSM, it is a joyful reminder of what school traditions are really for, not only to entertain, but to bring us together and strengthen the spirit of community that makes BSM feel like home. Not many schools do this, and to see our staff put themselves “out there” is wonderful! By the way, another part of the BSM tradition is that it’s only for students and staff.
There's something incredibly special about seeing teachers and staff step onto the stage, not as “the adults in charge,” but as a team willing to be playful, dramatic, and a little silly for the sake of shared joy. In that moment, students see a different side of the people who guide them every day: human, humorous, and wholeheartedly part of the same community. It tells them that school is not just a place of learning, but a place of belonging.
Bravo to the panto team for giving so much energy and heart to this performance. You didn’t just put on a show, you helped keep the BSM spirit shining.
With one week to go this term, enjoy a family-filled weekend.
Martin van der Linde
Lost and Found
A reminder to families that lost and found items will be available to collect on Ground Level, near the Children’s gate, from Monday until Friday of next week.
Please note that any unclaimed items will be disposed of after the term ends.
Reminder: Class and Individual Photos Distribution
A gentle reminder that your child/ren’s class and individual photos are available for collection at the Level 1 Ramp outside the Events office until 10 December 2025 only, during drop-off and pick-up times.
Lion's Den School Shop Alteration Guide
RELATED LINKS
- Message from the Head of School
- Whole School