MUSIC and art took centre stage as Our Lady of the Angels" School celebrated 70 years of Catholic education in Wavell Heights.
At a special birthday assembly, the school premiered the video of their new school song "One Heart - One Song" (https://youtu.be/7WzpVrNElv8)
Written in collaboration with Queensland singer/songwriter, Josh Arnold, the beautifully crafted song showcased a school community united in celebrating life and faith together every day.
Josh said the students worked so hard with him on the lyrics.
“We had such amazing singers and musicians working together to get this song perfect and I think we pulled it off," he said.
It was also the first live performance by the school choir and Josh in front of the whole school community and special guests former principals, Presentation Sisters Cecily Foster and Marita Coffey, foundation day students Presentation Sisters Maria Mooney and Marilyn Cutler and Presentation Sr Patsy Grundy, who attended the school the year after it officially opened.
Sr Grundy regaled the excited students with stories of what it was like when the school first opened.
She spoke about the families, including her own, who moved out to the “bush" for a new life in the suburb of Wavell Heights.
There was soon talk of the need for a Catholic school and the local men built the first wooden church for the parish. (It later burnt down)
She said when the school first opened there were 250 students enrolled but, by the time she was ready to leave for secondary college there were 1000 students. At the time, one of the biggest Catholic schools in the southern hemisphere.
The excitement continued for students with the unveiling of the art piece by Sr Mooney and the artist, Angela Heilig.
Singer/songwriter Josh Arnold joins the choir for the first live performance of OLA's new school song
Principal Nick Hurley said it was important to celebrate special moments in the school's history.
He said 2020 had been an unprecedented and challenging year for everybody.
However, throughout the year he said the community had learnt many things including how to be resilient (or tough), how to be ready (or prepared) and how to be rigorous (or hard working).
“In addition to this, we have also learnt throughout 2020 just how important it is to look after each other, he said.
“Being resilient, ready and rigorous is certainly how we came to be the school we are today."
He paid tribute to the wonderfully dedicated and extremely hard-working Presentation Sisters who had taught at the school from day one.
“I'm sure each of these ladies would connect deeply with these three R's- in a very unique and special way, he said.
Nick said the gathering was truly a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone birthday.