Coolkarnis in China: Investiture of the Junior School Leadership Team

Quite a mouthful, isn't it? Junior School Leadership Team? Investiture ceremony? All this for something quite simple - in plain English, an assembly to hand out badges to the newly elected or selected prefects and house-captains. But this is Dulwich, and nothing is plain and simple - and if there is an occasion for a ceremony - well, let's go ahead full steam, bells and whistles all the way!!

So, the special assembly. Parents whose children were selected as prefects received an invitation to the assembly - no, not just an email, a proper printed invitation with request for a RSVP. Seats were reserved in the front 2 rows of the theatre for attending parents. Along with speeches from the Headmaster and the Junior School Head, on the program were various musical recitals - alternating with the introduction of the new prefects. All the selected students - 26 odd, I think - were to sit on stage for the whole assembly - the eyes of the whole JS on them.

The path to this place on the stage was not that easy though - quite the emotional roller-coaster!! First up were the interviews for Head-Girl. It was quite interesting to see Manasi prepare for the interview - coming up with her own ideas about what makes a good leader, and why she would be a good Head-Girl!! Well, she didn't make it - and although the disappointment was huge, she came away with a sense of pride of having done her best. I could have done without the letter from school, though - I'm all for life lessons, but a rejection letter at the age of 10??!!

The elections for House Captains was next - more of a popularity contest this - for this one, Manasi was sure that her friend SW would win for her House, but she decided to go ahead and contest anyway!! A second disappointment, and once again, I was proud of her for doing her best, even when she was certain that the outcome wouldn't go her way!! Her persistence was finally rewarded - when she was named a Prefect!! I think I was probably more anxious than her, waiting for these last set of results!! Huge relief!!

To be honest, though, I did feel that the school went a little overboard with the whole 'Leadership Team' thing. Can I honestly say that Manasi has shown better leadership qualities than some of her peers? Knowing these girls, I can't help feel that they are more or less evenly matched - in terms of both abilities and potential. Yes, of course, not everyone will become a prefect - but why this coronation for the chosen ones? Won't a Prefect badge suffice - do they really need gold buttons on their blazers?? Why place them, quite literally, on a pedestal - shouldn't the honor of the positions be reward enough?? That's Dulwich, though!!

The best part of this whole Prefect deal - Manasi gets to attend a 2-day Leadership training - and I'm definitely not going to talk about why it's unfair that only a few students get this absolutely wonderful opportunity - I do wish that they had emphasized this as an advantage, rather than the gold buttons!! I'm hoping that Manasi will have a great time at the training, and come away a little bit wiser!! And yes, all of Manasi's friends have some position or the other - so at least in our little group, there are no disappointments, no hurt feelings. Well done, little girls!! And now for the pictures...