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| Martin Halpin volunteered this summer for the Australian Olympic Committee. |
WOW!
What a summer.
The final lead-up to the Olympics, and then we had the big show itself. Even non-sports fans could not help themselves and be impressed and excited by the atmosphere of comradely and good will that the Olympics sports celebration provided.
In the after glow of the Olympics, WAB is now in a position to repeat the previous experience. For those who have not yet heard the news, this year WAB is stepping up and entering into full membership and participation of Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC). APAC is an organization of 12 of the leading schools in this global region with membership schools located throughout mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and the Philippines. Membership schools include;
· WAB (Western Academy of Beijing, China)
· ISB (International School of Beijing, China)
· SASPX (Shanghai American School – Puxi, China)
· CISS (Concordia International School – Shanghai, China)
· UISG (Seoul Foreign School - Korea)
· TCIS (Taejon Christian International School - Korea)
· AISG (American International School of Guangzhou – China)
· Brent (Brent International School – Manila, Philippines)
· SASPD (Shanghai American School – Pudong, China)
· HKIS (Hong Kong International School, China)
· CA (Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan)
· ??? (Successful applicant school to join APAC in 2009)
As APAC is an activities conference, both sports and arts pursuits are celebrated and excellence encouraged. APAC sports tournaments that WAB will be participating in 2008/9 are Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Rugby, and Swimming.
The APAC High School Arts events are scheduled as ‘Festivals’ where students come together to participate in a celebration and joint presentation of their specific art form. APAC festivals are conducted for Theatre, Orchestra, Band and Choir. Students selected to representative WAB in these APAC festivals will have additional preparation schedules leading up the APAC events in a similar arrangement to those students representing WAB in APAC sport.
I have had the pleasure to observe the APAC Band festival in Kobe last February. It was truly an amazing experience to observe the festival’s final culminating performance of 96 musicians in one massive band. As a sports boy as some of the band directors referred to me, I found the performance thoroughly enjoyable and one that I will never forget. I thoroughly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to attend such an event to seize your chance. What is even more exciting is that WAB students can now be a part of that event. After observing the APAC Band Performance, my only regret was that I personally never had such opportunities in my youth, otherwise I might have been a music boy as well as a sports boy.
WAB now has the chance to seize the fantastic opportunity that APAC presents. I look forward to the entire WAB community rising together to embrace and support the APAC challenge and realize the opportunity that APAC presents.
What an exciting year to be at WAB.
Go Tigers!!!!!!!!