Instrumentally accompanied by the Big Band, under the guidance of James Ready, the graduates marched festively into the sport’s hall to take their seats. The prelude consisted of the secondary school choir’s performance, under the guidance of Julie Plugge. In the absence of Mr Peryer, André Studer, the Deputy Director of the Secondary School, held a welcoming speech and opened the event. Unfortunately, due to other commitments, the Vice-Presidents of the BAC Committee could not attend the ceremony this school year. Hence, the audience had to do without their speeches, but were fully compensated by the speech of Jean-Pol Robin, the representative of the European Patent Office. Mr Robin challenged Mr Peryer in absentia to a special kind of “exam”. By means of a quiz, he asked the audience, on behalf of Mr Peryer, questions about history and sports, the answers to which would lead to a special “Baccalaureate Certificate”. Encouraged and cheerful, neither young nor old were misled by the clever trick questions. The audience demonstrated both knowledge and humour as it unanimously replied that the October Revolution – unlike its title – started in November and that the hundred-year-long war lasted in fact 16 years longer that the title would suggest. In this way, the ESM school community helped the absent John Peryer to get his “Certificate of Maturity”, which he surely deserved well after more than 30 years of service in the school; first as a teacher and later as a Director.
After the handing over of the well-deserved certificates and the Patent Office’s prize-giving ceremony, the pupils’ representatives of all the five language sections were allowed to take the stage. With both irony and gratitude they said goodbye to their teachers. As a little disadvantage, they mentioned the fact that they could hardly or only for a very short period of time enjoy the stylish new building and the excellently-equipped science classrooms, even though they had endured the years of construction work in full length. They surely deserve a big thank you for their understanding and patience!
As graduates of a European School, these young Europeans are well equipped to cope with the diverse challenges in a constantly changing world and to discover new territories, cross borders and to remain open to new ideas in the future. Congratulations and all the best for the future!
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