Students and staff at Bayview Glen School are getting quite familiar with the Duke of York.
No, not the Prince Arthur Avenue one, but rather the real-life, larger-than-life, flesh-and-blood Prince Andrew.
His Royal Highness paid his third visit to the Duncan Mill Road private school in June and his first in about 10 years.
Upon entering the school’s theatre for a special ceremony to commemorate the opening of the brand new Moatfield campus June 5, he admitted things looked a little different, including the smiling student faces, and he noted the major changes to the school since his last visit.
That last visit, 10 years ago, was to help dedicate the opening of the very theatre the June 5 ceremony was taking place in.
School director of admissions Judy Maxwell explained the prince’s strong connection to the school is through his role as patron for the few worldwide schools that are part of Round Square.
The organization is an international association of schools that help link the schools to the world at large.
Round Square schools work on a set of principles known as IDEALS (internationalism, democracy, environment, adventure, leadership and service).
Prince Andrew urged the students to take advantage of their new campus facilities that include 12 homeroom classrooms, three specialty instruction rooms, a new library, dining hall, exercise rooms and a gym.
He said school is more than book-led education but also an opportunity to foster friendships and social responsibility.
The project was an approximate $18 million investment overseen by MC Architects, encompassing a new prep school and the best in the latest educational technology to create a school that is certainly out of the ordinary.
“Take the opportunity you have now to expand your horizons; take advantage of your youth,” the duke said. “Life out there is much, much more competitive than we ever thought it would be.
“So don't be ordinary … ordinary won’t change the world,” he said.
