We who constitute the community that is Munro College are a remarkably diverse group. We come from far and wide. We span several generations. Our strengths vary widely. Our talents differ. We stand on the shoulders of many who have gone before us over these past 151 years. There have been many changes over these years, yet we are still, recognizably, a community. i take this opportunity to encourage all of us to think about the meanings that lie behind our Munro College Community.

We know those dreaded examinations that we must pass as a prerequisite for getting into Munro College so we know that we have all excelled to be at the starting line. We brought our differences to Munro College and learned the importance of of respecting these differences, not as an abstraction, but as a practical matter in the civility which was demanded of us in our daily interactions so that the life of the school could function smoothly. We were taught that for our community to be sustained , intergenerational recognition and respect had had to be important parts of our daily practice. We learned to accept and practise tolerance for the myriad ways in which we saw things differently. We learned to admire the array of our talents - some of us in the classroom, others of us on the field. All of us know though, that we share an understanding of the role played by good manners and thoughtfulness which are among the indispensable elements of peaceful and productive communities.

These are the characteristics of our Munro College community with which we must infuse those other communities of which we are and shall become a part.