Link to original post: The Final Farewell? CLS '09
This Friday was my final ever day of school education. Yes, it has finally come to an end, and I sit here typing on a massive high and yet an overwhelming sense of sadness at the realisation that it’s all over.
Finished. Done. Dusted. That chapter in my life has closed. Still, this day was so epic, that it’s hard not to sit here beaming, riding a massive wave of joy.
So what did we do today? Well I awoke that morning at 5:30am. Being early was of the essence today, and I had no problems at all waking up, showering, and preparing the gear I needed. I took a shower, got a quick breakfast, and left the house at around 6am. It was beautiful, warm morning, and as I walked to the tube (subway) station, my heart was sinking with every step. Having said this, the excitement was also growing, the anticipation for the organised pranks set up. Yes, senior prank day, or “Muckup Day” as we know, was on the cards today.
I go to a private all boys school, ever since the beginning of my 7 year career there, uniform regulations were strict. We had the school uniform for the first 5 years there, and for our 2 senior years, a suit with a 6th Form (Senior) tie. Only in the final half of the final term (semester), are the rules relaxed to allow removal of the tie and undoing the top button of your shirt. Oh so appropriate then, that we chose to make it “Beach Friday”, and we had to be dressed in beach clothes. Shorts, flip flops, that kind of thing. Some of us had more flamboyant attire than others.
I decided to go impeccably dressed in my suit, with a most tasteful black tie with an elegant print I must add. I get off the train and leave St. Paul’s station and by coincidence, meet one of my best friends just loitering.
“Mah Ladum! [One of my nicknames] Oi what the f***, where’s you beach wear?”
“In my locker man, why you standing here? We should be in school.”
“Nah I’m waiting for Inca (our nick for his gf), you got a gret?”
“Yeah safe man, see you in school.”
I reach the side entrance of school and am met by some stray seniors in their outrageous beachwear shouting
“WHAT?! WHERE’S YOUR BEACHWEAR?”
“In my locker.”
I change into shorts and an open white shirt, which I intended to get signed (I got loads of sigs actually), and get my **** alarm out. (You’ll see why) I went down to the courtyard on the 3rd floor (my school has 6, although students are only allowed up to the 5th floor, the science block, where I live). There were the boys, loads of us, I was impressed at how us lazy b******s could be such early birds, but today was so worth it. We spelled out “CLS” in masking tape as the template for an aerial photo we were doing later. Here’s the pic.
That pic was taken much later though. Before that was taken, we moved towards the flag mast accessible at one of the 3rd floor balconies, and decided, being the rogues we are, to fly the Jolly Roger for all of central London to see. =D
The army of pirates then moved to the first floor, where the senior common room was. We decided to leave our signatures and artwork on one of our pool tables.
Now came the **** alarm. There were 5 of us with **** alarms. These things works by pulling out a string. It has to be replaced for it to stop. We infiltrated the library, pulled the strings, and took the strings with us. Haha you should have seen it, the confusion on the librarian’s face when he couldn’t turn them off. In the end, he gave them to the physics department who destroyed them. That was just the beginning though, as we made our way back to the courtyard for some beach volleyball in anticipation for the aerial photo. Taking a photo, however, was not enough, as 2 boys decided to streak the affair with Borat Mankinis. The past part about all so far was that the teachers even found it fantastic, and hailed us as the most inventive and humorous of pranksters so far. The was cheering, and chanting of “CLS!” rife throughout the courtyard.
Then came the Police Tape. We decided to recreate a murder scene in the courtyard too. Yeah that’s me behind the tape.
Then we taped off the teachers’ elevators, (there are 2, one for each wing of the building.) Yeah, take the stairs for once, lazy *** teachers.
Now I told you that the 6th floor roof was out of bounds right? Yeah well that’s because it’s where the teachers smoke, haha, and going there can land you with a hefty Saturday detention. Also, smoking within a half mile radius of the school, and doing so with any sign of uniform will get you a Saturday detention or the bribe out option of £25 (~ $40).
So me and my closest friends, known as “The Fiend Crew” or just “The Fiends”, decided to go up there and smoke. Nice of an old English teacher of ours to give us the lighter too…
Check the amazing view over the River Thames. That bridge is the Millennium Bridge, that giant red building is the Tate Modern, and that white building on the bottom left is Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
I got back down to the 5th floor and got my Form Tutor to sign my shirt, before descending the stairs and joining the mob.
We went down to the pool, and ended chucking a boy in there. Awwww. Well, it was Beach Friday.
Then came the final assembly/exam briefing, with all of us shouting and chanting, a good day of pranks .
“Wow, seeing you like this, I can’t wait for Summer Break!” The Headmaster was certainly jovial. After the whole thing finished, kaboom! We all released a shower of party popper confetti, cheers ringing. It was over finally over. As I ran down silly stringing boys’ faces, and showering teachers with confetti, I couldn’t help but feel sadder and sadder, but it was ok, because we realised that the best way to drown your sorrows is through drink. So, off to the pub across the bridge we went! They certainly made a killing off us, and we certainly had a good amount to drink. Speeches and all round good humour were in the air. Then we were refused further service. To the Old Mustard! (Another Bar)
So we drank more and more. Sang songs with guitar. Hugs, handshakes, everything. It was all over, but our legacy never will be. We are the Pirates, the Rogues. We were the young boys, the first years. We became middle schoolers, the rebels, the cool kids on the block. We were the seniors, the kings, the dons. We are now the veterans, the hurdles and challenges we have faced we have overcome, we grew together, got through the bad times, shared the good. We were always good spirited, our humour always overcoming malice. Old rivalries were laid to rest on this final day of unity.
We are The Fiends, we are CLS ‘09. Remember us, remember our legacy, for we shall never forget. We shall never forget you, so remember us fondly, as we do you. We have left the education environment of this school perhaps, but we have never left it in spirit. The spirit and ethos we carry with us, our imprints we leave in the school.
“Wherever there is a meeting a parting must come. Whether that parting be forever or only for a short time, that is up to you.”
It’s certainly not going to be forever, that’s for sure, but for that sake of it, goodbye CLS (The City of London School), the times you gave me were definitely the best…
The Fiends on the 6th floor roof, taken from street level.
We wave farewell.
This Friday was my final ever day of school education. Yes, it has finally come to an end, and I sit here typing on a massive high and yet an overwhelming sense of sadness at the realisation that it’s all over.
Finished. Done. Dusted. That chapter in my life has closed. Still, this day was so epic, that it’s hard not to sit here beaming, riding a massive wave of joy.
So what did we do today? Well I awoke that morning at 5:30am. Being early was of the essence today, and I had no problems at all waking up, showering, and preparing the gear I needed. I took a shower, got a quick breakfast, and left the house at around 6am. It was beautiful, warm morning, and as I walked to the tube (subway) station, my heart was sinking with every step. Having said this, the excitement was also growing, the anticipation for the organised pranks set up. Yes, senior prank day, or “Muckup Day” as we know, was on the cards today.
I go to a private all boys school, ever since the beginning of my 7 year career there, uniform regulations were strict. We had the school uniform for the first 5 years there, and for our 2 senior years, a suit with a 6th Form (Senior) tie. Only in the final half of the final term (semester), are the rules relaxed to allow removal of the tie and undoing the top button of your shirt. Oh so appropriate then, that we chose to make it “Beach Friday”, and we had to be dressed in beach clothes. Shorts, flip flops, that kind of thing. Some of us had more flamboyant attire than others.
I decided to go impeccably dressed in my suit, with a most tasteful black tie with an elegant print I must add. I get off the train and leave St. Paul’s station and by coincidence, meet one of my best friends just loitering.
“Mah Ladum! [One of my nicknames] Oi what the f***, where’s you beach wear?”
“In my locker man, why you standing here? We should be in school.”
“Nah I’m waiting for Inca (our nick for his gf), you got a gret?”
“Yeah safe man, see you in school.”
I reach the side entrance of school and am met by some stray seniors in their outrageous beachwear shouting
“WHAT?! WHERE’S YOUR BEACHWEAR?”
“In my locker.”
I change into shorts and an open white shirt, which I intended to get signed (I got loads of sigs actually), and get my **** alarm out. (You’ll see why) I went down to the courtyard on the 3rd floor (my school has 6, although students are only allowed up to the 5th floor, the science block, where I live). There were the boys, loads of us, I was impressed at how us lazy b******s could be such early birds, but today was so worth it. We spelled out “CLS” in masking tape as the template for an aerial photo we were doing later. Here’s the pic.
That pic was taken much later though. Before that was taken, we moved towards the flag mast accessible at one of the 3rd floor balconies, and decided, being the rogues we are, to fly the Jolly Roger for all of central London to see. =D
The army of pirates then moved to the first floor, where the senior common room was. We decided to leave our signatures and artwork on one of our pool tables.
Now came the **** alarm. There were 5 of us with **** alarms. These things works by pulling out a string. It has to be replaced for it to stop. We infiltrated the library, pulled the strings, and took the strings with us. Haha you should have seen it, the confusion on the librarian’s face when he couldn’t turn them off. In the end, he gave them to the physics department who destroyed them. That was just the beginning though, as we made our way back to the courtyard for some beach volleyball in anticipation for the aerial photo. Taking a photo, however, was not enough, as 2 boys decided to streak the affair with Borat Mankinis. The past part about all so far was that the teachers even found it fantastic, and hailed us as the most inventive and humorous of pranksters so far. The was cheering, and chanting of “CLS!” rife throughout the courtyard.
Then came the Police Tape. We decided to recreate a murder scene in the courtyard too. Yeah that’s me behind the tape.
Then we taped off the teachers’ elevators, (there are 2, one for each wing of the building.) Yeah, take the stairs for once, lazy *** teachers.
Now I told you that the 6th floor roof was out of bounds right? Yeah well that’s because it’s where the teachers smoke, haha, and going there can land you with a hefty Saturday detention. Also, smoking within a half mile radius of the school, and doing so with any sign of uniform will get you a Saturday detention or the bribe out option of £25 (~ $40).
So me and my closest friends, known as “The Fiend Crew” or just “The Fiends”, decided to go up there and smoke. Nice of an old English teacher of ours to give us the lighter too…
Check the amazing view over the River Thames. That bridge is the Millennium Bridge, that giant red building is the Tate Modern, and that white building on the bottom left is Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
I got back down to the 5th floor and got my Form Tutor to sign my shirt, before descending the stairs and joining the mob.
We went down to the pool, and ended chucking a boy in there. Awwww. Well, it was Beach Friday.
Then came the final assembly/exam briefing, with all of us shouting and chanting, a good day of pranks .
“Wow, seeing you like this, I can’t wait for Summer Break!” The Headmaster was certainly jovial. After the whole thing finished, kaboom! We all released a shower of party popper confetti, cheers ringing. It was over finally over. As I ran down silly stringing boys’ faces, and showering teachers with confetti, I couldn’t help but feel sadder and sadder, but it was ok, because we realised that the best way to drown your sorrows is through drink. So, off to the pub across the bridge we went! They certainly made a killing off us, and we certainly had a good amount to drink. Speeches and all round good humour were in the air. Then we were refused further service. To the Old Mustard! (Another Bar)
So we drank more and more. Sang songs with guitar. Hugs, handshakes, everything. It was all over, but our legacy never will be. We are the Pirates, the Rogues. We were the young boys, the first years. We became middle schoolers, the rebels, the cool kids on the block. We were the seniors, the kings, the dons. We are now the veterans, the hurdles and challenges we have faced we have overcome, we grew together, got through the bad times, shared the good. We were always good spirited, our humour always overcoming malice. Old rivalries were laid to rest on this final day of unity.
We are The Fiends, we are CLS ‘09. Remember us, remember our legacy, for we shall never forget. We shall never forget you, so remember us fondly, as we do you. We have left the education environment of this school perhaps, but we have never left it in spirit. The spirit and ethos we carry with us, our imprints we leave in the school.
“Wherever there is a meeting a parting must come. Whether that parting be forever or only for a short time, that is up to you.”
It’s certainly not going to be forever, that’s for sure, but for that sake of it, goodbye CLS (The City of London School), the times you gave me were definitely the best…
The Fiends on the 6th floor roof, taken from street level.
We wave farewell.
