On Friday, September 18, Metropolitan Preparatory Academy kicked off the new academic year with a schoolwide trip to Stratford, Ontario. Students and staff from Grades 7 through 12 boarded the buses bright and early and headed to the Stratford Festival to see Kim Selody’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit at the Avon Theatre.

Before the show, students had a few hours to explore downtown Stratford, browse the shops and grab lunch with friends. The time together gave returning students a chance to reconnect and new students a relaxed way to get to know classmates and teachers outside the usual school setting.

Inside the Avon Theatre, Middle-earth came to life with trolls, goblins, giants and plenty of theatrical imagination. For many students, it was their first visit to Stratford and a chance to experience one of Canada’s best-known theatre festivals.

Days like this reflect something central to life at MetroPrep: students across grades spending time together outside their usual classes and building connections that carry into the rest of the year. Holding the trip near the start of term gave the whole school something to share as everyone settled into the months ahead.

The timing also fits well with another season of SMITH performances ahead. After a day watching professional theatre in Stratford, our own students will soon have opportunities to take the stage themselves.

Thank you to the staff organizers and chaperones who made the day possible, and to the Stratford Festival for welcoming our students and staff.