Year 6 Graduation and Awards Ceremony
It was such an honour to be able to watch our students celebrate together, laughing and applauding each other. A big congratulations to the students who also received a Year 6 Special Award for their outstanding achievements and contributions to St Marys. On behalf of the students and staff at St Marys, congratulations to the class of 2021. We will all miss you greatly.
Year 6 Special Award Recipients
|
Academic Achievement |
Michaela F Autumn BC |
|
Science/STEM |
Rizwan R |
|
Sportsperson |
Michaela F |
|
School Spirit |
Cecilia S Charlie G |
|
Fiona Phillips (Perseverance) |
Lucas B |
|
Andrew Constance (Encouragement) |
Emma C and Charlotte R |
|
Carroll College |
Sahara K |
|
Principal’s Award |
Zara H |
Principal's Year 6 Graduation Speech
Thank you Father George for celebrating our Year 6 Graduation Mass and to our parents for being with us to share this great milestone in your children's lives. Thank you to Mrs Croese for her dedication and efforts in preparing for today's Graduation Mass, a fitting and final one for her as our REC. Thank you Marg for so many years of love and commitment to St Mary’s. Your new role as Pastoral teacher at St Mary’s next year will keep you very close to us.
Unfortunately during COVID, as this Graduation is considered a school event, we are needing to follow strict rules around the capacity of the Church. Therefore some important people are unable to be with us. Back at school, we have many staff who would have liked to have been here too. I pass on their love and good wishes.
Congratulations Year 6. You are an exceptional group of children. You are not perfect but then no child is. Every now and then, there comes along a class of children that are extra special. This year's Year 6 is just that.
I know COVID has impacted your last two years of primary school but don't let that be what you remember most. Don't think of what you have missed but rather of what you have had. Everyday classroom fun and activities, staying in your PJs during Remote learning, your Leadership Camp, Confirmation and your End of Year celebrations. You have developed resilience, you have learnt to adapt and accept what you can not change, you realise that you are far luckier than most children in the world and you have certainly perfected laughing and having fun.
The class of 2021 is known as being the friendliest and most inclusive group of children. You have been true leaders at St Mary’s, even if in different ways. You genuinely care for each other and your teachers. One of my main jobs as a principal is to look after our teachers, so I want to thank you children for keeping Mr Harpley, Mrs Afflick and Mr Prow so happy, energetic and amused all year. Even yesterday, some of you were still trying to work out ways of incorporating a farewell to Mr Prow within this graduation.
My hope is that Mr Prow will return to us after his leave in 2022, but just in case he doesn't, we all know that he has been granted his wish to finish his incredible teaching career with the best class and year group ever.
Making decisions about the Year 6 Special Awards proved to be very difficult this year... with ... a little bit of arguing amongst the adults involved!
We decided that in addition to the Special Awards, every student in Year 6 in 2021 would receive a Graduation Medallion.
Today we say goodbye to some of our families, as their youngest or only child finishes at St Mary’s. A special thank you to those parents for your ongoing support of our staff and our beautiful school. You and your families will be greatly missed.
Year 6, when you go to high school, please remember some simple things:
- Believe in yourself. Set high standards for your learning and if you need to, start fresh. This is your chance to become the learner that you would like to be. Remember that you learn more from your failures than your successes so keep on trying.
- Mix with the other children. You already have your St Mary's family friends but I want you to make more friends from St Bernard’s, Moruya, St Peters, Broulee and other schools. Look out especially for those children who don't seem to know many others. Please don't only stick with St Mary's kids.
- Take up every opportunity on offer. Put your hand up and get involved in whatever is happening in high school, and not just sport!! Music, band, languages, debating, hospitality, environment, social justice groups. Spend the next 6 years finding your passions. Try new things out and give everything a go.
- Stay close and connected with your parents and your family. Yes Mum and Dad will annoy you and make you pretty angry at times, usually when they say NO to you - but this is because they love you and need to make decisions that are best for you. Everyone else will come and go in your lives, but your family are the ones who will always be there for you.
- And finally, keep close to God. Keep your faith in him and talk with God everyday about your life, issues you are facing, your hopes and dreams. Treat others kindly, dont talk behind others’ backs, try to make the right choices, continue to be grateful for everything you have, and always stay positive and love life.
Congratulations Year 6. We are all very proud of your achievements and successes. Take with you today, the love and blessings from everyone at St Mary’s.
Families leaving us..
Sadly, at the end of this year, many of our Year 6 families will be leaving us. With their only or youngest child in Year 6, we wish the Bonner-Combes, Brooke, Clarke-Huntly, Cole, Denys, Haworth, Hodgetts, Lyons, Pepper, Schofield, Wright, Zutt, Hick, Hulse, Kaushal, Kelly, Rossetto and Tuska families all the best for the future. Thank you for supporting St Mary’s over many years and I hope you look back fondly on your time with us.