Captains' Corner
The year was 2016. The month, February. The day, well, it was the day we stepped through St John’s gates for the first time with dresses well below our knees, with pants that didn’t fit, a blazer five sizes too big hoping we’d grow into it and a bag nearly as big as us, full of highlighters and pencils of every colour. There are just too many memories of us learning our timetables, asking where to go for our next class and spending half an hour at our lockers trying to open it.
To the Year 12’s, through all that we have experienced during our high school years as a cohort, we have grown, matured and changed. All these experiences and being able to share so much time with one another has brought us to this year, where we are closer than we have ever been. 2021: What a year it has been. To say the least, unexpected and uncertain. We stepped into Year 12 with the hopes of having a better year than last. Unfortunately, that probably wasn’t the case. But we have been so fortunate to be able to do our Year 12 Retreat and our formal which are definitely the highlights of the year for me.
To the Class of 2022, you will continue our legacy, I am sure the college will be in good hands with future leaders of our college. To all the year levels, continue to work hard, do not take high school opportunities for granted, and make the most of you time here at St John’s.
On behalf of all the Year 12's, I would love to thank everyone that has been a part of our journey up until today: teachers, students and staff. We have had the privilege of being supported by some amazing people.
Finally I would like to thank Aiden, Kent and Tiana for their amazing leadership as well as all the house captains and SRC’s for all your hard work and dedication.
With exams coming up, try to stay positive and keep things in perspective. I am so proud of all of you for making it this far, have confidence in yourself and I wish you all the best with your future endeavours.
Maria Hinen - School Captain
Wow. I can’t Believe that our high school journey has come to an end. It only felt like yesterday that we all walked into those front gates and begin our journey together. In years leading up to the last two I would’ve never thought that my final years will be spent at home behind a screen at home. I didn’t believe when I started in Year 7 all those Year 12's telling me that my school experience will finish fast. But now I look back on those days and think to myself they're right.
I would like to say thanks to many different people. Firstly, thank you to Mr Van Es for all that he’s done for me during my time here as my house coordinator and as now Deputy Principle of Student Wellbeing. He has helped me with personal problems and leadership ones too. He as shaped me into a great person so that can leave the school knowing that I have done my best.
I want to say another thank you to Mrs Misso and Mrs Pinto for all the work that they do for us in the CLC over the last two years, especially helping us with our studies, getting us resources that the school doesn’t have and setting up the silent study area where we can use our time wisely and get our studies done.
I like to also thank Chef Karla, Sally or formally known as Mrs Taylor and Chef KC for all that they have done for me over my time in hospitality. All three of them pushed me to my limits in all forms of life, helping me achieve greatly in VET kitchen operations, pushing me to strive for my dreams and make it in the hospitality industry.
Thank you to Miss Nguyen for all the work she has done for me in the past two years as my homeroom teacher. I remember our homeroom setting very high standards for you as you were replacing Mr Fong; you have risen to the challenge and actually overdone yourself with all the work you do for us during this time of lockdown with all the crazy activities planned for us during homeroom. I would like to thank you for always reaching out to me and making sure I am okay at home.
Mr Fong there’s not many words to describing you by. I remember when you became my homeroom teacher and how scared I was. It only took a few week with you in homeroom to become open with you and able to be myself. You have opened my eyes to look at the world in different ways of and see the benefits of everything in life.
To all the other teachers are here at St John’s are you all have played roles in my life they may be big or small, but I always thank you for them.
Then to Maria someone that I’ve known since year six, never actually saw myself being College Captain with you. But you have made my journey as College Captain a very memorable one. You putting up with my stupid behaviour in study and annoying everywhere. I don’t think I would’ve been able to pick anyone better to be College Captain with.
To the rest of the leadership team thank you. I know from the start I was able to rely on all of you when I need to help no matter what it was. For example, SRC meetings or College events. I always knew that you guys were there to back me up.
To the rest of the cohort, thank you. Without you I don’t think my high school experience would be as great as it is. You all played small roles in making the Class of 21 what is. I thank you for that.
To my homeroom of LE6 I am really going to miss you guys coming to school every morning seeing all your bubbly face or completing very hard in homeroom in the competitions no matter what it is if it’s music Mondays or Friday Games you always made my day super fun.
I wish Kyle and Vanessa the best of luck next year as they take over as your College Captains. Remember that there is lots of work to do next year. Take these couple of weeks left of school to kick-start your programs and kick-start your ideas for the next year.
It’s been an honour representing you as a whole school. It’s hard for me to say but this is the last time I’ll be able to say 'good afternoon', everyone my name is Aiden Cachart and I’m your College Captain for 2021.
As I entered my first College Captain speech: 'if I don’t see you again, Good Morning, Good Evening and Good Night'.
Aiden Cachart - College Captain
