Captains' Corner

Taking a Look Back on 2023

Speech Night Address 

Kate Jardine 

Our theme for 2023 year was resilience, but what does this theme mean to Clayfield College? I’ll tell you what it means to me. It means being terrified of public speaking but being able to stand up here tonight. It means running that 400m that you didn't want to do, but winning the Percentage Cup and not just Athletics, but Swimming and Cross Country too. It means performing that solo that you've been scared about on a music tour or at Jazz on the Green. It means sitting in that exam room, wishing you had studied a bit harder, but still trying your hardest. It means having a go at reading a word you have never seen before like the Preps are doing. It means our school adopting Parallel Learning, a program like no other school in Queensland. It means our boys embracing a new journey, being in the minority and getting to know hundreds of girls. Everywhere we looked this year Abi and I saw resilience being demonstrated in every single one of you. 

The beating heart of Clayfield is our staff, and there are too many to thank individually. They keep our school beautiful, set up for events, feed us, and teach us. They make us laugh and sometimes make us cry. They enrich our lives and we thank each and every one of them for choosing to work at Clayfield. 

Abi Carr

During Clayfield College’s 93rd year, the College community has showcased itself on both local and global platforms. This has been a year of great change, heralding the beginning of a transition to the College being fully coeducational, resulting in new uniforms and dynamics. Despite these changes, the beating heart, and the spirit of Clayfield College remained unchanged. In 2023, the school community carried on demonstrating the school motto and letting their lights shine. 

Under the theme of resilience, Kate and I are immensely proud of how the College has grown and prospered throughout 2023. The students of Clayfield have united to help each other in the amazing efforts that allowed our Houses to support six charities this year. Our students have benefitted the wider community, and many student ambassadors continue to shine a light outside the school grounds. As Kate mentioned, it is the small acts that often speak the loudest. 

Through promoting the values of resilience within the Clayfield community, we have been able to overcome the challenges we face with grace. However, our resilience isn’t just individual, it echoes in the actions we see across the playground that help others feel seen, heard, and valued. 

We would like to sincerely thank Dr Cousins, Mrs Fellowes, Mrs Mohan, Rev, Mr Demarchelier, Ms Mills, and the entire teaching staff for their endless support. We will forever be thankful for this opportunity and our connection to this College is everlasting. 

Year 12 Final Assembly - Livestream 

Our Year 12 Final Assembly is being held tomorrow, Friday 17 November from 11:00am to 12:15pm. 

This special celebration is being livestreamed and can be watched via the link below.