Captains Corner 

Graduation Speeches

Jude - It is with most pride that I represent Doncaster Primary School not only as a student, but also as one of the four School Captains of 2023. This is one of my greatest achievements. I hope that I was helpful to every one of my peers and that I was a good role model as a captain. This year was probably one of my favourites with my most liked things being interschool sport, my wonderful class with very kind classmates and all my friends I have met and got closer to this year. Although I will miss primary school and I don’t want to leave, I look forward to beginning a new chapter in life by starting high school. As a famous soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo once said, quote: “We cannot live, being obsessed with what other people think of us. It's impossible to live like that”. This is a very valuable quote to me because it reminds me that I am my own person and other people can't bring me down. So always remember to not worry about what other people think and to do your own thing to the best of your abilities. My school experiences at D.P.S have been fantastic and very memorable. I’d say that the best moment of my school years was the 2022 Christmas Carols event, when I was announced School Captain. I have had 10 wonderful teachers in my 7 years of schooling. These fabulous teachers have guided me and helped me be the best student I can possibly be. I would like to thank all of them for their help and kindness. I would also like to thank my three fellow school captains, Isaac, Adrina and Jenna, it has been a pleasure to work with you all. All the best for your secondary years and beyond.

Jenna - Good evening everyone, my name is Jenna Wang and I am part of this years Year Six cohort and one of the four school captains. I must say, I cannot believe how far we’ve come. My time here has been absolutely unforgettable. We have all gone through so much together and it has been a pleasure. As a school captain I have had many different opportunities like hosting assemblies, going to the National Young Leaders’ Day and working with staff. These experiences have helped me develop my character and become who I am today. But my captaincy isn’t the only thing which has provided me with opportunities. Being a student of Doncaster Primary has graced me with the chance to go to Canberra, Interschool Sport, Sovereign Hill and so on. We were allowed to use Doncaster Secondary’s commercial kitchen and go swimming. Since Grade Three, I have had the chance to join many elite programs like Everest, Maths Olympiad and VHAP. Looking back, I am so glad to have seized those chances. Thank you, to the whole Year Six cohort. Throughout all the years, we have become family. Thank you to my fellow captains, Adrina, Isaac and Jude. Thank you to all of the teachers, and especially my Year Six teachers, Mrs Corfios and Mrs Scopas. I have been so fortunate to have you both. You have done everything you can to support me and develop my skills, entertaining me with your stories of your own experiences, and teaching me what to expect for high school. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Of course, a huge thank you to my parents who have been there for me every step of the way. I am so grateful to DPS and everything it has done for me. As a year level, we have created the most amazing memories. In high school, I look forward to making new friends, learning music, and joining extracurricular activites, but I know I will miss the teachers’ devotion to every student here. I am proud to be a student of DPS, proud to have had the chance to know all the students here. Again, thank you everyone, for all that you have done and I wish that your lives from high school and beyond are and become everything you could ever wish for.

Isaac - Hi my name is Isaac Peluso as some of you may already know. I am so fortunate and honoured to be standing here as one of the 2023 School Captains. When I found out I was school captain I was so ecstatic and bursting with happiness. I've had a wonderful primary school journey with my teaches guiding me along the way. My journey began at DPS in 2017 in prep as a shy kid who wouldn't leave my Mum's side and 7 years later I've grown into a happy, confident and extremely talkative Year 6 student with the help and guidance from my teachers, family and friends. It feels like yesterday when we were in prep where we couldn't even do up our shoe laces, now we are experts at it, well most of us are...

I am leaving DPS with so many special memories, my top 5 Highlights from my years at DPS have been: Our snow trip in Prep, this was the first time I had ever seen snow.

In Grade 5 our trip to Sovereign Hill - I loved panning for gold and eating a Vanilla slice.

Interschool Sport - I enjoyed playing basketball and Football with my friends against other schools. Canberra Camp, it was so fun to hangout with my friends and teachers learning about our nations capital. The Great Victorian Bike Ride - I loved riding with my friends among the beautiful scenery. The group formed a special bond and the memories from those 5 days on the ride will stay with me forever. I have had such a wonderful experience being a school captain, a highlight for me was attending the Young Leaders Conference, working closely with Mrs Milanese, Mr Hill, Miss Epskamp and my fellow school captains. I have learnt a lot about being a leader and gained confidence in public speaking. I would like to thank my fellow school Captains Jude, Adrina and Jenna, it has been awesome working with you all. I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Hill, Miss Epskamp and Mrs Vesdrevanis for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Thank you to all my teachers who have taught me through out my journey at DPS you have all made it a memorable learning journey. A special thanks to the Year 6 teachers Mrs Corfios, - Thank you for supporting me during year six and being a great year 6 leader. Mrs Scopas - Thank you for being a great tribes teacher it has been fun being in your tribes group. Mrs Milanese - a massive thank you for being my Grade 2 teacher, you gave me the confidence to come out of my shell, you made me find the love for Collingwood. Your door has always been open for chats and you have been a great School Captain Co-ordinator, I could not have done it without you! Mr Johnson - I was so fortunate to have you as my Grade 6 teacher, thank you for always being so positive and pushing us to strive to be our best. I loved the stories and life lessons you shared with us. Your games were the best and your high school tips will come in handy. Thank you class and teachers of 2023, this has been the absolute best year ever. I have learnt and grown so much. I am going to miss you all and I wish all my class mates the very best for the future. Good Luck for high school and Congratulations Grade 6 we made it! ! ! I leave you with a quote from Kobe Bryant:

"GREAT THINGS COME FROM HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE".

Adrina - Good evening everybody and as most of you already know, I am Adrina, one of 2023’s school captains. DPS was a great journey for me. It has provided many opportunities and excursions. My favourites were definitely Canberra Camp and the gymnastics excursion in Year 4. Interschool sports was also extremely fun as we made it to Division but eventually lost to a really great team. Although I will miss DPS loads, I am also very excited for high school next year, even though I won’t receive the same care and love that I have received at Doncaster Primary School, but I am sure that there are many exciting moments ahead of me next year. The past seven years have been absolutely amazing. Every year, I had the best teachers that have pushed me to be where I am now. Without them, it would not have been possible and I am very grateful for their guidance. This years cohort has been superb. I could not have asked for anything better. It has been very special because we have been together since Prep and have made some unforgettable memories. I would also like to thank the Grade Six teachers who have been fantastic. They have got us all ready for high school with life lessons and quotes. Most of all, I would like to thank Mrs Milanese. It has been wonderful being in your class and you have made my last year of primary school the best it could possibly be. I have loved every second of being in your class and I wish you all the best for next year. As a school captain, I have made many memories and have had many valuable experiences and opportunities. I got to work side by side with the principals in assemblies, captains corner, a leadership conference, and many public speaking opportunities. I would like to thank Mrs Milanese again for helping us with our assembly agendas and speeches. It has been a pleasure working with Mr Hill, Miss Epskamp, Mrs Milanese and Mrs Vesdrevanis. I wish all of the Year Sixes the best for next year, especially, my close friends. Congratulations! We made it! I am very proud to have been a school captain and student at DPS and I am very glad that I had this amazing opportunity. I also wish Jenna, Isaac and Jude another great year in 2024.