A Fond Farewell to Our Year 12 Students

Wednesday evening marked a bittersweet milestone in our school calendar as we gathered for the Year 12 Valediction Dinner—a celebration of achievement, growth, and the remarkable young people our graduating students have become.

The evening was filled with warmth, laughter, and more than a few tears as we reflected on the journey our Year 12 cohort has travelled. Our School Vice Captains—Amelie Hiscock, Harry Dorahy, and Abby Lazzari—delivered heartfelt speeches that captured the essence of their years with us: the challenges overcome, the friendships forged, and the lessons learned both in and out of the classroom. Their words reminded us all why we do what we do, and why this community is so special.

Our Heads of House added their own touching tributes, sharing memories and moments that showcased the unique character and contributions of each student. These personal reflections highlighted how our Year 12s have left an indelible mark on our school, one that will be felt long after they walk through our gates for the final time this week.

The Gift of Curiosity

We were privileged to hear from our guest speaker, Mrs Helen Henry, Head of English, who delivered an inspiring address centered on the many qualities that have defined so many of our graduating students - the one that resonated most with me was curiosity. Mrs Henry reminded us that curiosity is not merely about asking questions—it's about maintaining wonder, embracing uncertainty, and remaining open to the unexpected paths life presents.

This message resonates powerfully with our Year 12 students as they embark on many new adventures. The curiosity that has driven them to explore new subjects, challenge themselves, and grow throughout their school years will serve them well as they navigate university, full-time work and GAP years. We encourage them to hold onto that spark—to remain curious about the world, about others, and about themselves.

As we farewell our Year 12s, we also turn our attention to our Year 7-11 students, who begin their examinations next week. Mrs Henry's words about curiosity are equally relevant to you. Approach your exams not just as tests of memory, but as opportunities to demonstrate your understanding and curiosity about the subjects you've studied. Ask yourself the deeper questions. Make connections. Let your genuine interest in learning shine through.

To all our Year 7-11 students: we wish you the very best for your examinations. Trust in your preparation, stay curious about the questions before you, and remember that these assessments are just one part of your ongoing learning journey.

To our Year 12 students: thank you for the energy, spirit, and curiosity you've brought to our school. You've set a wonderful example for those who follow. We're immensely proud of you, and we can't wait to see where your curiosity leads you next.

An extract from Mrs Henry’s address to our Year 12's and families

A good place to start with curiosity is that...we do not know what we do not know.

Consider for a moment something you know, that you do not know. I know, for example, that I cannot read Sanskrit, nor do I know why the biscuits at the school canteen are addictive. But there are many times when I have come to know things that I had no inkling of… like that time I accidentally found myself in a furry convention having no prior understanding of this confusing subculture – consider my mind blown.

But it is also learning things about people that reframe them as a human. Or learning about connections between things that you didn’t know existed – like entropy and the direction of time or, that piracy and slavery operate on a sliding scale or that there is a mushroom that grows where rainforest loam meets the coastal sand that tastes like roasted chicken.

So, I suggest that you start every inquiry, conversation, debate or discussion with the notion that there are things you do not know you do not know and, what’s more, what you do know could be wrong. One of my most embarrassing moments, which I still cannot find funny after over twenty years, was the time I debated the existence of climate change at a dinner party with a climate scientist. I literally told him I thought he was wasting his intellectual powers on a myth because of my own failure to be curious about what I did not know.

Furthermore, as I’ve aged, I've learned that things are rarely black and white, or as controversial and hyperbolised as the media would have us believe – there are grey areas in the middle, paradoxes where multiple and conflicting truths overlap. And it is beautiful and inspiring.

Curiosity is not just intellectual – it is emotional and therefore one of our best tools for generating empathy and a kinder more understanding world. Mary Oliver said – “If the doors of my heart ever close, I’m as good as dead.” My hope for you is that you stay open to being wrong. Stay open to multiple things being true. And stay open to the wonders around you - the multiple simple and complicated ways nature, people and the world are astounding. I confess, curiosity has saved me many times when things are tough – it’s a way of stepping back a little and watching and considering. It brings to focus the greatness of the universe, the vastness of time, divinity and mystery.

Curiosity helps us to see both our irrelevance and privilege because we are open to where rights and access do not exist for others simply because of circumstance. Curiosity builds a bridge between us and others. It helps us to be grateful for right now, to be humble about how we got here and be respectful of the future and the transience of each precious life…

Careers

Miss Helen Reiher, Head of Year 12 and Careers

Change of preference information for Year 12 leavers