Endings and Beginnings

Over the past week we have had the pleasure of celebrating the graduating class of 2025. They are such a creative, enthusiastic and joyful group of people and they have left an extremely positive mark on the DCC community. 

Last Thursday our graduates had their dress up day and it was wonderful to see their artistic flare and clever ensembles. Imagine our surprise to see the DCC Gaga ball pit transformed into a swimming pool for the Year 12’s to enjoy at lunchtime - it was quite the spectacle and a marvel of creative engineering! Thankfully our cohort of dress ups included a lifeguard to help keep a close eye on things!

On Friday we celebrated the Year 12’s last ever school day, where all the students come out to see the 12’s do a final lap of honour around the school. This day is always filled with a spectrum of emotions and to have the whole school community cheer us on and get behind the graduates is so heart-warming and a very special treat for the Year 12’s.We were all suitably entertained with the Year 12’s final assembly, and during an extended lunch we enjoyed the Secondary School Carnival. There were carnival rides, sausages, drinks and ice creams and lots of hugging and ‘hi fiving’ as we shared their final moments as a school community. The Year 12’s then blew off some steam by having an epic water fight on the middle oval – it’s fair to say some of the teachers were their prime targets!

To round out the celebrations, our Year 12 class of 2025 and their families gathered at the Valedictory Service on Monday evening. We had over 800 people come together to share good food and fellowship as we marked the end of schooling for these precious people. While they still have their exams to come in the next month, we will miss having them around the school.  

We hope and pray that the lessons, both in classes and on their character, last with them for years to come and that they enjoy the myriad of opportunities that God’s world presents for them. We wish them all the very best.

Reflections from our College Vice Captains Valedictory Speech

Amy Price & Takudzwa Nyirenda

T: Good evening staff, families, friends, and of course the graduating class of 2025!  

A: It’s an honour to be able to welcome you to our valedictory service tonight, as we reflect and give thanks to the incredible journey we’ve shared together.  

T: It feels like only yesterday we were nervously stepping into year 7, wide-eyed, unsure of ourselves and probably lost somewhere on Donvale’s campus. But now, here we are, at the finish line, ready to say goodbye to a place that has shaped us in more ways than we even realise.  

A: The end of year 12 is a moment many of us have dreamed about. We’ve spent so long working towards this day and now that it’s here we’re filled with so many emotions: joy, excitement, hope, maybe even a little bit of fear, but above all, thankfulness. Throughout our six years of high school we have grown in character, in maturity and in faith. Donvale has not only taught us how to solve equations and write essays, but also how to treat people with kindness, how to lead with integrity and how to walk in humility.  

T: We invite you all to look around the room tonight. To your invited family or friends. These people here have helped at least one of us get to where we are today. So, we are forever grateful for the sacrifices, late nights and dishes cleaned in our absence. You have shaped us into who we are, celebrated our victories and been with us through the lows. You know how hard it is to venture through year 12. You’ve sat with us and experienced it all.   

A: To our teachers – thankyou. Firstly, for putting up with us as a year level, secondly for helping us learn and finally for helping shape our character. You were patient when we didn’t understand, encouraging when we doubted ourselves, and persistent even when we weren’t. You gave your time, your energy and your care to help support us and for that we are eternally grateful.   

T: And to the broader staff – support workers, admin, maintenance and others, thank you for creating an environment where we could feel safe, seen and supported every step of the way. To those unseen, your impact has been felt, and we appreciate all the hidden work you have done for us.  

A: To our families and friends – your love and support is what’s kept us together. We appreciate how you constantly show up for us. On the days we thought we’d never get our Maths Mate in on time, you guided us through the questions, for the times we came home from school and only gave you one-word answers, you stood by us, and when all we needed was someone who would listen, you did just that. Thank you for journeying with us, your dedication behind the scenes has made all the difference  

T: To our classmates – thank you for making these past years unforgettable. We thank you for every shared joke, every group chat panic, every common room game, every photo taken, every camp and every hallway conversation. We’ve grown up together. Through all the voice cracks, breakouts and mood swings. We’ve seen each on our best and worst days. We’ve been a part of each other’s stories, and we will carry every memory with us going forward.  

A: As we look ahead, we know that life beyond high school won’t always be easy. But we go forward with confidence, because we know who we are and that God has a plan for us.  

T: Whether your next step is university, work, a gap year or something still uncertain, we pray you’re filled with courage and know you’re created for a purpose, and that God will take you where you need to be. It says in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”. Trust in the Lord and keep your hearts sensitive to were you want to go. As we leave school and head out into the real world, let’s aim to lead with compassion, stand firm in faith, and bring light into every space we enter. Let us seek to serve, not just to be seen.  

 A: For those that may not be aware, the Year 12’s have worn the verse 1 Corinthians 10:31 on the sleeve of our jumper for the entire year. It reads: “so, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. This encourages us to approach all aspects of our lives, even those as simple as eating and drinking, with the goal of bringing honour and praise to God. We hope that this verse may continue to stick with each and every one of you as you go out and pursue your life after school. Do all onto God and do it to the best of your ability.   

T: To the class of 2025, you are so close to the end.   

A: Be proud of how far you’ve come, be grateful for those that have helped us get here, and faithful in trusting what lies ahead.