Our many experiences

Thank you

To my three children that are present today, Emily, Kristen and Matthew. Here before you are my 180 or so other kids that you have heard me talk and talk about for years. These are the kids that I have spent time away from you by attending camps and field trips and other school activities or reading emails to check over essays late at night because this role never switches off at 3pm when the bell goes.

Just like our own children, Mr Hickey and I have always had high expectations of you and watched out for you and have had your best interests at heart. We have been humbled and grateful to share in your triumphs and for some of you, we have stood alongside you in your darkest days. We have done this because we have always cared, and will continue to do so.

At times, I felt I was destined to be a counsellor and not a year adviser. I have shared the entire gammut of feelings and emotions with you during our six years. I have sat with you when you have been stressed, overwhelmed, sobbing, fighting with friends, angry, mad, frustrated, upset, disappointed, disengaged and dealing with tragedy. I think I should have had a permanent box of tissues and comfy designated seating outside D7. I have felt honoured that you have trusted me to help you and to that, I say thank you.

Do not forget the role your parents and family have played to get you to this point. At the start of Year 12 I mentioned that the entire family sits the HSC with you and I congratulate the parents and families for getting you to this point.  You, young adults here are the most important thing to your parents sitting behind you. They send you to school to learn, but they also send you to school because they trust their children will be looked after. That has always been at the core of what we as year advisers do and we go out of our way to provide you as many experiences as possible. It is a testament to Year 12 that during Cecil Hills High School’s 22 years, this cohort has had the most experiences ever offered to them. From the Great Aussie Bush camp, to  island camping, team building activities, retreat days, mud runs and excursions to country towns in outback NSW, far North Queensland and as far away as Japan. These activities could only be provided for you from the assistance of your parents and the wonderful teachers that have gone out of their way to give you these opportunities. On behalf of year 12, we say thank you to all parents and teachers involved in enriching year 12’s education and strengthening their schooling experience.

I am very proud of each and every one of you. No matter the HSC result, no matter the ATAR, we have only ever been concerned about one thing. We have been concerned with building your character. It has always been about what your legacy was going to be, how will people remember each one of you and for that, I think we did good!

So thank you for sharing your lives with Mr Hickey and I for the past six years.  Goodbye my class of 2018.  We have done good!

Fleur Farah, Year 12 Adviser