Message from the

Head of Senior School

Term 3 Week 9B

Planning for the final week of Year 12 lessons and activities is well in hand; parents of Year 12 students will have received several communications from the school about these. When speaking to Year 12 students in the playground today, their overwhelming emotion is excitement to be heading off into the next stage of their lives. This is as it should be – we have all done our job well if they are feeling confident to leave school and enthusiastic about what life holds for them. I believe our Year 12 students are well placed to live rich, satisfying and challenging lives, with a mindset of service to others and commitment to the greater good.

Next Tuesday we will witness their Year 12 Showcase, a period of music and entertainment which they present to the rest of the Senior School. Given that lessons have been going on right till the last minute, it is amazing what they are able to put together. On Wednesday they will be farewelled by their Tutor House, and of course Thursday is the Graduation Ceremony and Grad Ball. Parents who have not as yet lived the reality of having a student prepare for HSC may find it hard to imagine the high emotions surrounding these final ceremonies – your turn will come! I feel very proud of our Year 12 students and of the way they finish their time here at school. Our ceremonies contain a lovely balance of warmth, humour and formality, the result of many years of fine-tuning and listening to feedback from both the students themselves and the wider school community.

Of course, 2018 is my own last chance to walk this journey with the Year 12s. I feel very blessed to have accompanied them through to this point, and to have been able to share the Grad Ceremony with other KWS Year 12 students in the past. The singing of the Parting Prayer may well bring me spectacularly and very publicly undone next Thursday!

Finally, I remind you all that in Term 4 students return in full summer uniform, including hat. The term will begin with three days of camps and activities; Friday of Week 1 sees a full return to lessons. The HSC exams will be occurring on the PLC site so please be aware of this when visiting that campus.

With my best wishes for a great fortnight and relaxing two weeks of holiday with your children.

Bev West

Head of Senior School