Middle College Graduation Lunch
Middle College Graduation Lunch
November 21, 2017 at 11:43 AM
On the eve of their departure for Field Centre, our Year 10 students came together yesterday for a final Chapel followed by a shared lunch. With the separation of the Middle and Senior Colleges at the start of this year, some new traditions have begun; the formal Middle College Graduation Lunch being the first of many to come.
Our Middle College students generally join the College in one of two intakes; either in Year 7 or Year 9. Whether they have been with us for two years or four, yesterday marked their last day at school as Middle College students; the last time that they will be taught separately in single gender classrooms before they transition to the co-educational Senior College next year. Yesterday’s ceremony marked the closing of one chapter as another is about to begin.
The Chapel opened with Grace Kelly singing ‘The Climb’ (Miley Cyrus). Grace was later followed by the Middle College Chapel Band giving vocal support to the hymns. William Hadfield and Lulu Denholm gave the bible readings, and Molly Siddell closed with a final solo performance, singing One Direction’s ‘I lived.’ Each of these students sang or spoke beautifully, and were wonderful representatives of our Year 10 cohort.
Reverend Smith focused his sermon on change, courage and the Year 10 ‘rite of passage’ – Field Centre. In his friendly words of advice he suggested that whatever else they pack for their trip of a lifetime ‘down the mountain’ to make sure they pack a ‘good attitude’ – for a positive mindset can make all the difference when faced with adversity.
Just like their Year 13 counterparts earlier in the term, the Year 10s were piped to the Sports Centre with Cameron Dean and Jack Frewin on pipes and Ryosuke Murayama on drums. A lunch for almost 400 students and staff had been prepared with the students sitting in House groupings. Middle College Assistant Principal, Marianne Duston welcomed the students and special guests, former Head Girl, Sharnika Leleni and former Chapel Prefect, Taylor Watson.
Sharnika and Taylor were both active students during their time at the College, fully immersing themselves in their academic studies, service and co-curricular activities. In their speeches, they encouraged the students to do the same, both acknowledging that Field Centre is a watershed, marking the step up to the senior years and the high expectations that come with it.
The lunch was a most enjoyable occasion, the first step towards closure on their Middle College years. We now wish the students well as they head away over the next four days to Field Centre. Let’s hope those backpacks all have a dose of ‘good attitude’ tucked in one of the pockets!
