21 Sep 2015
Quirindi High School's Year 12 2015 Graduation Assembly has been described as an awesome event!
Friday 18 September 2015 marked the last time Year 12 would sit together as a year group at a formal assembly at Quirindi High School. After 6 years of education, it was time to farewell 44 students as they prepared to sit their HSC exams and then move out into the world of further education, employment, travel or wherever their next journey takes them.
The highlight of the Graduation Assembly was the incredible performance by their Year Advisor, Chris Owen, where he had the audience in raptures with his Tribute to Year 12 performed in song. His rendition of "We didn't start the Learning" to the music of the well know song by Billy Joel, "We didn't start the Fire", brought the house down with his witty lyrics which highlighted each of the 44 students in the Class of 2015!
This was followed by Craig Patton's address on behalf of the parents of Year 12. His speech was a heartfelt congratulations to the both the students and parents for making it to the end of 6 years of schooling. Humorous anecdotes about students and how they have grown to become an amazing bunch of young adults were conveyed through Mr Patton's speech.
Sally Chad, Relieving Principal, in her address to the assembly, described Year 12 as an outstanding group of students and thanked their year Advisor, Chris Owen, for his work over the past 6 years, stating that they were a reflection of his dedication to their wellbeing at Quirindi High School.
She described the unique position the Year 12 students are in as they are all "cuspians"! They are at the end of Gen Y and the beginning of Gen Z, meaning they are on the cusp of both generational groups, and that they can decide "which generation sounds better and stick with the winning team".
However, she stated that no matter which generation they choose, they will always be a member of our group, the community of Quirindi High School.
Ms Chad also took the opportunity to announce School Captains for 2016. The 2015 Captains, Tristan Wong, Zara Constable, Oliver Smith and Kaitlyn Hamson presented the incoming school leaders with their badges. Congratulations to Captains, Jake Douglas and Hollie Sampson, and Vice Captains, Daniel Rea and Brittany Beveridge.
More surprises were in store during this graduation, with Danielle Lawlor, on behalf of Year 12, presenting their Year Advisor with a very fitting gift, a handcrafted chair made from a 44 gallon drum in his favourite V8 supercar team colours of blue and white – the mighty Fords! Mr Owen was blown away by this unique gift and the appreciation shown to him by his students.
This Graduation Assembly's upbeat tone was concluded with the departure of Year 12 and their Year Advisor to the song "Stole the Show" by Kygo, where they bowed and waved to the crowd as they walked out of the Hall as a year group for the last time.
Year 12 2015 and their Year Advisor, Chris Owen, certainly did "steal the show".
