General News
23 December, 2021
Students celebrate final day at school
STUDENTS from across the region celebrated their final day at school for the year this week, but the occasion was bittersweet for some who will be making their transition to high school next year.
STUDENTS from across the region celebrated their final day at school for the year this week, but the occasion was bittersweet for some who will be making their transition to high school next year.
St Colman’s Primary School Year 6 students Johno Carmody, Kaison Jubb, Maddi Cameron, Pippa Barr and Ava Wardlaw were among those to be parting from their primary education.
Ava said she had mixed feelings about the new venture.
“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” she said.
“It’s kind of scary going to a much bigger school because the amount of people in the school and the classroom is so much bigger.
“Your year level is like this whole school.”
The transition will be made all the more daunting as Ava has spent her whole primary education with St Colman’s Primary School. However, she feels the school had prepared her well for the next phase of her education.
“St Colman’s has been really good,” she said.
“I have made so many great friends here. I think it’s a wonderful school to have attended.”
Ava has maintained a positive attitude despite the difficulties she and other students suffered due to restrictions and lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I feel that if I can get through home learning, I can surely get through my first year of high school,” she said.
St Colman’s Primary School principal Tim Bourke said he was proud of what the graduating students had accomplished over their time with the school.
“I’m thrilled to see them heading off on a new and exciting adventure to secondary school,” he said.
“They’re heading in so many different directions, but their friendship from primary school will always stay.
“They’ll be friends forever.”
Mr Bourke said the graduating cohort had been “tremendous students” who made a positive impact on their younger peers.
“We make a big fuss of the leaders of the school because they are the models for other children, and these students have been fantastic role models,” he said.
“They have raised the bar for the next group to come through and keep that going.”
When students had first returned to classrooms following lockdowns, Mr Bourke said he was proud of the efforts of the students, their parents and guardians for their dedicated efforts to ensure students did not fall behind.
Having now made the return to classrooms, he said their readjustment to the onsite learning environment had been smooth.
“It’s gone really, really well,” he said.
“We had huge focus on emotional wellbeing over learning during the periods of remote learning.
“When they came back to school they were feeling great about themselves, were happy to be back with their friends, and it certainly helped with their learning.”