IT WAS a day of celebration for Leongatha Secondary College (LSC) Year 12 students as they marked their final day of school.
They provided a sea of colour arriving at the campus en masse in an array of entertaining costumes, before enjoying breakfast with parents, guardians and staff, followed by an assembly.
There was time for a rest after the morning’s festivities before turning out in their finest for the evening formal held at the Korumburra basketball courts.
While it was a long day, assistant principal Tanya Chalmers was delighted with how smoothly everything went and that everyone enjoyed themselves.
LSC moved away from the muck-up day approach a few years ago, putting the focus on celebration, and the Year 12 group marked their final day of school in style, respecting others and their property.
This scribe was among the many people in the firing line for students armed with cans of spray string, but it was all in fun and easily removed.
As they headed for their breakfast, the excited group paraded through the streets and shared their celebrations with those in their education precinct at the primary and specialist schools, and with the public.
Tanya ran the breakfast with Year 12 coordinator Mackenzie Nash and senior school student engagement officer Abbey Kelson.
“It’s really nice for us to be able to do something for them on the final day and give them some yummy food to celebrate with their family,” Tanya said of the trio’s feelings, having worked so closely with the Year 12s.
At the evening’s formal, Mackenzie reflected on some of the challenges the group has dealt with at high school.
“You’ve navigated school during a nationwide pandemic, faced extreme weather conditions, including multiple power outages, and juggled the demands of deadlines, TAFE, jobs, and extracurricular commitments, but despite these challenges, you’ve shown incredible resilience and determination,” she said.
Mackenzie praised all the students for how they have supported one another.
She wished the VCE students the best of luck as they begin their exams, also wishing the VCE Vocational Major students well for whatever lies ahead as they embark on pursuing careers.
“Remember, life is not a straight path and there will be twists, turns, and unexpected challenges ahead, but I have no doubt that you are more than capable of navigating them,” Mackenzie told the Year 12 cohort.
School leaders Bodhi Abernethy, Montana Kranen, Alana Lopez-Freeman and Chloe Challis reflected on their time at LSC.
Chloe praised the Year 12 group for persisting, despite the never-ending coursework and other challenges of a demanding period, noting they’ll all be better for the experience.
“We have learnt that this year is not purely defined by academics; it was also about the memories and friendships we made together,” she said.