Year 12 students across Western Australia have celebrated their final ever week at school and from dress-up days to marches and dances, their send-offs have been anything but low-key.
Both private and public schools across the state organised for students to relax and have fun, before many go on to sit their final ATAR exams.
Penrhos College principal Kalea Haran said celebrations for the graduating class, particularly the school’s annual Flower Day, were “truly magical.”
“They celebrate our students’ achievements and contributions at Penrhos. We can’t think of a more fitting way to send our students into the world like we do on Flower Day: colourful, joyful and with lots of love and laughter,” she said.
The school also runs P-Day where year 12 students dressed up as something beginning with the letter P, for Penrhos.
Costumes included police, puzzle pieces, princesses, a pea in a pod, polaroid pictures and penguins.
Penrhos College graduates celebrated with a flower day, an annual tradition.
Perth Modern principal Mitchell Mackay said their celebrations started with the year 12 dinner dance, followed by two dress-up days celebrating their past and future aspirations and a day wearing their primary school uniforms.
Each student also rings the school bell to signify their time at the school and “to acknowledge to the world that they are our next generation of leaders, professionals and amazing young adults.”
“Throughout these events every student conducted themselves with the utmost integrity and maturity, and they have left a legacy of kindness and care for all the students in the school to follow,” Mackay said.
Scotch College principal Dr Alec O’Connell said the school ran a March Out event, where the graduating class marched with their school houses for the last time and passed the leadership baton to the year 11 students, before being welcomed into the Old Scotch Collegians community with the symbolic presentation of a tie.
“Seeing every student from pre-kindergarten to our incoming year 12s watch our graduating class march past is a unique experience. From where I stood, it seemed like we exceeded our largest attendance,” he said.
“The day is special not just because we say farewell to the year 12s, but because it is one of the few times a year when our whole school comes together.”
Head of Wesley College Ross Barron said celebrations had been even bigger this year, as the school celebrated their 100th anniversary.
“Traditions are such an important part of graduation at Wesley College. Some are small and intimate – such as fathers and sons exchanging letters on Valedictory morning, or the sons giving their mother a rose,” he said.
“Others are grand and celebratory, such as students from junior school to senior school coming out to form a guard of honour for our graduates. It’s all about being a community. We’re all there for each other.”
Presbyterian Ladies’ College Principal Cate Begbie said on the last formal teaching day, year 12 students wore pyjamas to school and attended a breakfast and outdoor disco party, followed by a ‘Lifers’ assembly where students who have been at PLC for 12 years are celebrated.
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