Celebrations

These past two weeks have flown for the Grade 10's. On Friday last week we celebrated together as a group of staff and students at the Graduation Dinner held at the Country Club Casino. The dinner was a fantastic success and a wonderful celebration for completing their final year of education at Kings Meadows High School. It was amazing to see the students formally dressed and looking mature and grown up. A massive thank you to all the families who had helped to prepare our students for this wonderful night, you did an amazing job as they all looked incredible.

In addition, we must thank the Graduation Dinner Committee of students and staff who put this wonderful night together. Thank you to our student committee, Mrs Pel, Mrs Elliott, Mrs Breen, Mr Wood and Ms Hudson for their efforts in setting up at the casino, it looked wonderful, just like an enchanted garden. Thank you also to Mrs Ponting and Mrs Rigby in the office for designing and printing the invitations, menu booklet and place settings for the tables. This took considerable time and effort to complete and we thank them for giving such diligence and precision to making them look so professional.

Our Presentation Assembly was held on Monday where we celebrated the success of our students in all grades. Congratulations to all our award recipients, they were thoroughly well deserved for an outstanding Grade 10 year.

Tuesday saw our students travel to Greens Beach for their “mystery” picnic. A day of beautiful weather, great company and lots of fun was had by both the Grade 10 staff and students. It was wonderful to be able to spend one of our last days together as a group having fun, swimming and relaxing on the beach. Thank you to the Grade 10 staff and in particular Mrs Pel for the organisation of such an awesome day.

Our last day together as a grade involved a final Grade Assembly held by Mrs Pel and Mrs Elliott. The assembly was our final time together to laugh, cry and enjoy ourselves. Thank you to Ella Fullbrook who prepared a fantastic slideshow of memories. This was a wonderful trip down memory lane reminiscing and viewing some pictures from the previous years. Mrs Elliott prepared a fun Kahoot for us to laugh at and the teachers put together an amusing video. The morning also gave our students the opportunity to rehearse for our final Graduation Assembly and prior to the Graduation Assembly our students were invited to a morning tea together, prepared and cooked by our Grade 10 teachers plus other volunteer staff. Thank you to all staff who came in early before school to prepare this for our students, it is very much appreciated. The culmination of our last day was the Graduation Assembly. This involved musical items, dance, videos, farewell speeches and the presentation of the Graduation certificates. As parents were not allowed in attendance, due to Covid venue density guidelines, the assembly was filmed and recorded and can be viewed on the school Facebook page as well as in this newsletter. Thank you to our parents, guardians and families for your understanding on this.

The final Grade 10 newsletter report would not be complete without thanking a multitude of people.

Firstly, I would like to thank our Grade 10 Class Teachers; Ms Karen Furley 10A, Mr Mick Bent 10B, Ms Mel Hudson 10C, Mr Solomon Walker-Bowd 10D and Mrs Katie Mathews 10E for going above and beyond in their roles as class teachers to our Grade 10 students. I know our students will miss them next year. Thank you to Mrs Belinda Selby for supporting our Beacon students this year and for your general knowledge of all things Grade 10. Thank you to Mr James Guy for organising and sourcing the many work placements for our Grade 10’s throughout the year. Without your dedication and hard work our students would not have had the opportunities they were given. Thank you also to Mr Glenn Wood, our Packages of Learning teacher this year for providing this opportunity to our students and for giving our students valuable skills for the workforce.

Mrs Katie Wightman, Ms Kate Blaubaum, Mrs Maree Pinnington and Ms Jeanna Bolton have been the ever-present guidance and support to our students as they progressed through their years at Kings Meadows High School. Mrs Wightman nurtured us through years 7 and 8 and Ms Blaubaum in the senior years 9 and 10. Their professionalism, care and dedication in to supporting our students has been exceptional, thank you. Thank you and best wishes also to Mrs Pinnington on her new role as School Review Leader, our students have been lucky to have such a dedicated, caring, and respected leader as their Principal. Although Ms Bolton has only been with us a short time she has fitted in well with our school and our students have instantly made connections with her.

Finally, to our Grade Leader for years 7 to 9, Mr Tom Hartley. Thank you for guiding our students through the early years, you are a much-loved member of our Grade and our students are very appreciative for all that you did for them.

Last but certainly not least a huge thank you must go to Mrs Megan Pel for all that she has done for our Grade 10 students. Your care and concern for our students and your wonderful organisation have been an asset to our grade. The Grade 10 students will miss you.

To the parents, families and guardians of our Grade 10 students, thank you for allowing us to teach, inspire and educate your children for the last four years. We have enjoyed all the moments, the good and the challenging and we hope we have in some way shaped your children into respectful, kind and courageous people. We will miss them and think of them fondly.

Good luck Grade 10’s. Follow your dreams, take on challenges, aim high, make good choices and surround yourself with good people. The staff of Kings Meadows High School wish you all the best for the future.