Head of Senior School - Edition 16 - 2020

Year 12 Last Day

On Friday 23 October, the Year 12s celebrated their last day of school and, as has been the case for many years, it was an emotional time for many students and staff as this day began the farewell process. The day involved a breakfast with staff, Year 12 Assembly and then last House Meetings. After Recess the Year 12s presented an Assembly to the Senior School, followed by a Guard of Honour by Year 7 to 11 students and staff, finishing with lunch. The focus at Westminster since around 1996 has been one of celebration and saying goodbye in a respectful manner.

While acknowledging their year had been impacted by COVID-19, there was a genuine sense of gratitude for what they had been able to do and the lessons they had learned during the course of the year. I would like to congratulate the Class of 2020 for the way they conducted themselves during the day and the standard they have set for those students who will follow in the coming years.

The final farewells will be on Prize Giving Ceremony Day, followed by the Valedictory Service and finally the Valedictory Dinner - all of which are on Thursday 19 November.

Prize Giving Ceremony

This year we have renamed Speech Day to Prize Giving Ceremony and, due to COVID-19, we have had to limit the number of people who are able to attend. The event will focus on the award winners, and given we are wanting to invite the parents of the award winners, there will not be any room for students to attend the occasion. As a result, students in Years 7 to 11 will be dismissed from school at the beginning of lunch at 12.50pm. If students are unable to get home they will be supervised at school until the end of the normal school day. I will send out more information regarding this day in the near future.

This year the final two farewell events, the Valedictory Service and the Valedictory Dinner for Year 12 students will be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre so we do not have to limit attendance numbers. It is set to be a great day.

David Wallage
Head of Senior School