See ya, school
Year 12 students across the Goulburn Valley and Victoria are celebrating their final day at school before exams begin in a week’s time.
Emotions at Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s Wanganui campus were high during the last day of class yesterday, but for many of the students, online learning took its toll.
“It’s sad, but it doesn’t feel as sad as I would feel normally because it hasn’t been the same throughout the year,” Bailey McNab said.
Maya Hampshire agreed.
“It feels like we’re finally just now getting the chance to experience Year 12,” she said.
Exams begin on Wednesday, October 28, and the students said they were as prepared as they could be.
“We’re not completely prepared, we didn’t get the same amount of quality class time as everyone else,” Laura O’Connor said.
Abbie Newman said they would “just do the best they can”.
As expected, schoolwork was put to the side and the students spiced up their uniforms to celebrate.
Principal Ken Murray said the school was organising a more traditional celebration once restrictions had eased after exams.
“We’re still looking to come back and graduate together in late November,” he said.
An event where we can get dressed up and have a bit of a celebration.”
Meanwhile, at Notre Dame College Year 12 students have experienced one of the worst side-effects of the pandemic.
The college has now recorded six positive coronavirus cases and is closed until tomorrow.
At least 150 students and twodozen staff have been identified as close contacts and are in isolation.
Principal John Cortese said the students were sad their last day couldn’t go ahead.
“From day one, when the calendar came out you knew this was meant to be the last day,” he said.
“You build up to looking forward to this.”
Some of the students directed to isolate were in Year 12 and Mr Cortese said it wouldn’t have been right to go ahead with last day ceremonies without the entire cohort. “It wouldn’t have been fair,” he said.
“Everyone should have the same opportunity.”
Mr Cortese said they also needed to look out for the welfare of the VCE students as they prepared for their exams.
He hopes the graduation ceremony will go ahead on November 12 instead.
“The Year 12s have had two very tough years and I’m pretty proud,” he said.
“They’ve been wonderful the whole way through, I couldn’t ask for more.”