My youngest child finishes school forever this week

Parenting

By minsmash on November 13, 2012 • ( 22 Comments )

MissM is in her last week of Year 12.  Her exams are all over!  She will soon be saying farewell to the College where she has spent the last five years completing her high school studies.  She has been very happy at this school and has made a very wide circle of friends, all lovely girls.  She has also done extraordinarily well in her studies and I am very proud of her.

It has surprised me how emotional I am feeling this week.  On the one hand I am rejoicing the end of having to pay school fees.  On the other hand, it means my little girl (my youngest!) is well on the path to independence and a new university life that I will not have much part in, zooming to the dreaded age of 18 where “they can do what they want”.

This last week for the year 12’s has been exam free as they finished exams last week.

Monday  – was ‘Safe Choices Day’ an informative day with regards to planning for safe and enjoyable celebrations at the end of Year 12.  The theme was ‘Celebrate but Watch your Mate’ where they were visited by the Qld Police Service who spoke about safety at schoolies, the Red Frogs who spoke on surviving schoolies.  Later lessons were on exploring issues that many youth of today have to deal with.  MissM rolled her eyes when I asked about it saying “oh we’re not children – it’s just common sense”, but secretly I was SO glad that they had this day for it is all information that I want at the forefront of their minds when they converge on the Gold Coast for schoolies!  “Did they tell you to never accept a drink from a stranger?” I asked.  “Oh mum – for god’s sake – as if we don’t know that!”.  Well I needed to say it and so I did. 🙂  I have some more up my sleeve that I will slip in before she heads off on Saturday!

Tuesday (today) – Year 12 students are not required to go to school as the Academic Staff will be finalising their exam results.  MissM, however, has gone to school for a private drama lesson, in preparation for an audition in late November.

Wednesday – not sure what will fill the Year 12’s day, but it will probably include rehearsals for Speech Night which is at 7pm on this night.

Thursday – Year 12 students meet with their subject teachers throughout the day to discuss final assessment and results.

Friday – THE BIG DAY!!  Year 12 girls attend a breakfast at 7:30am.  It is tradition that the Year 11’s provide and serve this breakfast.  Parents come along at 9:30am for the graduation service.  This is followed by the College’s traditional hat throw.  All Year 12’s stand in a large circle and throw their hats in the air – their final farewell.  They then leave the school for the final time.  There will be a lot of tears on this day!!  Teenage girls are VERY emotional!  Mothers are very emotional!!  On Friday I will have to go armed with lots of tissues and be sure to have my sunglasses!

Friday Night:  Valedictory Dinner.  As part of the ceremony on the evening, the girls who have joined the Old Girls’ Association (MissM has) will be inducted and presented with the OGA badge.

Saturday – Off to schoolies.  Exciting for them, nerve-wracking for the parents.  I am more looking forward to the following Saturday when they return home!

Where did the years go?  It only seems like yesterday that my little MissM started Year 1!  After this week, I no longer will have ANY children at school.

I wish all Year 12’s a fun but safe schoolies week next week and all the very best for their futures!

The photograph included with this post is of MissM on her very first day of school (Year 1).  It is not the best quality image as it was scanned over a decade ago when technology was not like it is now.  I haven’t yet managed to find the original to re-scan.

This post has been linked to Jess’s ‘I blog on Tuesdays’.  Click on the link below to see heaps of other great posts.

Categories: Parenting

Tagged as: #graduation, #highschool, #school, #schoolies, #teenage, #teenagers, #university, #Year12