Starting school is amazing and can sometimes be an overwhelming experience for parents and students. Yet, at the same time, at the “other” end of the school, the end can be both wonderful and daunting.
The Year 12 final year can be exciting and I have loved the opportunity to create a few little ceremonies to make each special moment seem significant. The handing of the Senior Jerseys, Senior Leadership badges and the Senior badges to the Year 12s of 2022 has brought a moment of joy and hopefully reflection for the students. I have shared many Bible verses to hopefully inspire the students, but one key verse for the year was:
Romans 12:9-13 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Here is a video and photo of the Senior Jersey dedication and the handing over of the Senior badges to the students. I was inspired by a number of things for these special occasions.
Senior Jersey Dedication- I reworked a speech former Australian cricketer, Adam Gilchrist, gave as he handed over the coveted “baggy green” to first-time Australian cricketer Alex Carey on his debut. Here is the speech adapted with thanks to Adam Gilchrist and the Australian Cricket Team:
“Grade 12s 2022, you deserve this. Rest assured that you deserve this, there is absolutely no way this is given out lightly.
“It’s been a courageous journey, you have made it. Each of you has your own story of how you have got here today. I can imagine, that it has not been without its highs and lows.
“The prime thing about this senior jersey is that there’s a lot of value placed on this, but not for a moment is there a sense of entitlement that comes with it.
“It doesn’t make you any more special than anyone else in society or this school. But what I will say is that if you go throughout this year with humility, if you live each day with integrity, honesty and complete commitment to this group of people here – and I know that you will – and a sense of fun, the people in this grade, in this school, your parents and your teachers, will ride with you through the highs and, probably more importantly, when the lows and challenges come, they will pick you up and carry you.”
Senior badge handover- I took the Grade 12s on a walk. They did not know where we were going. I took them out to the “kiss and go” area. The area where their family and friends say goodbye to them after their clap out. I read to them the story of blind Bartimeaus (Mark chapter 10). Highlighting the importance that sometimes, we need to cry out for help, we need to stand with courage in the face of adversity. Sometimes, we have to let people know, what we want them to do for us. Mr Kasselman also shared that as the students take their badge, walk back into the school, this is a badge to wear with pride, to accept the responsibility to be leaders in school by how we act, how we dress and how we speak. Be students of action, not just words.
Russell Modlin, Year Level Coordinator
GCC families can see all the photos on Pixevety here.