What is the special ingredient that bonds a group of similarly aged students into a cohort? A gathering of individuals into a community and turns a school into a home?

I suspect that the answer lies in the series of shared experiences – successes and failures on the sporting field, memories of creative assembly dances and magic tricks, amazing moments in the performing arts and funny anecdotes about the unique characters that they have encountered along the journey. For some it was playovers in their Junior school days or attendance at one anothers’ B’nei Mitzvah. Some others have joined later and have bonded over hot drinks in the Common Room or study groups before SACs.

This week marks the end of formal classes for our Year 12 students, Shichvat Tal. On behalf of our school community I wish to extend our congratulations and gratitude to this extraordinary year level and the wonderful, positive influence that they have had on our school.

Our hope for our graduates is that they leave us as fine young people, secure in their sense of self, with a strong set of values and a capacity to thrive in their chosen endeavours. I am confident that everyone who encounters Shichvat Tal feels what I do. I see a cohort who has enormous potential and is bubbling with energy and enthusiasm. They are ready and willing to make a positive contribution to their community and the world around them.

This group has not had an easy run of it over the last few years. They have suffered through lockdowns, remote learning, and a range of disruptions to their ordinary school experience. That said, Shichvat Tal have maintained their humour, positivity and energy. They are excellent role models for other year levels and have struck up genuine friendships with younger students. 

I’ll admit that their teachers were briefly worried about their chutzpah and self-assuredness during their middle years of schooling. However, over time, their noisiness, cheek and funny antics have been superseded by their diligence, warmth and zest for life. They have matured into wonderful students who show genuine appreciation to their teachers and seem to try their best at whatever they do.

The measure of this group will not be the ATAR results that they achieve or the university placements that they will obtain later this year. What really matters is that in 2022 we are graduating a group that we can be proud of. A cohort of individuals primed to be their best and I cannot wait to see how they will use their blessings.

I take this opportunity to wish Shichvat Tal the very best for SWOTVAC and the upcoming examinations.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Marc Light