Year 12 have officially graduated from Yass High School. A special graduation celebration assembly gave them an opportunity to receive well-deserved awards and for their teachers to say goodbye. The school’s dux for last year was also announced and went to Chrissie Davis, who gave encouragement and advice to the graduating class.
Year 12 Year advisor Mr Ian Munn congratulated Year 12 and added it was a good thing he was going on long service leave because the school would feel decidedly empty without the class of 2022.
“The tumbleweeds would roll through our desolate quadrangle, and occasionally whooshing wind whistling through the concrete and brick to break the deafening silence,” said Mr Munn, in true English teacher form.
“I’ve been privileged as your year advisor to have a front row seat to witness the journeys you’ve all had since starting year seven,” he said. Mr Munn also recognised the challenges Year 12 have faced and overcome since Year 10 throughout COVID and learning over Zoom and commented on how the year group has grown in maturity throughout their schooling.
“Once we survived the volatile tempest of Year 10 in 2020, this year group settled right down. In Year 11, the storming clouds of division, defiance, and deviousness made way for a calm, harmonious rainbow of academia and intellectual curiosity. Whilst it was now a smaller cohort, it seemed like everybody sailed into senior high school with the determination to succeed and a genuine interest in their subjects,” he said.
“Hold onto your imaginations. In your imaginations, anything and everything is possible, and when you believe it’s possible, you can make it real,” Mr Munn concluded.
Principal at Yass High School, Mrs Linda Langton, also acknowledged the effort Year 12 made despite being faced with enormous changes that have impacted the world and the school.
“The COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, when you were in year 10. You have managed your way through this change and arrived at a new life consistency. You are living historical change, that you’ll be able to tell your children about as you guide them to be adaptive and resilient,” Mrs Langton told Year 12.
“Remember the special moments that you have shared at Yass high school, and value the people around you who have known you from childhood to adulthood,” she said.
Chrissie Davis was awarded Dux of 2021. She thanked all her teachers who helped her achieve this result, and imparted on Year 12 the wisdom of a former student as they head into the final HSC exams starting October 12th.
“To be named dux of Yass High School 2021 is truly such a privilege and something I will always hold close,” said Miss Davis.
“Congratulations to year 12 on your graduation. Embrace the fact that this is one of the first and only times in your life where you have the choice to work hard and prove something to yourself. Make yourself proud, so you can look back and know you did your best regardless of the score.”
“What you learn about the power of hard work and doing the best for yourself is something you will carry with you in the world outside of school,” she said.
Major awards are as follows:
John Allen Memorial Award for Special Achievement in Vocational Education & Ron Davis Award for Excellence in Rural Studies – Jarrah Apelt.
Yass TAFE Encouragement Award for Hairdressing SBAT – Darcy Coburn.
Geordie Whitfield Memorial Award for Hospitality – Tylah Newcombe.
Yass Earth Movers Award for Excellence in Senior Business Studies – Tamsyn Streatfeild.
Winnaguy Award for Cultural Leadership – Kathryn Duncan.
Winnaguy Award for Perseverance and Determination & Yass Wellness Centre Indigenous Education Award – Cecelia Chambers.
Kristy McBain Award for Hard Work and Determination – Liam Monaghan.
Yass Wellness Centre Year Advisor’s Award – Maddison Leahy & Luke Box.
Lion’s Club of Yass Award for School Service and Citizenship & Premier’s Sporting Challenge – Charlie Beck.
Rotary Excellence Awards for Senior School Service and Citizenship – Luke Box, Noah Groom, and Liam Monaghan.
Rotary Excellence Award for Senior Leadership and Citizenship & Berinba Art Award & The Australian Defence Force Leadership and Teamwork Scholarship – Mary-Lara Oakey.
Commonwealth Bank Award for Achievement in Science and Mathematics – William De Silva.
Yass Priceline Pharmacy Award for Achievement in PDHPE & CWA Award for Leadership, Citizenship and Service – Maddison Leahy.
Yass Newsagency Award for Senior Humanities & Yass Valley Times Award for Excellence in Senior English – Jaxyn Vickers.
Tootsie’s Award for Art and Design for Senior Art & Reuben F. Scarf Award for Special and Consistent Effort – Georgia Paull.
Yass High School Values Award, sponsored by Steve’s Quality Cars – Maddison Leahy, Amanda Jones-Hope, and Ryland Jones-Hope.
Don McColl Memorial Award for Excellence in Year 12 Science and Mathematics – Ryland Jones-Hope.
Yass High School Sporting Blue for Swimming – Bronte Anderson.
Australian Olympic Committee Change Maker Award – Bronte Anderson and Cooper Thornley.
Nielson Award for Best and Fairest in Football, B&V Engineering Award for Industrial Technology, RSL Award for Leadership, Citizenship, and Service, & Ampol All-Rounder Award – Cooper Thornley.
RSL Award for Leadership, Special Service, and Citizenship & ADF Innovators Award for STEM Motivation – Trent Robinson.
Yass High School Medal – Chelsea Shannon.
Southerly Jones
