Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
But for the 2023 Year 12 graduates of Cobram Secondary College, Monday, February 12, was a day to celebrate as they were presented one last time at their graduation ceremony.
Proceedings started promptly at 9.30am as graduates were welcomed and given their school certificates by principal Kimberley Tempest and Australian Principals Federation Victorian president Tina King.
Fronting them was the entire staff and student cohort of CSC, as well as parents and special guests, including Moira Shire Council chair of the panel of administrators John Tanner.
Bella Hart, who was the school’s dux of 2023, struggled to hold back tears as she bade farewell to her fellow students and the teachers who, she said, were instrumental in supporting her.
Bella also gave special thanks to her family before wishing her fellow graduates all the best.
“The future isn’t something that we enter, but it is something that we create, and it is now time that we create our own individual futures outside of these school gates,” she said in her speech.
Speaking after the ceremony, Bella’s mother, Maria Hart, was brimming with pride.
“We’re very proud of Bella and what she’s achieved,” she said.
After the formalities, graduates got together for the traditional throwing of the graduation caps into the air and photos.
Caitlyn Knight was another student graduating at the ceremony.
The former CSC school captain had mixed feelings about graduating.
“It feels very refreshing, although quite scary, as I’m no longer in the protective school environment,” Caitlyn said.
Ms Tempest said graduation day was the best day of the year for her and her staff and was what motivated them to teach.
As for her now-former students, Ms Tempest encouraged them to embrace the future.
“My parting message is ‘take the world. It’s yours,’“ she said.