Oakleigh Grammar have farewelled their Year 12 Class of 2023 in style, with a week of festivities involving the students, their parents and guardians, educators and staff and members of the School Board.
Starting with a Year 12 Graduation Assembly, that saw students of all year levels from prep to the departing seniors.
Parish Priest of Sts Anargiri and Oakleigh Grammar Chaplain, Father Stavros Kakavas, attended the event to provide his blessings.
He implored that during these closing chapters of their academic journey, the students draw their strength from three key pillars: their parents, their teachers and their faith.
Principal Mark Robertson also delivered a tribute to his departing Year 12s, commending them for their “indomitable spirit, resilience in the face of adversity, and their deep-rooted bond to the illustrious Oakleigh Grammar community.”
Year 12 captains Duncan Bain and Chloe Sheer also gave speeches that captivated the audience and in a symbolic moment, the prep students, who will make up the Class of 2035, handed each Year 12 student with a flower as their names were called out.
Then came a gathering for a church ceremony at the Sts Anargiri Parish, with the guidance of Father Stavros, followed by a Graduation Dinner
The dinner, at Merrimu Receptions in Chadstone, featured speeches from the captains, Duncan and Chloe, that captivated the audience.
Duncan paid tribute to his educators and shared a story of inspiration from one in particular, his basketball coach.
“Earlier this year, our school basketball team played in a grand final, and before the game, our coach gave us this book, and written in it was one word. ‘Legacy’,” he said.
“Like this book, we can always start on a blank page and provide ourselves with opportunities to develop as individuals and expand our knowledge further than what it was yesterday. To create our own legacies.”
Chloe spoke about the connection students have with their Greek culture while also quoting a famous singer in a shout out to her peers.
“Something about our Year level is that we always have embraced our Greek culture and that’s something really cool that not many other schools have amongst the students. This is something we should be proud of,” she said.
“We have all shared so much together. And that’s just it then… we’re done. ‘The scary thing is, you’re on your own now. But the cool thing is, You’re on your own now.’ (– Taylor Swift.)
“I wish you all so much happiness in your life because we deserve it.”
The event culminated with an awards presentation and a night of festivity and dance.
