As we speed toward the end of the school year, we need to step back, take a breath and savour each event as they occur. We look forward to the upcoming ELC Christmas Concerts on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Band Concert on Thursday morning, the Summer Strings Concert at 4pm on Thursday (in the IWA), and our own Christmas Carols on Friday.
The Year 6 families celebrate on Saturday with a Graduation Dinner, followed on Monday 4 December with the Graduation Ceremony at 5pm. Monday morning sees us celebrating the year with the Thank You Assembly, at which time the 2024 leaders will be inducted. Our last assembly is held on Tuesday with the Year 6 students farewelled for the very last time.
It is an emotional time for many, but this year it has significant meaning for me. I have just enjoyed joining the Year 3s on their Portsea camp, my last ever camp. I had the privilege of doing a reading at the Whole School Carol Service in St Paul’s on Monday, my last official whole-school event. I will also have the privilege of reading the Leaving Prayer at the Year 6 Graduation, another last.
People have asked what I’m looking forward to next year and the answer is easy: spending more time with my husband and family, not getting up at 5am and arriving at school by 6.30am, not having to organise staffing and timetables on the spur of the moment and not looking at the disappointment of students and staff when a wet day timetable is announced.
But what will I miss: my wonderful colleagues, the smiles and good mornings from the students at drop off, the passing conversation with parents, the laughter of the children during my Literature enrichment program… my Carey family!
I thank each and every one of you for making my years at Carey a positive and enriching experience. I will steel myself as the last day approaches, and remember, as Dr Seuss said,
Don’t cry because it’s over,
Smile because it happened.
I will definitely savour the friendships I have forged and the many memories that I have made. Thank you!
Margaret Adams
Deputy Head of Junior School Donvale
