Farewell to the Class of 2025
Wenona said goodbye to Year 12 this week in a series of events that included ceremonies steeped in tradition and spirited celebrations marking new beginnings.
The Valedictory journey unfolded across multiple venues and occasions, each offering its own distinctive tribute to this remarkable cohort.
At St Thomas' Church, families gathered for a Valedictory service. It featured readings and prayers offered by student leaders and senior staff, each focusing on different aspects of contribution and community. The Wenona Singers provided a beautiful musical accompaniment, performing Sing and Rejoice.
The more formal academic recognition took place at the Graduation and Prize Giving ceremony in Wenona's Big Gym, where Chair of the Board of Governors Ms Catherine West and Principal Ms Linda Douglas presided over the presentation of prizes and graduation certificates.
Head Prefect Zara Yee used the metaphor of stories to trace their growth from picture books in Kindergarten to the complex narratives they now understand. Her speech wove together the progression of literature in their lives with their personal development, acknowledging how both simple childhood tales and sophisticated texts had shaped their understanding of the world.
Head of Senior College Ms Santina Restuccia delivered a strong address drawing upon the cohort's chosen theme of ‘No Grit, No Pearl’. She spoke of how pearls are formed layer by layer around a grain of grit, drawing parallels with the way the students have grown through challenges and experiences. "Like a pearl, your growth has been layered," she told them. "Each challenge you faced and overcame added a new layer — building resilience, character, and wisdom, until you became the remarkable, multifaceted young women you are today".
"Now that we are moving on from this chapter of secondary school, I hope all your later chapters are filled with joy, happiness, success…” said Head Prefect Zara in her address. But she continued, “…and love yet sorrow grief and loss -- because after all that is what makes a good story”. It was a recognition of the need to embrace the full range of life’s experiences in order to develop depth and strength of character, a key message of their Wenona education as Renaissance women.
“Now that we are moving on from this chapter of secondary school, I hope all your later chapters are filled with joy, happiness, success…" said Head Prefect Zara in her address. But she continued, "…and love yet sorrow grief and loss -- because after all that is what makes a good story." It was a recognition that resilience comes not from avoiding life's challenges but from learning to navigate them with grace, embodying the depth and wisdom that defines their Wenona education as Renaissance women.
Less formal farewell events included the Year 12 Teachers Gratitude Morning Tea, an opportunity for the students to pay tribute to the educators who have supported them throughout their journey. Another highlight was the Valedictory Dinner on Wednesday night, which brought together families and the School community to honour the graduating class.
The 2025 Year 12 Fun Day theme was ‘Neverland’, a choice that Ms Restuccia described as reflecting "the spirit of never truly wanting to grow up, keeping the magic alive, and embracing imagination, adventure and possibility". Like Peter Pan's directive to "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning", the graduates have been given the tools to chart their own course in the knowledge that Wenona remains a place of security and community.