Tuesday 8 December was the final day for our Junior and Middle School students at Tintern Schools.
We started the morning with the Tintern Year 6 Graduation Breakfast, where we paid tribute to our Year 6 girls and heard a special speech from Moya Zhang (YG2014), the 2014 School Dux who received an ATAR of 99.95. She told the girls to make sure they study hard, but have a balanced approach to their studies – for Moya, music and sport were all a huge part of her life at Tintern.
Following the Breakfast was the Prep – Year 2 Family Christmas Morning. The boys all performed their Christmas Carols spectacularly well.
We then went to Tintern Junior School where all girls from ELC – Year 6 gathered to reflect on the year. It was also an opportunity for the girls to farewell Father Taplin and present him with a special card they had made.
The Tintern and Southwood Middle Schools Assembly was a very special occasion. All Year 9 students were presented with their Middle School Graduation Certificates, and we announced the winners of the Elspeth Adamson Awards, Jerry Masters Award and the Endeavour Awards. The Middle School leaders called Father Taplin to the stage to thank him for his significant contribution to the school and to share a special video they had prepared.
In the middle of the day, a number of parents gathered together at the special lunch hosted by the Southwoood Parents Club. It was a great opportunity for parents to catch up before the summer holiday.
We finished the day with a Southwood Prep – Year 9 Assembly where, as Mr Kenny said, we have farewelled ‘Papa T’ more times than John Farnham. The boys took the opportunity to present Father Taplin with his very own Southwood hoodie!
There were tears of happiness, lots of hugs and celebrating by the students for the end of a very successful school year. We look forward to seeing everyone back again in 2016.
