Year 6 Graduation

from Evergreen Ties Summer 2022

Jump Jam

Our Year 6 students enjoy their rite of passage celebrating the end of their Junior School years as they step up to Senior School.

The Graduation has several enjoyable stages: first, the theme launch and the receiving of the invitations; second, a presentation of a beautiful gift to wear on the evening; and lastly, the Graduation event itself on, 3 November 2022.

In September, girls attended what they thought was a regular Year 6 Chapel service, one Wednesday morning; much to their surprise it was, in fact, the surprise launch of their Graduation. It became evident that this was no normal Chapel service when the girls arrived to walk under House flags held by the parent committee and saw the stunning decorations of flowers and vines lining the aisle and each pew.

Head of Junior School, Felecia Tomich, introduced the 2022 Year 6 Graduation theme of ‘The Secret Garden’ by recalling key themes from the classic tale by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published in 1911. Girls were welcomed to the front in their House groups to receive their ‘Secret Garden’ themed invitations.

Sylvie Haldane, reflected on what the launch of the Graduation meant for her…

“Lined up in our House lines, the red flag for Melrose waving in the breeze. Year 6 awaited some exciting news, though we didn’t know what was to come.

After walking across our school grounds, we filed into the Chapel. Our excitement revved, and we looked forward, our mouths open in shock. The Chapel, which was normally a place of worship, had turned into the most enchanted place ever! Lain out before us were beautiful cupcakes, and we knew this was no ordinary Chapel day.

Petals were scattered around, and fake vines were draped over the pews. There was a photographer waiting to take our photos. It was absolutely magical and made me feel so grown up!

Finally, it was Melrose’s turn. Our names were called, and we each marched up enthusiastically. All of a sudden it was my turn... ‘Sylvie Haldane’ rang out loud and clear. My excitement exploded and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I walked up and shook Miss Tyler’s hand and gasped at the stunning invitation in my hands.

My name was written on the front, spelled out in delicate, cursive font. A red satin ribbon was carefully tied around it, with lavender tucked behind the bow.

We weren’t allowed to open them yet, so we clung to them, knowing that this was our super special graduation reveal!

Each of us grabbed a cupcake and we skipped out of the Chapel, all trying to figure out what could possibly be hiding inside our envelopes. Our photos were taken and we all felt glamorous, beaming as the camera click-clicked away. Holding up our cupcakes proudly, we sauntered back to class, thinking about what lay ahead.

Year 6 has absolutely FLOWN by! The graduation reveal was the best start to graduation we could’ve hoped for. I hope you will love graduation as much as I do!

The invitations featured imagery of a mystical garden, presented inside envelopes which were beautifully decorated in their Housecoloured ribbons and dried lavender, on which their names were beautifully penned in gold calligraphy. Rev. Francois Joubert closed the celebration with a blessing and girls filed out under their House flags. Then, thanks to talented parents, each girl was presented with a lovingly-made cupcake which also had a nod to the Secret Garden theme with butterflies and sparkles. Girls gathered outside the Chapel and on the steps of the Robertson Building for keepsake photos and then gathered to watch the film back in their classroom.

Two weeks before their Graduation, girls were asked to meet in St Cuthbert’s Junior School’s very own Secret Garden. They sat together in anticipation and erupted into squeals when Ms Tomich escorted Gilbert, the ‘By Love Serve’ dog, into the garden. Each girl was called up to receive a jewellery charm, fashioned in the style of an antique key with the St Cuthbert’s crest. Girls were invited to wear it on a bracelet or necklace on their graduation dress. The Committee’s hope is that these charms will remind girls for many years to come about their special years in the St Cuthbert’s Junior School, as well as recalling the Graduation itself.

The Graduation

On 3 November 2022, after a very special build-up, the wait was finally over. Girls attended the Graduation event in Clouston Hall which had been spectacularly decorated thanks to the creative skills of our parent volunteers. Dinner was served by the Year 5 parents, allowing the Year 6 parents to relax with their graduating daughters and enjoy great food, dancing and make memories together.

Year 6 girls, we wish you well as you enter your next St Cuthbert’s College chapter as 2023 Senior students.