On Tuesday 16 November at the Adelaide Town Hall, we celebrated the many achievements of our graduating class of 2021, our staff and our community.  The year 12 Graduation Ceremony was an opportunity for us to express our gratitude to all who have contributed to Woodville High School’s success over the past 12 months.  Even though it was a challenge to try to encapsulate a whole year of creativity, learning, growth and accomplishments within a couple of hours, I was confident that through the awards, prizes, presentations and performances we witnessed on the evening, we would experience the essence of all, that makes Our Woodville such a vibrant place to be.

The last two years of the global pandemic have highlighted that life itself is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. CS Lewis once said ‘Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny’. Everyone will face adversity in their lives, but the key is how we choose to respond, it is evident this year’s Year 12 students responded by adapting and honing new skills to deal with adversity. Skills such as creativity, innovation, flexibility and the ability to embrace new and unknown challenges. Their growth through learning and serving in our school community can definitely be described as extraordinary.

As graduates they will grace the corridors of universities, registered training organisations and workplaces and will contribute to the community in a myriad of ways. With them on their educational journey they will have the Woodville High School values, the knowledge, skills and competencies to change the world for the better. Most importantly they will have a sense of service that will continue to inspire people in the future.

In particular, I would like to thank Sudarshan Kabbinahittalu and Dang Vy Anh Nguyen and all the Schools Vice Captains and Student Voice for their strong leadership and generosity of spirit. It has been an honour to witness these leaders model incredible resilience and perseverance as they continued to serve the school community in a year of uncertainty. Their enthusiasm and energy has brought our school motto and core values to life.

I hope you all the year 12 Students achieve success in every aspect of their life and that their future be all that they hoped that it would be. As they navigate their life and the world, I reminded them that their mind is the key that will enable them to unlock a world of possibility. Their imagination is infinite. 

All Year 12’s go with our fondest farewells and best wishes as they step out of the school gates and forge a pathway in life beyond school.

I would like to thank the staff across the school for their commitment in guiding the students through their studies. This ceremony was for us a fitting tribute to the privilege that we feel, in having been part, even though it is a small part of their life journey. There can be no better affirmation of that privilege in seeing them walk across that stage and smile. On behalf of Woodville High School, I wish them every success, joy and great fortune for the years to come.

On behalf of the entire Woodville High School community, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to all our sponsors for their generous contribution to the 2021 award winners.

Woodville High School is committed to the nurturing of imagination in our students inspiring them to follow their dreams and reach for the stars. Your partnership with us is integral to their success and belief in their own power to make a difference, wherever they choose to live and work around the world.

On behalf of the school, I thank you for your commitment to the Woodville High School Community as we work towards defining new levels of excellence and building a world-class education system.

ORGANISATIONS

INDIVIDUALS

  • The family of late Anastasia Anastasiadis
  • Mr Alex Semmens
  • The Honourable Joe Szakacs MP
  • Mr Rohan Chorpa
  • Ms Anne Crawford
  • Mr Evan Frangos
  • Mr Sam Heathershaw
  • Mr Bruce McAvaney
  • Dr Peter Brooker
  • Mr Jeff MortonThe late Mrs. Dawn Palmer
  • Professor Lester Irabinna Rigney
  • Dr Sam Shahin

In a blink of an eye, the graduates leave us and we acknowledge the gifts they take with them and hope that a part of this community remains with them. In adversity, I hope the lessons they learnt at Woodville can be their North Star, a source of inspiration, a clear voice in their heart that will be with them always, comforting, directing and reassuring them.

It has been my privilege to be their Principal in 2021. I thank them for the beautiful memories.

Student leadership

Before I announce the Middle Years and Senior Years Head Prefects and Deputy Prefects for 2022, I want to highlight that all students have the capacity to be a leader by modelling best behaviour, applying themselves diligently to their studies, interacting positively and respectfully with others and by engaging enthusiastically and proudly in all school activities. A position and title does not teach someone how to be a leader. Leadership is an attitude, cultivated over time and I hope as part of the Woodville High School Community they all become the servant leaders our society needs.

It is our aim to provide every opportunity for students to develop leadership skills with a view to fostering not only the ability to lead but also a genuine desire to lead and serve others. When practicing leadership we expect our students to be courageous, honest, fair-minded, just and dedicated to making a difference.

Servant leadership was evident in the actions of Sudarshan Kabbinahittalu and Dang Vy Anh Nguyen and all the Schools Vice Captains and Student Voice in their leadership, community service and generosity of spirit. They showed a commitment to serve others and were held in high respect by students and staff. They have set the bar high for best practice in student leadership and I thank each of them for their counsel, opinions and sound advice throughout the year.

The role of Head Prefect and Deputy Prefect is significant as you not only need to uphold and promote the core values and expectations of the School but also contribute to the development of a strong school spirit through leadership and the development of inclusive relationships.

It is with great privilege that I announce the Head Prefects and Deputy Prefects for 2022:

  • Senior Head Prefect – Perry McDonald Moult
  • Senior Deputy Head Prefect – Hong Doan Le
  • Middle Head Prefect – Frankie Fielke
  • Middle Deputy Prefect – Yasmina Vunic

As Head Prefect and Deputy Prefect, they will lead, motivate, influence and encourage an exceptional cohort of students. As Prefects the experience that they will gain in Student leadership; working with school executive, leading the portfolios, their peers, organising events, being advocates, leading change across the school and representing the School will be great training and experience for their future leadership roles in life.

As a community we congratulate these students on their appointment and thank all the students who had the confidence and courage to apply. We are confident that the new Prefects will have what it takes to inspire the students of Our Woodville in the year ahead, to set a very high standard and hold their course with courage.

John Quincy Adam once said if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. I very much look forward to working with each of the leaders in their new leadership roles and nurturing their imagination to change the world for collective well-being and sustainable development.