On Friday 18 November during periods 5 and 6 (during a fortuitous rain break), our Year 9s celebrated the ‘Homecoming’. The ceremony marks the end of their rite of passage through Year 9, and celebrates the journey they have taken. This followed on from earlier ceremonies ‘The Calling’, where our “heroes” acknowledge the journey ahead and ‘The Abyss’, where in solitude they reflected on what has been and what is to come. Parents, students and their mentors (a significant adult in their life), came together to present a project they had worked on throughout the year, to give gratitude for their time and wisdom, and to proclaim seven virtues they wish to take with them into adulthood.
At the ceremony, these words were spoken:
In the stories of heroes throughout mythology, the hero returns, again traversing the threshold between the worlds, coming back to the ordinary world with the treasure they’ve gained, the lessons they’ve learnt (and perhaps a little bit of magic), which they may now use for the benefit of the wider community. They learn that life is not about me … life is about others. The hero themself has been transformed by the adventure and has gained wisdom to take into their future life. The trick in The Return is to retain the wisdom gained on the journey, to integrate that wisdom into a life, and then maybe to figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world.
Students, the people gathered here today are here for you. Your teachers, who hold this great responsibility of your learning, and hold your growth as their greatest reward. Your mentors, who spent their time with you, allowing them to see the necessity of community, as they passed on their wisdom, like Mr Miyagi to Daniel San, or Dumbledore to Harry, Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant, or Mrs McKenzie to Billy Elliot. Your parents, whose unconditional support of your growth fills them with a pride you don’t always see. It’s in the small but warm smile they give when you say something profound that they haven’t heard you say before. It’s in the welcome ache they get in their hearts when you do something they didn’t teach you, in the realisation that you didn’t need their help. It’s when you solved that problem yourself. It’s in the stare they hold on you when you aren’t looking. It’s when you’ve made your bed. It’s a pride that you may one day feel for your own children, hence the importance of what we do now.
So, here on our hill, with surrounds that show the best view in the Yarra Valley, we congratulate you. We congratulate you on the challenges you completed. We congratulate you on the lessons you’ve learned. We congratulate you on the adult you are becoming. This wasn’t meant to be easy, that’s why it is a journey. That’s why you are the hero. And heroes are always welcomed back with applause.
Along with the students’ gratitude, we here at the College also express our warm thanks to the parents and mentors for joining us on this day and are grateful for the kind words of feedback received:
"It was just beautiful and was an absolute pleasure to attend as a mentor and a mum".
"I enjoyed the experience as the mentor for my granddaughter in Year 9 as they presented their posters and letters. I felt it was very well done. Keep up the good work!"
