Wow! What a way to start a message and what an absolute frenzied but storied week it has been in the life of the Class of 2026! In fact, all of the below occurred over three days, so what a ‘half week’ it has been for these lucky graduates.
Traditions are vital to maintain, respect and honour and this was no more evident than this week, with our incoming Class of 2027 Leaders providing a wonderful Graduation Breakfast for our Year 12s, which was only the start of an action-packed day for the students. Laughs were aplenty, the food even more so, coupled with some fine reminiscing tunes of the eras both before and during their time with us here at the College.
After breakfast, we all headed to Adventure World where everyone got to just remember that being a ‘kid’ is still OK and, to be honest, all of them made the most of all of the rides in the dizzying, chilled or water and slide categories. Seeing happy groups of Year 12s running to their next slide or ride was really nice to see, as well as using the time to have a coffee or ice cream, no doubt with the realisation that the end of a chapter is approaching. The highlight of the day was our being late to head home… because a group were hiding to sneak another ride on the Goliath in! The mischief of being an excited child should never leave these lucky Year 12s, in my opinion.
If I were to describe Wednesday as an “epic”, you will see why! It started off with the Year 12s donning their house shirts and attending their Year 12 PC Farewell Liturgies. Amongst the life, laughs and tears were brave and heartfelt gratitude speeches from their younger PC members, which were met with smiles, hugs and celebrations. It was also another tradition honoured with the grace, love, colour and humour it deserved. They then embarked on the rehearsals in readiness for their big, special evening, which ended with their Guard of Honour.
What a sight it is to see our Year 7s form their guard to cheer and farewell our departing Year 12s. The Class of 2026 got to walk and even strut with their peers as they high-fived, danced and walked their way to symbolise the end of an incredible journey.
The culmination was Wednesday evening, when the Graduation returned to the College for the first time since 2023. What a way to finish for all of our Class of 2026 students. 1000 people got to witness the celebration of faith and College life through the lens of symbols such as greenstones, fuel lights, airline tickets and cookbooks to highlight various paths they may encounter, the path they have already walked and the wonderful paths they are yet to follow on their post-Kolbe journey. Seeing loving families unite with their graduating child (and the noise) spoke volumes of the amazing half week that was.
Congratulations to the Kolbe Catholic College Class of 2026.
