Whenever I have the pleasure of hosting a school tour for prospective families, I am reminded of the great deal of care that parents take in deciding which school is right for their daughter. We feel honoured that many parents choose us for some, or all, of their daughter’s schooling journey. From day one until their last day of school, we are honoured to walk alongside girls and their families as they grow and learn.

It is a celebration of that journey when our Year 12s reach their final weeks of school. During the many traditional events that acknowledge the milestone of graduation, we reflect on our shared journey, and on the mark the girls have made on our community.

Year 12 lunches, held at the end of Term 3, celebrate the bonds within their Form groups. At House Breakfasts, as girls from younger year levels offer speeches about our graduates, Year 12s hear directly about the positive impact they have made.

The final day of school is an emotional one. The Walk of Honour is a rite of passage, as Year 12s walk from the Lower Junior School up to the Running Track, receiving well wishes, hugs and handmade gifts from students and staff. It is symbolic of our values at Wilderness School—particularly the relationships that are formed and strengthened during their time at School. On the Walk of Honour, it is clear how deep those bonds run.

Through life’s challenges and changes, fellow students and teachers have been constant figures of support for the girls. It was a fitting coincidence that in 2023, the Walk of Honour fell on the same day as World Teachers Day—what a beautiful way for girls to thank their teachers, and for our educators to see the results of their efforts.

The Valedictory Dinner is when girls celebrate with their families, offering thanks for the endless support through long evenings of study, co-curricular activities and decisions about the future.

As parents watch their daughter walk across the stage to collect her Wildy lion at Valedictory, they share our immense pride in the person she has grown up to be. At events like these, it means so much that we can stand alongside our parent community, celebrating them as well.

Our theme for this year’s Valedictory Dinner was ‘Follow Your Dreams’; we hope that these girls will aim high as they pursue their ambitions. By holding tight to the learnings and values of their time here, there will always be a piece of Wilderness beyond the gates with them.

For the rest of our students, there are still a few weeks of learning ahead. We look forward to the final five weeks of end of year assessments, excursions and performances, and to sharing more celebrations with our community.