By James Penstone, Secondary Principal
In the farewell assembly, students in Grades 6 and 11 shared some statistics on these soon-to-be ICS graduates. Such data points help, in some ways, to address the above question.
This is the third-largest graduating class to pass through ICS. At 85 students, Grade 12 is a very impressive group. Remarkably, 7 of the 85 have attended ICS since the very first year in Primary School. I am quite confident that this is the highest-ever number of students from any class to have spent all 15 of their school years at ICS.
A quarter of this class has been with us since Grade 3. A third joined us at some point in the Primary School. Nearly half have been with us since Grade 6. This Grade’s culture has deep roots in ICS. But, vitally, this culture has been enriched by all the newcomers along the way, including the three students who joined us as their Diploma Programme started in Grade 11.
At the same assembly, the student presenters quoted a host of touching reflections that had been offered by their teachers, and these, too, help to answer the question above. One such example:
"These students are not only kind and delightful, but they're also a blast to teach. Their positive energy is contagious. Teaching this class has been an absolute joy, and I feel so lucky to have such an awesome group of students."
When I spoke directly to Grade 12 soon after the assembly, I commented that it is important that we refer to them collectively and, in so doing, celebrate their own special culture and legacy at ICS. But to answer the question of who they are, we must also recognise that Grade 12 is made up of 85 entirely unique individuals. As we have made every effort throughout their time with us at ICS, we should honour the fact that each student has had their own very distinct experiences, successes, hopes and challenges.
Today marks the first day of their Diploma exams, the milestone assessments they have been working tirelessly towards throughout the past 19 months. As they channel every last ounce of effort into the next few weeks, with all of the emotional and mental energy that such effort demands, we are rooting for each and every one of them. Their DP teachers are as invested as they are in these exams, but so too are all those who have had the privilege of working alongside these individuals throughout their ICS journey.
To close, I share the words of one of their Primary teachers who taught a good number of them in Grade 4, capturing the task in hand but also the potent and unchartered futures beyond:
“I wish you good luck with your exams and your adventures ahead. You will change the world in your own unique ways!”