On Tuesday 17 February, the Minister for Education, Dr Elizabeth Constable attended the Senior School Scholars’ Assembly, along with eight of last year’s Year 12 cohort. This group included six of the seven boys who finished in the top 40 students in the 2008 Tertiary Entrance Exams (TEE) including the Beazley Medallist, and all four individual Subject Exhibition winners.
Dr Constable congratulated the boys on their outstanding results and referred to their quest for academic excellence. As a former member of the Hale School Board of Governors, Dr Constable was aware of the many opportunities that are on offer at Hale and encouraged the audience to maintain their involvement in co-curricular pursuits to balance their lifestyle. She then presented Academic Honours (the School’s highest academic award) and Colours to the 2008 leavers present.
Binu Jayawardena, the School’s dux in 2008 and the state’s Beazley Medallist addressed the assembly giving his words of wisdom to the current students. He said the three greatest assets he had during his final two years were: the committed teachers, his peers, and his diary. “Although the third asset might seem of minor importance, the value of being organised in your final years is critical”, he said. His advice was delivered in typical Binu-style and was met with generous applause.
Dr Constable then assisted with the presentation of Certificates of Distinction to the current Year 12 students, based on their Year 11 results.
Headmaster Mr Stuart Meade closed the assembly by urging the boys to, “Have a go, don’t be afraid of challenges. It is easy to be mediocre and to look really good at it – be better than that. You don’t get what you wish for; you get what you work for.”
