Clarence Valley high school star students ready to shine
They are our best and brightest from Clarence Valley schools. See more than 40 of the students leading our next generation into the future. Full list here:
Grafton
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Throughout the Clarence Valley, the talent in our schools is bursting at the seams.
With these young academics, sportspeople and community leaders at the helm, our future is in good hands.
We’ve compiled a list of our best and brightest from the schools across the Clarence Valley.
Have a look at what is being achieved by the next generation of leaders right now at school.
St Andrew’s Christian School
Charlie O’Derry (Year 8)
Charlie O’Derry has been scouted into the Gold Coast Titans Elite Academy Training Program.
He was selected as part of a small group from our region to go and train with the elite squad every week in Ballina.
This is an exciting opportunity for him to develop his skills further and open up other potential pathways with a range of representative NRL clubs.
Amity Stevenson (Year 8)
Amity Stevenson is a 2021 Junior Jacaranda Queen Candidate sponsored by the school.
She was inspired by a love for the event and seeing her older sister participate in the competition in the past.
“The Jacaranda Festival is an opportunity for the community to help businesses in the area who have been through hard times with the Covid lockdown and bring some much needed joy to the area,” she said.
Amity’s mother owns Lasting Impressions in Prince Street, so gowns for special events are easily sourced.
Jason Sylstra (Year 11)
It’s refreshing and uplifting to have a student like Jason Zylstra who not only has a strong faith in God but lives it out daily by getting alongside his peers mentoring and encouraging them.
During Covid, Jason has spent time, energy and effort by sending inspirational devotional Bible messages to students and staff to help them each day.
Jason is thoughtful and looks for ways to encourage and spur others on and has a genuine respectful cheery nature as well as being a great role model for all students.
He has also shown keen interest in being part of the school’s mission team to go to Indonesia to help out at Mama Sayang Orphanage, which is currently on hold, and he has worked regularly with the groundsman at the school to save up for the funds needed.
Jeremiah Waterson (Year 11)
Jeremiah is a diligent and ambitious Year 11 student who holds a solo pilot licence.
Jeremiah says his highlight has been taking his sister and father for a flight to Palmers Island – all before he was eligible for a learners permit.
He is aiming high – desiring to join the air force as a jet fighter pilot.
With his current work ethic and diligence heading into Year 12 next term, there is little doubt he will achieve this.
Mr McPhee, Jeremiah’s Industrial Technology: Automotive teacher said Jeremiah is a meticulous self driven student who has been instrumental in the maintenance and repair of a ride on lawnmower as one of his numerous projects at school.
Grafton High School
Oliver Westman (Year 12)
Oliver has had a busy HSC year. He was elected School Captain and was given the honour of delivering the student’s speech at the ANZAC Day Commemoration Ceremony at Memorial Park.
Oliver’s academic commitment and success has been rewarded with early entry offers to several universities for 2022 including University of Wollongong, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University and Australian National University.
Oliver intends on studying law and has ambitions of entering politics.
His advice to students is to develop your own understanding of yourself and the world and never be afraid to deviate from the norm.
Bridget Walters (Year 12)
Bridget is a Grafton High school captain who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, both in the school community and in the classroom.
She has earned excellent academic results in her HSC year, across all her subjects, and as a result, received a university scholarship and multiple early entry offers.
Bridget received the school’s Centenary Scholarship and has demonstrated her commitment to schooling with 100 per cent attendance in her HSC year.
She has received multiple awards for netball and participated in community outreach programs.
In addition to pursuing her hobbies of painting and piano, in 2022, Bridget aspires to attend university where she will study to become a primary school teacher.
Her advice to students is to believe in yourself, set goals, try your best and take chances.
Oskar Robertson (Year 11)
Oskar’s contribution to the school and community is far-reaching. He has been an active member of the school’s Student Representative Council and the school’s Environmental Committee helping secure a Sustainable Schools Grant to develop a green space for the school.
Oskar is a school prefect for 2022 and a school captain nominee.
Academically Oskar has had an outstanding 2021 ranking first in all but one of his subjects, while in the community he demonstrated his range of skills by acting in the recent production, ‘Stories in the Dark’ at the Pelican Playhouse.
Oskar hopes to attend university after high school and work in the diplomatic field with the aim of helping people and the environment.
His advice to students is to follow your passions and be kind to others and the environment.
Nadia Smith (Year 10)
Nadia is a true all-rounder, excelling at sport, art, and academics. She has won seven state level golds in rowing in single, double and quads and was declared NSW Combined High School’s Most Outstanding Junior Competitor.
In 2020, Nadia won the NSW NAIDOC Week Art Competition and in 2021 received the People’s Choice Award for the University of New England’s Art Prize ‘Let’s Hang It’.
Ranking first in mathematics, English, Music, Visual Arts, and Personal Development Health and Physical Education in 2020, Nadia also was a finalist in the Byron Writers Festival Susie Warrick Writing Competition and a finalist and winner of the Clarence Valley ‘Long Way Home’ writing competition.
Beyond school Nadia is keeping her options open, hoping to have a career in a field such as sports nutrition, physiotherapy, architecture, engineering or music.
Nadia’s advice to students is that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. “That is where your dreams can become reality,” she said.
Shaan Singh (Year 10)
Shaan’s achievements across a broad range of subjects in 2020, including ranking first in her year group for science, Industrial Technology and Inquiry Based Learning, culminated in her being awarded the Year Adviser’s Prize for 2020.
In 2021, Shaan was selected to participate in ‘The Science Experience’, touring several universities in Brisbane and participating in science experiments to learn more about the fields of study.
She received a grant from the Grafton Rotary Club to assist her with this endeavour.
Shaan’s plans for the future include going to university to study a degree based on sciences, aspiring to travel the world and championing action against climate change.
Shaan’s advice to students is to not treat school as a competition but instead, just look for ways to improve on yourself.
“Take small steps out of your comfort zone, use the resources available to you and most importantly, ask for help,” she said.
Anicka Peters (Year 9)
Anicka is an outstanding academic achiever, ranking first in English, maths, science, music and art in 2020.
She has a passion for sport, in particular running, earning her a place at NSW Cross Country. She also has achieved a 2nd degree black belt in Mixed Martial Arts, which she has been studying for 10 years.
In the future, Anicka hopes to study medicine and surgery at Sydney University and complete a PhD in trauma surgery.
Anicka’s advice to students is use your time wisely; the more work you do in class the less work you have to do at home, which means you have more time to do the things you love.
Clementine Eaton (Year 7)
Clementine has had an impressive start to high school. She was a high achiever at primary school, where she won numerous accolades for her academic success and commitment to learning including a school scholarship.
In addition, she has had her writing published as a result of her entry into the Clarence Valley Writing Competition.
This year along with achieving excellent academic results across her subjects, Clementine was the winner of the Annual Year 7 Slam Poetry Competition for her poem exploring how the weather impacts our emotions.
In the future, Clementine would love to pursue a career in sport, one of her passions, or in the field of science.
Clementine’s advice to students is when you have a goal, aspiration or passion, there are going to be times when you hit an all time low but when you hit rock bottom, there is only one way to go, and that’s up.
South Grafton High School
Tahlia O’Hara (Year 12)
South Grafton High School school captain, Tahlia O’Hara is certainly an all-rounder.
In addition to being elected as school captain for 2021, Tahlia is also president of the Aboriginal Student Organisation which aims to promote leadership for the schools Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
Tahlia has been a driving force in establishing an Aboriginal girls program in the school to improve the education and life skills of ATSI girls in the school.
“We have seen the positive effect that the Clontarf Foundation is having on our boys and I’d like the girls to have the same opportunities,” Tahlia said.
Tahlia has also excelled both academically and in the sporting arena. She was selected to attend the National Youth science Forum in 2021, an experience which has had a lasting impact with Tahlia hoping to gain the ATAR required to enter a medicine degree.
Since Year 7 Tahlia has represented the school in netball, going on to represent North Coast at the Regional State Cup.
Matthew Barker (Year 12)
Matthew Barker was selected as school captain in 2021.
Throughout his school career Matthew has represented the school with distinction in rugby league and union, gaining North Coast honours on numerous occasions.
As school captain, with his strong sense of community, Matthew has taken pride in organising school events and leading the way with events such as discos and handball competitions and is always on hand to raise money for local and national charities, such as Red Cross, Daffodil Day and Pink Stumps Day.
This month Matthew will be joining the ‘South Shavers’ by shaving his head, raising funds for Canteen Australia.
Caitlin Eggins (Year 10)
Caitlin Eggins has recently been awarded the Harding Miller Foundation scholarship. This scholarship recognises the academic abilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls, providing them with financial support in their final years of high school.
Caitlin has represented the school on numerous occasions as part of the debating team, going on to compete in the Premier’s Debating Challenge.
Caitlin’s academic achievements at school are outstanding, regularly featuring in the top of her classes.
Andrea Thompson (Year 8)
Andrea Thompson is one to look out for in the pool.
She has been awarded Clarence Valley Sport Person of the week and has been selected to represent the school for swimming at both regional and state level, placing in the top 20 for the nine events that she contested.
Not to shy away from work, Andrea is also a member of the school debating team and has achieved outstanding academic results across a number of subject areas.
Zoe Rayward (Year 7)
Despite being in Year 7 Zoe Rayward has proven herself to be an outstanding member of the school community.
Zoe has been selected as a member of the Student Representative Council, has represented the school in rowing and debating and has achieved excellent results across all subjects.
Zoe’s recent NAPLAN results are evidence of her outstanding academic ability, achieving top bands in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and Numeracy.
Maclean High School
Sean McFarlane (Year 12)
Sean McFarlane is Maclean High School’s 2021 school captain.
In 2019, he travelled overseas to Cambodia with seven other Maclean High students to help build a classroom for underprivileged children. Together with the local community they fundraised $6000 for the project.
He also completed his bronze award in the Duke of Edinburgh program in 2018. This also allowed him to officiate football in the North Coast region, earning him the referee of the year award in 2021.
Sean has also played representative cricket and football and cites these experiences as making him a better school captain.
His proudest moments in school sport were placing third in the state for cricket and making his maiden cricket century with his brother.
“I am extremely fortunate to live in the Northern Rivers and everything that I’ve achieved has been possible with the support of my family, friends, school and the wonderful community I live in,” he said.
Daniel Causley (Year 8)
Daniel is an excellent student who does well in most subjects, ranking second in maths and high in most other subjects.
He is a member of the debating team and participated in the school play and has won multiple prizes at eisteddfods for acting and participated in many musicals outside of school.
Daniel’s advice to students is how you achieve something is just as important as the thing you achieved.
“The thing that can tell you the most about someone is the way they go about doing something, not the thing they did,” he said.
“You can learn just as much, if not more from the journey than what you can from the destination.”
Hailey Rutkowski (Year 8)
Hailey went into high school after being awarded the dux of the school in primary. She continued to show outstanding academic levels, ranking first in art, second in geography, third in history and PDH, and fourth in science, earning her a place in the top ten of her year.
This year Hailey ranked 1st in English in the first semester, was accepted into the student representative council and was selected to be on the debating team.
Hailey has recently begun horse riding, and currently works two to three shifts a week.
In the future Hailey would love to pursue a career as a nutritionist or teacher.
Hailey’s advice to students is to always try your best, the effort you put it in now will determine what opportunities you will have in the future for a career.
Ruby Martini (Year 8)
Ruby is a passionate learner. She studied overseas at an Italian primary school where she learnt the language.
Ruby is dedicated to debating and public speaking, having made it to the semi-finals in the NSW Premier’s Debating Challenge.
She is a blue belt in Karate and actively participates in community musicals.
Ruby hopes to pursue a career in business and language and hopes to learn Spanish by the end of high school.
Madeline Hollis (Year 11)
Madeline is incredibly dedicated when it comes to learning.
Trying hard and putting in effort throughout junior years at high school set her for an excellent start to senior school.
She is a passionate sportswoman and has represented the school in sports at the state level in athletics in 2017 and 2019, and CHS cricket in 2020 and 2021.
In 2019 she was awarded the junior contribution to sport award.
Madeline was recognised as a young leader and was awarded the ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award in 2020.
After graduating in 2022, Madeline aspires to attend university and study clinical exercise physiology or physiotherapy.
Hayden Fisher (Year 8)
Hayden is a high achiever in academic fields as well as the arts.
He has a mindset for music and likes to help out at local and school events run by the SRC and is an active member of school debating teams.
Hayden attempts to extend his reach for music by going to statewide camps and concerts.
In the future he aspires to study medicine and chemistry so he can become a doctor or dermatologist.
His advice to students is to never think that something is not achievable.
“If you put your time, mind and effort into something then you can achieve nearly anything,” he said.
Ethan Fisher (Year 9)
Hayden and Ethan Fisher entered the Voyager International songwriting contest late last year and Hayden came second in the under-13 section.
Ethan’s entry is currently being used to introduce expert teachers leading curriculum reform for NESA.
Hayden then competed in the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod for drumming and won.
Both boys were selected State Music Camp in Sydney in June – right before lockdown. Hayden and Ethan often support our HSC students and our amazing vocal group.
Logan Miltiadou (Year 8):
Logan is an outstanding student with various impressive achievements over a wide range of subjects and sports.
His major academic achievements include ranking first in maths for the year and being a part of the Maclean High School debating team that placed in the top sixteen teams in NSW.
Logan also has a talent for sport, he plays soccer where his team won the minor premier for 2021, he also has a passion for basketball where he has played for the Maclean High School team and the Yamba Trawlers.
Logan is also a surf lifesaver and dedicates many weekends to patrolling Yamba’s beaches.
In the future, Logan hopes to pursue a career in law after completing a PhD in law at The University of Sydney.
Logan’s advice to students is to manage your time wisely; don’t leave big tasks to the last minute and space out work and leisure evenly.
McAuley Catholic College
Jacqueline Samms (Year 12)
Jacqueline has had a busy year involving herself in all areas of College life and was the 2021 College Captain.
She is an exceptional leader and has achieved excellent results in her subjects: Extension mathematics, Modern History, Advanced English, Biology and Studies of Religion.
Her peers greatly admire her friendliness and approachability.
Jacqueline’s teachers greatly admire her work as the College Captain and the example she has set as an outstanding role model for the student body.
Jacqui participated in the Rotary-sponsored Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) and won an award for her short story in The Long Way Home competition.
Jacqui hopes to study International Relations at the Australian National University at Canberra.
“I want to be able to give back to our community and see myself and others flourish in their passion and gifts,” she said.
Corey Newbold (Year 12)
Corey was the 2021 College Vice-Captain.
He has been dedicated to his studies and his tenacity has allowed him to excel academically.
Corey has a natural love for mathematics and science with a career aspiration to study Neuroscience in Queensland.
In 2021 Cory was chosen to spend time undertaking work experience in medical science.
Throughout his time as a leader, he aimed to serve and do what he could to build the College into the best it can be.
Levi Vereyken (Year 10)
Levi has excelled within all of his subjects this year including mathematics, English, science, Religious Education and PDHPE.
He received a Highly Commended in the Ipswich Poetry Feast competition.
Levi is very interested in studying medicine at University in the future and has hopes to become a successful doctor one day.
In January of 2022, Levi is looking forward to participating in a medical course based in the Mater Hospital Brisbane, offered to students in years 10, 11 and 12, who have a strong interest in a career in medicine.
Dean Chapman (Year 10)
Dean is an excellent student achieving fine results in his subjects in 2021.
He has participated in several extra-curricular activities on a national and international level.
Dean represented Australia as a national delegate in the International Broadcom MASTERS science program and was selected as one of 26 students in Australia to participate in the BHP Foundation science and Engineering Awards camp in 2020.
He also participated in the Clarence Valley Long Way Home short story writing competition and was selected to participate in the UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering work experience program.
Dean wishes to pursue a career in science and engineering in the future.
Timothy Van Der Vlist (Year 8)
Tim has achieved consistently across a range of subjects including Mathematics, History, Food Technology, Music and French.
Tim balances his school studies with walking the dog and archery. He also enjoys reading, playing soccer, martial arts, doing geometric drawings and athletics.
Timothy has many talents and works diligently at all times.
Emily Newman (Year 7)
Emily arrived at McAuley at the beginning of semester 2 and since her arrival, she has embraced all learning opportunities.
She is also involved in various extra-curricular activities from netball (where she is in the Lower Clarence Representative squad) to Nippers where she has completed her resuscitation course and is currently completing her surf resume certificate.
Along with sport, Emily is also involved in music and musical theatre, attending weekly guitar lessons and performing in the musical production The Wizard of Oz, where she played the role of Toto.
Emily has said that she enjoys being challenged and pushed to learn new things.
Annabelle Hourigan (Year 7)
In 2021, Annabelle applied herself and achieved outstanding results across all courses studied in Year 7.
She enjoys all aspects of school, from seeing her friends to being involved in the school musical ensemble and working well in class.
When Annabelle isn’t at school or studying, she enjoys extra-curricular activities in the performing arts.
Annabelle is a dedicated dancer and singer participating in performances and eisteddfods.
She has recently been able to use her performing arts talents in the musical production The Wizard of Oz, where she played the role of Dorothy.
Annabelle sees each learning experience as an opportunity to help her achieve her desired goal – studying law at university.
Pacific Valley Christian School
Tandia-Jay Louis-Harris (Year 11)
Tandia-Jay or Tj is an Indigenous musician who loves to sing and play music.
She has a cool, relaxed sound that takes you back to the sounds of artists such as Stevie Rae Vaughan & Tash Sultana.
With the help of our music teacher, Mr. Brown, Tj wrote, recorded and submitted her original song ‘Getting Older’ into the Unearthed competition.
“I was on a call with some friends and I started to write down the lyrics, and then a melody popped into my head and then I started to work it out as a song until it came together,” she said.
“ I wrote it about a general essence of what you might go through growing up.”
Not only is this an accomplishment for our school but also a brilliant showcase of what our Indigenous youth has to offer the art community.
This is a musician who is only just beginning on her journey with music and creativity.
Bradley James (Year 10)
This year Bradley was able to secure work experience at Yamba Welding and Engineering.
This was a great opportunity for Bradley to try something new and see if this was a career he would like to pursue.
Although it only began as a week of work experience, Bradley was offered an apprenticeship after only three days of work.
This shows the character and excellent work ethic that Bradley puts into what he does.
The apprenticeship will go for four years and he is excited to work with the team as there is a great environment and polite staff which will help him to navigate where he wants to go in the future.
Ella-Rose Pendleton (Year 12)
Valley Hope School will celebrate the first Year 12 graduate at the end of the year.
Ella-Rose Pendleton joined Valley Hope School as a Year 8 student in 2017, as part of the inaugural cohort of students.
Ella had started her education with Pacific Valley Christian School but when Valley Hope opened in 2017, she transferred over to help her grow in the tailored environment that it provides.
Ella has been recognised as a student leader in both Year 11 and 12, due to her caring and encouraging manner, and example of how to be respectful to everyone she encounters.
She has developed as a person and grown in confidence during her time at Valley Hope and has been greatly appreciated by staff Liz Latham, who has known her since those early days.
“It has been a such a blessing to see Ella flourish over the last five years. Her kind and caring attitude has made her a wonderful friend and role model for her peers,” Ms Latham said.
“It is a privilege to be part of her education journey and I have confidence that as she moves on to the next step of her life she will continue to learn new skills and bring glory to God.”
Zara Locke (Year 8)
It was a great year for the world’s greatest shave at Pacific Valley with close to 25 students and staff sitting down to have their head’s shaved or hair coloured.
Zara was one of the highest fundraising students, raising close to $1400 by herself using social media sharing platforms.
“My aunty has a lung disease which made me want to help children who are suffering as well,” she said.
As a school we love to see students showing compassion and working hard to sacrifice and care for others.
Indianna Kellett (Year 9)
Indianna is a young musician who is passionate about singing and performing arts.
Singing and dance are her main interests, and she loves to work at improving and growing her skills.
Indi has been taking lessons with Liz Duggan in Yamba for some time and this has given her the push to go into eisteddfod’s and take opportunities to perform.
Earlier this year Indi performed in the week-long Maclean Performing Arts Eisteddfod for singing.
She performed four songs and enjoys getting the feedback and marks so she can improve her skills. Not only does she love performing (even if she gets a bit nervous) but she also enjoys meeting new people along the way.
If everything falls into place, she hopes to enter the championships next year and keep working on her craft.
Kyah Foster (Year 7)
Kyah Foster was selected for the NSW Country Junior rugby under 14 team this year while she was playing for the Mid North Coast Tomahawks at the Kiama Country Junior Rugby titles.
Scouts from the Wallaroos come to watch young players at the titles to see who is worth working with to put them on a career path in rugby.
Kyah plays for her local teams regularly and has been a young female sportsperson to watch for a while now.
She aims to pursue rugby professionally and would love to be on the Australian team some day to give her a lot of opportunities including travel overseas.
She enjoys being on a team and the feeling when playing rugby because it’s a time where she can be happy and enjoy the time on the field with her mates.
Kyah has been in Pacific Valley through her junior and middle school years.
Clarence Valley Anglican School
Kiki Schnitzler (Year 8)
Kiki loves reading, learning and playing music. In 2021 she studied piano, art, music theory and STEM subjects.
She has competed in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod and multiple exams for music, the most recent being grade four piano.
She has also attended several robotics competitions and was awarded the senior scholarship for this year at Clarence Valley Conservatorium.
When not studying Kiki is either drawing, or outside, going for long walks through the bush, off on a horse or spending time with herds of goats or flocks of chickens.
She is passionate about horse riding, and is a member of the Grafton Pony Club.
Her ambition is to become an equine veterinarian or an endocrinologist.
She also enjoys needle felting and sketching.
Riarna Gersekowski (Year 9)
Riarna is proud to be a student of CVAS and always tries hard to get the best results.
She works hard to take assignments and projects to the “next level” and create engaging pieces of work.
Riarna said she understands her education is a team effort.
An active member in Grafton Girl Guides for over seven years, she values the community involvement and the ability to be a role model to the younger guides.
She has achieved the Baden-Powell Award which involved a lot of work and is the highest achievement a guide her age can complete.
Riarna enjoys creative arts such as sewing, drawing and painting and has won some prizes in the Grafton Show.
She enjoys taking time with her friends – even if it is virtually – and has a part time job with a locally-owned pharmacy that has developed her customer services skills.
Riarna said school is not all about studying long hours and getting As in all the tests.
“It’s about trying my best, being involved in school activities and making time for things that I really enjoy – balance,” she said.
Caleb Harrison (Year 10)
Caleb Harrison moved to the Grafton area in early 2019, and has been at CVAS since day one of Year 8.
Caleb grew up in a very musical household, and has no hesitation when it comes to taking part in the various concerts and other musical events that are hosted by the very committed music department.
He is very proud of his musical achievements and I always feels they are appreciated by the school.
Last year he was awarded the Clarence Valley Conservatorium Award for Music and Performance and looks forward to continuing music through Stage 6.
Lachlan Foster (Year 11)
Last year Lachlan was chosen to be the ADF Long Tan leadership award recipient for the school.
In 2019 he started the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme for the bronze level.
He has received a lot of champion positions and runner up positions for his horse riding and in 2019 he was awarded the D grade champion for jumping at Grafton pony club.
In Year 11 he will take on a 4-unit course of Conservation and Land Management at TAFE and will have to sit a HSC course this year.
Also in the first year at the Grafton show they ran a Man of the Land position alongside the Showgirls for which he placed runner-up.
Melissa Davies (Year 12)
Melissa is the current Induna House Captain with Academic Portfolio. As a current year 12 student she has been provided with many different opportunities.
Over the last couple of years she has excelled in academics and music and was the dux of Year 11 and came first in most of her classes, continuing this year coming first in all of her classes achieving As and high Bs.
She is a gifted public speaker with a highlight being the speech she gave at the International Women’s Day Dinner in March this year.
She has played the trumpet for the past nine years and hopes to complete a Bachelor of Music Degree in the near future and beyond that, play in a symphony orchestra.
She enjoys performing and competing as much as possible and competes in numerous eisteddfods each year in both NSW and QLD winning championships at the Maclean and Coffs Harbour eisteddfods this year.
She is currently second trumpet in the Clarence Valley Orchestra, first trumpet in the CVCON Jazz Ensemble, first trumpet in the CVCON Concert Band, and first trumpet in the CVAS Stage Band.
“I have been provided with many performance opportunities as a part of these groups and been provided with many solos during my time in these ensembles,” she said.
“ I have appreciated every opportunity that I have received and I hope to be provided with more in the future.”
Finn McIntyre (Year 12)
Finn is the current school’s Vice-Captain and has attended CVAS since 2016.
He is looking forward to finishing school after 13 years and becoming successful in a career. He will likely move from Grafton and continue playing basketball. His favourite part of CVAS is his relationship with the teachers.
Despite the Covid disruptions this year Finn is confident of successfully completing the HSC.
His advice for new Year 7 students is not to worry, learn your basics.
“It‘s okay if you aren’t the smartest in your class, just knuckle down and focus on school work in Year 11 and 12,” he said.
“Respect your teachers; they are just trying to help you succeed. Year 12 is not as scary as it may seem.”
Jacob Butcher (Year 12)
Jacob has been at CVAS since Pre-Kinder. He has a casual job at Target and has been an Army Cadet for almost four years. He is working towards becoming an officer in the ADF.
This year Jacob took on the role of school captain. He balanced the workload and studying will be a challenge and says he is a little scared but excited about taking on the HSC. His favourite part of CVAS is the effort put in by the teachers.
His advice for Year 7 students is to develop some study habits early, even if it’s only 15 minutes a day.
Jacob also recommends joining Army Cadets as it teaches life skills and provides experiences that will help through school, as well as being fun.
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