The Shearwater Certificate is a pathway offered to Year 12 students at Shearwater that provides an alternative to the HSC, allowing students the freedom to create a unique learning experience for themselves, following their passion and creating a project of personal interest. Do not let the word freedom fool you. The Shearwater Certificate is a rollercoaster ride.
This year there were five students who undertook the journey, Tula Tansley-Beckerman, Judah Tsadik, Gemma Susanna-Davies, Aurora Bodhivajra and Charli Gaiter-Thompson.
The learning that comes out of undertaking a year-long project is invaluable, and the skills these students have developed will serve them well in the future. They have learnt things no textbook can teach, and no exam can assess. They have learnt to believe in themselves, to communicate clearly, to think critically, to problem solve, to ask for help when it’s needed, to get up and keep going when things are hard, to support others and work together.
The Shearwater Certificate can be done as a 120 or 240 hour program, in conjunction with three or four HSC subjects. Year 12 is challenging at the best of times but I think we would all agree that this year has been particularly difficult. It has presented these students with new challenges, unique to these times. When they presented their proposals a year ago none of us knew what this year would be like, that we would have an extended lockdown and limited access to external facilities among many other things.
The students presented their work, comprising displays and speeches, last week, and although we couldn’t invites their families and community to the event, due to COVID restrictions, it was still a beautiful conclusion to the process. These students deserve to be congratulated and celebrated. They have demonstrated resilience and determination and I am so incredibly proud of them, and very grateful to have been part of their journey as their supervisor.
Anna Delzoppo
Shearwater Certificate Supervisor