As we draw towards the end of our Guardianship with our class, we have been reflecting on the highlights, achievements and challenges with this group of young people that we have had the privilege of sharing five years of schooling with. Adolescence is a time of transition and we as teachers grow and change along with our students and with the world they are growing into. This class is one of immeasurable ability, abundant emotions, diverse perspectives and enormous talent. We feel deeply connected to them as individuals and as a group, and will carry them in our hearts into the future.
When we started on this journey with the class we chose three virtues that we envisioned would be our tools to support the needs and challenges that we would face – enthusiasm, courage and connection.
Enthusiasm has been with us from the beginning — gifted from their Primary Class Teachers – Sally, Susan and Lynne – they were children that loved what they did and did what they loved. This was particularly apparent when we were on class camps, whether it was canoeing down the Clarence River, circumnavigating Uluru or constructing a beautiful building in Vanuatu — this class took it all on with enthusiasm.
Courage is called upon every day, as they face the rewards and challenges of whatever comes towards them and remain true to their inner direction and higher selves. Above all they have the courage to be themselves and therein lies a power that will carry them towards their dreams and aspirations.
This courage also opens up a beautiful array of connections, with each other and with the world. We feel blessed to be a part of their journey and our friendships will live on. As a class and as individuals they will arrive at the end of their schooling with so much more than a certificate — they have loving connections to each other and to the whole school community.
Class 12 of 2021 are now young adults, with questions of their own destiny and future tasks in life to ponder, we trust that their Steiner education will serve them well as they step into their futures and a world still full of possibilities.
With love,
Sandra and Endre
Year 12 Guardians