It’s that time of year again where we say farewell to Year 12. Whilst it is always sad saying goodbye to a graduating class, our current Year 12 class holds particular significance for me as they were the first class I taught when I came back to PCS in 2014. Putting that in writing makes it seem so long ago! In 2014 our seniors were in Year 4, and I was 8 years younger and a whole lot less greyer!
When I arrived in the middle of Term 1, Year 3 and 4 were joined together with Miss Goodwin as their teacher. The numbers were just enough that the class was able to be split with Miss Goodwin taking Year 3 and me taking Year 4 in what is now the Kindergarten classroom. What a treat I was in for!
During Term 3 of 2014, I strongly recall introducing a weekly memory verse for the students to learn. What better way to allow the Word of God to guide us than commit particular verses to memory. Being a musician and wanna be Colin Buchanan, I challenged the students (who were a very musical bunch even back then) to take each verse and turn it into a little song. The goal was to take each of the verses/songs at the end of term and turn them into one big song which would be known as the Memory Verse Song. We actually did it and had a great time in the process.
From then until now the Memory Verse song has popped up once or twice, including at their Year 6 graduation. At the Year 6 graduation, I told the class we would sing it again at their Year 12 graduation, and on Friday we did just that, albeit with a twist.
During this past term, each school memory verse has been a verse from the song, and each week, our entire Primary school has been on a secret mission to learn the song so we could surprise Year 12 and sing it to them at their Final Assembly. I actually think it worked! During secret mission training sessions, our primary students have worked really hard not only to learn the song, but to keep it a secret from Year 12, which may have been harder than learning it in the first place! Today, we sang it for them, and it was my absolute pleasure to do so.
I will really miss this Year 12 class. Our school genuinely won’t be the same without them. They are an outstanding group of talented, fun, intelligent, and committed students who have been through many challenges, but they are here and they have finished, and for that they should be so proud. So many of them have already received great offers for work and study after school which is so exciting. For those of us who are saying goodbye, including me, our prayer is that you will leave PCS knowing who you are, that you are made for a purpose, that you are loved, and here to make a positive impact on this world in the big things and little things.
One of the verses in our song is Psalm 25:5 – Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Year 12, you may not be 10 year old Year 4 students any more, but my prayer for you remains the same; may you know who your God is and put your hope in him. It has been my absolute joy teaching you and being your principal. I wish you all the very best and can’t wait to see all the great ways you are going to impact this world. May God bless you mightily as you complete your schooling.
Have a great holiday PCS and I look forward to seeing the rest of you in Term 4!
Glen
The Memory Verse Song
1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
1 Peter 3:10
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
Romans 12:6
In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.
Psalm 25:5
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.
Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
