CAPTAIN'S CORNER

SENIOR CAPTAIN

The exam period marks the well-known conclusion of the school year for the senior students, with Years 10 right through to the Year 12s - the graduating class of 2025 - all completing the challenging yet rewarding period. A shout out to the Year 9s also, who completed their very first exam period, no doubt with the utmost dedication to achieve their best possible result.

For the Year 12s, this special exam period - stretching to beyond a month for language students - marked the end of something bigger. It marked the end of 13 years of schooling, 13 years of building friendships, 13 years of packed lunches, and 13 years of school uniform.

The long year of homework and late nights has finally come to an end. It is the first of many of our steps into adulthood, and it is without a doubt that McKinnon has prepared us for continuing to make those steps into the future, and for whatever is thrown our way.

To finish, it has been an incredible year of highs and lows, but ultimately it has been a year of immense fun and enjoyment - it is one to remember. My message for any future Year 12, whether you are completing VCE or VM, is to give it your best effort. Regardless of how smart you think you are, or what score you get, effort is the one thing you can change, and certainly the one thing that you can look back on with pride.

To the class of 2025, congratulations. I know we can all look back on this year with pride, and with a smile on our faces. Class of 2025, onto bigger, brighter futures. Best of luck.

Alexander Rowe Hansen

Year 12 Student

JUNIOR CAPTAIN

The past week brought the Year 9 English and Maths exams, a milestone many of us approached with a mix of nerves and determination. Exams never feel gentle. They test more than knowledge. They test our patience, focus, and resilience under pressure. I certainly learnt something myself when my calculator gave out halfway through. Not ideal, but I learnt a lesson of preparation.

Now we look toward the Senior School Induction. It feels like a doorway opening, not just into new subjects, but into a new stage of who we are becoming. I am especially excited for my Philosophy enhancement, and I hope everyone finds something in their chosen subjects that sparks curiosity and pushes them forward. These opportunities are more than timetable changes; they shape how we will think, work, and grow.

Since this is my final Captains’ Corner article, I want to say something simple but sincere. It has been an honour to write to you, to reflect on the moments that fill our school year, and to represent our cohort in this small but meaningful way. I keep returning to one idea: we are shaped by the people around us. Each of you has influenced the way I think about service, responsibility, and the kind of person I want to be. Leading this year has been both a privilege and a lesson. Thank you for walking with me through it. The memories will stay long after the term ends.

Itay Volnerman

Year 9 Student