The MYP Graduation Ceremony
By: Ken Goodlet
Posted 10 April 2008
On 27 March 2008, our Year 10 students of 2007 were presented with with MYP graduating certificates by local Federal Member Mr David Bradbury. He addressed the students, encouraging them to take every opportunity to reach their potential and become the building blocks of their communities.
Mrs Louise Markus, Federal Member of Parliament for Greenway could not be present as she was attending a funeral, but sent a congratulatory message and requested that the graduates embrace challenges as opportunities. The official party also included Mrs Karyn Paluzzano, State Member for Penrith, Mr Don Harwin, Chairman of the St Paul’s Council, St Paul’s council member Deborah Bush, and representatives of the Junior, Middle and Senior schools at St Paul’s. Members of the graduating class prayed, shared the Bible reading they had chosen (Jeremiah 29:8-14), and played the processional, anthem, a music item and the recessional. Exemplar Personal Projects were on display.
At St Paul’s, all students in Years 7-10 participate in the International Baccalaureate MYP as well as meeting New South Wales Board of Studies requirements. At the end of Board of Studies Year 10 (which is also known as MYP Year 5), student work samples are sent internationally to be moderated. In March results are released, such that students who completed the MYP in the previous year receive a Record of Achievement which cites their completion of a Personal Project, their participation in Community and Service activities and their level of attainment in each subject. Furthermore, students who have taken a subject from each of the eight IB areas, earned an average of 4 (with subject grades being allocated from 1 to 7) and met other requirements, are awarded an MYP Certificate.
Certain additional awards will soon be received by the school and given to the students. Those who receive a 7 in any subject will receive an AAIBS or IB World School Merit Certificate. Those who receive a total of at least 50 will receive an AAIBS (Association of Australasian International Baccalaureate Schools) or IB World School Distinction Certificate. When student work is assessed at St Paul’s, we mark to IB standards as closely as possible, and indeed many commendations have been received by the school regarding our application of criteria.
The award winners at the International Baccalaureate MYP graduation ceremony for the class of 2007 were: Matthew Bennett--Merit Certificate; Marina Choi--Merit Certificate; Samantha Cooper--Merit Certificate; Inkeri D’Arcy Clarke--3 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Hannah Degotardi--2 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Shanil Dhanji--5 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate--2nd in class; Nicole Folk--5 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Anthea Friend--Merit Certificate; Callum Geeves--3 Merit Certificates; Hannah Grant-Nilon--3 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Natasha Jones--7 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate—Dux; Edmund Kirkwood--Merit Certificate; Stefany Mihalic--Merit Certificate, Distinction Certificate; Anthony Morrissey--2 Merit Certificates; Tess Mulock--2 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Benjamin Nunn--3 Merit Certificates; Nicola Parise--3 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Loran Peisley--4 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Annie Post--2 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Benjamin Ross--Merit Certificate; Angelo Rouggos--Merit Certificate; Cameron Silvestrini--4 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Amelia Smith--2 Merit Certificates; Logan Starkey--2 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Rhys Starkey--3 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Kristen Troy--5 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate; Jessica Vatala--2 Merit Certificates; Emily Willett--2 Merit Certificates; Alexander Yang--3 Merit Certificates, Distinction Certificate.