The Class of 2020, Where Are They Now

CLASS OF 2020, WHERE ARE THEY NOW

From farming pearls to travelling the globe and heading off to university, the future is bright for our the Class of 2020 despite experiencing a disruptive final year.

Despite cancelled field trips, limits on visitors to the school and reduced experiential learning - what could only be described as one of the hardest years Year 12 students have ever faced - our new graduates continue to inspire us.

Senior Years Coordinator Claudia McCalman remains in touch with many of our graduates after guiding them through their final year of school. She regularly chats to them over the phone to see how their journeys are progressing and meets them for coffee in person when they’re back in Orange.

“In my capacity as Senior Years Coordinator, I constantly reflect on the strength and positivity of the 2020 and 2021 Year 12 cohorts. They just kept going in the face of every challenge, ploughing on with a smile and determination that was awe-inspiring,” said Mrs McCalman.

“I am so pleased that so many of them achieved their ambitions despite the turbulent journey. They went off into jobs on stations, apprenticeships, university degrees and gap years. Ultimately, the cohort united over their shared experience.”

One of the biggest challenges for the 2021 Year 12 cohort was the limited options for experiential learning, with excursions to the theatre, field trips and bringing experts into the classroom all restricted during COVID-19. The cohort also missed important celebratory moments, such as the musical and sports carnivals.

Staff recognised this early on and worked hard to provide relevant and dynamic learning opportunities online and face to face. Students also dug deep and displayed enormous amounts of self discipline. The result has been incredible, with two male students now pearling with Paspaley, some off on gap years in the UK and others undertaking challenging university degrees.

“I am so proud of the 2020 and 2021 cohorts for navigating uncharted waters in such a positive and determined manner,” said Mrs McCalman. “It bodes well for the future that these young people have experienced uncertainty yet conquered fear; experienced isolation only to value friendship and community even more; and experienced disappointment only to truly value what they have accomplished in this time. I am immensely proud too of how KWS staff and administration rallied to nurture and support the students over this time.”

The future is also bright for our current Year 12 students with restrictions now easing and an incredible year group to look up to - proving the sky’s the limit if you apply yourself and persevere against the odds.

“There is no doubt a return to a new normal will allow a more immersive school experience with carnivals, the musical, and all manner of excursions already taking place,” said Mrs McCalman. “While I was initially worried that the current Year 12 cohort had two years with no leadership role models, they are an outstanding cohort, full of courageous leaders and social justice warriors! I think they will keep forging ahead academically and socially, to be a year that we look back on with pride.”