CATHOLIC primary schools across Queensland said their final farewells to Year 7 students last week before they make the historic leap into high school next year.
More than 12,000 Year 6 students are set to begin 2015 as high school’s newest intakes as Year 7 becomes the first step in secondary schooling for the first time in Queensland.
Carina’s St Martin’s Catholic Primary School principal Mick Kelleher said the last day with the school’s senior primary students was “very sad”.
“It’s really sad because we’re losing a very mature set of leaders at St Martin’s,” Mr Kelleher said.
St Martin’s said goodbye to more than 100 Year 7 and Year 6 students, but will make up for lost numbers when it welcomes 132 Prep students next year.
The school organised separate thanksgiving Masses for the Year 6 and 7 students, who were farewelled at a final school Mass on Friday, December 5.
Mr Kelleher said the Year 7 and Year 6 departures were “very impacting” on the school, who it now looked to Year 5 students to take up leadership roles including organising the school’s social justice fundraisers and other “Catholic work”.
“The Year 5 students will take leadership opportunities not long out of infancy, really, and we will need to work hard with them,” he said.
“So 2015 will be a big year for these new leaders who will have to step up next year,” Mr Kelleher said.
He said the transition had a “neutral effect” on St Martin’s but said smaller schools might feel the impact more, with many teachers without jobs next year.
Christ the King Catholic Primary School students also organised a final Mass to farewell all graduating Year 7 and Year 6 students ahead of the Christmas holidays.
