Saturday 8 November 2003, 9:00am
By Lee & Angelica Cameron

Felix's last day of school

Friday 24 October 2003 was a very precious landmark: Felix Cameron's last day of school.

He went under the flowery triumphal arches, was given a lily to hold and a lovely crown of flowers to wear, and spoke with David Mock and Jessica Thom about classes one to three.

Felix receiving the crown of spring flowers upon entering the School Hall on his last day of year 12, 2003. Felix and classmates retell stories of earlier school years during the end-of-year assembly.

Terry – his former class teacher – gave a beautiful, moving speech. She shared with us several charming anecdotes about Felix.

In class two Terry invited someone to come and play harp music to the children.

“And if you listen very carefully, you will hear the music fairies making the music,” said Terry .

“Actually there aren't any music fairies.” said Felix. “The music is really caused by vibrations.”

Once when the class was on camp early in the primary years Felix decided to demonstrate the use of a parachute to his classmates. Holding the fly of his tent above his head, he proceeded to run up to the crest of a sand dune. As all his classmates watched he launched himself into the air – and like Little Bear trying to jump to the Moon – promptly landed at the bottom of the sand dune.

“I just needed a bit more altitude”, he explained to his admiring audience.

In class 3 Felix brought to school a little electronic machine that made electric shocks. Hiding it in his bag he only showed it to one of his friends, warning him that if Terry found it, she would surely confiscate it forever! His naughty little friend couldn't resist the temptation to give Terry a little electric shock. Sneaking up from behind, he carried out his mission without Felix knowing.

To everyone's surprise Terry thought the little gadget was great and she arranged all her students into a circle so that Felix could give them all an electric shock that would be passed around the circle.

Before this assembly David and I walked through the school seeing how thoughtfully and imaginatively the Year 12's had decorated the school.

The school assembled, with the school-leavers crowned in spring flowers seated beneath the traditional colourful banner painted by year 11 students.

Class one had been decorated with the theme of “The Frog Prince” fairytale. The Frog Prince could be seen sitting in his lily pond.

We crawled into the library to find shrines devoted to the year 12 teachers.

The Year 11 classroom was transformed into a graveyard. We read the epitaphs dedicated to all the year 12 students. These were comical and imaginative portrayals of how they might die in the future.

While we looked at the school, the year 12's visited the kindergartens and each primary school class where they received gifts and shared songs and music.

Following the school assembly there was a delicious morning tea for year 12 students, teacher and families. Felix is pictured with Terry McMillan, his class teacher from class one through to class seven.

Felix was warmly congratulated by those present from the family.

After this we watched the class 12's leave the school. A small group of them, including Felix, trundled off in beautifully made cardboard cars. We threw pretty coloured streamers as they “drove” past.

After this they came around again, this time with the whole class on two decorated trucks . They threw rice and waved as they left the school for ever...

 

Congratulations to Felix!

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