SEAVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:24): I rise today to speak about an event I was recently proud to attend as the member for Mitchell. Seaview High School's 2013 graduation and awards ceremony was a powerful reminder to me about the immense promise and potential of our young people. It was also a reminder that our young people show more than promise and potential: they are already making valuable contributions to our society across a range of areas, including volunteering and community service, sport and the arts.

The event, which was held at the Capri Cinema, was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the achievements of the graduates and included slide shows, music, dance, speeches and the presentation of subject prizes and special awards.

Graduating students Caitie Cain, Blake Derer and Dessy Georgescu hosted the evening, while old scholars Isabella and Phoebe Shaw were among the guest speakers. Student Samuel Jamieson delivered the valedictory speech, reflecting on his time at Seaview in a highly entertaining way. There were award winners in 22 subject categories: Chao-Wen Liu, Nikki Parker, Lincoln Brown, Oliver Godfeldt-Smith, Serena Condo, Kane Thompson, Patrick Buksinski, Tori Herbener-Bemold, Luke Schwarz, Tiah Underwood, Jamie Wickstein and Jack Storey each won an award for one subject, while Sonia Caruso, Suphaneela Sivakumaran and Dessy Georgescu each won awards for two subjects.

Saxon Nelson-Milton topped four award categories and, not surprisingly, won the special award for academic excellence. A special mention must also go to graduate Blake Derer, who won three of the six special awards presented at the graduation ceremony: the Long Tan, Caltex All-Rounder and student leadership awards. The other special award winners were Georgina Lanyon, who took out the sports category, and Saori Iizuka, who won the international student award.

However, the graduation ceremony was a celebration not just for the award winners or the graduates, but for the whole school. The success of Seaview High School highlights the importance of government providing quality public education for our children. Michele Spencer, the assistant director from the office of education, who attended the night, summed it up well when she said:

The graduation ceremony was a public demonstration of the quality programs, dedicated staff and leadership that go together to create a good school.

Indeed, I would like to congratulate principal Penny Tranter, now in her third year at Seaview High School, who has fostered a real sense of community at the school. Penny has been unafraid to set the standards bar high for her students and staff and has seen the whole school community benefit from the pride taken in its performance, whether it be in academics, sports, the arts, or just representing the school outside its Seacombe Road campus.

Seaview High School's motto is, 'Live to achieve', and this has clearly been taken seriously by many of the fine young people moving on from its ranks in 2013. For the 80 young people who graduate from Seaview High School and the thousands of youth who finish their time at other schools across South Australia this year this is such an exciting time, whether they go onto further education at university, TAFE, take a gap year or pursue employment opportunities.

Finishing secondary school is a huge milestone. It is one of the many great steps we take in our lifetimes. No matter where life takes us, we always remember our high school days, admittedly some more fondly than others. But for all of us there were lessons learned, friendships made and experience gained, all important as we make our way in the wider world. As we do this, we would all do well to ponder the character traits listed on the Seaview High School website: empathy, respect, resilience and integrity. Good luck to all our high school graduates.