Celebrating Personal Growth at Valedictory Dinner

Children have a hundred languages...

I was honoured to attend the Valedictory Dinner for the Class of 2024 at The Centre, Ivanhoe.

The dinner marks the final act in the ELTHAM Year 12 journey, where our students faced the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye to a chapter that has defined much of their young lives. The end of this significant year is not just a time for portfolio submissions and final exams but also an opportunity to reflect on their personal growth, friendships, and experiences gained along the way.

The Valedictory Dinner serves as both a celebration and a farewell. Students, teachers, and families came together to honour the hard work and achievements of the graduating class.

This year the evening began with a performance from Luca, Ella and Catherine of Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love’. You know you are watching something special when even the wait staff stop and watch – it was truly spectacular. Speeches were delivered, stories shared, and there was a palpable sense of pride and satisfaction in all that had been accomplished. There was also a tangible acceptance that this part of our 2024 graduates’ journey was concluding, indeed in conversation they felt comfortable that this was the end and were ready for the challenges ahead.

The poem, "The Hundred Languages" by Loris Malaguzzi would, for many of the families and students in the room, have been part of that initial transition from home to schooling. The poem speaks of the infinite ways in which children discover, invent, and dream, and the importance of recognising their diverse voices.

"Children have a hundred languages,
a hundred hands,
a hundred thoughts,
a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking."

This poem captures the essence of our children’s school journey, which has been filled with multiple avenues of learning, self-expression, and growth. Over the years, students have discovered their many languages, whether through art, music, science, drama, sport, or personal relationships. The Valedictory Dinner becomes a moment to honour these diverse forms of expression, acknowledging how each individual student has grown and contributed to the collective experience.

Just as the poem suggests, the end of Year 12 is not a singular narrative but a kaleidoscope of stories, strengths, and challenges. The Valedictory Dinner, with its speeches, awards, and shared memories, mirrors this idea, celebrating the countless ways in which each student has expressed themselves and found their voice. It’s a fitting tribute to the fact that, even as they leave ELTHAM, students carry with them many languages of experience and are ready to face whatever lies ahead.

I leave the Class of 2024 with one final message – keep picking up those pebbles…