Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School

It’s official - this week, Year 5 made history! They were the first Year 5 cohort at AISM to ever graduate virtually! The ceremony may have looked a little different to other years, but it was no less special and exciting. Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect was seeing the whole community come together with a common goal - to create a memorable experience for everyone involved. Parents created and contributed to the most exquisite goody bags for our students; they presented their children with their certificates and arranged celebratory dinners. Teachers organised and hosted a ceremony that celebrated each child’s achievements. Students took part in musical performances, wrote gorgeous messages to each other and decorated their spaces. School Captains wrote inspiring speeches and House Captains ensured the ceremony was jammed packed full of fun games. Look at what can be achieved even under the most difficult circumstances. 2020 may have tried to keep us apart, but AISM came together in the most beautiful way this week.
Here are some recounts of the day, written by our Class of 2020!
I was just going to head downstairs for dinner when my dad stopped me and told me to wait, so I waited and thought about what might be the reason behind this. After ten minutes my mom said I could go down, but once I reached the last step, my dad came and closed my eyes. Then he let me go. I opened my mouth when I saw all the food and how delicious it looked. My mouth started to water while my tongue continued to slurp and I felt as if I wanted to dive in the food and eat all of it, but my parents knew what that look meant, so they grabbed my hand and told me to sit patiently while they washed their hands. So I did, but as soon as their clothes touched the seat, I started to eat and straight after my first bite, I thanked them heartily, saying how much I loved the food. In the end we gave Simba one of the balloons to play with and that was like the icing on the cake. - Delisha 5W |
Ashley was throwing balloons everywhere, I was trying to clean them up, Chloe was freaking out and we were joining graduation...err...virtual graduation! Everyone looked amazing! Backgrounds were decorated beautifully! Teachers danced (not as nice as the backgrounds)! “Cherish!” A noise startled me as I saw Mrs Richards stare at me...oh yeah, the certificate! My mom shook my hand so hard I thought it was going to fall off! But little did I know, it was just the start of the adventure…. - Cherish 5W |
There I was, staring at my iPad, with a smile stuck on my face. I sat waiting for my name to be called...then I heard my name!!! And at that moment I knew that I was a true Year 6. - Tilly 5W |
My heart was beating as my parents gave me the certificate and the crowd was cheering! But I know I wouldn’t have come this far if it wasn’t for my teachers. After that I kept eating my snacks and then eventually I finished them in one day, they were so delicious! - Perikles 5W |
A Christmas table filled with food and balloons. Two happy children bubbling with joy and excitement. This was the day we were going to officially graduate. Everything was prepared. We set up our ipads and dived into our graduation ceremony. The farewells, the games and the messages were overwhelmed with smiling faces on both the parents and the children. But this was it, the part where we got our certificates. We waited patiently for our names and when mine finally came, I burst with joy. After 4 years of being in this school I had finally moved up to the Middle Senior School. - Riverling 5G |
It was time, time for me to graduate. I sat down on the floor excited with my family, but a little nervous for Year 6. After a long talk with the teacher, he told us to get our certificates. Moments passed as a few students got their certificates before me. Then it was my turn. I looked at my dad as he gave me my certificate. He shook my hand and said congrats. My family was happy for me, but I still was worried if Year 6 would be much different than what I am used to. We ate candy that was in our bags and had fun taking photos. Now I know when Year 6 comes, I will be ready! - Asha 5G |
There I was, super excited to get my certificate, waiting patiently for my name to be called. “Boshen!” Mrs Richards said as I got my certificate. This was great and it had just started. I opened the bag and saw a bunch of candy - it looked sooo good, so I ate all of it. This was the best! - Bo Shen 5W |
Today is the day, the day that I will graduate. I am over excited and also a bit nervous. I think I will have a heart attack because I am too happy, but no, I will of course not have a heart attack, that’s totally impossible. I am so happy when the teachers say it is time to open my goodie bag. Oops, I forgot to grab it! I run past the dining room and the spare room and finally I get it. I see people shocked and teachers with smiles on their faces. I wonder what it will be? I open my goodie bag impatiently and I see two bags of snacks and two party poppers. I also see some props and a year book especially for Year Five. No wonder everyone is so excited! - Bailey 5G |
The feeling of nervousness overcame my excitement until I was shivering. I felt like this was my first step. “Levi, please collect your well deserved graduation certificate. You earned it.” I turned 90 degrees and was suddenly shaking my mum’s hand. What a wonderful day. I held my certificate up to the camera and got a huge round of applause. - Levi 5W |
Sitting down, names getting called out, with my heart pounding and my head racing, only one question going through my mind, “Am I next?” It seems like it was just a few hours ago we were opening our graduation bags and receiving our awards. It went soooo quickly, yet so slowly too. I loved every second of it, the preparation leading up to it and the ceremony, but my favourite bit by far was when we each got crowned something different (personally, I think I got the best). All hail the four square queen! - Isabella 5G |
Am I ever gonna do it? Am I ever gonna graduate? All these questions that I asked myself at the beginning of the year. All the preparations, all the hard work has led up to this. There I was… next to two of my closest friends ready to start an adventure. Even the smell of the air made me want to puke, but I was ready and…...I did it! - Chloe 5G |