STUDENTS described by their teachers as ‘shining superstars’ sent their hopes for the future skywards as they marked the end of their time at secondary school.
Dozens of Year 11 pupils at St Michael’s Catholic Academy, Billingham, released a sea of gold and blue balloons into the air, one for each of the 178 students, each with a personalised message attached spelling out their dreams and aspirations.
The symbolic gesture followed a moving end-of-year assembly where teaching staff paid tribute to the special group of young people with a host of memories and reflections of their time at St Michael’s.
Head of year Claire Carey, who presented each of the students with a memory wrist band, said: “This is a very bittersweet and emotional day for me - it is good to see everyone moving on but it’s also very hard to let them go.
“Over the past five years they have helped make every day an adventure - I have seen some develop into fantastic musicians, promising sportsmen and women, young linguistics and future academics – I have been a bouncer, a mediator, a style consultant and relationship advisor but my lasting memory of this year group will be of us being one big happy family, full of quirky individual personalities.
“You are only ever as good as the team around you and I have been lucky enough to have had a team of champions - I am so proud of each and every one of them – my ‘shining superstars’.”
The leavers’ assembly, which was attended by dozens of parents, friends and family members, enjoyed musical entertainment by Year 11 pianist Joe Binns accompanied by vocalists Niamh Casey-Burnett, Katie Allison and Emily Rose Thompson.
Individual form tutors also paid humorous and heart felt tributes to their students and passed on words of advice for the future.
Mrs Vicky Bryson said: “This really has been a lovely bunch of young people and the exact reason that you come into teaching.
“They have overcome obstacles both in and out of school and showed so much maturity that I am constantly in awe of them.
“I am sure that they will all go on to do different things but I am certain that they will all succeed in life.”
The celebration was concluded by head teacher Mr Andrew Ramsey who advised students to always remember that ‘happiness is the key to life.
“We have been together with this year group for five years and today marks a massive transition in their lives,” he said.
“They have been an incredible students, with a real essence and devotion to the school, we have walked a wonderful journey together and god wiling they will all find true happiness and acquire a great outcome in life.”