farewell songs

The lyrics are fantastic- rewritten by Bel

Unwritten

Year 12 is leaving, we know you're sad, but it's not that bad
We're just beginning, a life on our own, ending unknown.

Staring at the blank page before us
Looking at the gates behind us
Let the journey start and see where we can end up going

Reaching for freedom in the distance
So close we can almost taste it
Release our inhibitions

Feel the rain on our skin
No one else can steal this feeling
Only year 12's gone today
No one else! no one else!
Can say goodbye to this school
Good bye teachers good bye ribbons
BMW's, We won't miss them
Today is where our book begins
The rest is still unwritten

We break tradition, sometimes our tights, have holes in the sides
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but we can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before us
Open up the door to Blue Gum
Let the drinks illuminate the words that school would not find

Reaching for freedom in the distance
So close we can almost taste it
Release our inhibitions

Feel the rain on our skin
No one else can steal this feeling
Only year 12's gone today
No one else, no one else
Can say goodbye to this school
Good bye teachers good bye ribbons
BMW's, We won't miss them
Today is where our book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can steal this feeling
Only year 12's gone today
No one else, no one else
Can say goodbye to this school
Good bye teachers good bye ribbons
BMWs, We won't miss them
Today is where our book begins
The rest is still unwritten

*

Time of your life

Another turning point;
a "journey" down the road

School grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang them on a shelf
remember the good times

We've grown up so much
We've faced the tears and trials

But in the end
we'll be leaving with a smile

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

(music break)

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

*

And the Year 11 wrote this song for us:

American Pie

A long long time ago, the teachers still remember
When you girls first started school that day
You came to school with your mum and dad
And may have looked a little sad
But soon you were all happy for a while
But year nine, it turned you bitter
With all the makeup it delivered
Bad news on your doorstep
You weren't allowed one more step
So the corridor it screamed us deaf...
While we took one last withered breath
coz something touched us deep like death
the day the year 12's left...

so...Bye, bye Year 12 good bye...
drove our Chevy to the esky but the esky was dry
them good ol' yr 12's were drinking Smirnoff and sky,
Singing you cannot expel us but try,
Coz we're off to better things so good bye...

Did you write the book of sin,
Cos those yellow slips sure made us grin ...if u gave them out enough.
And do you believe in aiming high,
For a car or perfect UAI,
And can you teach us how to like Kelleher...
Coz we know that you're in love with him
Coz we saw you dancing in the gym,
You all kicked off your shoes...
And we dig those rhythm and blues.
You are all lonely teenage drunkin bucks,
with messy hair and your shirts untucked...
So Mrs Poole's just got some luck, the day the Yr 12's left...
We started singing......

so...Bye, bye Year 12 good bye...
drove our Chevy to the esky but the esky was dry
them good ol' yr 12's were drinking Smirnoff and sky,
Singing you cannot expel us but try,
Coz we're off to better things so good bye...

Now in a few months we'll been on our own
while you're all out getting stoned,
and we all know that's how schoolie's should be.
And while you're there watch head girl,
and the prefects that they behave themselves,
after all you're all ambassadors for our school...

Don't forget you went to Abbotsleigh,
Which was everything with high prestige,
Who cares about what you've learned,
You can watch those study notes burn.
But with all the journeys you embark,
make decisions from your heart,
Cos this is just the very start,
The day that you all leave...

Bye bye Year 12 girls goodbye
You have finished school forever
You have made it alright
The friendships you've made are strong and will never die
Singin' this here is your day, do not cry
This here is your day, so don't cry!

(we were all crying by the time they finished singing =P)

year 12 2006 valedictory dinner

Everyone looked absolutely stunning! It was the night of nights; one I will never ever forget. There were many speeches made and the graduation ceremony was quite long but it was an almost sublime experience. It was very surreal at times but I have many wonderful memories to look back on once I finally come to terms with the fact that this chapter of my life at Abbotsleigh has finally finished.

The service and food was excellent! Sofitel Wentworth definitely lived up to its 4-star reputation. I especially enjoyed the entree: (though when reading the menu I had no idea what it was)

"Tartlet of caramelised red onion and goats cheese, asparagus and trussed tomatoes with a baby salad, tomato coulis."

okay enough talking. photo time!


4u buddies!!


Asians and Bel


Me and Kelly :: Me and Kace


Me and my dad


Me and Georgie


B for Beautiful Boarders


Final group photo

rest of the pics are at http://flyingdreams.dotphoto.com

the end of an era.

Year 12 and Staff Breakfast


half our table :: "Family Guy"


fighting for Software Prize :: Attack of the Badges

Firstly speeches and presents were given to house tutors and house patrons, then it was the student's turn to give out awards to the Staff!! some were absolutely hilarious..

Award for English Department: "If life is a journey; we don't want to go!"
Award for PDHPE Department: "Anything your class can do, we can do better!"
Award for IT Department: "Family Guy- for being so busy knocking up their wives that Abbnet has been permanently out of order"

... over half the IT department has wives who are pregnant!!

Then it was photo time in the Year 12 Corridor while waiting for Final Assembly to start.


found this on a random locker!!

Final Assembly


Me and Bel :: Ali giving the devotion

We walked down the centre aisle in reverse alphabetical order!! (w00t first time being so near the front!) singing our school hymn for the last time. I was already getting teary when we sang the line "Give us grace to love as sisters, all whose burdens we can share"

The various speeches were so touching but I think the junior school captain summed it up the best: "Year 12. we will miss you."

The song by kindergarten was sooo cute!! it's traditional for kindergarten to farewell the year 12s and this year it was finally for us... they were adorable!

By the end of our two songs... EVERYONE was crying and hugging... I'll never forget it. And then it was more photo time and getting everyone to sign our shirts...


smiling and crying :: signatures

...Valedictory Dinner in a few hours where we will officially graduate from school. I think I'm going to cry again....

last full day of school!!

how funny is this?? Bel starts walking out of geography, and Fetters asks "where are you going?"
"err... field trip..."

I had no idea what she was doing until I was walking back to the lockers at recess and I almost did a double-take when I saw this on the oval!! HAHA it's exactly setup like in the classroom....they even took down the projector =D

and then in our LAST 4u maths lesson- we had a Connect 4 Championships as well as playing Maths Who wants to be a Millionaire as well as dropping in on other classes to steal their food =P


what's the probability of us BOTH getting Kings? :: Me and Libby aka Official BadgeMaker

then for my final lesson: Software! ahh it was so sad; our class of 6 is so incredibly geeky and we're proud of it!


we made Mr Raymond wear the pink tie :: me and Kace who's always hungry

And finally, Year 12 2006 class of Software Design presents:
"The adventures of Skye and Mr Fisher"

Wear a different uniform to school day.

w00t!!! we had so much fun; i exhausted the batteries in my camera with the amount of pics that I took =D it was awesome- once again all the year 12s got involved and we had uniforms ranging from Pennant Hills to Newington.

There were a lot of PLC and Barker uniforms (appropriately dressed with a ton of makeup =P) but what was surprising were the number of guy uniforms! haha and of course everyone acted the part with much enthusiasm... i think people down at Wahroonga shops almost didn't believe their eyes to see Shaw, St Leos, Kings and Barker "boys" strolling down the street =P

[Click on thumbnails to see enlarged version]


Group Photo :: Kiki being a pimp


What else are ties for? :: Kiki, Matkovich, Kaz


Shaz, Kelly, Ash, Helen, Valerie, Kiki, Kaz @ recess


NSG (and Barker and MLC) pride! .... not...

tons more photos @ http://flyingdreams.dotphoto.com

yr 12 final service event!

The 1st Annual 'Abbies'

A night(I mean lunchtime) of fun and festivities, where the most prestigious and highly contested awards were handed out to their worthy recipients!

Most Punctual Grade to Class: Year 7!
Most Enthusiastic Grade: Year 8!
Most Studious Grade: Year 11!
Most Beautiful, Intelligent, Sexy and Fun Grade? Year 12 =D

The rest of the time was filled up with acts from each grade, the acts ranged from solo singing to skits to dances. The highlight was of course, the entire grade of year 12 dancing to "We're all in this together" from High School Musical!!

Thanks to Em and Jen for making the 'Abbies' such a success; and to all my yr 12s for all getting involved and being united to make it such a memorable occasion, as well as raising money for service!

(sorry abt the bad quality of the vids... i had to downgrade the size otherwise i would've run out of memory... don't forget to turn up your sound!)

Year 10: Backstreet Boys


Year 12: Finale

eek!

interview tomorrow! >______________<"

*breathes heavily*

anyone gonna be at unsw at 9:45am tomorrow morning? come and say hi at the Matthews Building! or come by an hour later when I'll be finished!!

day 2...

Year 12 vs Staff Debate!!

haha highly amusing spectacle. With insults thrown left and right it was a bloody contest but year 12 won in the end!! (taking points off for very enthusiastic audience participation so does NOT count!) the debate was on "Education is a sham" with teachers as affirmative and students as negative.

funny lines that I can remember:
"See with Uma on our team it shows we're multicultural!" - Moo
"Education is a sham" looks pointedly at year 12 "I rest my case" - Ms Simpson
"A law-school drop-out who doesn't understand the technology of nasal spray!" - Colless (i think? she was referring to Mr G)
"Let's consider Paris Hilton... *pause*... let's consider her for a bit longer..." - Mr G

funny moments I can remember:
- Mr G reading his newspaper and playing on his Gameboy during Moo's speech. Then he calls Mr M on his mobile to ask for lip balm during Colless's speech. (how scandalous! =O)
- Ina and her personal battle with Mr Ollie for the timer-watch and the bell.
- The water pistols that came out of nowhere in a vain attempt by the teachers to distract the speaker. (can't believe they had to stoop to such poor methods.. seriously!)
- Anna stealing the gnome that was the teacher's mascot. muahaha!

*

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED!!! I'm not going to spoil the Yr 12 Final Service Event on Monday but I'll show you a snippet to whet your tastebuds for the real thing. IT'S GONNA BE SOO GOOD!!! our whole grade is dancing on stage =) [nb turn up ur sound]

day 1....

EVERYONE who had a pet/dog brought them along to school today =DD the look on the teacher's faces was GOLD!!!

of course, with so many distractions it was impossible to do any work.. each period was spent hugging, petting and chasing the many dogs around the school, taking them for walks and causing disruption to all other classes =P

i love my grade =) we all get into the spirit of it and get involved... even ppl without dogs! charlie brought her yabbie along i think...?! haha jess so should have brought her horse!!! and ridden it around the oval



then in evening we had our 4u maths thai dinner!! GO 4U! =D





ahhh good times =) ... so what's happening tomorrow, anyone?

are we there yet??

GET READY.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE LAST WEEK OF YEAR 12 2006....

already the fever has set in..=P

gen 32:22-32

Summary sentence:
Jacob is blessed and renamed Israel for he surrendered after struggling with God.

Lessons:
- Through struggle comes blessing. Sometimes this blessing is in a form we don't expect.
- Surrendering is not easy, but painful. Jacob walked with a limp for the rest of his life after his encounter with God. He was weakened physically, but strengthened spiritually.

Application:
- Hang in there! God holds the future and is putting me through my experiences to teach me, train me, and discipline me for righteousness. I need to surrender my emotions, my will, my desires and my future to Him.
- I will let go of my fears and worries and simply trust God. Though it seems hopeless, I know God is with me and that is all I need. He is all I need.

Thank God for BSF! It seemed like God was using the lesson to speak directly to me, opening my eyes to how blind I have been.

another weekend...

Saturday:

Spring cleaning in the morning; so everyone helped to tidy the house up (I vacuumed). Though I don't like cleaning very much, it is rather satisfying to have everything in its place and tidy.

Then we had lunch at Eden (garden centre in North Ryde) it was a very nice atmosphere! except I made the mistake of ordering the risotto, which actually had about 50 billion peas -____-" and it was too much effort to pick them all out, so I resigned myself to trying to eat them.

In the afternoon I sat down with my parents and they helped me to solidify my answers in preparation for the med interview. It was very useful actually and so I typed up my responses. It feels rather strange though, to be "studying" notes about myself!

I couldn't bear to watch the NRL semi-finals in the evening. Poor knights... I was hoping it was going to be a good game, but to watch them being thrashed.. though Lochear is a great player, I can't help but not really like the Broncos, simply coz they're Queenslanders... (argh wish we had won the State of Origin this year)

Sunday:

Church in the morning... thank goodness I managed to arrive early for ushering! haha otherwise Joey would've made me to offering prayer =P... odd though.. not the usual number of people today...

Went to Parramatta for shopping in the afternoon. Tried on so many pants/jackets/skirts but finally found the suitable clothes for med interview! oh and I also bought a pair of shoes to match my formal dress =) We shopped for around 3 hours, but then everyone was really tired so we gave up and went home.

I feel a bit guilty for not doing maths homework... but I have prep 3rd period tomorrow! That's a good time as any to tackle Mechanics Further Questions...sigh the mechanics chapter is almost impossible... there's a reason why I don't do physics!! ><

it's a beautiful day =)

ahh after a week of rain and gloom... it's so fantastic to have the blue skies back! spring is in the air indeed... I've been absolutely loving the warmer weather- we had 4u maths outside on the grass yesterday. didn't accomplish much work, but hey! we were enjoying God's creation =D

not only is the weather happy, but inside i'm also content and peaceful. though HSC is not far on the horizon, right now i'm just enjoying the last few days of school and being with my friends.

but more than that it seems I finally understand how the psalmist feels when they write:

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Ps 119:97
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Ps 119:103
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Ps 119:105

lately I've found more and more delight in opening up the Bible and reading God's Word. What an awesome privilege to have my Creator speak to me, and what an utter fool I am if I do not follow, for His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts, and His commands are not burdensome, for they are out of love.

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
Ps 145:1-3

in reflection

My eyes traverse the landscape,
as I take a rest on the hard ground.
I don't want to leave this comfort,
this mini oasis that I've found.

Up ahead I see no shade, no trees,
The desert seem to go on and on.
My feet are weary, my throat is dry
The days are hot and long.

The road ahead is yet to be seen
Lost and shrouded in shadow
I can but trust in God my Rock
He is yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Where can I go to meet with my God?
My soul cries out as I fall.
Do not fear for I am with you
I hear my Saviour call.

All my life it seems I've been waiting
And now I'm at the crossroad.
The left or the right, which is right?
But the truth is, only God knows.

So when it is time to step out in faith
I pray I would do so with wisdom
May the Cross ever be central in my life
May I serve to advance God's Kingdom!

For we've been called, as children of God
To live as strangers in fear
For this earth is not our home,
The Day draws ever near!

And on that day we shall meet
Our Saviour face to face
And nations will bow united as one
To praise His glorious Name!

our nth study camp reunion

about 18 study campers turned up for yumcha at Chatswood today. not bad for having organised it last night!!! hehe as soon as I woke up and saw it was raining, it was crazily emailing, msning and msging everyone to let them know the changed plan.

About 6 of us arrived at Kam Fook around 12pm - it was so awesome that we got a room to ourselves! Anyway, everyone else eventually arrived and we ended up squishing/sharing chairs in order to fit everyone at the table. hehe to be fair, the service was quite good; though a few times there was nothing to eat as we were waiting for the next batch of dimsims to be brought up. i still reckon we should've given them more tip! ><

afterwards we split up; some wanted more food; some wanted gelato but in the end we went up to Clarise's house to hang out. haha the funniest thing was when we were in her room, looking down onto the street watching Amanda, Jackson and Jesse while giving them directions over the phone =P "NOO NOT THAT BUILDING, THE OTHER ONE!!"

it was a pity it rained, but we had a good time anyway =)
I can't believe I'm not going to see my study camp family until probably after HSC!! sigh... these past few weekends have been awesome....

15 days to go

we're all counting down.

many preparations are now underway for all our final Year 12 events. Auditions and dances are being organised for 'The Abbies' our year 12 Final Service Event. Every lunch or recess there's filming being done for the Year 12 Video. Photos have been sent in for the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner. Invites have been sent out for the Annual Year 12 Luncheon. Songs are being chosen for Year 12 Final Assembly. Ideas are being decided upon for the Year 12 Gift to the School.

And the year book committee are still rounding up people who haven't sent in their year book page.

In these last few weeks, everyone seems to be almost beside themselves with excitement at the thought of finally being FREE of the HSC... but also sad that 12 years of schooling are soon drawing to a close. For those of us who have been here since Year 7, there are a lot of memories, and wonderful people connected to this school. It will be hard to leave, yet impossible to not want to leap ahead into our futures.

15 days to go. Time sure does fly faster than the weaver's shuttle.

*

How could I almost forget? =P

praise you in this storm!

Verse 1:
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
And stepped in and saved the day
Once again, I say Amen, and it is still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
I'm with you
As your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:
I'll Praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
You are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will Praise You in this storm

Verse 2:
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find you

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
I'm with you
As your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus

Bridge:
I lift my eyes into the hills
Where does my help come from
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth

Romans 8:28 / 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Psalm 42:5 / Psalm 121:1-2
Job 1:20-21 / Daniel 3:16-18

*

This song by Casting Crowns is surely one of my favourites. Its lyrics remind me very much of "Blessed be your Name" and everytime I hear this song I think how blessed I am. Even in the midst of my storms I have my God who is with me, my God who is the maker of Heaven and Earth! Praise be to God for his unfailing love, and his everlasting promises!

busy busy busy!!

UNSW Open Day

I arrived at 9:30 just in time to hear the medicine lecture. It was kind of a scary eye-opener as to how hard I have to work, much harder than I have been if I want to get in. To think that I'm competing with so many freaky smart people just for 146 places is very daunting. But as my mum said, all I have to do is do my best, and let everything else work itself out. If I don't get in, at least I won't have any regrets.

Afterwards I walked down to the Roundhouse to grab booklets, then wandered for about an hour, seeing familiar faces almost everywhere. haha I was saying hi to study campers throughout the day =)

Since I had to leave early, I just had sushi for lunch (didn't feel like hot food coz it was soo hot!) and then I caught the bus back to Central. I got to the platform and the train was just about to leave so I ran onto it. Then I almost had a heart attack coz I thought I got onto the wrong train. I did get onto the wrong train but fortunately it also stopped at Ashfield. phew!

Cowra Training Day

This was fantastic! I was a bit nervous as I hadn't gone to the first one, and didn't know what to expect. But everyone was just soo welcoming and friendly, and soon I found I had a lot of mutual friends (haha small world isn't it?) There were a lot of people there and I just kept thinking it's soo awesome to be with a bunch of Christians who are all so passionate about mission! We split off into smaller groups as part of the training seminar on how to write a bible talk which I really enjoyed as I got to know my group. haha probably the best thing was meeting two 3rd yr med students from UNSW! I was very excited...unfortunately I couldn't stay for section time, coz I had to catch the train back to central to get there by 4:15 (i ended up arriving late at 4:30)

Jono + Stanton's 18th

At Central I met up with Ben, Sam and Mel who had been to SCCCA! *cries* I would've LOVED to go but unfortunately I physically can't be in two places at once. obviously. sigh... of course they were nice enough to fill me in on how good it was, thereby making me feel even worse that i couldn't go >< rargh, must go next year!!

We then met up with the other study campers and eventually found our way to Y2K in Chinatown for afternoon tea. Funny moments included:
- Ash asking the waitress in english if she spoke cantonese. The waitress replies "of course!" Then Ash ends up ordering in english -_-"
- Mel, Jono and Jesse sculling the spicy sauce and almost obliterating their taste buds in the process.
- Amanda whips out her calculator from nowhere when we're trying to figure out the bill!

Afterwards, around 6:30 we got beseiged by ppl from Street Idol... and (I still can't believe they did it) but some study campers (NOT ME) actually went on stage and were singing and dancing and... i'll stop there. hahaha there was nooo way anybody could've dragged me into that sort of thing...

better than leeton

Geography excursion to Pyrmont!! a pleasant way to end the week especially with the beautiful summer weather today.

We left after period 3, and arrived in the city around 1:30pm. At first we were all in our blazers but it soon got so hot that almost everyone ended up with sleeves rolled up and bags bulging with clothes (blazers and jumpers)

It was very interesting to note all the new classy developments being contrasted with old derelict buildings scattered throughout the suburb. With waterfront views and 1km west of the CBD I can understand why Pyrmont is the next hottest place to live in Sydney (with real estate prices to match)

However the highlight of the day was probably catching the light rail! I can't believe I've never considered taking it before- clean and spacious- reminds of the MTR in Hong Kong... a really great way to get around the city (waaay better than Monorail which is only good for robbing tourists of money). Just thinking of all the times I trekked from one end of the city to the other, if only I had taken the light rail..!!