The whole School gathered to celebrate a particularly significant year’s achievements and to say goodbye to Benenden’s Centenary Six Two (Year 13) students, as well as Headmistress Mrs Price and other members of staff.
Following breakfast in House, the Lower School enjoyed a ceremony in the Chapel while the Upper School gathered for their service in the Centenary Hall. On leaving the service, the Six Twos said goodbye to their teachers and House staff as they made their way across the Leavers’ Line through Cloisters and into the Quad, where Mrs Price handed out coasters made from wood from the old School Hall tiers.
Parents then joined for refreshments before the whole School took their seats in the Rose Garden to hear the speeches. Mrs Price addressed the crowd and handed over to the newly-appointed Chair of Governing Council, Anne McNab.
The audience enjoyed photos from the traditional end of year montage on the big screen before Mrs Price gave her speech – a poignant goodbye after 10 years as the Headmistress of Benenden. Mrs Price made reference to a letter to her possible future great-granddaughter she had included in a time capsule that was buried as part of the Centenary Closing Event. She also welcomed an out of breath Mr Rendall to the stage as he finished his 100th 10km run in 100 days, raising money for Catching Lives as one of the 100 Acts of Kindness completed to mark the School’s Centenary.
Mrs Price then invited Head Girl Olivia to the stage to give her final speech. Olivia reflected on what she had learned during her time at Benenden and on the value of companionship – her proposed ‘fifth C’ alongside Benenden’s core values of compassion, confidence, courage and courtesy – to her year group’s development. At the end of Olivia’s speech the Six Two crossed the threshold of the Floral Arch and emerged as Benenden Seniors.
A delicious barbecue lunch was interrupted but not completely derailed by a temporary shift in the weather, before the prize winners were awarded their academic and named awards in a separate, intimate ceremony in the Centenary Hall. An afternoon tea, brought inside by the rain, was enjoyed before the year officially ended.
