Hey everyone! Hope we all had an enjoyable break, but back to reality, and what could be more fun on the first Monday back than an assembly right?

Now firstly thank you everyone for a great year in relation to the sporting part of the school, you have all contributed significantly and the participation and school spirit this year has been

amazing, it’s improving every year. So round of applause to all of you 👏 👏 👏
Now sport for me as you all know has played a big part in my life, and alphington has recognised

that and constantly supported me, as I believe it has with many of you.

I’ve had a lot of memories over my years at this school, like taking 20 minutes to get out of the foam pit at the YMCA during prep gymnastics, or the year our year 6 softball team basically won every trophy possible. As you all know, the swimming carnival has been my favourite day of the year for a long time, and thank you to the teachers who pushed me and bought out the best in me. Starting from the primary school swimming day where I swam in a race 3 year levels above my own and came third. I showed up to class the next day thinking I’d just won the Olympics.

Now fast forward to my senior years at alphington where Wednesday afternoon sport has been the days I’ve looked forward to the most. It’s a good way to forget about everything, and just have a laugh with all your friends.

To touch on what I mentioned before, the teacher support has been amazing at our school from day 1. The encouragement and motivation we have isn’t something you can find at any school, it’s a part of the alphington grammar family.
Many teachers have been involved in sport days and dedicated a lot of time to helping, so on behalf of Zac and I, we thank you so much, and without your efforts so many sport days wouldn’t be possible.

But, there is one person who needs to be mentioned.
Ms Rahme, since you came to the school, a lot has changed, and all for the better. The school needed it, and we found a person who saw that all we could do was play soccer, and therefore changed the school’s sporting culture. From day 1 you have improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the nature that the sporting department had been run in. And we all thank you for that.
Ms I can honestly never thank you for how much you’ve done for me. When I did my knee last year, you sent me an email, and the advice you gave me not only helped me through my rehab, but through a lot of things that I’ve experienced in my life. I will always be grateful for that and I will never forget it. Without your help and our talks in your office, I would never have gone back to Soccer or swam competitively again. So thank you for always being there for me.

Now on a brighter note, thank you to Dr Nikou, and again to Ms Rahme and those involved in the Captain selecting process who gave me the opportunity to be the 2017 School Sport Captain along side my best mate, Zac. We make a really good team and you’ve made this experience so much better for me.

To future students please try to continue the lunch time sport that Zac and I have started, it’s created so many friendships and strengthened our school in so many ways.
Thank you to all the House captains for all your help, you honestly make Zac and I look good!

To anyone who is thinking about going for a role within the school, please do, because it will improve your schooling life as well as your leadership, communication and organisation skills. It is a great opportunity, and as I’ve been trying to convey in my final speech today, take any opportunity you can and don’t have any regrets.

Finally, I just have one final message to all of you today.
I’ve been at this school for 13 years, and I’ve learnt a lot.
But once it’s all over, like it’ll be for the year 12s in a few short weeks, when you look back on your schooling, you’re not going to remember your year 9 maths test result, or the topics that stressed you out in year 10 chemistry.
But, whether you like sport or not, what you’ll remember is the memories and moments you’ve shared with your friends in this gym, playing interschool sport or even at one of our three carnivals.

If you can take one thing away from what I’ve said today and please trust me when I say this, school goes by and ends in the blink of an eye. Don’t avoid the opportunity to spend time outside of the classroom with your mates.
You don’t have to win the event or the game, participating or even just showing up is more than enough. For example, cross country day for me meant hiding lollies in my pockets so I could eat during the race, and only running when people could see me.

Thank you to everyone for listening, and for consistently supporting me throughout the year as your 2017 Sport Captain.
Good luck to everyone for the rest of the year, one term left! Good luck to the year 12s with exams and also dealing with the frightening thing called our future.

I promise, whether you all like it or not, I’ll be coming back constantly within the next few years. Thank you.