St Joseph’s School is celebrating the results of the first cohort of Year 12 students.
School Principal, Carmen Cox, said they were thrilled with the results and on the whole the ATAR students did extremely well and the school is proud of their achievements.
“We are especially pleased that for the first cohort of Year 12 students,” Mrs Cox said.
“We have the majority of students achieve their first choice of university.
“Our Dux, Ms Meg Lawrence has achieved a place in the UWA Direct Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine, and other students are studying such courses as law, marine science, business, and science, arts and education in a variety of universities.”
The school had a group of 20 students who undertook general and ATAR courses.
The school achieved a WACE attainment record of 95 per cent.
The general course students all achieved their WACE and completed their certificates successfully.
“We are proud of the fact that our staff undertook the teaching of Year 11 and 12 with a commitment to ensure that our students received all the attention they needed,” Mrs Cox said.
“The proof is in the pudding as we talk to the students who graduated last year.”
Meg Lawrence completed all her thirteen years of schooling at St Joseph’s School.
Ms Lawrence said that being a part of the first graduating class of St Joseph’s School was both nerve racking and exciting.
“I felt a sense of pride in being able to say I was a member of the first graduating class. I felt privileged to be a part of such a historical time for the school,” Ms Lawrence said.
“I made the decision to stay at the school despite being offered a scholarship to a school in Perth, because I knew that if I put in the work, I would be able to excel anywhere.
“From the beginning of year 11, I knew staying at St Joseph’s School was the right decision.
“The school was so supportive and worked so hard to make sure we had everything we needed to achieve what we aimed for”.
Ms Lawrence’s hard work and support from the school paid off and she achieved an ATAR score of 95.5 and a place in the direct pathway to the doctor of medicine at the University of Western Australia.
“I definitely believe my education experience was different because I stayed in Northam,” she said.
“By no means do I think I missed out on anything.
“However, I think being able to graduate school at St Joseph’s enabled me to complete my schooling in a familiar and friendly environment.
“I was able to maintain a presence in the community, but still complete a quality education.”
St Joseph’s School said the addition of year 12 gives families in the Wheatbelt the option to have a “quality catholic education in Northam meaning there is no need for students to move to a metropolitan school”.
Boarding facilities for St Joseph's School students are available at the Northam Residential College to coincide with the addition of upper school courses.
