You'd think that practically living at school for the past five years would make this speech easy to write and deliver, but it turns out that I really shouldn't have dropped English this year.

I think what the problem is, is there is way too much to say, and I can't condense it all down into a single speech.

Being an Acland Girl has been a large part of my identity at school, and after being announced Head of the boarding house last year, I thought my role would only entail keeping Acland busy. Boy was I wrong; this year had me getting up early for meetings before school, organising school events and just, in general, being more involved with the school.

As the year has rolled on, it has made me realise how special Acland is to the Girl's High community. With only one hundred of us in a school of twelve hundred, we're significantly outnumbered. But of course, we don't bat an eye. At any event were the loudest in the room, screaming out Acland chants, dress up means we go hard or go home, and when it comes to athletics, we take that number one spot in the relay. For the past year, my priorities have gone toward Acland life but what I think you'll all find is that the energy that Acland girls bring to school is infectious.

Lockdown pulled the hostel apart, sending girls packing and cooped up at home for almost two months. But through this time the hostel still maintained contact through zoom and friendly inter-house competition. Just showing how Acland is not an accommodation facility but a family, and because of this, everyone wants to be an Acland girl. \_ツ_/

With that I have a few thanks in order;

First, Guilly. What a chaotic year it has been. Thank you for all the hard work, putting the time and effort into making this year run smooth on a bumpy road.

Also a big thank you to the Acland staff, as the years have flown by we have gotten to know each of you pretty well, and you never fail to pick us up when we're feeling down.

Thank you to the board, there are a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on that I didn't realise about till this year, so thank you for all the effort and time you guys put in.

Thank you to the school staff who have dealt with the countless 'sorry I left my homework at home,' and for me, home is three hours up north.

Thank you to Mrs O'Neill and SLT for your patience and all the incredible work you all do for the new modern shift Girl's High is taking.

Thank you to my fellow Acland girls, prefects and deputies. Each a character of their own and have helped me out so much this year. I wish you all the best for next year.

A big thanks to Isla, Hannah and Ruby who I have been lucky enough to lead alongside. Thank you for your understanding and continuing to push boundaries this year. Being a part of this progressive, motivated group is one that I feel so privileged to be a part of and an opportunity I may never have again.

Big thanks to my mum and dad, family and friends for always being there and making a year that could have quickly gone to custard, great.

Parents, staff, girls. Thank you all for being here tonight. I feel humbled to be standing in front of you today and extremely grateful for your presence at this time of celebration.

It has been an absolute privilege to lead this group of exceptional students, and I can vouch that each one of those girls will achieve greatly within Girl's High and beyond. The school is evolving and becoming a more collective movement, and with that, Acland will forever be an influence on that.

Thank you