Moving Up and Moving On

The end of Year Six and Year 13 are important milestones in a young person’s journey through school. Year Six marks the closing of the door to Primary education and the leap into Secondary whereas Year 13 sees the completion of examinations and the opening of gates to university.

Both of these not only offer significant opportunities to look back on successes and achievements, but also generate excitement for the years ahead.

The afternoon of Wednesday 30th June was a huge occasion for the students of Year 6 as they celebrated their Year 6 Graduation. Despite not being in school, the Year 6 community of students, parents and teachers came together to celebrate this hugely important milestone.

The Year 6 students wore their graduation robes and mortar boards with pride as they listened to Mr. Coburn’s glowing tribute to their time in the Primary school. Taking their one last opportunity as Primary students to show off their musical skills, Year 6 performed Be Cool and Sneaky Sid with their usual high levels of confidence and talent. 

Mr Storey officially welcomed the students into the Secondary school and spoke of the exciting adventures ahead in the next few years and the support they will receive from the whole Year 6 community. Mona Micic, Serafima Sudakova and Javad Aliyev represented the Year 6 students and spoke of some of their highlights of the Primary school including school trips, year group productions and other memorable events. They thanked their teachers, parents and friends for making Primary school such an enjoyable part of their lives and looked ahead to the future, excited about what will happen over the next few years.

As ISM tradition dictates, Mr Keach led the final part of the celebration, thanking the students, parents and teachers for helping to foster such a wonderful year group. He wished the students all the best in the future and performed the obligatory mortar board to which the students eagerly participated in. 

Year 6 - we wish you all the best in the future and thank you sincerely for being a truly wonderful year group! 

Sixth Form Graduation is always the most bittersweet event of the year and saying goodbye to the Class of 2021 was no different. Bonds have been made between students, teachers and parents over a number of years and whilst they will be maintained, it will be in a different manner, with our Year 13 cohort going off to university.

The event was both opened and closed by our resident musician Linh. Soon to enrol at Berklee College of Music, she wowed the audience upon entry with a song she had written especially for the occasion. She also came full circle in her ISM performing career by giving us one last rendition of the first song she ever sang at an assembly. The musical entertainment did not stop at Linh, with Celena blowing us all away with her fantastic interpretation of "Goodbye" from the musical "Catch Me If You Can".

For the first time ever at ISM, the event was organised by students, with our Deputy Head Boy Pavel and Deputy Head Girl Dasha acting as comperes. Student reflections were given by our Head Boy Gregory, who displayed the wit and panache that helped land him a place to read Philosophy at Oxford. Our Deputy Head Girl Elmira encouraged us to "Dream Big" and inspired the audience in the venue and at home to Be Ambitious with our decisions in life.

Mr Storey delivered a sweet speech in which he used a helpful analogy to discuss the connections that hold us all together, a clear theme throughout the ceremony. Mr Henderson added to this when he encouraged our students to ensure that this is not the end of a cycle, but the next stage in a journey.

Three students were honoured during the event for services to the school. Celena, Ali and Yegor were rightfully praised for going above and beyond and displaying the school spirit that set this year apart.

The Class of '21 received their final address as secondary school students when they took leave of our Principal, Mr Paul Keach. Mr Keach took our students on a walk down memory lane, highlighting MUN trips, the triumphs of our ISM Lions and Ali's relentless pursuit in maintaining a clean and tidy Sixth Form.

It is a difficult moment for parents and teachers when we see our graduating class sparkle in their gowns, knowing that the period of seeing these young men and women everyday is at an end. However, there is always a deep sense of pride in their achievements and a wealth of warm memories. Although the Class of 2021 are no longer students, they are now ISM Alumni, still part of the ISM family.