La Rochelle Yearbook 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD GIRL

Head girl valedictory speech

All of these lasts took me back to my first speech given as Head Girl, where my message was: Don’t waste a single day! The goal is not to be nostalgic – it is to be present; to recognise the memories, not years after, but as they happen. Like right now! I came across a quote recently that really resonated with me: ‘ I complained I had no shoes, until I met a person with no feet.’ It reminded me just how much perspective matters, how easily we overlook the blessings right in front of us. We are unbelievably fortunate to be part of a school like La Rochelle. It is so easy to become caught up in the stress of the classes, homework, and submissions at 11:59 on the dot, but when we pause for a moment, we realise how much beauty surrounds us here. People always say you only realise the value of something once it is gone and I could not agree more. I could spend my days complaining about how everyone’s elbows are constantly at war at the meal tables in the hostel, but then I remember the days of Covid, when we were separated by space. How special is it now that we can sit shoulder to shoulder, that we can hold hands in prayer every morning (if we go to breakfast). Even something as small as passing a plate to the person behind you has become its own quiet act of love, a reminder that what we share here goes far beyond academics. It is community. It is connection. It is something we will miss more than we can imagine. We could focus on: how Mrs Uys made us sanitise our desks with every class in Grade 8; the wet walks to Malmesbury on rainy days; the LO journals none of us handed in, or, we could remember the days we won Kahoot; acted out our English novels like a play, and when Razeena succeeded in distracting the teacher for the whole period. We have been gifted with an environment that balances survival and softness, a place that has challenged us and reminded us that strength and empathy can exist side by side. La Rochelle has given us more than just an education. It has given us experiences that have shaped our character. In one way or another, we have all benefitted from this institution – whether through its lessons, its people, or its quiet belief in what we could achieve (even if all you think you have learnt is how to hack into a Wi-Fi system). Here, we have been encouraged to take up space. The excellence of this school can only be truly recognised with intentional gratitude. Gratitude for the traditions that have grounded us, for the opportunities that have stretched us, and for the sense of belonging that will stay with us long after we have departed through these gates. This school has given me so many people for whom I am truly grateful:

Claire le Roux

What a test this is about to be for my waterproof mascara!

For four years we have watch ed Matrics come and go at their respective Valedictory Ceremonies, and I cannot say it feels real that today it is our turn. In the last few weeks, I have continuously been finding myself recognising moments of lasts and just being filled with nostalgia. I cannot help but wish we could go back and acknowledge other last moments that we were not aware of at the time: The last time we wore a mask; greeted our Miladies; had a morning of news with Mrs Vorster; the last 4G scouting session with Juffrou Schoemie. (She would have loved the girls who sprint to the tuckshop queues. And although I did not know her well, I feel her absence this morning.); the last time we had kreet practice and had to hold each other’s shoulders to line up; the last breaktime dance circle; bus ride; civvies day; when we were woken up in class; the last communal glam session in the bathroom on Photo Day, passing around the Vaseline to make our eyelashes look better; the last time Gretha and Nelia faced off at fight club and the last time Larushkah’s arm popped out ... hopefully!

26 | Hoër Meisieskool La Rochelle | Girls’ High School