La Rochelle Yearbook 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD GIRL

Deputy Head girl valedictory speech

We watched our Miladies in awe, convinced that Matric was light years away. But here we are, ending off our twelfth year as Larries, saying goodbye to a place that once felt like a mystery, but now feels like home. A word of wisdom to the younger grades: participate in everything! I do not mean to sound like your register teacher, but it is true. You will discover so much about yourself and meet friends in places you never thought you would. I have found lifelong friends in my Netball Team, Ignite Group, musical casts and so many other places. Trust me, those seemingly insignificant choices to join in will become some of your favourite memories. I have tried to keep this speech short, because I know the snacks outside are calling our names. But before we indulge, there are a few people who truly deserve a moment of thanks. To all the teachers: Thank you for not only teaching me as a student, but for guiding me as a human. Your efforts have shaped me into who I am today, and I am deeply grateful. To the Senior Council: You are resilient, full of joy and it was an absolute privilege to work with all of you. Thank you for the teamwork, providing a safe space for weekly outbursts and making 2025 unforgettable. To the Junior Council: I wish you nothing but the best for next year and I am sorry that we could not spend more time together. Keep up the dedication and stay the wonderful leaders I know you are. To Corin and Tinette: Since 2022 Claire and I have seen you develop as leaders and we are sure you will still learn much more next year, but no matter what happens, remember Claire’s spiritual words of advice that God will never put you through something that you cannot handle. Good luck to the two of you and the entire team of 2026. Daisies: We met you when you were scared little divas who did not even know where Room 19 was. Today, you are still little divas who probably do not know where Room 19 is, but the difference is that you are not scared any more (unless Milady Leigh is in the room), but that is not the point! The point is that you have grown and changed so much in one year and it was an absolute privilege for us, your Miladies, to mentor you. To my Daisies, Lady Glitter Sparkles and Mr Dinkles: I have had an absolutely fabulous time with you and please feel free to message me whenever you need to talk to someone, or if you just feel like getting some coffee. I hope that you will think of me next year and every other year, because know that I am always thinking of you. Liezel, my cousin: Thank you for being the best godmother I could ask for. For every emergency pick up, sleepover and all the love you have shown me. You are such a special person in my life.

Lael Frankfort

In High School Musical , they sing about ‘the start of something new’. But, today, it is also about the end of something unforgettable.

I recently came across a term that I have cherished ever since: Mono no aware. It is a Japanese concept that describes an awareness of the impermanence of things – and a gentle, melancholic appreciation of their passing. This year, everything felt so sentimental. The ordinary moments did not feel so ordinary any more. I found myself wanting to take a picture of everything, because deep down, I knew this was the last time. And that kind of beauty – the kind you only notice when something is about to end – is almost impossible to express in words. We met in 2021, the last ‘Sotte’ of La Rochelle, at the Grade 8 Orientation Day – exactly 1 707 days ago! Because of Covid, we did not have a camp, which meant we met one another behind masks. It was quite a shock when the masks finally came off – you had to act completely unfazed by the face you thought you already knew.

28 | Hoër Meisieskool La Rochelle | Girls’ High School