As is Barker College’s custom, high-achieving students from the Class of 2020 were welcomed back, and their outstanding results were recognised at a special school assembly on February 17.
Speaking at the assembly, Head of Barker College, Mr Phillip Heath, acknowledged the many demands that were placed on the Class of 2020, yet despite the challenges, this cohort achieved some remarkable results.
“These young people represented the school in their outstanding community service, leadership, their technical skills, sporting prowess and academic leadership,” says Mr Heath. In such a year, it was an extraordinary outcome that there were 513 honour roll mentions; 189 students gained at least one top band result; 14 placegetters; 23 all-rounders and 16 students placed in the top 1 per cent of the state.
Further, three students received the perfect ATAR of 99.95 for the first time in the school’s history. Declan Zammit, who achieved a top 10 placing for all his units, is studying a Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies; Rhys Macintosh has commenced a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Mathematical Science and Kai Wong is undertaking a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Law degree, as well as studying a fashion and design course.
In their address to Year 11 and Year 12 students at the assembly, their message was the same – set your goals high and apply yourself.
“I remember sitting at the 2020 Academic Assembly and feeling completely in awe of the previous year’s High Achievers,” Declan says.
“I wondered how I could ever achieve what they had, but I realised that the best way to master a subject is to be passionate about it.
“No one is born with a killer essay ready to go. You need to push yourself and set your goals high. The human brain is capable of incredible things,” Declan says.
Rhys agrees that everyone has a different method to approaching the HSC, yet he advised all students to apply themselves in their final year.
“You have been at school for 13 years. You owe it to yourself to do as well as you can,” Rhys says. “Don’t look back and have any regrets.”
Despite some health setbacks in his final Senior years, Kai believes it is important to set yourself a goal.
“Establish goals for yourself, work hard and you’ll be fine.”
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Barker College
Founded in 1890, Anglican independent, day and boarding school. Barker College is a fully coed school from Pre-K to Year […]