St. Margaret Graduation Day

Graduation this year takes place in the St Margaret school auditorium . Special drapes, curtains and scrolls are hung to the walls and doors. A certain number of chairs are reserved for parents (usually mothers) to come, as well as quite a few representatives of the local authorities

DOHARI . . . Well done . . ! ! !
At first, all students from the perschool of St Margaret Seria sit orderly and wait. Then the graduates march in to the sound of a classical march, A complex series of announcements are made, which cue the students to stand up, bow, sit down, either in unison or the graduates only. The homeroom teacher for each class calls out the names of his or her students in the usual gender-split alphabetical order. This means that boys are called out in alphabetical order first, then it is the girls' turn. Upon hearing their names, the students say "Yes" and remain at attention until all students have been called. Recently some schools have abandoned splitting the class by gender. Both the national anthem and school song are sung by everyone. The head of the student council reads a short congratulatory address to the graduates. This is not equivalent to a valedictorian speech. It is somewhat pre-set and heavily edited by the teachers responsible for the ceremony. Then the principal launches into a long-winded speech as is the tradition in most schools. Perseverance, hard work and patience are the most common themes brought up on the occasion.
Once the diplomas have been all handed out, a few more announcements and speeches are made, by PTA (parent-teacher association) representatives or someone from the municipal or local government. A few moments later, the graduates are free to roam around the school, in and out of the teachers’ office.