Recognising our high achievers

Brought to you by Barker College

As is Barker College’s custom, we were delighted to welcome back our Distinguished Achievers from the Class of 2020, recognising their outstanding results 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.”

In such a year, it is an extraordinary outcome that there were 513 honour roll mentions; 198 students gained at least one top band result; 8th school ranked on the number of 'top band' Achievers in State; 14 placegetters; 23 all-rounders and 16 students placed in the top 1% 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 ten 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 said.

“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 said.

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 said. “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.”