Year 12 students of 2021 Maxim Blockley and Angela Craft, pictured last year, were amongst the top achievers in the HSC for Corowa High School. Both Maxim and Angela looking forward to continuing their studies through tertiary education this year.
After the challenges of a global pandemic, the class of 2021 let their hair down after receiving their HSC results last week.
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Corowa High School students performed extremely well with Principal Dr Joanne Bellette sharing her delight with the 2021 cohort.
“I am incredibly proud of our senior students at Corowa High School who, despite adversity, have achieved fantastic results in the 2021 HSC,” Dr Bellette told the Free Press.
“They have continued a long tradition of academic excellence at Corowa High where our success almost always surpasses that of similar schools and indeed all other local schools whether public or private.
“This year we have had a total of five students identified as distinguished achievers who received a Band 6 level in the HSC.”
Maxim Blockley received two band sixes in Industrial Technology – Multimedia (91) and Software Design and Development (90) and achieved an 83.15 ATAR.
“I was very pleased with my results,” he said.
“I felt I could have done better in some other subjects, however, I am happy with what I was able to achieve.”
Dylan Forge is off to the University of Adelaide to study Bachelor of Musical Theatre.
“The HSC is a marathon, and you have to be vigilant to ensure that you complete everything as you are the one that is responsible.
“The phrase ‘Oh, I will do it tomorrow’ became apparent and suddenly you have a mountain of work to complete. This can lead to periods of no motivation and being ‘burnt out’ all together, especially within online learning.”
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Maxim was the recipient of a Youth Community Service Award in 2021 for being a strong advocate for community youth, as well as serving as Deputy Mayor, then Mayor of the Federation Youth Council. He also received a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement.
Maxim has already been offered a Flexible Double Degree within Advanced Computing (Honours) and Science at Australian National University in Canberra.
“I will be moving into in-campus accommodation within the next couple of weeks. I am very excited to be studying the subjects that I am passionate about,” he said.
“I would like to thank my parents especially, my peers and the teachers at Corowa High School as they had their own struggles throughout this year, and yet they always looked out for the students and did their best.”
Fellow student Angela Craft was also a top achiever at Corowa High School and recognised on the 2021 HSC ‘distinguished achievers’ list for Modern History and Extension History, which celebrates students who reach at least one top band result.
The 18-year-old also received an 80 for Dance and 84 for Geography.
“I received an ATAR of 89.5 which is above the result I need for university,” she said.
“I am pretty happy and it’s the score I was expecting. I’m definitely proud.
“I am also really lucky my teachers prepared me well for the exams and I also have a wonderfully supportive family who didn’t put pressure on me. I felt really comfortable coming out of my exams.”
Many would remember Angela who delivered an incredible Anzac Day Oration in Corowa last year about WW1 Coreen hero, Private Albert Henri Menere who was killed in battle in 1917.
Angela hopes to study a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and a Bachelor of Development Studies as a double degree this year.
Meanwhile Corowa’s own Dylan Forge who completed his education at Scots School Albury received an ATAR of 88.5 and is off to the University of Adelaide to study Bachelor of Musical Theatre.
“It’s a very good course and I’m really looking forward it,” the award-winning pipe player, and musical theatre star said.
“Year 11 was probably more tough than year 12 in terms of disrupted learning. For music and arts kids we couldn’t come to school and practice our HSC pieces. It was the practical subjects we missed out on mostly.
“The school was very supportive throughout lockdown so that certainly eased the pressure.
“The exams went well and I very proud of myself and can’t wait to get down to Adelaide next month.”
NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said students across the state achieved outstanding results on par with previous years.
“The Class of 2021 should feel so proud of what they have achieved today, succeeding despite the challenges of a global pandemic,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Everything our latest graduates have accomplished over the past two years will hold them in good stead for their next chapter, whether they are looking to go to university or start training or work.
“To see students come out of the HSC with the results they worked so hard for is fantastic. I also want to remind students that if you didn’t receive the results you wanted, there are still countless pathways available to help you achieve your goals.”
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