Penrhos leavers go out with a flourish
Tears, laughter and flowers marked the end of 12 years of schooling for Penrhos College students yesterday.
Emotions ran high as the girls, wearing creatively altered uniforms, were festooned with flowers by friends and family on their last morning at the Como school.
WA schools have different finishing times for Year 12s, but many marked their last day this week with special events such as breakfasts or fancy-dress days.
Penrhos principal Meg Melville said the flower day tradition started more than 20 years ago as part of a push to do away with "muck-up day".
"It was trying to develop a culture of leaving well, but taking all the energy and emotion around this time of leaving school and trying to create a positive experience," she said.
"Everyone mingles and it's organised chaos."
The students sang songs and buried a time capsule to be opened at their 10-year reunion.
Security guards were posted outside Presbyterian Ladies College in Peppermint Grove yesterday to prevent students from other schools causing any problems.
"It is a precautionary measure as in the past we have had some minor damage in the form of graffiti and egg throwing, but this has not occurred in recent times," principal Beth Blackwood said.
"It is also security for venues that have equipment installed for end of Year 12 functions."
Students have a week to go before the WA Certificate of Education exams start.
