Goodbye to school in sea ritual
A fully-clothed plunge into the ocean helped mark the end of 12 years of schooling for Methodist Ladies' College students yesterday.
Although Year 12s at MLC still have one more day of school tomorrow, more than 80 students dashed into the surf at Cottesloe beach in their uniforms as part of a school ritual stretching back more than 30 years.
MLC principal Rebecca Cody said students started the custom in the 1980s.
"For a number of years they were doing the run in their uniforms after school," she said. "It was a tradition that grew out of pure enjoyment. The college embraced the activity as our leavers saw it as part of their rite of passage from school into the unknown, so now we help them organise it and we supervise it."
Ms Cody said the final week was a symbol of transition for school leavers, pointing to new responsibilities ahead.
Most schools are farewelling their Year 12 class this week with events such as breakfasts, dress-up days and graduation ceremonies.
WA Certificate of Education exams start on November 3.
