Three high schools in Port Macquarie held breakfasts for students as a chance for parents, teachers and classmates to share in the joy many encountered waking up to good news, and St Columba Anglican School principal Terry Muldoom said it was a wonderful morning for everyone.

“This morning we have some incredibly happy students and many I think have surprised themselves and achieved better than they expected.

“Our students have performed well across the board and it goes to show the hard work the students put in with help from their teachers was worth it,” Mr Muldoom said. 

Phoebe Slack-smith and Tabitha Lethlean from St Columba Anglican School, were two of three students at the school who received all band six marks and both said they were very happy with the final grades.

“I actually did a lot better than I was expecting, and my hard work achieved really great results,” Phoebe said.

“I was really surprised with my final results, the exams were hard but I am really happy in the end.

“Next year I am hopefully going to Melbourne to student Law and Arts,” Tabitha said.

Odessa Mullin from St Joseph’s Regional College said she had all her fingers crossed this morning.

“Waking up and turning on the computer I had all my fingers and toes crossed hoping for good results and when I saw the final numbers I was very excited.

“My favourite subjects were history, I did modern and ancient history and in the end they were my best marks.

“Next year I am actually going to the United Kingdom to work but the year after I have been accepted to study criminology in Canberra,” Odessa said.

Gabby Moss, also from St Joseph’s Regional College said she is keen to go to university next year and study engineering.

“I am absolutely stoked with my results today, and I have been offered two different scholarships to university so I have a few decisions to make, but it is all great news and I am just so happy,” Gabby said.

Ian Lutton, leader of curriculum at St Joseph’s Regional College said the college is thrilled with how students have gone.

“As a school we are very happy, and I think so many happy students reflects the hard work and dedication they have put in over the last few years,” Mr Lutton said.

At MacKillop College, principal Anne O’Brien said it has been a joyous morning on campus as well.

The College celebrated not only the individual success of its high achievers, but the overall success of a cohort which blitzed the state averages.

“Today is about celebrating the students dedication to their studies and teachers passion for their classes.

“Our staff go above and beyond to make sure students feel nurtured and have every opportunity to succeed.

“Our motto is the pursuit of excellence, we always encourage our students to do their personal best and I think that was reflected today with our outstanding results,” Mrs O’Brien said. 

A total of 107 students made the State Honours list by achieving in the top ten per cent of subjects. The standouts were Brad Ellison who got full marks in Extension 1 Mathematics and Band 6s in Advanced English and Drama. Isabella Candotti was among the top ranked Biology students in NSW; she also achieved Band 6s in Legal Studies, Ancient History and General Mathematics.

Brad said that Wednesday, the day before results were released was the more stressful day, but in the end received exceptional marks in mathematics, English, drama, and religion.

“I was so anxious yesterday and this morning my parents woke me up early and honestly I was shocked, but obviously very happy with my results.

“I have also been accepted to early entry at Macquarie University for Law and Science so it is a fantastic day,” Brad said.

Seventeen MacKillop College students topped the Lismore Catholic Schools Diocese: 

Stephen Pares, principal at Newman Senior Technical College, said this year’s contingent of students have displayed hard work and commitment to their studies.

"Newman Senior Technical College students qualify for a Higher School Certificate but students are not necessarily required to sit HSC exams to achieve this Certificate,” he explained.

“Those that do sit the HSC exams are usually confident their marks will reflect their strong academic abilities along side their National Qualifications in their chosen VET subjects. Their results for this year reflect the hard work that they have put towards these outcomes."

Hastings Secondary College has been contacted for comment.