You just knew Year 12 graduation day would be something special at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts - but closing Enmore Road for a parade and taking over Enmore Theatre? This was a day to remember for everyone there.

NSW Police kindly helped by keeping the traffic at bay as the happy cohort made its way down the restaurant strip and into the famous theatre.

From there, it was music, dancing, awards and the roast to end all roasts. No-one was safe as five drama students, dressed as Greek Gods (of course), recounted every scandal, every hilarity and every achievement of the past six years. You could hear the roars of laughter from the street.

Newtown HSPA principal Dr Susan Green addressed the 163 graduating students and explained why she believes the school is so special.

“It is the arts-rich education you have received at Newtown HSPA that sets you apart – that sets you up for life,” Dr Green said.

“The music, dance and drama, the Art, Musicals, exhibitions, presentations, parades, performances, competitions, and celebrations of talent in its many forms – have made your learning joyful. So much of your learning has been so deeply collaborative.”

“Collectively these experiences have enriched your education. They are what make your education at Newtown unique and so very powerful.”

Perhaps the highlight of a day full of them, was the keynote speech by 2014 NHSPA alumni Jessica Goodfellow.

Jessica topped the state in dance in her HSC year, and has since enjoyed a fabulously varied career, for which she credits her happy time at Newtown - a professional dancer in Barcelona, a choreographer at Sydney Dance Company, an award-winning comedian and a meditation teacher.

“I have my creative fingers in many pies,” Jessica said.

“And I can trace every single one of those pies back to my time at Newtown.”

“I see my friends from Newtown everywhere – in studios, in theatres, in ads, in Moana, in Supergirl!”

“But what you gain at Newtown is not remotely limited to the art form you’ve learned at school. The value of what you’ve learned here is embedded in who you are. Whether you like it or not, Newtown High School of the Performing Arts will follow you into every aspect of your being – how you engage with the world.”

The final words belonged to the outgoing school captains.

“It is the environment at NHSPA that allows the dreams of 12-year-olds, who were obsessed with twirling or singing, or creating mini performances for parents who just wanted to go to sleep, to not only be accepted for not being ‘too much’, but to flourish,” said Izzy Preller.

Maya Harriman-Kha urged her peers to embrace the moment.

“We are officially done-ish, officially sewn into the fabric of NHSPA forever,” Maya said.

“No matter where you go in life, which industry you end up in or how long it takes you to come back to the halls of Newtown ... we will have each other, this shared experience, because no one can take away this journey.”