From the Head of Senior School

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner at The Beehive in Bendigo. It was an opportunity to extend our final farewells to the Year 12 students and parents in a splendid and elegant venue. The evening was a huge success and included speeches and insights from our Principal, Dr O'Rielly, Year 12 students, the Chair of the Board, Mr Dave Jemmett, who presented the OGA departing scholarship winner, the School Captains, and the humourous advice and insights of a Girton parent, Mr Dan Fletcher. The Year 12s and their parents were shown a specially made video of their teachers' other musical talents depicting how they might celebrate finishing school. After the final presentation of the 2022 departing Girtonians, it was time for all guests, parents, students, and staff to mingle and dust off their dancing shoes. Mr Dean Norris and Mr Ben Furphy provided special DJ guest appearances. 

Our class of 2022 has many diverse skills they have developed during their time at Girton. This cohort may have some activists, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, artists, mathematicians, athletes, scientists, leaders, and so much more. Among our class of 2022, we have individuals who can come together to do more than they could ever do apart. These past two years have been challenging, memorable, and life-changing. They have changed and grown as individuals through their experiences here at school. As a Generation Z cohort, they have experienced the folding scooter, Spotify as a music "device" that replaced the iPod, and most of their screen content has been on a device. They have also been exposed to the emerging technologies of GoPro, smart speakers, 5G, biometrics, and autonomous vehicles, to name a few. It is a rite of passage as they transition to a new life beyond Girton. They will look forward to a wealth of future new careers and constantly evolving jobs, such as AI specialists, life simplifiers, urban farmers, or perhaps the first space tourism agent.

They will have to adapt their skills frequently for the remainder of their lives, and in doing so, they will explore and challenge the new influences which they will become subject to in their life beyond Girton. To our departing Year 12s, I hope that you follow the values of our School and those your family have instilled in you in a way that is sensitive to the lives and needs of those around you. A meaningful life consists of a series of small daily acts of decency and kindness, which, ironically, will add to something genuinely great throughout your lifetime. 

This week saw the start of the Early Commencement Program (ECP) after a busy week of examinations for our Year 7 to 11s. Our Year 7 and 8s engaged in some fun team-building skills on the Friday of exam week. These team-building activities were designed to promote communication skills, collaboration, critical and creative thinking, intercultural understanding, global citizenship, and adaptation to working with different peers in preparation for ECP. The Year 7s participated in the Solar Buddy activity while the Year 8s developed their collaboration and problem-solving skills as an introduction to the Year 9 program. 

Ms Dawn Davis

Head of Senior School