From the Head

With less than a week to the Easter break the Senior School finds itself approaching ‘Camp Week’ for Years Seven and Nine.  Last week Year Six students returned from their camp in Canberra.  We finish the term reflecting on a welcome return to familiar school events having enjoyed Harmony Day activities, The One Act Play festival, Junior School and Senior School Athletics Carnival and several sporting events including the Loddon Mallee Swimming Finals, ICCES Table Tennis, and the Sandhurst Intermediate Girls Volleyball tournament.  

It has been widely agreed that COVID-19 has taught us how to be more resilient.  No doubt that is true, but like all aspects of personal growth there are two types; reactive and proactive.  2020 made us resilient because it placed us all in a situation that challenged our very social fabric.  Things we took for granted were taken away from us.  Assumptions we had never doubted were challenged.

For the most part, Term One has been a return to normality, with wearing a mask an intermittent requirement.  We have enjoyed these returned community events, and I deliberately say ‘enjoyed’, because we now truly appreciate the connection they provide.  We realise that being together, working together, achieving together, strengthens our sense of self.  As perfectly illustrated in the ‘Spirit Cup’ when we work together, in unison with purpose and connection, the results are exceptional.  I am sure every new student has especially seen and felt this connection as I have.

Being connected, participating in a range of opportunities and even pushing ourselves to try something new is the proactive form of resilience.  We appreciate that we are part of something and that we belong.  When we make new friends, develop stronger ties within the school community, or undertake a new experience, we ourselves grow stronger. 

Dr Clayton Massey

HEAD