Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning 

I love this image from Liz Fosslien, the co-author and illustrator of the Wall Street Journal best-seller No Hard Feelings and an expert on how to make work better. As the Head of Content at Humu, she manages the content, strategy, and team to design resources that make it easy for leaders and teams to improve.

This image is one I think that you will relate to. As a student it is an apt depiction of how we sometimes feel when we face examinations. Sometimes we need to fail and get things wrong to progress. As parents we can often feel like we have messed up and said or done the wrong thing but learning from that experience is what gets us back up on top of the world. As teachers we are constantly climbing the mountain and falling again, as we seek to bring out the best in each and every student. Our drive for continual improvement in our teaching practice is what we are all about here at The Hamilton and Alexandra College.

It is okay to feel despondent and discouraged at times. There is much to learn as we wrestle with the uncertainty of change, or not being completely prepared or ready for an exam. We have the chance to learn to do better and be better.

Next week, on Wednesday 1st December, all our students begin the Step-Up Program for 2022. We will celebrate the achievements of 2021 with an assembly to start the day and then students will receive their timetables from their House Mentor. Students (Years 8-12 next year) will meet their teachers, classmates and begin their learning program. My challenge to everyone in our College community is to reach for the stars, set high goals and work towards them. It is not always easy and sometimes there will be failure - but high challenge brings with it great reward and lifelong learning.

Susan Bradbeer

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning