The Girton eLink

From the Acting Head

This Sunday is International Women’s Day, and this one theme this year is ‘an equal world is an enabled world’.  I like the concept from which this year’s theme is drawn, which is ‘collective individualism’, whereby our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets can have an impact on the whole of society. We have had some very productive discussions with students in recent weeks related to the inappropriate ‘chants’ that have made news headlines and our students have responded to the issues that have been raised with maturity and nuance.

 

In assembly last week, I urged students and staff to engage in conversation about the destabilisation of previously secure gender roles. Given gender stereotyping over time, it is little wonder that we sometimes see in young people, confusion and naivety that stems from mixed ideas about how they should behave according to the gender with which they identify. I explained to students that people form concepts of gender identity according to the family they live in, the country in which they live, their biology, the school they go to and many, many other influences. I have acknowledged that it is not always easy to immediately understand the repercussions of our behaviour on a group of people who are different to us. I have also pointed out that we are lucky to be in a mixed-gender school where rich and purposeful discussion about male and female roles in society can be readily had, and that If boys and girls can learn to talk to each other about their hopes and fears, perhaps men and women will too.

 

It is essential that young people are exposed to, and are engaged in, conversations about the issues that feminists have been pointing out are essential for the realisation of gender equality. International Women’s Day is just once instance where this important topic can be put under the microscope.

 

The school will support the forthcoming National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, with a range of initiatives run by the Senior Prefects. It is a pleasure to see our students engaging in issues that affect them and the community around them and beginning to take ownership of some possible solutions. We saw this demonstrated this week with some excellent results at the Lions Youth of the Year competition in the Bendigo District final where Girton participants showed a terrific depth of knowledge on issues, ranging from migration, and plastics to active listening. Congratulations in particular to Dominic Tune (12 Jenkin) who was awarded both Best Speaker and the Bendigo Combined Clubs District Lions Youth of the Year Award.

 

Coronavirus update: As of this morning (5th March 2020), Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has issued advice that overseas school excursions should cease, except to New Zealand and Canada. Based on this advice, the following Girton school trips will, unfortunately, be cancelled, until further notice;

  • The exchange to our Sister School, Sainte Ursule in Lucon, France
  • The Shell Eco-Marathon (Malaysia)
  • The World Challenge trip to India (Note, relevant parents will be contacted by World Challenge directly)
  • The arrival of Japanese students and teachers from Gojo Senior High School will not occur as planned this month, which was a decision already undertaken by our Gojo counterparts with Japan currently on Level 2 travel advice.
  • The trip to New Zealand at the end of Term 4 will proceed as planned, for now.

There are currently travel restrictions in place for visitors from Iran and mainland China and recommendations against Australians travelling to mainland China or Iran at the current time.

 

Further, the Commonwealth Government announced the extension to existing travel restrictions now apply to visitors from South Korea, Iran and mainland China. Visitors who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents or their dependants will not be allowed entry into Australia.

 

The Commonwealth Government has also advised that visitors from Italy will also be subject to enhanced health screening and temperature testing arrangements.

 

At this point in time, there is no need for any change in arrangements to any of our domestic school camps because of the coronavirus.

 

Every day, there are new developments concerning the coronavirus, and we will continue to remain vigilant in monitoring the advice of relevant authorities, which will form the basis of our decision-making.

 

The School is planning for a range of scenarios that may ensue as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and will provide updates in each edition of eLink, or by email to parents if advice from authorities impacts our school directly in any way.

 

 

 

Dr Emma O’Rielly

Acting Head