From the Principal

Thought for the week

“You have to find what sparks a light in you so that you in your own way can illuminate the world.”  - Oprah Winfrey

We wish all our Huntingtower families a very warm welcome to the 2022 school year. We have once again been required to make some adjustments to activities in Term 1 and we thank all families for their ongoing support. It goes without saying that keeping everyone safe and healthy is of the upmost importance. 

It was such a joy to see the students return and quickly reconnect with their peers and staff. Our welcoming culture of kindness at Huntingtower, which we all enjoy, is truly unique. You can feel it when you come on campus, or meet members of the Huntingtower community, and it is often commented upon when visitors come to Huntingtower for the first time. This culture does not just happen by chance. It takes deliberate and purposeful action to reinforce the values of Huntingtower; Kindness, Respect and Excellence are not just words on a page but an extension of who we are and a part of our daily thoughts and actions. 

Our theme for 2022 is “Forward to the light.” These words have been taken from the last line of the Huntingtower School Song and emphasise that as a community, we have a bright future ahead and we are guided every step of the way. The words of Emily Silva really resonated with me when I was recently thinking about our theme for 2022.

“Light shines through a stained-glass window, painting a rainbow of colour on the wall. Without the sun's light, the colours look less vibrant. The window's beauty is more apparent when it is illuminated. We too are more vibrant when we allow our inner light to shine. Don't let your light be dulled by circumstances. You can still shine when things are hard. Your soul is a beacon to bring you back to joy and remind you that you have everything you need.” Emily Silva

At Huntingtower, we believe that we all have everything we need to be the best versions of ourselves and if we let our inner light shine, we can only be a beneficial presence in the world.

Last week we enjoyed our first School Carnival for 2022. The Secondary School House Swimming Carnival was held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. It was a wonderful day full of healthy competition, personal best and House spirit.  Congratulations to all the students for giving their best and the staff for working so hard to ensure everything ran smoothly. The carnival was won by Rayner followed by Mather, Warrell and Bruce. 

We look forward to seeing as many families as possible at the Parents and Friends’ Welcome Picnic. This will be held in the Huntingtower Quadrangle commencing at 6pm on Friday 4 March.  It is a relaxed evening where families can bring a picnic and rug, enjoy a BBQ and meet with families and staff.  We will again have a ‘buskers’ corner, giving students an opportunity for authentic performance and entertainment for all to enjoy.  I look forward to seeing you at the picnic.

May you all enjoy a wonderful year ahead. We are looking forward to everyone in our community working together to create and maintain an environment that sparks a light in us all, so we may collectively illuminate the way forward for Huntingtower.

Andrew Houghton

Principal