Principal's news

It has been a delight to have Presentation evening at Robert Blackwood Hall this year, to formally present our graduating class of 2022 and to celebrate a wonderful year in the history of Shelford Girls Grammar. It was the first live Presentation Evening for me as Principal. What an extraordinary three years it has been. 

The only constant is change

COVID has thrown the world on its head. I clearly remember welcoming parents in the Hood early in 2020, when news had just arrived of China locking down. I had been four weeks in the role of Principal and little did any of us know the seismic shifts we were soon to adapt to. What we are seeing now is the unnerving combination of a global pandemic, compounded by energy scarcity, rapid inflation, geopolitical tensions boiling over, environmental and climate challenges – and this has people wondering what certainties are left.

It seems the only constant is change. Yet, as I reflected at Presentation Evening, whilst financial and government systems may have collapsed in the last 80 years, the suite of classrooms we call “school” peopled by groups of students and their teachers, has not undergone the significant changes we might expect. What accounts for the longevity of this system? Is it about supervision of children and their safety? Is it about place, and the enduring symbolism of bricks and mortar? Or about the certainty of routines, the comfort of human contact and community and the experience of proven progress and growth?

We as educators of your children, debate and discuss the changes that we need to make in order to best prepare our students for the future that they face. We are cognisant of the traditions of this school and the academic rigour that is imperative for students to be prepared for VCE, life and further study.  We are also aware that an emphasis on the whole person is vital; guiding students to be able to live full and whole lives with a capacity to form respectful relationships, manage their emotions and understand others, work collaboratively, think critically, communicate, with digital and financial literacy.  Perhaps one of the most important aspects of education is learning how to learn. But also having a growing understanding of self, who you are and what you believe in. What you are passionate about and what your purpose is.

Class of 2022

To our Year 12 class, who have come to the end of their secondary education, as Dame Jane Goodall advised “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”  This class are wonderful students.  They have proven themselves exceptionally agile. They have faced a whirlwind of change in the past three years and they are standing at the end. You can speak for yourselves, communicate effectively and you hold strong and passionate beliefs.  Your strength of character has been tested in recent years and I admire your resilience and courage the most; beyond academic accolades, sporting achievements, performing talent. This is what sets you apart and what binds you as Shelford girls together.

Shelford class of 2022, go well and be safe, brave, bold and kind.  We at Shelford are so very proud of all that you have done and all that you are. We will watch you from a little further afar but watch you nonetheless, as you go out in to the wonderful world before you and make your mark in your own way. 

Thank you

As this is the last newsletter for the year, may I take this opportunity to thank the hard-working staff of Shelford, for their extraordinary dedication, commitment, skill and expertise. You embody our values and on the hardest of days, I know you all remember the reason you teach and the impact you make in the students’ lives.

I thank my Executive team for their support, and for handling complex and difficult work with great humour. 

To the Board at Shelford, I am thankful for your knowledge and energy. A group of exemplary professional people, who have very busy working lives and yet find the time to dedicate expertise to the ongoing development and exciting future of our school. To them, I extend my thanks and gratitude on all our behalf. 

I thank the families of Shelford for the honour of educating your daughters and for your support in our shared endeavours. I especially thank our SPA and volunteers for their hard work and passion for our school. Finally, to all the students of Shelford – thank you for your warmth, kindness, humour, energy, passion and presence. I love leading this community of which you are the soul and spirit and thank you for all that you contribute each and every day. I believe we succeed together, the families and school acting as the village that supports our students, instilling strong values and a wonderful foundation to build your futures upon. 

To those students, families and staff who are leaving Shelford at the end of this year, good luck. Of course, no-one ever really leaves Shelford.  You will always have a spiritual home in Helenslea and it is my hope that this foundation will help you navigate lives in which you all continue to thrive.

As we enjoy the last weeks of term together and enjoy the exciting Year 9 Challenges, Year 10 leadership camp and Year 11 Tertiary Experience, the Year 5-8 three C enrichment week and all of the celebrations for our graduating Year 6 class and transition activities in readiness for 2023, may we continue to be well.  I hope that all in the community enjoy a restful, safe and peaceful Summer break, and return refreshed and ready for a wonderful 2023.

Katrina Brennan

Principal