Leadership Report

Term 2 has arrived, and with it comes that familiar shift ... a bit of rain, colder air, and the sudden realisation that getting out of bed now requires a level of resilience. Living up in the hills, I get a slightly earlier preview of this. It's bleak. Frost, fog, the works. And yet somehow, the moment I get to Magill, it all lifts. Warmer, brighter, and ... most importantly ... full of 700+ people who are wide awake and ready to go. It's a good reminder that while the 'pre-winter weather' might be settling in, the energy around Magill School doesn't tend to follow suit.

This term is also a bit of a different one for me personally. At some point ... imminently ... maybe even as I am typing this ... I’ll be heading off on a few weeks leave as we prepare to welcome our first child, a little girl. I've spent years working with children, supporting them, guiding them, building connections with them, and occasionally reminding them not to make baffling decisions … so naturally, I feel well-prepared for what’s ahead. 

Although I’m very aware that having your own is less "apply professional expertise" and more "hope for the best and adjust on the fly."

Either way, working in a school like Magill does give you a unique perspective before becoming a parent. You see the full spectrum ... kindness, resilience, independence, creativity, supportive families ... and you think, "Yep, that’s the goal."

You also realise that, very soon, I’ll be on the other side of the conversation … doing my best, making it up as I go, and hoping no one notices. Perhaps I'll even become the exact parent I used to politely nod along to while thinking, "That’s an interesting approach." We'll see how it plays out!

Either way, it’s an exciting time for our family, and I appreciate the well wishes and support from the community.

Back on site, Term 2 will come with its usual pace … and then some. With a few moving parts in leadership at the moment, I'll be stepping into the Deputy role for the remainder of the year, while still holding onto parts of my Literacy Assistant Principal work. 

So yes ... slightly more hats. Slightly less idea of where I left them.

The reality, though, is that Magill runs well because of the people in it. Strong systems help, but it’s the depth of our entire talented staff who keep everything moving, adjusting, and working when things get busy (which they will).

And they will.

One of the strengths of a school like Magill is the consistency of routines and structures. Classrooms are predictable, expectations are clear, and students know what’s required of them. That’s what allows things to run as smoothly as they do. Within that, though, there’s still plenty of real-time learning happening ... particularly out in the yard. A short walk through will give you a snapshot of teamwork, negotiation, problem-solving, and the occasional very confident interpretation of the rules...

It’s all part of the process.

And in a term like this, it’s often the smaller moments that matter most. A student having another go at something they found challenging. A better decision than the one made yesterday. A conversation that lands just that little bit more positively.

They’re easy to miss, but they’re usually the clearest signs that things are moving in the right direction.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and it plays a big part in what makes Magill what it is.

Let’s see what Term 2 brings.

Mike Shortt

Deputy Principal