From the Principal 

While in China and Hong Kong SAR speaking with prospective families and student agents, I’ve been talking a lot about what characterises our school and students. For me, one of these things is students’ willingness to participate and try their hands at new or challenging things. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to be at the College in this last week where we have seen students exhibit just this characteristic at both Junior School and Senior School House Athletics. Congratulations to Young House for carrying the day at Junior School with Senior School Aths results announced tomorrow morning at a special assembly. My thanks to Elly Dixon and Louise Patterson for their superb organisation. 

The group of students I am with, in Brussels are ready to attempt something very different and very challenging when they begin the Yale Model UN Conference tomorrow morning. And, of course, all Year 3, 5 and 7 students are again undertaking NAPLAN this week and next. As predictable as Easter Eggs and Christmas music in the supermarket, NAPLAN has again brought about the annual news pieces either decrying or defending standardised tests such as NAPLAN. My view is that NAPLAN is more for teachers than it is for students and parents. The results are useful when they’re used well by teachers to diagnose potential gaps in learning or areas for extension. They can also add to parents’ broad understanding of their child’s attainment of knowledge and skills. But they’re nothing to get worried about and nothing to detract from the usual learning rhythms of their classes.  

Well done to all students who have thrown themselves into it this week, and best of luck to our girls’ crews this weekend as they row in the Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta in Geelong.