Principal's Report

“There are hazards in anything one does but there are greater hazards in doing nothing.”   Shirley Williams, British politician

I trust all families had some quality time to share together and to reflect on the lessons learnt so far this year. Our final term has started well.  Mr MacLean has returned from LSL, Year 11 & 12 VCE students have almost finished practice exams and Year 9 are excited about their Otways camp.  At assembly, I encouraged all students to not just ‘be’ but ‘be great’ recognising self-belief and enjoyment were fundamental attributes to achieving their goal.

On another note, yesterday marked the International Day of the Girl. Since 2012, the United Nations has identified a select day to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.  Over 130 million girls around the world didn't go to school today while millions more braved long distances and dangerous conditions to get to classrooms whose teacher never arrived, or where there were no textbooks or other materials to help them learn. This is not only an injustice, but a crisis with far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. 

Closer to home, our girls are a source of power, energy and creativity but still they face obstacles.  I was interested to read an article in yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald by Jacqueline Rousselot, a 17 year old youth ambassador for Plan International Australia state “the fact is that in 2017, perhaps now more than ever before, girls get the message on a daily basis that in order to be successful or happy or lovable we must look a certain way.  And because of this a girl could live her whole life feeling as though she is not good enough for, or not deserving of, success or happiness or love because she falls short of the "ideal" that is relentlessly portrayed as achievable.”  What do you think? More importantly what do your daughters and sons believe?  Another interesting article, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/10/10/australian-girls-from-age-10-know-they-are-unequal-and-know-how-to-fix-it_a_23236731/

Dr Andrew Hirst

Speech Day

Invitations to Speech Day were emailed to all Senior Campus parents at the end of last term.  Replies are due on Monday 16th October to enable arrangements to be finalised.  Should there be any member of the school community who has still to reply to such an invitation, and wishes to attend, it is important that contact be made with the Principal’s PA, Mrs Linda Archer, before close of business on Monday. 

All school families are reminded that, once again this year, Speech Day is a ticketed event; it will not be possible to find those without a pre-arranged ticket a place in the auditorium.

Dr Andrew Hirst