Principal

Internationalism

I am writing this week’s message from Hanoi airport, having just farewelled our first group of Year 9 Vietnam students before I fly to Ho Chi Minh City to meet with agents for potential international students from Vietnam. The alignment of the timing of these allowed me to travel over with half of Year 9 and see them safely into the hands of our partners here on the ground. 

Even in the first two days, students have seen and experienced many things that have validated the aims of the program. I wrote last week that my hope is that students will stretch themselves, discover how capable they are, and develop a renewed perspective on the world. Walking back from dinner last night, we saw a man angle grinding outside his small workshop. One student remarked that you wouldn’t see someone crouching down angle-grinding, in the rain, on the roadside, wearing only short shorts and thongs, and “not even wearing eye protection!” in Hamilton. Students will see thousands of things like this in their time away and they will cumulatively build to a realisation that our way is not necessarily the only or right way of being in the world. 

A disposition of looking towards the wider world is helped by international experiences and by having international students in our school. I look forward to hearing about both groups’ adventures over the coming weeks, and to seeing just how much they have changed when they return. 

Exciting Equestrian Updates

Introducing our Director of Horsemanship

I am pleased to introduce Diana Robertson as the new Director of Horsemanship for College. Diana is a current parent, Old Collegian, and has extensive experience in the equestrian industry including track riding, jumping and eventing.  

Diana worked for Equestrian Australia and studied Sports Coaching. She will be an asset to our riders and the College equestrian community. Diana takes over the roles that Nerrida Prosser and Linda Archer have been doing together this term. Thank you to Nerrida and Linda for their work. We are very lucky to have passionate equestrian staff to support this program.

New undercover arena

We are very excited to announce that we will extend the current sand arena to a full-sized indoor 60 x 20 arena with lights.

Having an undercover full-sized arena will create new opportunities for our students and the wider equestrian community in Southwest Victoria.

• College students will be able to attend Horsemanship lessons in the arena on wet and extremely hot days.
• Co-curricular equestrian lessons and inter-school riding competitions could be held year-round.
• Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) will have the ability to provide riding therapy to their clients all year. 
• Local Pony Clubs and Adult Riding groups will also have access to hire this facility. 
• The full-sized arena will provide opportunities to host community and inter-school clinics with visiting instructors and competitions, such as dressage, jumping and working equitation events.
• The College Junior School could use this area on wet days.

This project was made possible by the generous support of a donor passionate about equestrian sports and horse riding. 

ISV LEAD School Effectiveness Surveys 

A reminder that the LEAD Parent Survey is now live. I encourage as many of you as possible to assist by providing this important feedback - the surveys close on Monday, 16 September at 5pm.