Principal's News 

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Association of Anglican Girls’ Grammar Schools (AAGGS) Event for Principals and School Captains at the Lyceum Club with our School Co-Captains, Audrey, and Abigail. The Schools in attendance were Camberwell Girls' Grammar School, Firbank Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School, Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School, and Melbourne Girls' Grammar. 

The event was both inspiring and enjoyable and offered a rare opportunity for the leaders from each of the schools to engage in thought-provoking conversation and to learn from the experience and stories of our respective peers. Whilst the event itself was one of the highlights of my week, it is with immense pride that I share the heartwarming story of leadership, compassion, and quick thinking demonstrated by our School Captains as we travelled to the Lyceum Club. 

Whilst we were waiting on the platform at Ripponlea Station, Audrey kindly offered to assist a family (who had travelled from interstate) with their Myki purchases. When we later boarded our train, took our seats and the doors closed, Audrey noticed the young boy (of about 11 or 12 years of age,) from that family had mistakenly boarded the train whilst his family remained on the platform! Without hesitation, she quickly ran to him and communicated with his distressed family, gesturing that she would look after him. Audrey calmly invited the boy to sit with us and then introduced herself and us. Both Abigail and Audrey warmly engaged the boy in conversation, who we learnt had travelled from Adelaide, whilst I spoke with his mother on his phone and arranged to accompany the boy to Flinders Street Station where they would meet us.

Our Captains demonstrated extraordinary empathy and maturity throughout the ordeal. They comforted the boy, kept him calm, and stayed with him until he was safely reunited with his family. Both Audrey and Abigail downplayed their actions, for them it was just such a natural response and no big deal. For me however, it was yet another poignant and powerful reminder of the kindness and strength of our beautiful community and why I am so proud to lead it. You can read Audrey and Abigail’s report of the AAGGS Event below.

Pauline Cutajar

Principal

AAGGS Principals and School Captains Event

On Thursday the 16th of May, we attended an AAGGS event alongside our Principal, Ms Cutajar. The event was held at the Lyceum Club, with six other School Captains of Anglican girls' schools in Melbourne, and their Principals. This was an amazing venue as it has worked to provide a safe environment for women to connect with one another for over a century.  

During the event, we were able to discuss recent issues women are facing in our society and schools, such as the anti-feminism biases of emerging AI programs. As we shared lunch, we discussed how each of our schools could help young women not only survive in a world of AI but use it as a tool to benefit their career. It was fascinating to listen to inspiring female leaders discuss the value of female authority, not only in the technological industry, but in the wider workforce, so that meaningful change can be made. 

As reconciliation week is approaching, each school was also able to share ideas for activities and initiatives introduced, which included vital discussions on the importance of the acknowledgement of country. We were inspired to hear the large focus of other girls’ schools on implementing initiatives to continue to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, and we hope to continue to develop this recognition to Indigenous culture in our school. 

The event was an amazing opportunity to collaborate and connect with other women and school leaders and allowed us to take inspiration from new programs that we hope to implement this year at Shelford. 

Abigail S & Audrey K 

Shelford Co-Captains