From the Principal

As we reach the end of a wonderful school year, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I felt it ripple through our Service of Carols, as we came together to give thanks for the blessings in our lives and leave gifts that will bring joy to many families in our local community. At our Speech Night events I felt it too, as we applauded our talented students for all they have achieved in 2023. 

Gratitude is synonymous with this time of the year, as we exchange gifts and reflect on the highlights of the past 12 months. However, research underscores the benefits of making gratitude a part of our lives all year round – a theme I recently explored with students at Junior School Assembly. One study found that participants who were asked to write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone they had never properly thanked before experienced a significant boost in their feelings of happiness, which had positive effects lasting a whole month. Another study found that those who regularly wrote about what they were thankful for were more optimistic and had fewer GP visits over a 10-week period than those who wrote about causes of irritation.

It is incredible to think that these two very different ways of practising gratitude can have an influence on not only our emotional wellbeing but our physical health too. This potent emotion helps us build positive relationships with others and feel more positive in ourselves, fostering an appreciation for what we already have instead of focusing on what we lack. In light of all these benefits, I encouraged our students to consider ways they could actively practise gratitude in their daily lives – whether it’s privately reflecting on what they are grateful for in a journal, making a conscious effort to express their gratitude to those who have shown them kindness, or doing deeds that give others a reason to be grateful. Most importantly, I emphasised that practising gratitude doesn’t have to be confined to grand gestures. Even the smallest daily acts of kindness and consideration – like serving others before you serve yourself, or thanking a teacher for a great class – can have a powerful impact on both the giver and receiver.

While our expressions of gratitude often manifest as material gifts during the festive season, typically the aspects of our lives that we cherish most are not our physical possessions but our relationships and experiences. This is certainly the case for me. As I reflect on the 2023 school year, I am feeling profoundly grateful for the many people who have had a positive impact on Girton Grammar this year and over its history. I am grateful for our students, who are growing into exceptional citizens and make me so proud to be their Principal. I am grateful for our dedicated team of teachers and support staff, who care so deeply for our School and its students. I am grateful to our Board for their wise counsel and support thoughout my first full year as Principal, and to our retiring Board Chair Mr Dave Jemmett for his dedication to Girton Grammar over many years. I am grateful for our supportive community of parents and families, who contribute to our School in myriad ways. And I am grateful to our founders, who through incredible courage and sacrifice built a wonderful School that has touched thousands of lives over 30 years and will continue to do so for many years to come.

While I am certainly looking forward to a break over the summer after such a busy 12 months, I am very grateful for the opportunity to do it all again in 2024. I feel energised by all the initiatives that have been completed, are currently underway and are yet to come. I have enjoyed sharing these projects with you in my eLink articles this year and in my addresses at our Speech Night events, and I look forward to sharing many more exciting developments with you in the new year. Thank you once again for your partnership in 2023, and I wish you all a wonderful holiday period with your family.

Dr Emma O'Rielly 

Principal