Principal Team Editorial
International Women’s Day
Celebrated globally on 8 March, International Women's Day is a day dedicated to honouring the achievements of women across fields, raising awareness about women’s equality, lobbying for accelerated gender parity, and fundraising for female-focused charities.
Established in the early 20th century, it has become a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. With alarming statistics of 1 in 4 Australian women experiencing violence, emotional, or economic, abuse, the importance of acknowledging International Women’s Day in our school community cannot be overstated for the following key reasons:
Celebrating Achievements: International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of women in different sectors including science, arts, politics and education. These stories of success and resilience inspire not only young women but all students highlighting the potential within each individual to achieve great things regardless of gender.
Education and Awareness: This day serves as a critical platform for educating students about the struggles women have faced – and continue to face – in the quest for equality. Understanding the historical context and current issues around gender equality is essential for fostering a culture of respect, empathy and equity in our Wantirna school community.
Empowerment: International Women’s Day empowers students by providing role models who challenge societal norms and break barriers. It encourages women to dream big and pursue their goals with confidence. For men, it offers valuable lessons in respect, equality and the importance of supporting peers regardless of gender.
This week I have been reminded of how special our school community is as we come together to acknowledge the efforts and contributions that our female students and staff make on a daily basis. It’s a privilege to work alongside incredible women who break barriers, challenge stereotypes and pave the way for future generations. And to the male students and staff who acknowledge and celebrate International Women's Day alongside women, thank you for support and strength as we continue to create a more inclusive and equitable place everyone.
Swimming Sports
We couldn’t have chosen a more perfect day to hold our whole school Swimming Carnival. The sun was shining and our school spirit was thriving as swimmers battled it out in the pool and spectators enjoyed the novelty events and carnival atmosphere. Thank you to our PE team led by Mr Burleigh for a wonderful day.
Year 8 Challenge Week
What a week for our Year 8 students! Everyday this week, Year 8 students have engaged in challenging activities designed to get them out of their comfort zone, try new things and strengthen their confidence and resilience. It’s always a highlight on the school calendar and a huge effort from our extraordinary teachers in making this happen. Special thanks to the Middle School team and their leader, Nathan Rogers for organising such a valuable experience for our students.
Parent Forum
Thank you to the parents and carers who came along to our Term 1 Parent Forum on Tuesday night. It was a great opportunity to introduce the Principal team to our community and discuss what our focus areas are for the year - building strong connections with families and supporting teachers to improve their practice in the classroom. After a brief intro, we broke into smaller focus groups to listen to the feedback of parents and carers about how their experiences have been this year. This was followed by short sessions on Maestro & Compass. It was a great night and we look forward to seeing more parents/carers at our Parent Forum next term with a focus on Wellbeing.
Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend.
Carrie Wallis
Acting Principal