Principal

Bon Voyage – Year 9 Vietnam Experience

Our Year 9s have been working closely with Emily Hausler, Head of Year 9 Experience, in anticipation of their departure for Vietnam next week. Our first group leaves on Monday, and the second on Thursday afternoon. The Vietnam program is the culmination of the earlier parts of the Year 9 Experience in the Grampians and then in Melbourne. During their three weeks away, students will experience Vietnam’s culture and food, hike and cycle through a number of remote rural areas, and, importantly, complete two service activities.   

The trip provides an opportunity for students to stretch themselves, test what they’re capable of when faced with challenges, and develop perspectives about their lives here in Australia. My hope is that they will come back with a renewed sense of their good fortune to live here and study at College and with bonds and memories that will last well beyond their time at school. I wish them all well and look forward to travelling with the first group on Monday. 

2025-2026 Co-curricular Trips

In the same vein, we will launch the 2025-2026 Co-curricular Trips information at the beginning of next term. The Exceptional Student Futures pillar of our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan emphasises the importance of expanding extension and enrichment opportunities for our students by developing global perspectives and supporting international service work in disadvantaged communities. 

The information which will be released in week one of next term will outline the eight optional co-curricular programs we will offer over 2025 and 2026. While the details, such as specific dates, are to be confirmed for the later programs, we will provide them all together so that families can plan and make decisions about whether one of these opportunities might be the right one for each student to set them up to lead in the world. Providing an early overview is also designed to assist students in planning for and working towards the cost of a trip they might attend.

I look forward to sharing these exciting opportunities with you, including programs in China, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Europe. Stay tuned. 

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 tomorrow, Friday, 6 September.