From the Principal

Another year flies by

At this time of the year everyone seems to share that sense of ‘where did the year go?’ but sharing the sensation doesn’t lessen it, and 2017 does seem to have disappeared very rapidly.

For the last two years Judy O’Donnell has taken great pride in capturing beautiful images of the Blackhall Kalimna campus for the newsletter and this week I have to comment on the lovely view of Blackhall she has chosen to adorn my page. It also represents the enormous pride and efforts our maintenance team, Greg McCarthy and Rob Gillett, make to ensure we have a lovely environment.

With this, the last newsletter for the year, it is a great opportunity to look forward to 2018.

The most significant aspect of 2018 for the Preshil Secondary School is that it will be the last year Preshil will offer the Victorian Certificate of Education. These VCE students will be a very special and treasured group. Their teachers are all committed to making sure they are our focus and that nothing will detract from their support and the opportunities they are offered.

All our teachers agree that the professional development they have undertaken in preparing for the International Baccalaureate has been of enormous benefit to them and they are confident that this has enhanced their VCE teaching.

For our current group of Year 10 students, the first year of the IB Diploma course has already begun in an atmosphere of high expectations and excitement.

As always, we will welcome both new and returning teachers for 2018, but with the addition of selecting teachers for some of the new subjects we are offering, as well as expanding our program.

Yvette Walker is returning to teach Art, having taught at Preshil some years ago. She will be joined by Matthew Barker who will teach the new Film course and other art subjects. Sophie Maxwell will return after her student placement here earlier this year to teach Psychology. Katherine Girbau is joining us to teach Spanish and Natasha Prewett will be teaching Environmental Systems and Societies.

2018 will also see the return of our Philosophy Conference, bigger and better than ever, to be supported by an expanded Philosophy program across the Secondary School and the introduction of a Philosophy Club.

After the success of our school production “Unmurdered!” we are committed to doing another one next year and will also offer a World Challenge opportunity to Northern India for senior students.

2018 will also see the continued growth and expansion of our Careers Program, as we concentrate on ensuring that the journey of every one of our students does not just end with getting a tertiary placement but having the skills, knowledge and self-belief to actually succeed in whatever pathway they choose.

These are just some of the exciting prospects we are already planning. In the meantime we look forward to some rest, some adventures and some fun before we return to do it all again.

I wish all Preshil Families a joyous end to 2017 and a very happy New Year.

Marilyn Smith

Principal