From the Principal 

Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.   George Bernard Shaw

In schools around the country, there remains the constant debate about what student success looks like?  Increasingly, experts suggest it is more than a high ATAR score but rather a personal best score that equips our students with the skills to contribute to the twenty first century matched with connectedness in life.  I certainly support this view and yet I cannot help feel the recent global pandemic has shifted the community mindset somewhat.  Hence, I conclude by reciting Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem "Success"; another perspective and one I wholeheartedly believe measures the necessary attributes to live a good life. 

What is Success? To laugh often and much; 

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; 

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; 

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; 

This is to have succeeded.

Kristina and I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the many kind farewells over the last fortnight. We wish you and your families every good fortune and happiness, and the students of The Hamilton and Alexandra College a full and confident future. We will miss this community greatly. 

Dr Andrew Hirst

Principal