From the Principal

Our Year of Noticing has reminded us of the importance of pausing to recognise effort, growth and care, and there has been plenty of all three this term. I am especially grateful for the dedication of our staff, whose energy and professionalism have shaped an exceptionally busy and productive start to the year for our students.

This week has been a highlight, with Camps Week for Years 7, 8 and 9 students. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Year 7s on their camp in Howqua with our School Captain, Noah Willits, and Vice-Captain, Elizabeth McGrath, and I asked the students about their favourite experience on camp so far. As always, the ‘Weginator’ water slide and the Survivor Course were crowd favourites. It was fantastic to see the students chatting, laughing and connecting without the interruption of mobile phones. These experiences do a lot of heavy lifting for our teenagers, building independence, and importantly, developing the skills required to become capable, confident and socially strong young people. In the spirit of curiosity and continuous improvement, we invite parents of students who attended camps this week to provide feedback in our Camps Feedback form. Our Year 10 students have also been out on work experience this week, enjoying first-hand the realities and possibilities of the world of work.

As shared on Astra last week, after an extended and careful review, the Bunya Pine on the Junior School campus will be removed during the holidays due to ongoing and unacceptable safety risks. This decision has not been made lightly. Over nearly two years, the School has sought expert assessments, explored a range of mitigation and retention options, consulted with the City of Greater Bendigo, and considered the matter at both Executive and Board level. While some options may have allowed the tree to remain in the short term, all required the School to accept a level of residual risk that could not be reasonably reduced in a high use Junior School setting. We recognise the deep connection many in our community feel towards this tree and we’re committed to ensuring its legacy continues. We have enjoyed the stories and ideas shared by our community, and we are looking at different ways to repurpose the timber and possibly propagate new trees from seeds collected from the cones.

We are pleased to welcome our new Head of English, Ms Kathryn McDiven, who will join our Senior School in Term 2. Ms McDiven brings extensive experience teaching English across a range of year levels, including VCE English and English Language, and has led English teams in both secondary and Prep to Year 12 settings. She has also tutored at La Trobe University. We are excited about what Ms McDiven will bring to the English Department and literacy in general at Girton Grammar. We sincerely thank Mr Andrew Itter for his leadership while acting in the role during Term 1, and extend our appreciation and farewell to Ms Sarah Ward, Senior School Teacher of English, who has supported our students throughout Term 1 as well.

A few reminders as we look ahead to Term 2:

Foundation Day has moved to Friday 15 May at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start and is compulsory for Years 3-12. Further information is available here.
A bell time adjustment in the Senior School means a five‑minute longer recess on Wednesdays from Term 2. Further information on Astra.
The Winter Uniform Suite is effective from Monday 4 May for all students.
Join us for a screening of Lilo & Stitch at Twilight Movie Night, hosted by Girton Parents & Friendson Friday 1 May at 5pm - more information and tickets here.
For more important dates for Term 2 click here, including dates for Junior School and Senior School photos and how to place orders.

At the start of Term 2, students in Years 4 to12 will be invited to complete a short, anonymous survey about the use of technology in classrooms. This work is being led by an external consultant and forms part of our 2026 Strategic Initiatives, helping us ensure that our use of technology continues to support student wellbeing and strong learning outcomes. Staff and parent feedback will also be sought at an appropriate stage of the process.

We are closely monitoring the evolving fuel situation and its potential implications for our school community. At this stage, school operations are continuing as normal, however we recognise that fuel availability and cost pressures can change quickly. Our leadership team is actively tracking advice from relevant authorities and reviewing our Business Continuity Plan to ensure we are prepared to respond if circumstances shift. We will keep families informed if there are any impacts on school operations and will continue to prioritise student learning, safety and wellbeing.

Thank you for your partnership throughout Term 1. May the holidays offer time for rest, reflection and the chance to notice the moments that matter.

Dr Emma O'Rielly

Principal