Principal's Report 

It is great to be back!

I have recently returned from an immersive course in School Leadership at Harvard University, which brought together close to 100 Principals from international and independent schools around the world. It was an extraordinary opportunity to share ideas, challenge assumptions and explore some of the latest thinking in education and school leadership.

Perhaps most encouragingly, I remain confident that at Huntingtower we are doing many things right. Of course, that does not mean standing still. One message reiterated throughout the course was that “leaders must be perpetual learners.” I would take that one step further: we must all be perpetual learners.

There are few responsibilities more worthwhile than educating young people and preparing them for a future we cannot entirely predict. Learning requires curiosity, a willingness to ask questions and, importantly, the courage to venture into spaces where we may not immediately know the answer. Our responsibility as a school is to provide a safe and supportive environment in which students can do exactly that.

We see this in so many aspects of life at Huntingtower. Recent events such as Debating, Tournament of Minds and Write a Book in a Day have challenged students to think beyond the traditional frameworks of the classroom, work collaboratively and test themselves in new ways.

Perhaps the most spectacular recent example was our School Production, Once Upon a One More Time. With more than 120 students involved, it was an enormous undertaking and a wonderful example of what can happen when young people are prepared to try something new.

For some students, this meant singing, dancing or performing on stage for the very first time. For others, the challenge took place behind the scenes. Our students took responsibility as Tech Crew Captains, Follow Spot Callers, Stagehands, Lighting Crew and Costume Designers. These were not simulated tasks. On show night they were real jobs, happening live, with an audience waiting and a team relying upon them.

There is pressure in moments like these and that is part of their value. Schools have a wonderful capacity to create experiences that are authentic and demanding while still providing the safety net of a supportive community. The camaraderie of being part of a team gives students the confidence to take a risk and discover what they are capable of.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a School where our students are given so many opportunities to extend themselves.

If we can remain curious and willing to step occasionally into the unfamiliar, there is no telling where that may lead us.

Enjoy the rest of the term.

Shan Christensen

Principal