Principal's News 

Japanese Visitors

This week we warmly welcomed 10 students and 2 staff from Shibuya High School in Japan. The group will be with us until Monday 25 March and will participate in a mix of lessons and special activities. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each of our families who are so generously hosting a Japanese student. I trust that this will be the beginning of a life-long and beautiful friendship for your Japanese student and your family.

Rowing

I would like to wish our Rowing crews, staff, and families all the very best for the Head Of The Schoolgirls’ (HOSG) Regatta taking place in Geelong this weekend. I hope to see as many families as possible at this event on Sunday in support of our rowers and in celebration of 21 years of Shelford Rowing. Further details may be found on the Deputy Principal’s page in this newsletter. 

Following the HOSG our senior crews will be heading to the Nationals in Sydney, and whilst we can’t all attend to cheer them on, we will be there in spirit and wish them all the very best. 

Staffing Update

Our Head of Instrumental Music, Ruth Dixon-Lawrence, had her last day at Shelford on Thursday 14 March. Ruth has been an integral and dynamic part of our school community for over 20 years. Prior to her recent appointment as Head of Instrumental music, Ruth was an outstanding Head of Strings who always lead with dedication, passion, and expertise. Her commitment to nurturing musical talent and fostering a love for music among our students has left an indelible mark on our school community.

While we are saddened by Ruth's departure, we are grateful for the significant contributions she has made to our music program and the lives of our students. 

Under her leadership, our Strings Program has flourished, inspiring countless students to discover and develop their musical talents. We wish Ruth all the best as she moves to her new school.

I am pleased to announce that Leonie Rizzi has been appointed as our new Head of Instrumental Music, and we look forward to welcoming her from Monday 18 March. With extensive experience in music education, Leonie brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. As the Deputy Head of Music and Performing Arts at Knox School, Leonie has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to fostering musical talent. Her previous teaching roles at Loyola, Catholic Ladies College, Luther College, and as the Director of Music at St Monica's College underscore her commitment to excellence in music education. Leonie's experience is supported by her qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma of Education from Monash University.  Leonie is very excited to be joining the Shelford community and is looking forward to working with our talented staff and students for the remainder of the year.