From the Principal

The last fortnight has provided a fitting end to the enriching 10 weeks that was Term 3. While it has certainly been an eventful time for the school as we begin to prepare for the end of the year and 2025 beyond, the final weeks of term have left me feeling replenished. It was heartening to see the delight of our school community as we gathered at the Bendigo Town Hall for the Girton ArtFest, and within our Black Box Theatre for the spectacular Middle School Production of Frozen Jr. As I admired the exceptional talent on display at each event, it became clear to me that this year’s ‘bloom’ theme transcended the flowers in the Town Hall, extending to the students themselves as they blossomed before our eyes. These events, facilitated by our passionate staff, underscore the importance of providing opportunities for our students to express their unique creative voices.

Empowering student voice is a priority for us at Girton. It is an area of research that has steadily gained recognition over recent decades, as educators have come to acknowledge that while students attend school to learn from their teachers, there is a great deal we can learn from them too. Students have their own views on their educational experience, and there are significant benefits to be gained by encouraging them to voice those perspectives and channel them into meaningful actions. Educational thought leader Dr Russ Quaglia has quantified these benefits through extensive research across hundreds of schools. His findings show that when students have a voice in school, they are:

• three times more likely to experience self-worth
• five times more likely to experience engagement and purpose
• seven times more likely to be academically motivated. 

By encouraging them to share their voice in a respectful manner, we provide students with a sense of ownership over their education. This not only helps them to develop important life skills – such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking – but builds their confidence and self-esteem, preparing them for active citizenship and responsibility within the wider community. Fostering student voice also benefits our school more broadly, contributing to a more vibrant, inclusive and positive culture, with policies and programs that are tailored to the concerns and aspirations of our students. When we actively listen to our students, we invariably uncover valuable insights that simply may not have occurred to us as adults. This was certainly the case last term, when our Senior School students were invited to share their ideas for school improvement at our Student Soap Box. And I’m confident we will glean similarly precious insights when we review the feedback our students shared via this term’s Student Satisfaction Survey and Year 12 Exit Survey, alongside the feedback gathered from our parent and staff surveys.

The role of Year 12 Prefect also provides an important platform for student voice, with Prefects acting as a conduit between their peers and school leadership, championing initiatives that align with their personal passions for the benefit of the school community. Our 2024 Prefects have taken on a range of worthy projects, which they shared with our student body in a video at a recent assembly. Their initiatives include a peer mentorship program; fundraising events such as yesterday’s Footy Colours Day and an upcoming Colour Run; and a new recycling program that will see paper and cardboard bins available in our classrooms from next term. While Year 12 is traditionally the time when student leadership and contributions peak, opportunities for student voice begin much earlier at Girton. Through our Junior School Student Representative Council, our Senior School Student Delegate Council, and co-curricular activities such as the Girton Community Action Group and Sustainability in Action, our students have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions throughout their school journey. 

In our own school days, our teachers would not have had access to the wealth of research on student voice that we are fortunate to now possess. However, I’m sure that most of us can recall how it felt when a teacher genuinely listened and cared about what we had to say. For a young person, it can be a profound experience to realise that they too have a unique perspective to share. It is an experience that can shape their view of the world and their place within it. Far from being a passing educational trend, encouraging student voice is one of the most powerful gifts that we can offer our students at Girton.

As we now look ahead to the break, I would like to express my gratitude for your ongoing support of our school and students throughout Term 3. I wish all our families a restful and enjoyable fortnight, and I look forward to seeing you when we resume for Term 4 on Monday 7 October. 

Dr Emma O’Rielly

Principal