Principal Message
Dear Families and Community,
This time of year always feels like the clash of past and future as much of the school experience and events are centred around ending of courses, celebrating achievement, and stepping up into the next academic year. Throughout all of the celebratory events we have received much support from the community.
Our Year 12 VCE TP students of 2025 finally completed a rigorous set of examinations on the 19 November. The whole school year had been preparing them for the intensity of a three-week period of assessment. The students spent many an hour in and outside of school studying, revising, and working with their teachers. On Thursday 11 December our VCE students received their ATAR and study scores. The results were impressive and highlights the dedication and consistent efforts that students have applied to their studies. Our congratulations goes to all of our graduating students.
There have been both Middle and Senior School Awards ceremonies over the last couple of weeks. Students have received awards for academic success, but also many students have received recognition for their embodiment of the school values, which are encapsulated in the acronym REACH (Respect, Empowerment, Aspiration, Courage, and Honesty). We were pleased to see so many parents and families making time to come into school so we could acknowledge student achievement as a community.
As we say ‘goodbye’ to the previous academic year, we are at the same time preparing to welcome our new cohort of Year 7 students (our largest intake at Year 7 for some time) and we have begun our learning for the next academic year in ‘Step Up’. We have recently hosted a ‘Meet the Principal’ evening for all prospective families of Year 7 2026 students. It was an opportunity for us as a school to share information with families around our high expectations, values, curriculum, and teaching approach that incorporates evidence informed best practice, whilst highlighting to families the supports in place for students. The auditorium was filled twice over, which is another reminder of the fantastic support we have from families in the work we do for students at Elisabeth Murdoch College.
The Elisabeth Murdoch College Music Festival was held earlier this month and fortunately, given the erratic spring weather of Melbourne this year, the sun shone on the event in which the college showcases the vast array of talent, from both students and staff, over the course of an evening. Once again, this celebration was supported in large numbers by the community.
Finally, students have certainly being ‘Stepping Up’ in their courses, and we need to continue the focus on being prepared for learning and organised with equipment, all whilst being in full EMC uniform. Students are successful when we establish effective learning routines and ‘Step Up’ is a great opportunity to establish positive habits, so that in a year’s time we can celebrate another cohort of students and their achievements.
On behalf of the entire College, I would like to wish you all a happy and safe Christmas, New Year and holidays break and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.
Kind regards,
Ian Price
Assistant Principal