Principal's Report

I’d like to start this report by thanking Adam Cribbes for his contributions and leadership throughout term 2 and 3 this year.  Adam and I worked together when we both started at Thornbury in 2012 and it was great to once again come together to support our students.

I was lucky enough to be in Italy with 20 of our year 9 and 10 students for three weeks over the September break and first week of this term.  It was an absolutely amazing experience for all of us and I can’t thank Max Tosi and Alessandra Borg enough for all the time and effort they put into making the trip what it was.  The highlight was most definitely our 8 nights in Bologna visiting our sister school, Liceo Malpighi.  Staying with our host families, sharing food at their dinner table, travelling with them to nearby towns and eating at their favourite restaurants are experiences that money can’t buy.  I am looking forward to hosting the Maplpighi students and teachers next year.

Unit 3 and 4 exams are in full swing and our students and teachers continue to impress with their hard work and dedication.  Thanks to Tom Ding, head of senior school, and his team for creating such an aspirational and supportive culture in the senior school. 

Although I haven’t taught PE for a few years now, I still claim to be part of our amazing sports program, even if it is just making sure they are all in the right uniform!  Our students have continued to represent Thornbury with the highest levels of involvement, sportsmanship and results.  From state athletics and volleyball to futsal and ten pin bowling, we are very proud of the way our students engage in these activities.

CREATE week was a celebration of our incredibly strong performing arts program as well as the ‘new and shiny’ visual arts and design team’s work in the ‘new and shiny’ STEAM centre.  The year 12 media screening started the week of with a bang and things kept going from there with the end of year concert showcasing our instrumental music programs, the (wickedly cringey) feature film ‘Rebound’ produced by our year 11 media class (involving students from year 7 to 12) and the graduate exhibition rounding off the program.

Our teachers continue to share and refine their classroom practice and this term have been partaking in learning walks.  Led by our leading teachers, this involves working in small groups, visiting colleagues' classes and identifying techniques and methods used to improve student outcomes.  Observing teachers as they deliver well crafted lessons to a group of 25 adolescents is a sight to behold.  We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and highly skilled teaching group at Thornbury.

Paul Mameghan

Acting Principal