Principal

Concluding Staff

As we come quickly to the end of the school year, there are a number of staff who will be concluding their time at College at the end of 2024. Stephen Nelson has communicated staffing for the Junior School. In addition to Alison Churchill whose departure has been communicated previously, in Senior School we farewell:

Leigh Alexander – Leigh’s contribution as a long-standing staff member, Director of Sport and Director of Outdoor Education has been considerable and enduring. I thank Leigh for his service and commitment to the College. He has been a significant figure in the sporting life of the school for over 20 years, and he will finish with our best wishes and hopes for the future.

Louise Manifold – After many years of service, and having overseen one of the finest and fullest Careers programs that I have seen, Louise will be retiring at the end of the year. I thank her here for her significant service and excellent advice to students over so many years. There are many hundreds of students whom she has helped find an appropriate pathway or avoid an inappropriate one, and thereby contributed hugely to their lives. With Louise’s departure, Helen Reiher will assume the full Careers portfolio from the beginning of 2025. To allow her space to do this, she will take on the role of Head of Year 12, rather than Head of Senior Years, from the beginning of next year.

Marg Simkin – Similarly deserving of our thanks is Marg Simkin, who will retire after a period of long-service leave next year. Initially through her work in the Senior School library and latterly in Humanities classes, Marg has encouraged our students’ love of history and reading. She has also been at the forefront of developments in education technology, especially of note in her work with Microsoft, and will likewise finish with our best wishes for her future.

Mel McDonald – While we will continue to see much of Mel as a parent, and hopefully making some cameos offering evening hospitality classes in 2025, Mel officially finished last week with the conclusion of her VET Hospitality class and exam. We wish her well as she pursues her full teaching qualification next year.

End of Year Events

On the topic of finishing well, as reminder of two key end of year traditions at College – the whole school Christmas Service on Thursday 5 December, and Old-Fashioned Sports Day on Friday 6 December, which is the final day for students. Both of these events are compulsory for students, with House awards and Colours being contingent on attendance. Further details will be shared in due course, but I look forward to celebrating the year with you at one of both of these.