From the Principal

As parents, it is certainly rewarding seeing our children recognised for their hard work and achievements. For our students, celebrating their efforts at our end-of-year Speech Night celebrations is an important way to nourish their growth and development. These moments of recognition can serve as a reminder of what they have achieved and keep them motivated on their learning journey, often etching into their memories forever. 

We hope that our students who did not receive formal recognition at their Speech Night celebrations can join us in applauding the efforts of their classmates and find inspiration in their achievements. 

During almost two decades of teaching, I have found that enhancing students' success at school is about motivating them to want to do well - but more importantly, they must believe they can do well. Recognising our students' potential and helping them see it within themselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Research and experience indicate that students who are not particularly gifted in a certain subject but believe in their ability to learn it, can indeed do well. Students who believe in themselves will work harder, learn more, find the grit to struggle longer with a difficult problem, and gain confidence with each accomplishment. 

I spoke to our Senior School students at Assembly in Week 9 about how to develop grit - the ability to stick with something that’s important to you. A relatively new term in the field of education, grit is something I ponder often, and if you are interested, psychologist Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance is a good read. Coupled with self-belief and an environment in which students feel safe to take risks and make mistakes, grit, or the ability to overcome challenges and look at failure in a positive way, plays a significant role in our student’s ability to be successful in school and in life.

But as we celebrate the end of another successful school year, what our students have earned is rest. Rest is one of the key components of health and wellbeing and is very important for the development of our children - in particular, unplugging from the digital world. In a fast-paced world that boasts a 24-hour news cycle and offers ‘connection’ through social media at any time, unplugging can be challenging but is well worth the effort. 

At our full school end-of-year Principal’s Assembly, I encouraged all of our students to pay attention to how they are feeling these holidays and get the rest they need. Dr Sarah Dalton-Smith identified seven types of rest in her book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity. I explained the seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research - physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative rest. Ensuring we address these deficits when they arise can positively influence our health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. Importantly it will ensure our students return to school in 2023 as the best versions of themselves.

Thank you for your support this year in my roles as Deputy Head and Acting Head, and in Term 4 as I have settled into the role of School Principal. Thank you for responding to the LEAD survey earlier in the year, and for your involvement in my Principal’s Focus Groups in October and November. Obtaining and leveraging feedback from our students, staff and parents is an impactful and empowering approach to driving a positive school culture, enabling us to enrich the teaching and learning experience, boost student engagement and improve educational outcomes. 

Thank you to our Board Chair, Mr David Jemmett and Board members for showing their faith by appointing me as the new Principal of Girton Grammar School, and for their strong direction and support this year.

Thank you also to Mr Don Thompson for his support in the capacity of Acting Deputy Head in Terms 2, 3 and 4 on top of his responsibilities as Head of Junior School. Mr Thompson’s intelligent and wise counsel has been invaluable this year, and I sincerely appreciate his support. Mr Thompson will resume his position as Head of Junior School as we welcome our new Deputy Head, Mr Jay Weston to Girton in the new school year.

Finally, thank you to our teachers and staff who inspire me every day for going above and beyond in their commitment to our students. The vast range of academic and co-curricular opportunities that allow our students to find their passions and place are the results of the ongoing dedication of our teachers and staff. They too are looking forward to a very well-earned rest in whatever form that takes. I feel truly blessed to be entrusted to lead a school in which our teachers and staff derive such genuine joy out of the achievements of those in our care.

We are heading into an exciting year as we begin to implement the Girton Grammar School Strategic Plan 2023-2028, complete our current building improvements, and finalise our 10-year Master Plan in 2023. I feel energised about working with our new Deputy Principal, the Senior Leadership Team, teachers, staff, students, and parents to continue the School’s mission - striving for excellence in both academic and co-academic areas of education in a caring Christian environment.

I wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to a wonderful new year.

Dr Emma O'Rielly

Principal