From the Headmaster

My warmest congratulations to Jenkin House in both the Junior School and the Senior School for winning the perpetual Athletics cups last week. It was the end of a winning era for Frew House in the Senior School, toppled off the winning mantle after 15 years, but they handled themselves gracefully, and all House Captains are to be acknowledged for leading their Houses superbly on the day and especially during Spirit Cup preparations.

Many records tumbled impressively on the track, and the full details will appear in this edition of eLink. 

In the coming days, Senior School parents will receive an email from the English Department detailing a changed approach to the assessment of student work. The new approach for Years 7 to 11 students, modelled on an even more rigorous marking process for Year 12 English students, relies on peer collaboration from English teachers across each year level and involves age-appropriate benchmarking of student work based on professional group consensus of teachers. A moderation process is also being implemented which involves individual teachers partnering to compare the work of students between their classes.

This approach to student assessment by our English Department is wonderfully innovative. The opportunity for English teachers to collaborate on this level is invaluable to both the students, who receive the fairest possible assessment and to teachers, who improve their own professional practise by learning from one another and broadening their particular assessment lens.

By all accounts, Camps Week in the Senior School has been a huge success and will be detailed in the next edition of eLink. The Camps Program at Girton provides students with a chance to make new friends, challenge themselves, connect with teachers, develop new skills and have fun. It is especially wonderful to see our newest Senior School students getting to know one another on a deeper level (in some instances literally, as they waded through mud) and broadening their friendships through a range of activities in different groups.

I am very excited to announce that because of the overwhelming support from our community, an additional performance of Matilda the Musical will be staged on the evening of Saturday 22nd June. Again, tickets will be available in the first instance to the school community from today and will go on public sale on Monday at 9 am. Putting on an additional performance is not a decision taken lightly, especially given it falls within the school holiday period, but the cast and their families have indicated their support for this additional show, and we eagerly await the first curtain call.

A very significant all-school assembly took place last week as we farewelled our long-standing Deputy, Mrs Robyn MacCulloch, who has served Girton proudly for more than 30 years, with 26 of those years as Deputy. Mrs MacCulloch has performed her daily duties in a way that is honest to who she is, and because her actions are genuine, she is respected by all those who know her.

We have inherited from Mrs MacCulloch, an understanding of the importance of preserving important traditions that act as cultural signifiers at this school and a wonderful example of someone who demands first of themselves, the decorum and high standards for which we ask our students to reach. Mrs MacCulloch is a role model and inspiration to generations of students, and her legacy will forever be embroidered into the fabric of this School.

I wish all families a very safe and enjoyable Term 1 and Easter holiday break and look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday 29th April.

Matthew F. Maruff

Headmaster