From the Acting Head

It is hard to believe that this will be the final edition of the eLink newsletter for 2019 with the exception of an abridged version which will be published in the week of 9th December to pictorially celebrate our three Speech Night events, the annual Service of Carols and the Year 6 Presentation Evening.   

It is a familiar path on which we find ourselves in the final weeks of the school year at Girton, with joyous Carols Services held on Thursday evening and our three Speech Night events to take place next week.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Matthew Maruff for ten years of service to Girton Grammar School. In particular, for the embedding of the teaching of Emotional Intelligence into our school curriculum and culture, which will endure as we transition to a new future. The consultants who have been appointed to recruit a new School Head have commenced the work of seeking input from staff, parents and students to help form a picture of the needs of our School and the process has so far been positive and productive.

In the past two weeks, there have been two sporting achievements, in particular, that I would like to acknowledge. Firstly, our Year 8 Girls Table Tennis team won the School Sports Victoria State Title. Congratulations to Hannah Green (8 Aherne), Olivia Green (8 Aherne), Mya Long (8 Aherne) and Charlotte Lowther (8 Jenkin) on their 4-0 win. Well done also, to the Intermediate Girls team for making the Semi-Final.

Secondly, the Girton Racing Team achieved some wonderful results at the annual Maryborough Energy Breakthrough event, winning the Single Power Source - Electric category for the eighth consecutive year, and also winning the overall event for the third consecutive year. Thirty-eight students and five staff were in Maryborough representing Girton, along with a large contingent of enthusiastic and dedicated parents, and I congratulate all involved for their sustained effort and impressive achievements.

We said a final farewell to our departing Year 12 students at their Valedictory Dinner last week and shared a wonderful evening of family and friendships. We are immensely proud of each student who crossed the stage and officially became Old Girtonians’. We wish all Year 12 students the very best for their forthcoming VCE results and no matter the outcome, I commend you on the hard work that you and your teachers employed during the examination period and Year 12 in general.

I also extend congratulations to Gracie Sladden (12 Riley), who has been awarded the 2019 Old Girtonians’ Association Departing Girtonian Scholarship, about which you can read more in this edition of eLink.

Finally, I extend my deep thanks to my wonderful colleagues, to loyal parents and to the students for the support that has been extended to me this week. May you all have a joyful Christmas break with loved ones and my warmest wishes to the entire school community for a safe and enjoyable summer holiday period.

Dr Emma O'Rielly

Acting Head