From the Principal
It was an immense honour to be inducted as the Principal of Girton Grammar School during our Foundation Day Church Service on Friday 12th May.
As I stood before the Girton community in that sacred space, surrounded by our School Founders, my heart filled with gratitude for the journey that has brought us here. The allegiance of our Founders, our devoted staff, our supportive parents and carers, and the boundless potential of our students — these elements make Girton Grammar School a truly special place.
In that transformative moment, I felt both humbled and proud, knowing the immense responsibility that has been entrusted to me and the exciting path that lies ahead. I feel privileged to be part of this incredible School community and committed to working together to shape the lives of our students and uphold the rich legacy of our School.
As I said in my speech during the induction of Deputy Principal, Mr Weston, the success of a school is not a solo act. With great enthusiasm, I embark on this new chapter alongside Mr Weston, the Board, the executive leadership team, educators and staff, ready to lead, inspire, and empower the Girton community. Our shared mission is clear: to nurture excellence, foster innovation, and instil values that will guide our students toward success and fulfillment.
Amidst the opportunities presented by innovation in technology, I am pleased to share that Mr Rod Smith, Girton's Head of Academic and Data Services, has been invited to join a cross-sectoral Generative AI Community of Practice (CoP) established by the Victorian Department of Education. The CoP brings together educators from 20 schools in Victoria to explore the safe and ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in education.
As we navigate the fast-paced landscape of technological innovation, integrating AI tools in our classrooms holds tremendous potential to elevate student engagement and learning. However, it is equally important to equip our students with the knowledge to become responsible digital citizens who can critically analyse and leverage AI tools in their personal and professional lives.
Over the next four months, Mr Smith will collaborate with CoP members, engaging in discussions, trialing generative AI tools in their schools, and sharing valuable insights. Their collective feedback will contribute to the development of guidance and support for schools in Victoria in the responsible and effective use of AI. Congratulations to Mr Smith on this distinguished invitation. His expertise and contributions will be instrumental in shaping the future of educational AI and ensuring its safe and ethical implementation at Girton.
In addition to our involvement in the Generative AI CoP, Girton is taking an important stride towards fostering inclusivity and creating a culturally safe environment. Under the leadership of Sophie Mayes, Year 12 Prefect, and Ava Griffin, School Captain, we are embarking on the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as part of our commitment to reconciliation and strengthening relationships with First Nations peoples.
Girton's RAP will serve as a foundation for the actions we can take as a School community to support First Nations students, staff, and community members, while nurturing an environment that respects and celebrates their rich culture. This is an opportunity for all of us to become better informed and engaged as allies and learners on this important journey.
To ensure the effective development and implementation of the plan, we are assembling a dedicated and diverse RAP Working Group. This group will meet monthly to drive the progress of the plan and we have five positions available for parents and carers of both Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous descent. If you are interested in being part of the RAP Working Group, I kindly invite you to express your interest here by Friday 26th May.
For more information on Reconciliation Action Plans, I encourage you to visit the Narragunnawali website, and if you have any questions about the working group, please direct them to Mr Dave Martin, Head of Student Engagement at davemartin.girton.vic.edu.au.
We have a number of initiatives planned for Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week this year that we will share with the Girton community.
Dr Emma O'Rielly
Principal