Dear Friends

Welcome to our first issue for 2016.

Since 2014 we have been very lucky to have Libby Shade (formerly Grierson) take up the role of Volunteer Alumni and Archives Coordinator. Libby, assisted weekly by past parent Felicity Renowden, has been working with a small group to plan and furnish a dedicated archives space.

Work has commenced, for some time now on sorting and indexing the various documents, objects, media and artefacts that have been collected over the past 80 years in relation to Preshil. Once this has been achieved, the collection will be available for ready access and for use by researchers to further the aims of Preshil. We also welcome any photos and keepsakes coming into the archives.

We look forward to keeping you updated throughout the year.

Staying In Touch

We recently had the pleasure of hosting reunions for those pupils born in the 20s, 30s and 40s and again for those born in the 50s and 60s.

They were happy occasions, with some 70 past Preshil pupils, teachers and relatives in attendance. They were held in the house and the Kevin Borland Hall at Arlington.

The intervening years vanished as old friends were discovered. People were made very welcome by present staff and were invited to tour the school and make themselves known to the current crop of children who were very eager to show them around and hear their fond memories.

Many photos, keepsakes and documents from early times were laid out for people to look at, with the hope of finding names for some of the faces in the early pictures.

It was also an opportunity to gather current details so we are able to stay in touch. We are only able to contact those people whose email addresses we have, so we would appreciate you spreading the word to your family, friends and past class mates. Thank you to those who have already passed on their new details and we look forward to corresponding about future events and news.

Reunions Update

There have also been expressions of interest for people born in the 1970s, 80s and beyond to come together for a reunion.

There are always many different views about what form these reunions take, for example, what day of week, time, venue, format, costs etc.

We recommend that the ideal situation is for a group of volunteers from these age groups to make the arrangements for the function and to contact people who might like to come. Preshil is of course able to assist an organisation team where needed or offer a venue when available. If you are interested in helping with this, or if you have any suggestions, please email us at alumni@preshil.vic.edu.au

Libby Shade

Volunteer Archivist and Alumni

Coordinator

Preshil Host Venue

This year Preshil has been invited to be a host venue for The Association for Learning Environments (formerly CEFPI - Council of Educational Facility Planners International).

The conference theme this year is 'Exchange' and is held from 29 May – 1 June 2016 at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Conference chair is Alumnus Ben Cleveland. We will update you more about that closer to the time. Feel free to visit their website here for more information.

International Baccalaurette

In recent years the secondary school, Blackhall Kalimna in Sackville Street, has undergone something of a transformation. We have paid careful attention to ensuring the campus is welcoming and well equipped. The classrooms, specialist areas and facilities are attractive and accommodating, while ensuring that the students feel at home and have a sense of ownership of their school. All year levels have common rooms and the students are welcome to use facilities and equipment at all times. The VCE students have a very pleasant recreation and study space in The Cottage, which they have taken great pride in renovating and decorating.

The introduction of the Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate is almost complete and we have just learned we have been successful in our application to become a Candidate School for the Diploma and Careers Programs. This means that we are well along the path to becoming a model school for a progressive approach to the IB across the whole of the secondary school, as set out in our Strategic Plan, set in place in 2012.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a globally recognised qualification which emphasises personal interest and research and genuine criteria based assessment, in place of a limited system of ranking students against each other.

Courage Book

This little book was created to encapsulate Preshil's enduring educational philosophy and ethos. It was the result of more than fifty voices - all champions of Preshil - coming together to articulate the heart and soul of this unique school, so that future teachers, students, parents, and proponents of progressive education everywhere can learn about how the school came to be. The final design and layout was done by Zoe Dattner (Sleepers Publishing). You can download a copy from our website here.

Next Quarterly Issue

June 2016

Preshil Alumni Update

Issue 1 · 04 Mar 2016

In this issue