From the Principal
Arlington's quince tree
Welcome
Welcome to the Arlington Newsletter for 2019. I have had many parents telling me how much they enjoy reading both the Arlington and the Blackhall Kalimna newsletters. It’s lovely to be able to acknowledge the care and effort put into these publications by Judy at the Secondary School and Prue at Arlington, as well as all the contributors.
For Arlington families to have a regular insight into the day to day programs at the Secondary School and the opportunities Preshil offers to older students through our particular approach to the IB Middle Years and Diploma programs, electives, camps, careers support and the wealth of other activities our students engage in, means they can develop an insider perspective on what is in store for children as they transition to the senior years.
The start to the school year at Arlington has been especially smooth and happy. Having Natalie Jensen in the role of Head of Campus is wonderful and I am sure everyone agrees that her impact has already been felt in the calm, thoughtful expertise she brings to the position. Welcoming 23 children into the newly restored and furnished 'Fives' classroom has been particularly delightful.
The Kindergarten has had a new coat of paint and Anna, Poppy, Suzanne and Courtney have made the room especially welcoming and enticing for our youngest people.
All of our brilliant Arlington teachers dedicated considerable time during the holidays to ensuring the rooms were set up and ready to welcome the children to their classrooms for 2019.
We are looking forward to the Welcome Picnic which is held on the lawns at the front of Blackhall on Friday 15 March. This is a great opportunity to embrace our new families into the Preshil Community and we are particularly keen to hear from individuals who are willing to step forward as Parent Representatives. Please consider this and speak to Natalie if you would like to become part of this very significant group.
As the year gets underway I would like to share our hopes for your child. We hope every student at Preshil will come to feel that they are known and accepted for who they are; that they will be genuinely engaged and excited by what they are learning; that they will grow in confidence and courage to take on new and demanding challenges in the knowledge that they will find adults to nurture and encourage them. We hope all our students build trusting and respectful friendships and relationships with other students and their teachers. Above all, we hope that every student feels safe and cared for, able to feel the joy that comes from genuine achievement - and the fun that can be had along the way.
Please help us to achieve these goals – and don’t be afraid to let us know when we live up to these aims, or when we need to do better.
I wish you all a joyful and exciting year ahead.
Marilyn Smith
Principal