From the Headmaster
Examination week in the Senior School is one of logistics, coaching by teachers, anxiety for some students and for others, the reward for steady work. When students apply a good consistent effort to their studies, they typically do well in examinations and suffer minimal stress. Studies of memory suggest that spacing out learning is more effective than cramming, and so we encourage students to treat every day of learning with conscious effort.
From my perspective, Examination week was a smooth one, and I thank students for their efforts and our wonderful teachers for their support of students last week and their dedication to examination marking this week. As with most processes within the school, the Senior Executive will review the most recent examination process, looking for improvement at every opportunity.
My thanks to the parents and carers who have already completed the Parent Satisfaction survey emailed out last week from Education Services Australia. I would like to share some of the survey results with you and to encourage completion of the survey for those who would like to provide feedback on their experience as a Girton parent.
Parents were asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 10, the degree to which various statements about the school were true for them. Some of the results from the 222 responses received so far are as follows:
| Statement | Average score |
| I believe that the school can be progressive while keeping some of its traditions alive | 8.7 |
| Expectations of student behaviour are well known at the school | 8.8 |
| Students from different backgrounds and cultures are treated equally at this school | 8.9 |
| Students with learning difficulties are appropriately supported at this school | 7.8 |
| Social and Emotional needs of students are met at Girton | 7.9 |
| Girton staff are able to develop professional relationships with students | 8.5 |
| I believe that parent networking is important | 7.0 |
| Staff in this school are dedicated to improving student learning outcomes | 8.5 |
| The school encourages participation in Community Service | 9.1 |
| I believe that the school leadership does a good job at meeting sometimes competing needs within the school community | 7.8 |
| The co-curricular activities I have observed are well organised and well run | 8.5 |
| I am confident that my child/ren is at the school that is right for them | 8.7 |
The Parent Satisfaction survey will remain open until 15th July 2019, after which time, the Senior Executive team will examine the results and consider ways that we can strengthen student engagement and success at the school and to frame responsibilities that we all have for meeting the needs of our students, and the broader school community.
The “Matilda Production Week Schedule” has been circulated to keep all those involved on track for production week rehearsals next week. The document is hugely detailed, commencing at 8.45am on Monday with all cast, orchestra and crew arriving at the Capital Theatre, and finishing at 10.00pm on Saturday with “curtain down”. It is a very exciting time for all involved in the Senior School production and for those who have heard snippets of the show echoing in the Black Box and other venues around the school.
I wish everyone involved in Matilda all the very best for a wonderful show and congratulate in advance each cast member, staff member, crew member and musician who have worked so hard to make this show the best that it can be.
Matthew F. Maruff
Headmaster