From the Principal

A song, a dance, plenty of drama – and a Diploma!

Last week we were all delighted by the school production of Unmurdered!  It showcased so many of the qualities Preshil deliberately sets out to foster and celebrate in our students and across the wider community.

Unmurdered!  was very clever and very funny, with original music of an extraordinary quality, great performances and a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual support amongst the cast, crew and musicians. 

I know Karoline has acknowledged and thanked everyone involved and so I have the honour of thanking her! 

Karoline, you are a star! Thank you!

Finally, the IB Diploma Programme is here!

The long-awaited introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Preshil is under way at last. Students who started at the Secondary School in Year 7 back in 2014 have now completed the four-year Middle Years Programme and are well and truly prepared for the continuation of the IB approach in their final two years of school.

On Monday night we held our final Information Night for students and their families who are about to embark on this course. Families expressed their appreciation of the depth of commitment and the sheer hard work our teachers have undertaken to get us to such a confident and secure starting point.

We have been united in combatting and correcting the misconceptions that abound about the Diploma; Preshil is offering a flexible, extensive range of subjects and pathways to cater for all our students.

We have been able to attract outstanding teachers who can offer the breadth we want to characterise in our program; I will let our families know before the end of the yearthe details of these newcomers so they can be welcomed .

I have to say I have been surprised, and quietly relieved, by the atmosphere of genuine excitement and anticipation being expressed by our students as they begin their orientation. We know all of the students will be supported by the authentic relationships they will form with their teachers, who take such pains to get to know them and to understand their specific needs and strengths.

These relationships are the basis for the insightful, ongoing feedback each individual student receives to support their continuous improvement in each area of study and to achieve their individual goals.

This harmonious and productive culture has characterised our VCE program and will sustain our cherished final group of VCE students who are completing Year 12 next year.

Keeping our children safe

Congratulations to Clare Coman who has steered us all through to the final audit by the Australian Childhood Foundation’s rigorous Safeguarding Children accreditation.

We believe that we have been able to meet all standards and will receive the official certification to coincide with the beginning of next year when I will take the time to explain in more depth and detail how this program serves to protect and empower all our children. It sets very high expectations for all adults at Preshil and provides us with a very extensive set of procedures to prevent and manage any incidence of suspected abuse of any child at Preshil.

Clare has done an amazing job of implementing, documenting and driving this process and I salute her.  Thank you, Clare.

Marilyn Smith

Principal