Principal's News

MARK ROBERTSON

Principal

Oakleigh Grammar Embraces Cultural Diversity

In a recent blog on cultural diversity, Australia was described as a vibrant and multicultural nation.

From the year 1945 the number of people who have migrated to Australia from different parts of the globe are approximately 7 million.

Our country considers the rich cultural diversity as our main strength which embodies our national identity. One in every four Australian inhabitants was born overseas with 46% of the population having at least a parent who was born overseas. Almost 20% of the population speaks a language that is not English. Overall Australians speak more than 200 languages with the most commonly spoken languages being Italian, Arabic, Chinese and Greek.

To a large extent Oakleigh Grammar can be described as a vibrant and multicultural school as we offer both Greek and Chinese. Term 1 has exemplified our commitment toward cultural diversity as we have celebrated and commemorated in a significant way the Chinese New Year and the Independence Day of the Hellenic Republic.

During this month we encouraged our students to embrace the theme of ‘Speak Greek in March’, our Greek Independence Day Celebrations were some of the best we have seen, due to the inaugural visit to our School from the Hellenic Presidential Guards ‘Evzones’.

Our Founders are and those who have departed would have been extremely proud of our School Community as we partook in the Greek Independence Day March at the Shrine of Remembrance, with great number and conviction.

Our School's direction of internationalism and globalisation has truly been reflected during the course of this term. I thank all staff who have been involved in the organisation and support of our commemorative events this term as they have truly reflected the special occasion of the 35th and 55th Anniversaries of our School and Community respectively.

Staff News

I take this opportunity to extend our very best wishes to Mrs Lauren Cummins and her husband Tim on the impending arrival of their first baby. Mrs Sarah Boardman will be Acting Head of Junior School during Lauren’s maternity leave.

We wish Mrs Jenny Xu our Arrowsmith Aide best wishes for the future following her recent resignation due to personal reasons.

Easter Blessings

Our Saviour has Risen! This forthcoming Easter the resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God makes all things new. He has given us the same resurrection power to live free from sin and death and to have a life fully alive. Easter Blessings are extended to both our Christian and Orthodox Christian families.

I look forward to welcoming you all to Term 2 on Tuesday 17th April 2018.