From the Acting Principal
Most Year Twelve students have completed their VCE examinations and already the six-square courts near the tuckshop are much quieter. For a good number of the Twelves, their final examination was followed by the traditional trip up the tower! We wish them well, thank them for their contributions and look forward to sharing in their news at the end of December.
Younger students start their examinations late this week or at the beginning of next week. These offer an opportunity to students to display their learning and skills. I hope there has been productive preparation and I am reminded of a short phrase Dr Hirst often quotes: “the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary”!
This week in Assembly, I challenged all students to be their best selves in their approach to the exams – and indeed in all they do. I quoted some famous words of Nelson Mandela’s:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking, so that others won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us: it's in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
In the same Assembly, we heard from Sam Kelly, the Captain of Shooting, announcing the year’s Top Gun winners at Senior and Junior levels; we enjoyed a brilliant musical performance by a group of Year Nine boys (Will Merrin, Raf Gaio, Gabe Marshall, Luke Marshall and Marc Hillam); and we were given advice by a number of Middle Years leaders.
Plenty of our students are already letting their lights shine and I hope these exams allow all students to say, “I did my best,” for that is another way of letting one’s light shine.
Masks
The Premier’s announcements last weekend have cleared the way for some slight changes to our requirements about masks at the Senior School.
Masks must still be worn when:
- in classes, exams, locker rooms and other indoor areas at the Senior School
- on buses
- in large groups and/or where social distancing cannot occur (eight people sitting around the small table in the back courtyard is not social distancing)
- down the street, in shops, etc
Masks must be carried safely in a pocket at all times when not worn and put back on as required.
When putting masks on or taking them off, hands should be sanitised or washed before and after handling the mask. The mask should be removed by handling the straps. Ideally, it should be stored in a plastic bag in your pocket.
Students and staff may remove masks when outside in the grounds ONLY when social distancing is possible. When meeting in groups or confined spaces, masks should be put back on.
In effect, this only changes behaviour at breaks in the school day when outside. At all other times, masks will continue to be needed.
Neil MacLean
Acting Principal