From the Head

Almost surprisingly, Term Four seems to be progressing at pace.  The last four weeks have seen us move from remote learning back to full face to face learning, as well as farewelling our Year 12s, who now find themselves sitting their VCE examinations.

No doubt everyone has a COVID-19 story to tell, but for the Class of 2021, their VCE journey has been entirely set against the backdrop of this pandemic.  It begs the question, what advice would you offer young adults, leaving school and entering the world, when their past two years have been spent preparing for their futures in an extraordinarily uncertain time? 

On their final day at school I felt it was important to acknowledge the grace with which the class of 2021 handled disappointment.  I acknowledged the absence of important rites of passage and recognised the loss of significant social milestones.  With no House Dinners or formals and few significant school events held since 2019, this year group celebrated their final day in House Tutor groups, without their cohort and without their family present.

Reflecting on their experience, and their optimism, it was easy to observe the positive paradox that the Class of 2021 presents us with.  Having lived two years of remote learning and social-distancing together, the experience united them.  Coronavirus clarified what the Class of 2021 valued and what they stood for – their connection with each other, their school and their teachers could not have been stronger. 

The example we see in the Class of 2021 offers us all encouragement and optimism for the future on so many levels.  I could not be happier that increasing freedoms seem set to allow them, and their parents, to celebrate the end of their school journey together at an outdoor Valedictory event off-campus before the end of the year. 

I congratulate the Class of 2021 on their achievements and applaud their positive mindset.

Dr Clayton Massey

HEAD