From the Principal

Awards Ceremony

What a celebration of academic success!  I attended my first Baimbridge College Awards Ceremony at the PAC last week and whilst we always educate the student as a whole person and recognise strengths in all areas, it was lovely to see those who have worked hard be rewarded for their academic success this year.

The support we recieve from the greater Hamilton Community is simply outstanding.  It made me very happy to see community members participating giving scholarships to students for both academic success and those who try their very best.

Congratulations to all students who received scholarships, awards or certificates last week and thank you to the staff involved, with a special thank you to Dr Morgan.

UNSW ICAS ACHIEVEMENT

I would like to applaud Airlie McIntyre of Year 12 on her ICAS  testing result in writing.  Airlie and her family travelled to Melbourne two weeks ago to receive her medal.  About 12,000 students sat the writing exam, representing 300 schools, and Airlie was the top marked Year 12 student in Victoria!  What an accomplishment!  Well done Airlie.

Farewell Dr Morgan

I do not know how to acknowledge the vast array of contributions to our school community over the past 27 years from Dr Morgan.  As a past student and then an esteemed teacher, Dr Morgan has inspired many students in English and broader subjects with her passion for learning. I was amazed to hear that Dr Morgan has completed a VCE subject most years that she has been a teacher.  Her last subjest was Ancient Greek.  Dr Morgan has embodied the traditions she held so dear as a student and passed on to generations the importance of honouring those who fought for our country along with the celebration and recognition of academic success in the Awards Ceremony and the reverence afforded to our students in Year 12 via the Student Investiture.  

We hope that Dr Morgan calls in from time to time when she  is not busy renovating or studying.  

Welcome back SSL Students!

This weekend we will have our 5 Year 9 students return from The School for Student Leadership, Snowy Campus in Gippsland.  Mr Sutherland has completed an article about his visit last week, it's worth the read if you're considering it as an option for your child, keeping in mind our kids get to go to China for their experience in 2019.

Farewell Mrs Mac

There are those wonderful staff members who are organised, can run a whole school event on their own and have the experience that comes with working for 40+ years.  These teachers go about their jobs without needing to be checked on, use common sense and have a great rapport with our students.  Firm but always fair and a great competitive spirit is how I would best describe Mrs McArthur, along with one penultimate description, professional.

Mrs Mac I would like to thank you for your work ethic, your ability to cram a week's work into three days and your level headed approach to both life and work, I know that you have been a wise friend to many of our community members and I wish to thank you for your time at Baimbridge as a teacher and hope that we see you in other capacities in the future.  

Farewell Mrs Thomas

Mrs Thomas should not be too worried about retiring as this is her second retirement from Baimbridge.  Did you know that Mrs Thomas used to be a teacher here? She used to teach secretarial studies at the Tech school (rumour has it that she taught Mrs Donehue  how to type) and IT amongst many other subjects.  A 32 year career here preceeded by 11 years of teaching prior to coming to Hamilton is a credit to the dedication of Mrs Thomas to the Teaching profession.

Mrs Thomas has provided a great conduit between the classroom and office over her transition and we wish her the very best in her retirement.

Congratulations Lily!

I have been patiently awaiting the return form Italy of our Year 10 student Lily Brown to congratulate her on being the 2019 recipient of the Kwong Lee Dow scholarship.

The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high achieving Victorian students in Year 11 and Year 12.

Lily will get the exciting opportunity of experiencing university life and take part in a range of academic events and activities,  use the uni facilities to help her achieve her best – plus get a head start on her future studies and career.

When Lily finishes her secondary studies, she could also be offered a guaranteed place in an undergraduate degree, financial assistance to move to Melbourne, and an overseas scholarship during her studies.

Congratulations and well deserved Lily,  between the scholarship, Italy and multiple Awards you have had a great year!

Finishing off the Year

What a year.  I have learned so much and would like to take this opportunity to thank all students, families and staff who have taken the time to come and meet me and support my vision for a dynamic school that provides tailored learning and success for all students.  It will take time and hard work, but I am determined that Baimbridge College will be one of the most innovative schools in the state and a place where students, families and teachers are encouraged and enabled to collaborate and create the best education possible for the kids to enrich our community.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work put in by everyone and say a very fond farewell to those staff leaving us in 2019.  As previously mentioned, Dr Rosemary Morgan, Mrs Caroline Thomas and Mrs Jen McArthur will be retiring, then we have Miss O'Brien, Mrs Liston, Miss Cogger and Ms Herreen heading off on leave for the year, we hope you return to us energised in 2020.  The staff who are leaving at the end of

this year are: Mr Ollie Rickard, Mrs Sylvia McMullen, Mr John Sly, Mrs Lisa Kyle, Miss Rachel Munro, Mrs Chelsea Carter, Mr Martin South, Miss Jessica Turnbull.

With so many farewells comes a lot of new faces.  We have finished interviews just yesterday and I am pleased to say that we will have a range of very qualified, forward thinking staff in 2019.  I know that our students are some of the most welcoming, helpful adolescents that I have ever met and will rise to the occasion in make all new staff feel welcomed. It really is all about working together to build this dynamic school that we can all be proud of.

Have a great break

Down time is important.  Enjoy your break.  If you have holiday homework or course preparation to do, be sure  to get it out of the way early on so that you can relax with your family and friends and return in 2019 to begin refreshed and ready to learn.