From the Principal 

Perseverance is about finishing what one started. Rev Angie Griffin

Our major focus at the start of each year is to ensure that all students take responsibility for their own learning. One of Australia’s most renowned educators, Professor John Hattie (University of Melbourne), has long argued that too often: “The person at the centre of the discussion is relegated to a passive role.” Hattie suggests that enormous rewards occur when students feel “assessment capable.” More specifically: students know their current level of proficiency and see the learning path ahead; they are confident about taking on academic challenges; they seek feedback and treat mistakes as learning opportunities and they monitor their progress and make necessary adjustments.

Hattie has studied a range of actions that positively influence student learning.  The top four interventions (valued at more than a year’s worth of learning) are: 

1.            The students’ ability to report thoughtfully on their own performance 

2.             Feedback that is timely, specific, understandable, and actionable

3.             Student motivation to take on challenges, seek information, and follow through 

4.             Self-regulation, persistence and study skills.

At College we have already implemented a series of deliberate strategies to ensure that our learning culture remains vibrant and that our students are “assessment capable”.  The wonderful messages at this week Scholar’s Assembly were testament to that.

Finally, I wish all our Chinese international students a Happy New Year ( 新年快乐).  Family is at the heart of all we do at College and this week we stop to think of those peers, both near and far away, at this important time.

We have made a fabulous start this year, thank you for your part.  I remind all families that our 2022 General Excellence, Boarding and Old Collegian Scholarship Applications close this Friday 12 February 2021.  Please ring reception for more details.

Dr Andrew Hirst

Principal