From the Principal 

Education was never intended to make people comfortable, it was meant to make them think!   Hannah Holborn Gray

Our 148th Speech Day proved to be a wonderful occasion last week.  Not only did the celebration fittingly farewell the wonderful Class of 2020 but we paused to reflect on the distinguished service of retiring staff including Mr Neil MacLean. The fact that Speech Day was streamed live also ensured we enjoyed our largest ever audience with families from Myrniong and the middle years joining us for the first time.  I commend Mr Mitchell Clode and his production team on such professional delivery and I compliment the significant number of staff who arranged numerous celebrations to honour our departing Year 12s.  The major take-away from Olivia’s and Jock’s outstanding addresses were that the Class of 2020 will not let COVID-19 define them.  In that vein, we wish Year 12 a clear mind and every success next week, as they commence their VCE examinations starting with English and EAL next Tuesday 10 November.  In many ways they are the best prepared senior class ever!! 

This weekend the College Board and Executive will review our strategic progress as we pass the halfway mark of our 2018-2022 Plan.  This global pandemic has magnified the question of what kind of learning is required beyond 2020. We will endeavor to ask tough questions of our current plan, discuss possibilities and take action for a new and better future.  We will reflect on what we know about learning, our students, the new role of technology and the complexity of an unknown future. Several key questions will foster deep reflection:  What knowledge, skills and attributes do our students need to thrive in this complex world?  What kind of learning is needed? How do we best attend to well-being? What have we learned from remote learning? We must ensure our education prepares our young people for their future. School leavers do not just need to be employable. They need to be adaptable, flexible and confident.  They need to learn how to ‘think’ as Hannah Holborn Gray exclaims.

Dr Andrew Hirst

Principal