Principal's Report
Term 1 2023
Principal’s report 4/4/23
The purpose of schooling is to ensure that young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge they require to live successful lives. This includes both subject specific skills and the habits students form that enable success, such as working to deadlines, social and emotional regulation and self-efficacy. At SCHS we know that studying a wide range of subjects helps students on the path to success, as each subject employs different ways of thinking and approaching problems. Students who embrace this opportunity to explore the world in a wide variety of ways have greater adaptability and are able to act as cognitively able ‘chameleons’ who can cope well with change.
This philosophy has long underpinned our approach to Year 9 and 10 where students study a wide range of academic and non-academic subjects across the two years, as well as cross-curricular projects. This same ethos also guides the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program which will run in 2024, and it was heartening to see so many families keen to learn more about this program. Our recent information session, held online last week, was attended by over 100 families keen to find out more about this program with a view to enrolling in 2024. Such strong interest clearly demonstrates the large number of students and families who truly embrace the desire to develop their multi-faceted skills for the future.
One of the International Baccalaureate Learner Attributes is ‘risk-taking’. These learning attributes are traits that the program aims to promote in all students as they support depth of learning and the development of skills for success. Enrolling in the first cohort of a program is a risk-taking exercise, but one that we know our students have the necessary skills for. Just as 13 years ago the first cohort of Suzanne Cory students entered the school and had the opportunity to shape the future of the school, so we will see a trailblazing group of IB students step into this role next year. They will shape what the IB program looks like at our school for many years to come and I am excited to see who they will be, and what they will bring to our school.