From the Head of Senior School

It is hard to believe that as I write this article, we are already in Week 4 of the term. During the past few weeks, I have made a conscious effort to meet with the new students who have joined Girton Grammar this year. I have also set myself a goal of dropping into classrooms and being more visible. Students will have seen me handing out stickers in class, during breaks, and before school to acknowledge students who are using their diaries consistently, wearing their uniform correctly, and making an effort to ensure their personal presentation reflects our school values of neatness and pride in their appearance. The stickers have been well received by all students throughout Years 7 to 12 and put a welcome smile on their faces for the rest of the school day.

If I want to succeed in my various duties, I always set realistic goals. Some of my goals are daily, while others are more long-term. Without goals, you lack focus and direction. Goal setting allows you to take control of your life's direction and provides a benchmark for determining whether you are succeeding. Students in Senior School are also encouraged to set goals. They should think about a goal they have, something they want to achieve or pursue, or their goal might be something they want to do right now or far in the future. 

Sometimes our goals are easy to achieve, but often, they are not. Many people have to work hard for a long time to achieve their goals, and there may be times when they are tempted to give up. We often see someone's success or achievements without seeing the hard work that has happened behind the scenes. We can believe that success comes easily to some people and that if we hit a rocky road, we should give up, but that is not true. Malorie Blackman is a British author of books for young children and young adults. Her best-known works include Noughts and Crosses, Pig Heart Boy, and Cloud Busting. She is now a hugely successful writer who has won many awards for her books. However, it was not always like this. Malorie received 82 rejection letters before a publisher agreed to take on her first novel, Not So Stupid!, in 1990. Malorie commented in a television interview, "It was really hard, actually, because my first eight or nine books were rejected. So it was two years, eight or nine books, and 82 rejection letters later before a single publisher said yes. That was sort of 31 years ago. It was an object lesson in that I knew I wanted to write, and I was not going to give up". Her determination shows perseverance. We cannot always be successful at everything we try, but for each of us, there will be something that we feel born to do, and we do not want to let go of that.

Taking part in the inaugural Mentoring Program for the Year 11 2023 cohort will allow me and the other staff involved in the mentoring to help students make the most of their final two years and realise their potential with someone more experienced than themselves. It may include assisting the students in developing goals for the year, meeting with them regularly, or being their advocate and a person they can ask questions about assistance or guidance with their studies. By working with the students in knowing what they want to achieve, they can concentrate their efforts to help achieve their goals. With the Mentor's support, our students will be guided on when to recognise the distractions that can easily lead them off their pathway.

We are fortunate to have a campus that is centrally located close to Bendigo town centre. It is, therefore, a timely reminder that if you have to visit the School premises either for an appointment or to meet your child, the requirement of signing in at the temporary reception in The Naunton Family Building is paramount. Due to the unique nature of the multiple entrances at our School, we must ensure the safety of every student and visitor. We must know who is on the School grounds, and by signing in, you will receive an identity label to wear so that we know you are visiting for a valid reason. If you are simply waiting to pick up your child, we ask that you do not enter the School premises and wait outside the various entrances on Vine or Wattle Street or in the reception area of the Naunton Family Building. 

Ms Dawn Davis

Head of Senior School