From the Principal

Philosophically speaking….

This year Preshil will host its third Philosophy Conference. We started this event with about 90 VCE Philosophy students, teachers and supporters of Philosophy from schools across Melbourne, with Professor Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University and proud Arlington alumni, as our keynote speaker. The driving force for this conference has been Dr Lenny Robinson-McCarthy, our senior school Philosophy and Literature teacher and Coordinator of the IB Diploma Program.

Last year the event was expanded and moved to The University of Melbourne and this year the Conference will take place on Sunday 31 July at the State Library. Preshil is extremely fortunate to have Michael Leunig, Professor Kate Soper, Dr Caroline West, Dr Samuel Alexander and Antonia Case contributing to a great day of discussion and debate around the topic “The Art of happiness in the age of consumption.” We encourage parents to attend what will be a very entertaining day and an insight into one aspect of the Preshil secondary school program.

This year we are especially excited to have our first annual Philosophy Carnival at Arlington for our younger philosophers on Monday 1 August. There will be more information and details about the program in the lead up to this event, but suffice to say that we will have guest philosophers, older students and all of our teachers involving the Arlington children in Playworlds and Communities of Inquiry working together to shape and to challenge concepts of “Happiness”.

On Thursday 8 September we will be hosting another great event to which we would like to invite all our families. We would love to have Arlington parents enjoy this further opportunity to observe our secondary students in action.

The Spring Dinner is our major school fundraiser and is produced entirely by our students, who plan, cook and serve the gourmet food in the transformed Blackhall Library, under the extraordinary leadership of John Collins, assisted by Nerel Ezra. This wonderful seven-course dinner has arisen out of the Kitchen Garden class where students from Years 7 to 10 learn to grow and cook delicious food and we were truly amazed by this event last year. John has been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of students to be involved this year and we confidently expect that demand for tickets to this year’s dinner will be high. As a gourmet dining experience, it is a bargain! Please see the “Community Matters” page for details on how to book.

Marilyn Smith

Principal