Welcome back everyone – I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break. As many of you will be aware, Shauna is currently on well-deserved Long Service Leave and I have stepped into the role of Acting Principal for Term 2. It is a great privilege and honour to be leading our School community during what is already shaping up to be a very busy and engaging term.
The first two weeks have moved quickly. We opened the term with a Staff Professional Development Day, which was a great opportunity for colleagues to reconnect, collaborate and orient themselves for the term ahead. Our Primary students took to the track for the Cross Country, and it was excellent to see so much enthusiasm and school spirit on the day. A particular highlight has been the official opening of our newly refurbished Fitness Centre, and I want to extend a very warm thank you to Shauna Colnan, Clare Bailey, Pramod Mainali and Walid Baghdadi for everything they put into making this project happen. The result speaks for itself, with modernised equipment and facilities, and the space is already being well used.
Our Anzac Day commemorative assemblies were a meaningful pause in the school calendar and a chance to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of all those involved in the history of armed conflict in Australia. Beyond that, it has been a full and varied fortnight. Year 8 students returned from Outdoor Education Camp today; it is always good to see them come back with a little more confidence and plenty to remember. Students have also been representing the school with distinction at the CDSSA and ASISSA Football Championships and trials across both High School and Primary – congratulations to all who competed. Last night rounded out the fortnight nicely with the second instalment of The Ultimo Series for 2026 — a series I very much enjoy curating — with Professor Marcus Carter delivering a fascinating presentation entitled Digital Gaming: What’s the State of Play? Professor Carter explored the opportunities for play and curiosity in digital gaming that mirror children’s play in other contexts, but also the pitfalls of unethical and exploitative design that characterise parts of the industry. It was a very engaging evening, with some thoughtful Q&A.
There is a great deal to look forward to as the term progresses. Next month, our School production of Legally Blonde The Musical will take the stage. From what I have seen of the preparation, it is going to be an outstanding show. Tickets are selling very fast – if you have not yet secured yours, I would not leave it too long! Next week we welcome prospective families to our Open Morning, which is a wonderful occasion and opportunity to share what makes our School such a distinctive place to learn. Primary families also have the Disco to look forward to next Friday, organised by the fantastic P&C. This event is a firm favourite on the Primary calendar.
Beyond these, the term carries a full calendar of camps, excursions and learning experiences across all schools and departments, alongside the commencement of Subject Selection for Stage 5 and Stage 6 — an important process that gives students an opportunity to reflect on their academic passions and areas of interest and shape their future pathways. Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews, sporting events and music competitions also lie ahead making this a rich and rewarding term.
Term 2 also carries significance beyond the day-to-day. Work has commenced on our new Strategic Plan, which will carry the school in 2027 and beyond. I am pleased to be working on this alongside Deputy Principals Mary Duma and Sarah Herbert, and we look forward to sharing more with the community as that process develops.
I wish everyone a productive and memorable Term 2.
